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2 months ago | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | David Dalziel
As you get older, you don’t experience as many firsts in life. But I found myself totting them up during a family break in Moray. We – four humans and a Labrador – made the short journey from Aberdeen to Rothiemay, near Huntly, where our destination was Butlers Cottage on the Mayen Estate, an impressive sprawling stretch of land boasting Highland cows, a walled garden and several self-catering properties.
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Oct 20, 2024 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | David Dalziel
Hundreds of people braved the wind and rain brought by Storm Ashley last night to attend a celebration of the late Robbie Shepherd at a sold-out His Majesty’s Theatre in Aberdeen. The much-loved north-east broadcaster died last August, and friends, family and colleagues came together for A Toast Tae Robbie Shepherd, an event that showcased the best of Scots music, song and comedy.
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Dec 29, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | Andrew Welsh |David Dalziel
It’s been a memorable year for Celtic rockers Skerryvore – and it’s set to end on another huge high. The Inner Hebrides-formed band soared to the top of the Scottish charts back in May with their seventh studio album Tempus, which also saw them breaching the UK’s top 40 for the first time. As he prepares for their final gig of 2023 tomorrow, Skerryvore’s piping maestro Martin Gillespie describes such recent success as “absolutely incredible”.
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Dec 16, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | Jane Barrie |David Dalziel
Actor Nicholas Ralph has a simple Christmas wish this year… to spend time with family in Nairn. Nicholas, who stars as vet James Herriot in the hit Channel 5 remake of All Creatures Great and Small, lives in London, but his heart is clearly in the Highlands. “I’m hoping everybody is healthy and happy and full of the joys of Christmas,” he said. “The support I’ve had from the town and the people is brilliant. My friends and family love the fact that I am on TV.
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Dec 9, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | David Dalziel
Autumn is a fantastic time to take a short break in Scotland, especially when the weather behaves itself. As a family, we always look forward to exploring somewhere different during the October holidays, and this year we chose Oban as our base for a few days in a self-catering lodge. We’ve visited friends in Oban before but never spent much time there, and we discovered the area has a lot to offer. From exhilarating boat rides to the freshest seafood, there is plenty to suit all tastes.
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Oct 21, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | George Mitchell |David Dalziel
If it wasn’t for work and my concern for people I know, I have to admit, I’d be tempted to switch off the news. The stories coming out of both Israel and Gaza are beyond comprehension. In Israel we have learned just how brutal Hamas were to innocent women and children. It’s too graphic to go into detail. The men who did this are not human beings. Inside Gaza, we have seen the Al-Ahli hospital being hit. Almost 500 are said to have died. Hamas blames an Israeli air strike.
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Oct 20, 2023 | 
thecourier.co.uk | David Pollock |David Dalziel
This Thursday’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award ceremony in Stirling will once again pick just one winner from the wealth of Scottish musical talent to have released a new body of work in the last year. Just like the UK-wide Mercury Prize, though, while the winner is a talking point, the shortlist of 10 artists and the longlist of 20 is still an extraordinary repository of the very finest talent the country has to offer, and a great place to discover a range of exceptional new music.
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Oct 14, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | George Mitchell |David Dalziel
Israel and Gaza, it usually goes something like this…Rockets are fired from Gaza. Dozens, maybe even hundreds over some days. Israel then hits Gaza with a barrage of precision strikes and takes out Hamas targets. Tragically, civilians often die. Back and forth for a few days, then it stops, often as quickly as it started. Hamas claims success, Israel claims success. It all dies down, goes quiet, then kicks off again a few months later. Wash, rinse, repeat.
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Sep 1, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | David Dalziel
At the tailend of the recent summer holidays, we were looking for something memorable to do to mark my son’s 14th birthday. My wife being the one with the ideas, she suggested we give paddle-boarding a try. Not really thinking about it too much, I agreed and left her to book us all in. As the day approached, I started thinking more about the paddle-boarding, especially the fact it was going to take place at Stonehaven harbour.
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Aug 12, 2023 | 
pressandjournal.co.uk | Yvie Burnett |David Dalziel
“The best laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men,Gang aft agley.”Today I’m sitting in the garden in stunning sunshine thinking how astute Rabbie Burns was. Yes, my plans for a 60th garden party went all to pot. It was raining all day and the tables which were meant to be decorated with white tablecloths, garlands of faux flowers, cake stands and china teacups were left bare and soaked while we all looked out at them from indoors.
