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Let's Go Outside: Days of sunshine, surf and sail - on the Clyde!

When I signed up for a weekend cruise on the Clyde with sportscotland National Centre Cumbrae, I expected to return home desperate for a bath and a night in my own bed. But, far from ending up tired and salt-caked, I came back refreshed and sun-tanned. Read

It’s great to shout out about these two school successes

FULL marks to Perth High and Perth Grammar School teachers and pupils after they scooped two of the top awards at this week’s Scottish Education Awards in Glasgow. Read

Clumsy attempt at name-calling before election?

I CAN always tell when there’s an election approaching, by the quantity and quality of letters which ping into my email inbox. Read

Let's Go Outside: Take the first steps towards becoming a regular walker

THERE are many reasons for walking, and just as many excuses not to go out. Sometimes an extra motivation is needed for walking to become an integral part of one’s lifestyle. Read

Legal loophole must be closed

IN between the Etape and the Expenses scandals, precious few people probably noticed the small article in Wednesday's Herald, reporting the latest installment in the Rosepark Nursing Home saga. Read

Let's Go Outside: Ideal walk for introducing kids to joy of countryside

THIS easy walk around Forgandenny explores the fertile landscape of lower Strathearn. Read

Big on spin and short on details

DON’T get me wrong, I still think we should knock down the City Halls and create a continental-style square in the centre of our Fair City. Read

Public not reassured in slightest

CAN I thank the many PA readers who wrote, phoned or emailed me their opinions on plans to site a waste to energy incinerator on Shore Road. Read

Illumination implications

Mr McDonald makes an interesting suggestion in today’s PA when he proposes the illumination of Smeaton’s Bridge to enhance Perth’s iconic riverside during the long, dark, winter months. Read

Dr Richard Simpson: Help for addicts must be a priority

I WAS pleased to read recently in the Advertiser that Perth and Kinross Council are going to provide specialist help for children in families with Drug and Alcohol problems. Read

Beautiful Glen Lyon walk with fine mountain views

SPRING is the time when a walker’s thoughts turn to more distant places. After a winter of short walks close to home, it’s refreshing to venture further afield and to step out across new ground. Read

PKC must rethink its planning processes

PLANS for a 114ft power plant on Perth’s iconic riverfront would be laughable ... if only this sorry affair wasn’t so serious! Read

Prescription charge cut is huge deal

IN her PA column today, Roseanna Cunningham MSP mentions that prescription charges have now been reduced from £5 to £4, effective immediately. Read

Mike Beale: Unemployment statistics hint at Scottish resilience

RECENT published unemployment figures made interesting reading for Scotland. It would appear that we have not experienced as rapid an increase in unemployment as other areas of the UK. One thousand additional unemployed in the three months to January 2009 making a total of 135,000 (5.1% as opposed to 6.5% in the UK) hints at a welcome resilience, difficult as the personal circumstances of those concerned will be. Read

John Swinney: Forum positive about the future

THIS week I took part in the National Economic Forum, a gathering of business people, local authorities, voluntary sector organisations and Government which meets twice a year to advise Ministers on the steps we can take to improve the performance of the Scottish economy. Read

Pete Wishart: Privatisation is now in the post

ONCE again our mail service is under threat. Read

Yesterday’s solution to tomorrow’s challenge

SPEAKING in advance of this weekend’s annual Ramblers’ Conference in Pitlochry, the group’s President, Dennis Canavan, called on Scottish Government Ministers to reject the proposed Beauly to Denny power line and choose alternative means of transporting electrical energy between Scotland and England. Read

Roseanna: Tourism week is aimed at MSPs

IT sometimes seems as though there is a special day or week for just about everything these days, and there is always the danger that a sort of boredom can set in. Read

Should our Judges be elected?

IN the last few weeks, a father has been jailed for flushing a heroin dealer’s stash down the toilet, a rape trial witness sent to the cells after breaking down and fleeing the court, and the judge in the Dolina MacLean trial has told a jury to discount a murder verdict for so-called legal reasons. Read

Beware, your Twitter will find you out

CHECKING references used to be the final stage in the recruitment process. But in these days of Facebook, Bebo and Twitter, the smart employer would do well to check out their successful candidate’s on-line postings…particularly if said candidate is under the age of 20. Read