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"They lost it": Margot Robbie's surprise encounter with Barbie fans

<p>Margot Robbie has recalled a sweet story about when she overheard a group of men talking about the <em>Barbie</em> movie, before giving them the surprise of their life. </p> <p>At a screening of the <em>Barbie</em> movie in Los Angeles, the Aussie actress told the audience of the heartwarming moment she encountered in Scotland, shortly after the film's release last July. </p> <p>At the SAG-AFTRA screening of the blockbuster movie, Robbie began, “I had this brilliant experience.”</p> <p>“I was in a pub in the middle of nowhere in Scotland and I listened for about 30 minutes to a group of guys on a bachelor party discussing the <em>Barbie</em> movie, not knowing that I was sitting two or three feet away from them.”</p> <p>Robbie continued, “It was just truly fascinating. There were people at the table who refused to see the <em>Barbie</em> movie."</p> <p>“One guy was like, ‘Dude, it is a cultural moment, don’t you want to be a part of culture?’ And the other guy was like, ‘I’ll never see it,’ and by the end he did want to see it. It was a whole thing."</p> <p>“I wasn’t going to go up to them, but then I did.”</p> <p>Before leaving the pub, Robbie casually waltzed up to the group of men who “lost it” when they discovered Barbie herself had overheard their conversation.</p> <p>“At the last minute as I was walking out I went to their table and I went ‘Thank you for seeing the <em>Barbie</em> movie’,” she added.</p> <p>“It was very funny, they lost it. It took a full minute for them to realise and I was practically out the door and they went ‘Ohhhh’.</p> <p>“People’s reactions to the movie have been the biggest reward of this entire experience.”</p> <p>The heartwarming story comes fresh on the heels of Margot being <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/margot-robbie-snubbed-as-oscar-nominations-announced" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snubbed</a> for a Best Actress nomination at this year's Oscars for the <em>Barbie</em> movie, which caused an uproar on social media. </p> <p>Margot addressed the snub at the LA screening, saying there's “no way to feel sad when you’re this blessed.”</p> <p>“Obviously, I think Greta should be nominated as a director,” she added.</p> <p>“What she did is a once-in-a-career, once-in-a-lifetime thing. What she pulled off, it really is."</p> <p>“We set out to do something that would shift culture, affect culture, just make some sort of impact. And it’s already done that and some, way more than we ever dreamt it would. And that is truly the biggest reward that could come out of all of this.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

Movies

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$280 million lotto winner cuts ties with "greedy" family

<p>Scotland resident Gillian Bayford went from rags to riches in an instant when she won the equivalent of a $278.36 million jackpot in August 2012. </p> <p>Thinking luck was finally on her side, Bayford didn't expect the amount of drama that came with the life-changing prize. </p> <p>It all began just 15 months after her lucky win with then-husband Adrian, who she split with allegedly due to the stress of managing the jackpot. </p> <p>Not long after, she spent $1,324,304 to pay off her family's debt, which included money that her late father Ian McCulloch and her brother Colin owed over a series of failed business ventures according to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-won-187m-lottery-severed-ties-greedy-family-2023-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Business Insider</em></a>. </p> <p>“My dad and brother built up one company after another and then closed them down,” Bayford said. </p> <p>“I’ve bailed them out of every debt.”</p> <p>She continued to keep her family financially afloat spending a total of $37.31 million on them, and even bought her parents - who were broke and living in a caravan at the time - a $522,388 penthouse apartment in eastern Scotland. </p> <p>But, according to the <em>Mirror</em>, that wasn't enough and her father insisted that she should give her brother around $1.5 million, for a new play-centre business. </p> <p>She obliged, and instead of thanking her, Colin now drives Audis with private plates, owns a $546,000 house and reportedly stopped talking to his sister. He even got married to his girlfriend without inviting Bayford to the wedding. </p> <p>“They have lost touch with where they’ve come from,” Bayford told <em>The Sun</em>.</p> <p>“They’re rubbing people’s noses in it by flashing their cash, which I think is downright nasty.”</p> <p>At one point her father even tried to take control of her winnings and even take a piece of her business. </p> <p>“It’s upsetting and raw,” she told the publication. </p> <p>“The money was supposed to make everybody happy. But it’s made them demanding and greedy.” </p> <p>She added, "they brought our name into disrespect in the village, and we had people threatening to torch the family house.”</p> <p>Bayford said that despite it all she takes pride in herself "because I know I’ve taken them out of a situation.”</p> <p>The lotto winner officially cut ties with her family in 2016 after they called her an embarrassment, while her mum Brenda McCulloch claims she’s heartbroken over the lack of contact with her daughter and grandchildren.</p> <p>“Gillian says that we didn’t try and get in touch with them, but if I’d tried she wouldn’t have let me,”  she said. </p> <p>Her mum also claimed that while her daughter was “generous,” the actual amount she gave her family was much lower. </p> <p>“Every word that comes out of their mouths is a lie. I wish them a happy life, but there will be no reconciliation now," Bayford refuted. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p> </p>

Money & Banking

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Pensioner's epic 600-mile journey from England to Scotland on a pony

<p>Jane Dotchin has completed an epic 600-mile (1000 km) journey from England to the Scottish Highlands with her pack pony Diamond, and disabled Jack Russell terrier Dinky.</p> <p>The 82-year-old has been making this seven-week trek every year since 1972, with nothing but her trusted pony, pet dog and a few belongings including a tent, food and water which she carries in a saddlebag.</p> <p>The pensioner travels between 15 and 20 miles a day from Hexham, Northumberland to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. </p> <p>"I love camping and I love the countryside," she said, according to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-12735287/Pensioner-82-completes-600-mile-ride-England-Scotland-horse-Diamond-7-week-trip-shes-year-1972.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>.</em> </p> <p>Her dog Dinky, who deformed front legs,  is just as happy to go on the adventure, sitting comfortably in the saddlebag as the world passes by her. </p> <p>She lives on porridge, oatcakes and cheese, and carries an old mobile phone in case of emergencies. </p> <p>Dotchin does not let her eye-patch stop her either, as she is determined to continue the tradition for as long as possible.</p> <p>"I know the route so well, I don’t need to read maps. I can manage if I keep to the routes I know," she told the publication. </p> <p>Dotchin first started long-distance trekking 40 years ago when she rode to Somerset, which was around 300 miles from where she lived, to visit a friend. </p> <p>She has made the journey up north every autumn since, and is an inspiration to many, with those who have spotted her sharing photos and videos of the avid horse rider. </p> <p>"A personal hero passed by just now!" wrote one person, who spotted Dotchin riding her pony back in 2021. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A personal hero passed by just now! <a href="https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI">https://t.co/vcwcdjxMOI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JaneDotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JaneDotchin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCScotland?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BBCScotland</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheScotsman?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheScotsman</a> <a href="https://t.co/8qegaOLA3P">pic.twitter.com/8qegaOLA3P</a></p> <p>— Robyn Woolston (@robynwoolston) <a href="https://twitter.com/robynwoolston/status/1441359649387671557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p>"Went to watch a bike race and instead discovered an amazing, adventurous and inspirational woman," wrote another person, who spotted Dotchin in 2022. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiLfMCVMOOy/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Eiger X (@eiger.x)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning," wrote another, who spotted her a week later. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">When you’re struggling on a morning run and meet the incredible <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/janedotchin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#janedotchin</a> on the path. This 82-year-old rides 600 miles across Scotland every autumn with her horse Diamond and disabled Jack Russell Dinky in her saddle bag. What an absolute inspiration on a beautiful morning. <a href="https://t.co/SuAvQug6dc">pic.twitter.com/SuAvQug6dc</a></p> <p>— 📚🕷Suzy A #CrowMoon 🖤❤️📚 (@writer_suzy) <a href="https://twitter.com/writer_suzy/status/1569965657629794306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p><em>Images: Twitter/ Instagram</em></p>

International Travel

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Remote Scottish island hits the market

<p>If you’ve ever dreamt of escaping the rat race and living a life of complete isolation, then look no further.</p> <p>A remote island situated off the southern coast of Scotland, Carlocco Island is up for sale, priced at offers over £150,000 ($A280,317).</p> <p>“There’s still a very romantic sentiment attached to owning your very own Scottish private island, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and enjoy some peace and tranquillity in the most beautiful scenery around,” Aaron Edgar of Galbraith Group, the agent handling the sale, said in a statement.</p> <p>The nearest town is almost 10km away with the closest train station Dumfries an hour bus ride from that town. London is more than 563km away with Edinburgh over 160km away.</p> <p>With lush green grass and rocky outcrops reaching the sea, the island covers an area of around 10 hectares, but there are no buildings, only a flood pond providing water to livestock and wildlife in the colder months.</p> <p>According to the listing, no one has ever applied for permission to build on the island, so it would be up to the buyer to investigate any development possibilities with local authorities.</p> <p>At low tide, the island can be reached on foot, by tractor or quad bike. As for the rest of the time, a boat is required for travel, with a pebble beach for them to be anchored, “the perfect base to explore the island, partake in some cold water swimming…and enjoy a waterside picnic,” Edgar said.</p> <p>The island sits in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, an area in the UK defined as of particular interest due to the rare species of fauna and flora it’s home to, and is also a shelter for all types of wildlife, including great black-backed gulls, and rare plants like rock sea lavenders and fragrant orchids.</p> <p>Mr Edgar expects a lot of interest in the unique property, “We have witnessed strong demand from domestic and international parties for entire private islands, having handled the sale of several in Scotland,” he said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Galbraith Group</em></p>

Real Estate

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Man wearing Melbourne footy jersey arrested for yelling at Prince Andrew

<p dir="ltr">A man wearing a Melbourne City FC jersey has been arrested after screaming at Prince Andrew as he walked behind Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Queen’s coffin travelled through Edinburgh on Monday to St Giles' Cathedral as mourners paid their respects to the late monarch. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her four children, ​​King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, were walking behind the hearse when a man began shouting at Prince Andrew. </p> <p dir="ltr">The man was seen cupping his hands around his mouth before shouting, “Andrew, you're a sick old man”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Police and mourners ganged up on the man before he was arrested and continued shouting “disgusting” and “I’ve done nothing wrong”. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Prince Andrew heckled as the Queen's coffin passes <a href="https://t.co/85m9jUgszF">pic.twitter.com/85m9jUgszF</a></p> <p>— Christopher Marshall (@chrismarshll) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrismarshll/status/1569323294716829700?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Police Scotland confirmed a 22-year old man was arrested “in connection with a breach of the peace' on the Royal Mile around 2.50pm on Monday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The man later identified himself on Scottish TV as “Rory”. </p> <p dir="ltr">It it believed the attack on Prince Andrew was due to his relationship with disgraced sex offender Jeffery Epstein. </p> <p dir="ltr">Prince Andrew was not allowed to wear military dress for the event, and other ones due to his relationship.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, an exception will reportedly be made for him to wear military dress as a special mark of respect for the Queen at the final vigil in Westminster Hall.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Scotland appoints a man as "period dignity officer"

<p>Local authorities in Scotland have come under fire for appointing a man to the role of "period dignity officer".</p> <p>A group of colleges and local councils in Tay region in eastern Scotland announced the appointment of Jason Grant, who will be responsible for coordinating the region's response to a new law that makes menstrual products free to access in the country.</p> <p>Jason Grant previously worked as a student wellbeing officer at a local college before being appointed to the controversial role, which has caused outrage. </p> <p>Many critics believe a woman would be better suited to the role, and were confused why a man would be considered for the job.</p> <p>Retired tennis star Martina Navratilova commented on the news of his appointment, calling it "f**king ridiculous" on her Twitter account.</p> <p>"Have we ever tried to explain to men how to shave or how to take care of their prostate or whatever?!? This is absurd," she wrote.</p> <p>Barrister Charlotte Proudman also questioned why a man was appointed to the role.</p> <p>"I remember at school, girls used sanitary pads because tampons were unaffordable," she tweeted. "What experience does Jason Grant have of this? I'm all *for* men's support - but let's have women lead on our experiences."</p> <p>Grant's role is the first of its kind in Scotland.</p> <p>"He will coordinate and streamline the approach to 'Period Dignity' across the area by working directly with the colleges and local authorities," Grainger PR said in a press release announcing the appointment.</p> <p>"Jason will lead a regional campaign across schools, colleges and wider communities, raising awareness and understanding of the new Act and ensuring that the Scottish Government funding is allocated appropriately," it said.</p> <p>The Period Products Act came into force earlier this week and means that menstrual products, including tampons and pads, will be made available free of charge in public facilities in Scotland.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / CNN</em></p>

Body

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Ukrainian refugees living “better than they dreamed” on Scottish cruise ship

<p dir="ltr">More than 100 Ukrainian refugees arriving in Scotland are calling a cruise ship in Edinburgh their new home, with those aboard praising the extensive amenities and nods to their home country.</p> <p dir="ltr">Families began moving onto the MS Victoria at the end of July, which can host up to 1,700 people and includes restaurants, children’s play areas, shops, a laundry, support services and free Wi-Fi among its onboard amenities.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though that might be standard fare for cruise passengers, there have been some extra touches made to help those onboard feel more at home.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nikol Bilous told <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-62346573" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC Scotland</a></em> the ship came with access to Ukrainian TV channels, which came as a surprise since “you never find that when you go on holiday”.</p> <p dir="ltr">"All the signs are in Ukrainian on the ship and most of the staff are Ukrainian,” the 19-year-old said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"And last night we had Borscht beetroot soup, our national dish, we couldn't believe it.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The conditions on the ship are better than we could have dreamed of and we are very grateful to the Scottish people for this accommodation.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Bilous added that there were also cinemas and theatres on board, but there were issues with the lights which haven’t worked after the Covid lockdowns.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But we don't need entertainment and were very surprised they were trying to do all this for us," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Edinburgh Council has been on board all the time answering any questions we have, so we have felt 100% supported.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The rooms are quite small but they are perfect and we are very happy and grateful."</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/russian-invasion-of-ukraine-imminent-what-you-need-to-know" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russian invasion of Ukraine began</a> earlier this year, more than 10,500 people have travelled from Ukraine to Scotland.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Scottish government says that new arrivals are met with a network of “welcome hubs”, moving into temporary accommodation such as the MS Victoria or a hotel until alternative housing is arranged.</p> <p dir="ltr">The MS Victoria is docked at all times and guarded, with residents able to arrive and leave whenever they like.</p> <p dir="ltr">Other families, including Tanya Munawar, her husband Khashif, and their five-year-old daughter Marcia, told the <em>BBC </em>they were given “a very warm welcome” when they arrived in Scotland and hoped to settle in the local area.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm an immigration consultant and since we arrived here on 26 July I have been trying to find us accommodation to rent and a job,” Khashif said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I've been applying to hotels to be a housekeeping supervisor. We plan to stay here and work. It really helps that we can speak English.</p> <p dir="ltr">"My daughter is small and is feeling good, as long as she is with her parents she won't be affected by this."</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-9e0c4e95-7fff-1195-3bd5-830a54906dd2"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Marko Stampehl (AS Tallink Group)</em></p>

Cruising

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Hidden Van Gogh self-portrait uncovered

<p>A previously unseen self-portrait of Vincent Van Gogh has been discovered behind another one of the artist's iconic paintings. </p> <p>The self-portrait was found behind Van Gogh's <em>Head of a Peasant Woman</em> when experts at Edinburgh's National Galleries of Scotland x-rayed the canvas before it was put on public display. </p> <p>The artwork is believed to have remained a secret for over a century, as it was covered with layers of cardboard and glue before it was frames in the early 20th century. </p> <p>The Dutch artist was known for painting on both sides of a canvas to save money. </p> <p>The portrait shows a bearded sitter in a brimmed hat, with experts saying the subject was instantly recognisable as the artist himself, and is thought to be from his early work.</p> <p><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/Van-Gogh-x-ray.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p> <p>Van Gogh's left ear is clearly visible in the painting, leading experts to believe it was created before 1888 when he cut his ear off. </p> <p>Frances Fowle, a senior curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said the discovery was "thrilling".</p> <p>"Moments like this are incredibly rare," she said.</p> <p>"We have discovered an unknown work by Vincent Van Gogh, one of the most important and popular artists in the world."</p> <p>The gallery said they are evaluating how to remove the layers of cardboard and glue without damaging the original <em>Head of a Peasant Woman </em>artwork.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H6KR2HTPIXI" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: National Galleries of Scotland</em></p>

Art

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Dreaming of greener pastures? You could be paid to move to the Scottish countryside

<p dir="ltr"> If you’ve ever wanted an excuse to start afresh in a remote area on the other side of the world, you could be in luck - and you could even be paid to do it.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a bid to boost the populations of Orkney and the Isle of Skye, the Scottish government has been handing out up to £50,000 ($88,000 or $NZ 97 thousand) to people who are willing to make the move to the countryside.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to its mission statement, the Island Bond fund was created to support island residents to stay in their community and encourage others to move there, with financial support totalling £5 million ($AU 8.77 or 9.66 million NZ) split between 100 households.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We launched the Islands Bond consultation on 2 August 2021, providing an opportunity for our island residents in particular to identify the key challenges that a bond may be able to respond to.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As well as boosting local populations, it’s also hoped that the scheme encourages new residents to start new businesses in the region, giving the local economy a boost.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, local residents and councillors on Orkney have shared their reservations about the scheme, including Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Liam McArthur.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6c7718c8-7fff-41df-b161-d4c5a4d61f91"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Rather than offering bribes to individuals, which could prove divisive, Scottish Ministers should commit to investing in projects that benefit whole island communities such as new ferries or faster broadband,” he wrote on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Rather than offering bribes to individuals, which could prove divisive, Scottish Ministers should commit to investing in projects that benefit whole island communities such as new ferries or faster broadband. <a href="https://t.co/EJLI1HRGKz">https://t.co/EJLI1HRGKz</a></p> <p>— Liam McArthur MSP (@Liam4Orkney) <a href="https://twitter.com/Liam4Orkney/status/1528711611665489928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“The proposed islands bond is set to benefit only a small minority,” he explained, per <em><a href="https://www.tyla.com/news/scottish-island-50k-20220525" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tyla.com</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It also has the potential to open up divisions rather than tackle the root causes of depopulation in island communities.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite reservations, the program has already been well-received, with <em>Tyla.com</em> reporting that applications have come from as far away as South America.</p> <p dir="ltr">To find out more about the scheme, head to the Rural and Islands Housing Fund (RIHF) website <a href="https://www.mygov.scot/rural-housing-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-cf8e1e26-7fff-68a3-969d-81bf484e6fb7"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Entire HARBOUR up for grabs in epic seaside sale

<p dir="ltr">If you’re in the market for somewhere to house your boats that’s just a stone's throw away from pristine beaches, this unusual property could be the one for you - and it costs less than the <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-property-prices-in-sydney-and-melbourne-record-first-quarterly-fall/73549c4c-88c3-42a9-aa11-f1e58b5440ce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">average home</a> in Sydney.</p> <p dir="ltr">For just £500,000 ($AUD 867,000 or $NZD 960,000), you could snap up Sandside Harbour in Caithness, Scotland, according to <a href="https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbabruabr210016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The listing describes it as a “unique private stone harbour” built in around 1830, which comes with a traditional net store and bothy - basic living quarters - located on the store’s upper floor.</p> <p dir="ltr">The harbour is still functional, boasting “immaculate stone-built harbour walls”, two piers that form a basin, and a slipway boats can launch from, including local leisure boats and a few used for lobster and crab fishing on a “grace by favour basis”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Currently, the building is unoccupied and the listing notes that it needs “extensive upgrading”. With its double-height ceiling on the ground floor, originally used to hang fishing nets, potential buyers could consider converting it to create additional accommodation or incorporate it into the bothy flat to create “a spectacular single dwelling.</p> <p dir="ltr">The building has direct access to the harbour and is immediately adjacent to white sandy beaches that are surrounded by cliffs and inlets teeming with birds and other wildlife.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sandside Beach, a hidden gem that’s thought to be one of the least visited beaches in the country, is also right on the harbour’s doorstep.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the potential to develop the area or simply enjoy its natural offerings, Sandside Harbour’s new owner is sure to get plenty of bang for their buck.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6211d055-7fff-36ad-f53b-b642b8002c31"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Savills Realty</em></p>

Real Estate

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Kate and Wills attend COP26 reception, winning praise from Her Majesty

<p><em>Image: Getty </em></p> <p><span>Prince William and Kate Middleton led a royal reception as they met with world leaders at COP26 in Scotland on Monday night.</span></p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stunned the crowd wearing co-ordinating blue outfits as they stepped out to host a reception for the Earthshot Prize Awards in Glasgow.</p> <p>The royals spoke with guests as key members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, and the winners and finalists of the first Earthshot Prize Awards, at the Clydeside Distillery.</p> <p>The couple were all smiles at the event. At one stage, Kate, 39, was seen attempting to give dead larvae – which is used as livestock feed – to her husband William, 39.</p> <p>Prince Charles, Camilla, and Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson also attended the event, which was part of the broader COP26 talks.</p> <p>At the event, the guests all paused to watch and listen to the Queen’s speech as she addressed the world leaders from Windsor Castle, as she was not able to attend the event on Doctors' orders.</p> <p>She said she “couldn’t be more proud” of her son Prince Charles and grandson Prince William in their climate crisis fight – but Prince Harry was notably missed from her praise.</p> <p>The Queen also paid a touching tribute to her late husband Prince Phillip’s decades long climate fight. A spirit which she said now lives on in Charles and William.</p> <p>“It is a source of great pride to me that the leading role my husband played in encouraging people to protect our fragile planet lives on through the work of our eldest son Charles and his eldest son William,” said the Queen.</p> <p>“I could not be more proud of them.”</p> <p>The monarch said it was fitting for the COP26 talks to be taking place in Glasgow, as it was once the heartland of Britain’s industrial revolution. She paid homage to those who have enthusiastically taken on the climate crisis in their own lives, including the younger generation.</p> <p>It comes after Buckingham Palace announced this week that the Queen will only be undertaking “light, desk-based duties” as she recovers from illness. Wearing a green dress and butterfly brooch, she instead spoke to the summit via video link.</p> <p>Addressing the world leaders via video, Her Majesty added: “In the coming days, the world has the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer, stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend.</p> <p>“None of us underestimates the challenges ahead."</p> <p>“But history has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope.”</p> <p>The Queen also urged the leaders to “rise above the politics of the moment” and ”achieve true statesmanship” when addressing the climate crisis.</p> <p>She ended her speech telling the world leaders that “the time for words has now moved to the time for action”.</p> <p>“Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today.”</p> <p>“But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.”</p>

Family & Pets

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Archaeologists baffled by ‘mystical’ find in Scottish cave

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Though mummies are mostly associated with ancient Egypt, archeologists have found evidence suggesting mummification also took place on Scottish shores.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The team of researchers explored the Coversea Caves, just north of Inverness, with their exploits captured by the Smithsonian Channel’s documentary, </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://youtu.be/jV9dIhAn0Zg" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mystic Britain: Mummies</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The caves are among Scotland’s most impenetrable caverns, but evidence suggests that Bronze Age Britons made the “hazardous journey time and time again carrying the bodies of their dead”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“For prehistoric people to make the effort and to make the journey would have been really arduous to do,” said Dr Lindsey Buster, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“When archaeologists first started excavating here, the floor was strewn with human bones.”</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844377/mummies1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/cd4d07e5cece43f98dac6f01c7867e14" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Smithsonian Channel / YouTube</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unlike bones previously found in Britain, these bones still had fragments of soft tissue on them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s not something we expect when we’re excavating a site that’s 3000 years old,” Dr Buster added.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s a really significant find.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is possible that these bones once belonged to a fully-fleshed corpse that had been preserved in the unique conditions in the cave.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844378/mummies2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9b3a3dadecad4377b3c1c426a3dbaa70" /></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traces of ligaments can still be seen on the remains. Image: Smithsonian Channel / YouTube.</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The team also found evidence of fires being lit in the cave “at the same time presumably as bodies are being laid out”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The smoke could actually probably have helped to preserve bodies and body parts,” Dr Buster said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Buster suspects Bronze Age people came to the caves to purposefully mummify their friends and relatives.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think once bodies began to be brought into the cave and were behaving in ways that they didn’t normally do on above-ground sites, those characteristics were probably well-noted and became a factory of people coming back again and again over centuries to deposit their dead.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Smithsonian Channel / YouTube</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Great-great-great-grandma meets newest addition to family

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Scottish woman has become a great, great, great grandmother, with six generations of her family alive at the same time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mary Marshall has a total of 90 grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and great great great grandchildren.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 86-year-old is the family’s oldest member, and the youngest is three-week-old Nyla Ferguson.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of the mothers are on the same side of the family and all except new mum Toni-Leigh Aitken work, or have worked, as carers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They also all gave birth when they were 18 or younger and live in or around Edinburgh.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As head of the family, Mary has eight children, including eldest daughter Rose.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rose Thorburn, 68, has four children, including 50-year-old Chyrel Borthwick.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cheryl’s daughter gave birth to Carrie Dow, a mum-of-four, in 1986.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">35-year-old Carrie’s children include new mum Toni-Leigh, 17.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the birth of Nyla in May, Mary earned the title of Scotland’s only great-great-great grandmother.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She said: “I’m a lucky woman, to be honest with you. It’s great to have such a big family. There’s always someone there looking out for you. I’m incredibly happy.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mary also said she is forgiven for not buying birthday and Christmas presents for every member of the large family, as she would spend “half the year doing so”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">New mum, Toni-Leigh, said: “When we found out I was pregnant, we did make a joke about us breaking some sort of record.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Then we started looking into it and it doesn’t look like anyone else has our family set-up.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s a bit too early to see a resemblance to her great-great-great-grandma, but it was love at first sight when they met.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Living a short drive away from each other also means Mary, Toni, and the new bub can see each other often.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Toni-Leigh also noted it was “pretty loud” when they have a family get-together.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Rose, Nyla’s great-great-grandma, said: “It’s great when you have a new baby. I’m one of eight so I’ve always had a big family in some sense.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Whenever we get together, there’s always fun and laughs. There’s always someone there for you.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is believed that the family is the only one in Scotland with six generations alive at the same time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most generations alive in a single family has been seven, according to Guinness World Records.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: SWNS</span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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Uninhabited island looks for new occupant

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A remote and uninhabited Scottish island is looking for a live-in caretaker.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With no full-time residents, Isle Martin, near Ullapool, needs someone to keep the island in good condition for visitors in the summer months.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The island’s community trust is inviting individuals and couples to register their interest.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Isle Martin offers visitors several hours of things to do, with two beaches, a micro museum (in a hut) and a hill that serves as a top spot for birdwatching.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The island also hosts Scotland’s first seaweed festival from September 6-12, with volunteers sometimes running a pop-up café during the festivities.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height:434.9385245901639px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841538/_118713418_isle1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d1a8bf6d77a342d4b643c4c4d5f10919" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The chosen caretaker will be the first full-time resident living on the island in 30 years, as the trust looks to generate more interest in the island.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When it comes to the actual duties the caretaker will need to do, it amounts to about three hours a day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It is a bit of housekeeping. They need to keep the three houses on the island prepared for guests, clean the public toilets, welcome visitors and make sure they are sticking to COVID safety measures,” Trust director Becky Thompson told the BBC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In return, the volunteer caretaker will be provided accommodation, earn </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">£150 ($AUD 275) per week, and get to enjoy all the perks the island has to offer.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Isle Martin is located at the mouth of Loch Broom and about 1.5km away from the mainland.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The island is just 400 acres in size and sits below the cliffs of Beinn Mhor Coigach and opposite the Viking fort of Dunn Canna.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now recognised as a bird sanctuary, it has been home to a monastery, a herring curing station and a flour mill in the past.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 390.7125700560448px; height:500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841537/_118713426_isle5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/60cd17b68c404df383a11db1a720a1c4" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The position would suit someone who enjoys the outdoors and does not need creature comforts, with no running hot water and only a small electrical charger on the island.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trust is also looking for a candidate bringing specific skills they want to share to benefit the community while living on the island.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Becky Thomson said: “If someone enjoyed the land, they could revive our vegetable garden if they wanted.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She also explained why people are likely to fall in love with the place.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The sense of escape and peace and quiet,” she said. “It is so near the mainland but as soon as you land on the island it’s lovely and peaceful. There are no cars, no roads. Just quiet. That’s what people like - the feeling of restfulness.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credit: Isle Martin Trust</span></em></p>

International Travel

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Who's looking after Kate and Will's kids while they're in Scotland?

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>As Duchess Catherine and Prince William are on their 2021 tour of Scotland, royal fans are curious as to who is looking after Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.</p> <p>The family have access to staff that are familiar with each of their children and they can't travel along with their parents as they have school and nursery commitments.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CI3-aCEleK4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CI3-aCEleK4/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>British publication<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/20210524113825/who-looking-after-kate-middleton-children-tour-scotland/" target="_blank"><em>HELLO!</em></a><span> </span>was curious as well and revealed that the children have a live-in nanny called Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, who has looked after the children since 2014.</p> <p>An insider said to<span> </span><em>HELLO!</em><span> </span>that Borrallo "worked for other high-profile families and it was from there that the Cambridges heard of her and hired her".</p> <p>"She is not married and doesn't have a boyfriend, as her life is totally dedicated to the family she is working with. She is known for being totally professional – married to the job."</p> <p>The tour of Scotland is the couple's first engagement outside of England in five months and they're attending various engagements over the tour.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Family & Pets

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Queen’s “favourite” grandson questioned by police in bizarre 740km lockdown trip

<p><span>Cops turned up on the doorstep of a married woman in Scotland after a complaint that the Queen’s grandson Peter Phillips had driven 740 km to see her.</span><br /><br /><span>Police were forced to “issue advice” to Mr Phillips, 43, who currently resides 460 miles (740 kilometres) away in Gloucestershire.</span><br /><br /><span>The grandson of Her Majesty lives at his mum, Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.</span><br /><br /><span>But locals had little patience for the royal when he turned up in the village of St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire.</span><br /><br /><span>Police called on him and the 40-year-old mum of two at her £475,000 ($860,000) home.</span><br /><br /><span>It was quickly discovered Phillips was not in breach of any COVID-19 lockdown rules after he explained he was on a business trip.</span><br /><br /><span>The woman — who is separated from her husband — is a pal of Peter’s sister Zara Phillips after their days at private school Gordonstoun in Moray, Scotland.</span><br /><br /><span>She attended Zara’s wedding to rugby star Mike Tindall in 2011.</span><br /><br /><span>The woman and Peter met again at a school reunion.</span><br /><br /><span>The father-of-two split from his wife, 41-year-old Autumn, in a public announcement in February of 2020.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840489/peter-phillips.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/462147d9d43d403882d55ccecdf044c4" /><br /><br /><span>“It seems wrong he has travelled here from England, whatever the circumstances,” one local source said.</span><br /><br /><span>“Scotland is closed and if you flew here you would have to quarantine for 10 days.”</span><br /><br /><span>A spokesman for Mr Phillips said the royal had travelled on business with his company XL Medical, which provides rapid COVID-19 tests.</span><br /><br /><span>“We do not comment on ­details or circumstances of Mr Phillips’ accommodation when travelling on ­business,” he said.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840487/peter-phillips-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/19e41b2b78014e838769ef45cc1e858b" /><br /><br /><span>A Police Scotland spokeswoman said, “At around 6.40 pm on Friday March 26, 2021, police received a report of a potential breach of coronavirus regulations at a property in St Cyrus, Montrose. Officers attended, spoke to the occupants and found no breaches of ­legislation.”</span><br /><br /><span>Mainland Scotland is in lockdown with travel only permitted for “essential purposes”.</span><br /><br /><span>Peter and Autumn have daughters Savannah, 10, and Isla, eight.</span><br /><br /><span>Peter is 17th in line to the throne, as he is the son of Princess Anne and her ex-husband Captain Mark Phillips.</span></p>

Legal

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Duchess Kate honours Scotland in collared tartan dress

<p>The Duchess of Cambridge knows how to make a statement, so it isn't surprising that she managed to steal the show as she appeared alongside her husband Prince William this week.</p> <p>Coinciding with Burns Night on Monday, the Duke and Duchess spoke from their living room in their country residence, Anmer Hall, where they made their own contribution to the traditional Scottish celebration.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKej8RUlF21/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKej8RUlF21/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@kensingtonroyal)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The couple teamed up with NHS Charities Together and Tayside Health Fun to host a traditional Scottish lunch for close to 200 staff at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.</p> <p>The lunch consisted of haggis, neeps and tatties - traditional Scottish cuisine.</p> <p>Kate paid homage to the Scottish culture by opting for a tartan outfit, as she made sure to look the part.</p> <p>Sharing the clip to Instagram, Kensington Palace wrote: "This #BurnsNight, we've teamed up with @nhscharitiestogether to provide staff at @nhstayside with a Burns celebration lunch of haggis, neeps and tatties."</p> <p>The caption concluded with a simple message: "Thank you for all that you do."</p>

Beauty & Style

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Japan upset Scotland at chaotic Rugby World Cup in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis

<p>Japan has dominated Scotland to triumph with a 28-21 win, meaning that this is the first time that Japan have reached the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.</p> <p>Japan were faster and relentless in their attacks against Scotland, much to the delight of the red-and-white crowd who were cheering on their every move.</p> <p>Japan coach Jamie Joseph said that the team went “another level” in the match.</p> <p>"Tonight we went another level," he said.</p> <p>"They wanted it as much as the Scots and gave as much as they could. This is what it takes to win big test matches."</p> <p>Wing Kenki Fukuoka scored two tries while Kotaro Matsushima and Keita Inagaki also scored as the team held off attacks from Scotland.</p> <p>However, Japan were aware that their win came at a price, as the country is reeling from the damage caused by Typhoon Hagibis.</p> <p>"Whilst we are celebrating tonight there are a lot of people who aren't," Joseph said.</p> <p>Rugby fans are shocked at the outcome, as it means that this is the second time Scotland have failed to reach the last eight. Their last loss was back in 2011, but they haven’t let it get them down.</p> <p>"We had a mountain to climb after that first half but we started climbing it and I thought the effort the players put in to get back to within seven points was excellent," said Scotland coach Gregor Townsend to<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-14/japan-scotland-rwc-result-typhoon-hagibis-winner/11598394" target="_blank">The ABC</a></em>.</p> <p>"We were obviously aware that this was huge for the home nation. The atmosphere was absolutely fantastic and you didn't want to be the team that was losing in that atmosphere."</p>

International Travel

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A full royal household: How is Balmoral Castle handling all their guests?

<p>With all the royal members staying at the Queen’s summer residence over the last few weeks, it is a wonder how they are managing all being so close to each other - even if the Summer home is a castle. </p> <p>Each year during the summer, Her Majesty spends time away from London in Scotland’s Highlands, at Balmoral Castle. </p> <p>When the warmer months are in full swing, other members of the royal family head north to join the Queen and Prince Philip. </p> <p>However reports are stating this year’s long list of visitors has forced couriers to make a few adjustments to the sleeping arrangements. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1OQ4aHgNi6/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1OQ4aHgNi6/" target="_blank">A post shared by Royals now and then (@royalsnowthen)</a> on Aug 16, 2019 at 4:17am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>British publication<span> </span><a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1170228/prince-william-prince-harry-news-feud-balmoral-castle-queen-summer-holiday"><em>The Express<span> </span></em></a>said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit has coincided with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and due to this, both Prince William and Duchess Kate are staying out of the castle itself. </p> <p>"The Queen has a lot of guests coming and to ease the pressure the Cambridges are likely to stay at the cottage," a royal insider said. </p> <p>The Cambridge’s are believed to have settled into Tam-na-Ghar which is situated in the castle grounds.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan along with baby Archie are expected to be staying within the castle walls. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1pMmCCnSqQ/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1pMmCCnSqQ/" target="_blank">A post shared by The Royal Windsors (@royals_off_the_record)</a> on Aug 26, 2019 at 3:19pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>So far, Balmoral Castle’s royal visitors include Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Andrew, and his daughters Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice.</p> <p>Princess Eugenie's husband Jack Brooksbank and Beatrice's boyfriend, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi have also visited up north. </p> <p>The guests are not sitting around either, the royal insider continued. </p> <p>"It can get quite busy at what they call 'the big house' and it's not especially relaxing even though it's a holiday.”</p> <p>"There's a daily routine which evolves around mealtimes, several outfit changes every day, sometimes five, and the Queen likes everything to run like clockwork."</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eNv3ynuR0/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eNv3ynuR0/" target="_blank">A post shared by Royal Icelander 🇮🇸 (@royalicelander)</a> on Aug 22, 2019 at 8:57am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>While the royals prefer to keep their activities private, Princess Eugenie has previously opened up about some of the ways they like to keep themselves occupied. </p> <p>The royal said in the documentary<span> </span><em>Our Queen at Ninety,<span> </span></em>Balmoral Castle is her “Granny’s” happy place. </p> <p>"Walks, picnics, dogs—a lot of dogs, there's always dogs—and people coming in and out all the time," she said. </p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Uv0DIHfZa/" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Uv0DIHfZa/" target="_blank">A post shared by CAЯLOS (@los009)</a> on Aug 18, 2019 at 4:42pm PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"It's a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there, where you just have room to breathe and run."</p> <p>Balmoral Castle has been one of the royal’s residences since 1852, when Prince Albert purchased it as a gift for his wife Queen Victoria.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see the royal family at Balmoral Castle throughout the years.</p>

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Inside Mary Queen of Scots’ refurbished $14 million palace

<p>A luxurious Scottish castle has recently gone through a complete makeover thanks to a refurbishment, making way for its own private pub.</p> <p>Located roughly 16 kilometres from Edinburgh, Seton Castle was known to be Mary Queen of Scots’ favourite home.</p> <p>So if you have a spare $AUD14 million lying around, the regal property could be yours.</p> <p>The original Seton Palace was demolished, with the castle taking its place in 1789 designed by famous Scottish architect Robert Adam.</p> <p>The historic elements of the castle are well preserved, mainly due to being in possession of one family for centuries, who owned the home from the late 18th century until 2003.</p> <p>The renovation project has been a work in progress for the last decade, as they installed historic French oak flooring and rebuilt the turrets, chimneys and parapets.</p> <p>“Seton Castle is simply one of Scotland’s most significant and ravishing buildings, with eight centuries of history and legend carved deep in its walls,” said Jamie Macnab of Savills Edinburgh.</p> <p>“With the unstinting dedication and investment shown by recent owners, Seton Castle is now also a wonderfully comfortable and welcoming home.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see inside the stunning Seton Castle.</p>

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