Mautendorf was a lovely village to stay near - but really seemed to come alive under a good snowfall.

Many people are concerned that the usual EU principle of giving aid in conjunction with seeking improvements in human rights, has recently b...

'parrently the heaviest they've had there in October for a quarter of a century

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest played a great gig in Perth Concert Hall on Friday night, featuring a strong set of classic songs, co...

Up in a cable car, high into the mountains, where a long path through the snow leads to the world's biggest ice-caves, Eisriesenwelt (no...

Lots of fun in Blairgowrie with the kids - listening to 'The Donut Man' (children's entertainer, singer, pupeteer, and Bible-st...

How strange that our grandfathers fought the grandparents of this lovely Austrian town.

When some friends invited us to join them on holiday in Austria at half-term, we thought it was a great idea - except that we don't spea...

OK - it's not a picture of today's birthday-boy, but his little brother, Mr Mischief. Captured, as usual, charging without thought ...

Father, I thank you for the ten years I have had with my son. As I look at him I see so much of myself looking back - hopes, plans, dreams, ...

The Imperial War Museum in London is an interesting place. We had a few hours there, with my Mum over the half-term holiday. WWII has a mas...

This is a fascinating read: Ben Goldacre's "Bad Science", based on his Guardian column of that name, as recommended in Phil H...

John Lees' Barclay James Harvest are playing Perth Concert Hall this Friday night! I can't wait - and even better it's a hideous...

Final Hampton Court photo (this is not my garden!)

Part of Hampton Court's appeal is the incongrous clash between the two styles of building - the red-brick Tudor charm of Wolsey/Henry V...

The famous Tudor brickwork chimneys on Hampton Court Palace. Although the palace was built by Cardinal Wolsey, it was grabbed by 'Enery ...

On Sunday night, Irish singer-guitarist-songwriter Brian Kennedy played a tiny venue in Fife, the Inn at Lathones. Mrs Hideous and I were am...

I loved Maconie's previous outing - his 'love letter' to the new North of England, his homeland, " Pies and Prejudice ...

Psalm 133 (A song of ascents. Of David) 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured...

I read this 'Puritan's Prayer' today and was moved, not merely by its truth, timeliness, relevance and profound insight, but by ...

If ever I am tempted to question the matter, I turn on the sound, click this link , and ponder anew the truth of its short simple message.

Liam Neeson stars in this shoot-em-up thriller, as an ex-spy, whose daughter has been, er... 'taken'. The Albanian trafficking gang...

Many years ago, I heard a book review programme on Radio4 on which they reviewed Edward Platt's Leadville, and Iain Sinclair's Lon...

My kids have discovered the brilliant and hilarious, "horrible histories", a children's TV show packed full of the weird and w...

To get the song "Standing On The Rock" by Ian White: right click here

Last night I had the opportunity to speak in church, taking one section in a teaching series on the book of Acts entitled, " How the Ch...

I have had some mapping software for the computer for a few years, but my old PC went belly-up if I tried to use it! My "new" comp...

Every year, Perth & Kinross Heritage Trust co-ordinates a "Doors Open Day" in which public buildings are opened up for visitor...

A great day out at the Falls of Bruar with all five of us, plus my sister and her new toy-boy boyfriend.

It is a rare and splendid thing to look up the mountain weather forecast the night before an expedition and read, " No Rain ", and...

Loch Ossian on Rannoch Moor One of the secrets which the dismantling of our old attic space revealed was an on old video camera, complete...

Once again - a long time ago

The abandoned ruins of the village of Slaggan, lie by the sea at the end of this track. Once a busy crofting community, it was decimated by...

A long time ago...

If Saints fans were worried that promotion to the premiership would leave them floundering, unable to compete and quite literally out of th...

Loch Glencoul