Tracy Beaker author Jacqueline Wilson

Tracy Beaker author Jacqueline Wilson gave her biggest ever book talk yesterday as she took part in a live webcast from BBC Scotland's HQ in Glasgow. The event, organised by the Scottish Book Trust had an audience of over 40,000 children from all over the UK as well as a lucky class from Deans Primary School in Livingston who were there in person.

Lovely lady - she even signed a book for my daughter!

Border Taste Awards 2010

The St. Andrew’s Day Taste Awards, created to showcase the Borders’ best food created using the best locally produced ingredients took place on Burn's Night at Wedderburn Castle near Duns in the Scottish Borders.

The rescheduled Border Taste Awards awarded prizes for;

Best Borders Breakfast - awarded to Whitehouse Country House
Best Borders Lunch - awarded to The Caddy Mann Restaurant
Best Borders Dinner - awarded to Allanton Inn

Jim Mather, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism hosted the evening.

To view the full gallery of images and to buy prints visit the GALLERY.

London Calling

I was down in London recently working on a commission from VisitBritain with a press trip from Asia who were in town to sample some of the world class service and visit world class establishments. My role was to provide images which the journalists could then use in their various publications.

From top to bottom we have, Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, Atul Kochhar, owner of Benares Restaurant and Bar in Mayfair and Chantal Coady, owner of Rococo Chocolates, Belgravia.

Perthshire Amber - The Dougie MacLean Festival Photo Gallery

The Perthshire Amber - Dougie MacLean Festival Photo Galley is now up and running where you can view over 450 images from last year's Perthshire Amber Festival which ran from the 29th October to 7th November 2010.

The gallery is packed with concert photographs, session and workshop images as well as some behind the scenes shots of Dougie MacLean, Karen Mathieson and others and the winners and runners-up of the Birnam Fiddle Tree competition.

Prints are also available to buy.

Click here to view the gallery.

Heads Up For Stirling

I have been following the progress of the Stirling Heads for a couple of years now, photographing master craftsman John Donaldson during the carving of the 37 replica oak medallions.

The heads were masterpieces in themselves and I have to admit that I wasn't sure that I would be so keen on them after I head that they were to be painted. But seeing them positioned on the ceiling of the Kings Inner Hall of Stirling Castle convinced me that it was the right thing to do.

Last month I braved the snow and headed up to Stirling to photograph John and Graciela Ainsworth who led the painting team. The images were used for press and marketing purposes.

I am very much looking forward to June when the project will be complete and the palace will be open to the public.

BUPA GREAT EDINBURGH CROSS COUNTRY

Mo Farah produced a great start to his New Year with an awesome performance to win the the International Men's Team Challenge at the Bupa Great Edinburgh Cross Country on Saturday.
Farah destroyed the hopes of his rivals with a tactical break with over a lap remaining, winning the eight kilometres race in 25 minutes 41 seconds ahead of the USA's Galen Rupp (25:50) and Spain's Ayad Lamsdassam (25:55).

Cold but beautiful conditions in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park.

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