“Freedom of expression” has been on the lips of many people across Europe and beyond since the appalling and absolutely unjustifiable killing in Paris. The right to say anything, to mock and insult everything and everyone, with no boundaries, has been presented as the foundation stone of civilisation and democracy; that any restriction or limitation would open the door to…
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In the run-up to Christmas you probably heard on the news a couple of rather unfamiliar phrases, like Black Friday or Cyber-Monday. As a reminder to those keeping up with modern life, or as an explanation for those who don’t, these are terms used by retailers to boost their Christmas sales, to place some additional pressure on potential customers to…
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It was still pretty dark when I parked my car near the former Ballindalloch Train Station, a few minutes later a friend of mine picked me up and transported me to Tomintoul. It was much brighter when we arrived there some 30 minutes later. I was dropped off in the Square and left to my own devices in order to…
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The special season of giving and receiving gifts has come to a close. Santa can park up his sleigh for the next eleven months, and take some well-deserved rest for himself and his reindeer, elves and whoever else helped him with his incredibly intense hard work over the last month. His only helpers that cannot go on leave for the…
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This stretch of the Speyside Way is the shortest, the easiest and somehow the dullest one. It comprises of two quite different parts. The first one, between Fochabers and Spey Bay, runs along the river Spey to its mouth. The second part goes along the coast to the town of Buckie, which is a bit strange considering the route is called…