A difficult decision that everyone has to make from time to time, when faced with a selection of equally attractive goods, is… which one to choose. In such a situation, many variables and aspects have to be taken into consideration, like affordability, attractiveness, prestige, look, desirability, and so on… Recently I had to replace my mobile phone, and it took…

Some of you might still remember from a few years back “Tad’s Tatties”, which were distributed from St Peter’s porch for a number of weeks. The tatties were a by-product of the rather noble enterprise of turning a strip of ground in the parish garden into a playground for the pupils of St Peter’s Primary School. First of all, that…

During a friendly chat a couple of weeks ago, I learnt how farmers and fishermen used to form pretty separate communities in the Buckie area. Quite likely I personally wouldn’t have been able to share much common ground with either community – my knowledge regarding farming or fishing is pretty much next to nothing. Am I uniquely ignorant in that…

The graduation season is in full swing. It started a fortnight ago in St Peter’s church, when three graduation ceremonies were held: one for the P7 leavers from St Peter’s Primary School, followed by two for St Peter’s Nursery pupils. Now, across the country, university students who have completed their degrees are hiring gowns and mortar-boards in readiness for going…

Some time ago I had lunch in a local restaurant with Deacon Vincent McQuaid, the Catholic chaplain at Dr Gray’s. By pure coincidence, a woman I knew was there too with her friend. On their way out she told me that she had paid for our drinks. That was a very kind and generous gesture. It’s just a pity that…