The Daily Thistle
The Daily Thistle – News From Scotland
Thursday 16th November 2017
"Madainn Mhath” …Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you…. The bitter cold of the past few days has gone or more correctly I should say the temperature has risen a few degrees, still jacket weather, but it’s enjoyable to be out in the fresh air.. The days are clear skies, painted a brilliant blue in sharp contrast to the white of the towns houses, but it’s 4:00am and certainly no blue sky not that there is in reality, Why’s that I hear you ask.. Well on a clear cloudless day-time like it was yesterday the sky appears blue because molecules in the air scatter blue light from the sun more than they scatter red light. The opposite occurs when we look towards the sun at sunset, we see red and orange colours because the blue light has been scattered out and away from the line of sight…The things you discover on The Daily Thistle…..
SNAKE DISCOVERED INSIDE RENTAL VAN IN ABERDEEN…. A woman moving house was left "completely terrified" when she found a snake in a rental van The Scottish SPCA was called to the scene in Aberdeen after Susan Grayson spotted the snake slithering around on a seat. The reptile, thought to be a non venomous corn snake, disappeared but was still thought to be inside the van.
A mechanic was called out to try to find the snake in the bodywork of the van. Mrs Grayson said: "We picked up the van and started doing our runs as we are moving house. "We were about to get back in the van and my partner found the snake slithering around the side of the seat, at which point we decided not to get back in the van. "I was completely terrified. We phoned Hertz and they said they hadn't had that before. So we then phoned the Scottish SPCA. "I am scared of spiders, let alone snakes."
DATE SET FOR NEW SCOTTISH AVALANCHE INFORMATION SEASON…. Daily avalanche information reports for six mountainous areas of Scotland are due to be issued from 15 December. Every winter, the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) assesses avalanche hazards in Lochaber, Glen Coe and Creag Meagaidh. The service also covers Southern Cairngorms, Northern Cairngorms and Torridon. It provides information on the stability of snowpack on the mountains from December until mid-April.
Hillwalkers and climbers use the SAIS' reports alongside mountain weather forecasts when planning trips into Scotland's hills.
SAIS' most recent forecasting season, 2016-17, involved the service's lowest number of recorded avalanches in almost 10 years.
There were 90 avalanches between December last year and April this year.
TEENAGER CAUGHT IN FBI CHILD ABUSE IMAGES INVESTIGATION…. A teenager caught with almost 14 hours of child abuse videos has been sentenced to 15 months detention. William Stewart, 19, who also downloaded 3,000 abuse images, was traced to a Perth caravan park bedroom as part of an FBI operation. A sheriff refused an appeal for anonymity by his parents, who said they feared reprisals from fellow members of the travelling community. Stewart was also placed on the sex offenders register for 10 years.
Depute fiscal Tina Dickie told Perth Sheriff Court: "The accused was 17 at the time and was a school pupil with no previous convictions. "He lived at Double Dykes caravan park in a three-bed static caravan with his family. "The police received intelligence from the International Law Enforcement Agency that an account registered to the accused had been accessing indecent images of children from the internet." The fiscal said the videos showed children from a few months old to the age of 16 being subjected to sexual abuse by adults. Stewart, from Perth, admitted possessing indecent images of children at his home between 23 November 2014 and 27 August 2015. Sheriff Lindsay Foulis told Stewart: "This is a large amount of images and a significant proportion of the images are in the most serious categorisation."
TRUMP GOLF COURSE DUNES' SPECIAL STATUS 'TO BE REVIEWED'…. The special scientific status of the area where Donald Trump built his golf course in Aberdeenshire is under review, BBC Scotland has learned. Scottish Natural Heritage said the Menie golf course had caused habitat loss and damage to the dune system. The environmental agency is assessing the scale of the impact to decide whether all or parts of the site should lose their special status. The Trump course said its environmental approach was "first class".
SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE BISHOP…. The Scottish Episcopal Church has elected its first female bishop.
The Rev Canon Anne Dyer was appointed the new Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney by the Episcopal Synod.
Canon Dyer is currently the Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Haddington, East Lothian. She is also a member of the Scottish Episcopal Institute Council. The See of Aberdeen and Orkney became vacant last November when the Rt Rev Dr Robert Gillies retired as Bishop of the diocese. Canon Dyer said: "I am delighted to be elected by the bishops of the Scottish Episcopal Church to serve as bishop in the United Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. "It will be a privilege to lead the people of this diocese as they continue to make known the love of God to those in their communities and beyond. "I am looking forward to both the challenge and excitement of serving and worshiping together in diverse locations across the diocese and to joining the College of Bishops." The 60-year-old was ordained a deacon in 1987 and became a priest in 1994 in Rochester, Kent. The Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, said: "Anne brings with her a wealth of experience in theological education and mission development, and has so many of the gifts sought by the diocese together with a deeply loving and generous personality. "I am also delighted that those gifts have allowed us to elect a woman to our College of Bishops."
On that note I will say that I hope you have enjoyed the news from Scotland today,
Our look at Scotland today is of Caerlaverock Castle, Dumfriesshire and a fine looking castle it is...
A Sincere Thank You for your company and Thank You for your likes and comments I love them and always try to reply, so please keep them coming, it's always good fun, As is my custom, I will go and get myself another mug of "Colombian" Coffee and wish you a safe Thursday 16th November 2017 from my home on the southern coast of Spain, where the blue waters of the Alboran Sea washes the coast of Africa and Europe and the smell of the night blooming Jasmine and Honeysuckle fills the air…and a crazy old guy and his dog Bella go out for a walk at 4:00 am…on the streets of Estepona…
All good stuff....But remember it’s a dangerous world we live in
Be safe out there…
Robert McAngus