The Daily Thistle
The Daily Thistle
Monday 26th September 2016
"Madainn Mhath” …Fellow Scot, I hope the day brings joy to you.. Overcast and a little windy today, not that Bella cares, as she bounds out of the door full of enthusiasm for the new day, the weather is the diverse of yesterday, bright blue skies and for me beach time.. I did a couple of hours sunbathing and Boy! did I enjoy it.. Just the sound of small waves and the seagulls, recharged my inner batteries.. Good Morning I’m Robert McAngus and this is The Daily Thistle…. I spoke about an attack on a Mosque in Edinburgh last week, Well we are pleased to say that a 28-year-old man has been charged in connection with a fire attack at an Edinburgh mosque… The Edinburgh Central Mosque, in the Potterrow area, suffered minor fire damage to the door and the garden after an object was thrown at the building at about 02:10 on Sunday. Police Scotland are treating the fire-raising as a hate crime. The arrested man is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday.
"I'm giving it all we've got Captain".. A ferry has crashed into a harbour wall and ran aground at Lochmaddy Marina in North Uist. The MV Hebrides, which had 76 passengers and crew on board, was unable to slow down as it attempted to dock at 11:00. It had been travelling from Tarbert on Harris when it is believed to have suffered engine problems. No passengers on board the Caledonian MacBrayne vessel were injured in the incident. All services on the route have been cancelled for the day after what Caledonian MacBrayne described as "a technical issue". A CalMac statement said: "A technical failure led to the vessel being unable to reduce speed sufficiently for the routine docking procedures and she struck both pontoons in Lochmaddy harbour and the seabed. "No-one was injured and the vessel's hull remains intact. A total of 76 passengers and crew were on board, as well as 13 cars, one lorry and one motorhome. "She is now alongside safely at Lochmaddy. All passengers and vehicles have been disembarked and alternative routes for all those affected are being investigated. "A team of divers is on its way to make underwater investigations of the hull and a full inquiry into what happened has been launched. "Travel on the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy route is disrupted and likely to remain so for some time/a minimum of 48 hours."
Staying with the "Star Trek" theme...More than 30,000 sci-fi fans have been attending this year's MCM Scotland Comic Con at the SECC in Glasgow. Star Wars actor Warwick Davis and former Doctor Who and Hobbit star Sylvester McCoy are also taking part. Those who attended were given the chance to meet the authors of their favourite books or characters from their favourite shows.
The convention, now in its fifth year, has become renowned for fans' enthusiasm for dressing up. Brian Cooney, managing director of the MCM expo group which organises the event, said: "The whole genre and the fact that people enjoy going out and dressing up is amazing to watch and a big part of the event. Jamie Adam Springboig in Glasgow took on the persona of a unicorn at the event "They like to 'cos play' - they call it that because they like to costume play and don't just put on a costume and go 'look at my costume'. They want to try and play the characters. It's their escape for a day or two where they come and enjoy the fun." Lori Forsyth from Coatbridge and nephew Riley dressed up as Batman and Batgirl Mr Cooney said Comic Con had become a broad term that embraced pop culture. Dan Gillespie from Alford in Aberdeenshire dressed up as Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead He added: "It's totally mainstream now. The fact that the movies have become so successful has led even more people into it, but it was already on the way up before the movies."
And Finally, and you know how we all like a "Happy Ending".. it would seem that a secret deal allowing sauna-owners to sell sex legally had forced police to abandon a crackdown on the Capital’s sex trade industry. Police Scotland began targeting saunas within weeks of the introduction of a single force three years ago. But vice charges against bosses in a series of raids across the city have now been dropped, The Scotsman reported today. The newspaper said that a 30-year-old document led to the collapse of then chief constable Sir Stephen House’s bid to end the industry. The document was signed by politicians, police and a senior Crown Office office in 1986 amid fears that the city would be devastated by the Aids epidemic. Lothian and Borders Police, the city council and NHS officials agreed saunas could allow prostitutes on the premises on the basis that they promoted safe sex and provided condoms. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service have now confirmed the existence of the no-prosecution policy. A spokeswoman added: “New information came to light about the then procurator fiscal’s knowledge of the public health measures adopted in Edinburgh by the local authority, health bodies and Lothian and Borders Police to minimise the impact of prostitution. “Crown counsel decided it was not in the public interest to continue with those prosecutions. Steps have been taken to ensure this issue does not prevent any future prosecutions. “Prosecutors are committed to the robust investigation and prosecution of those involved in the organisation of prostitution and will use every available tool to hold the perpetrators to account.” and that My Fellow Scot is your "Believe it or not" moment for the day!
Well my Fellow Scot, That's the news, so now you know...
Our photograph of Scotland today is of Dunnottar Castle …. Without a doubt, Dunnottar Castle has the most spectacular surroundings of any castle in Scotland. But the castle's not just an artist's dream. Dunnottar (from the Scots Gaelic Dun Fhoithear, meaning "fort on the falling slope") has played a central role in some pivotal moments of Scottish history. Dunnottar was besieged William Wallace (as immortalised in Braveheart); was once guardian of the crown jewels of Scotland; and has been enmired in the battles between English and the Scottish people.
As always It’s a pleasure to have your company especially this back to work Monday the 26th September, and as I always say, it’s great to have someone to talk too in the wee hours as I write...And I do mean it when I say Thank you for your comments and memories please keep them coming.. Have a comfortable and safe day, but please remember it's a dangerous world we live in, be safe out there.. now I don't know about you but I’m off to the kitchen to get myself another cup of coffee, Colombian of course…I made enough for you too.. Want one??
Robert McAngus