Clutter is Just Something You Haven’t Lived Long Enough to Need Yet
I have been reading Good Housekeeping magazine, which is always dangerous because it leaves me with the impression that somewhere in Scotland
Artificial Intelligence Is Coming for Humanity, Just After It Finishes This Email
I discovered this week that British workers are spending an estimated £958 million of their own money every year on artificial intelligence
The Pothole Tea Club
There are certain signs that summer is over in the Highlands. The swallows leave, the evenings draw in, Mr Gunn begins carrying
Three Hours Without My Phone Nearly Brought Down the Household
At six o’clock on Tuesday evening I put my mobile phone in the kitchen drawer. Mr Gunn put his in beside it.
Apparently, Backgammon is Fashionable Again
I discovered on Tuesday morning that backgammon is fashionable again. I was having my second cup of tea and reading about the
When Does a Visitor Become Taxable?
I have been reading about the proposed Highland Visitor Levy, and I have questions. This will surprise nobody who knows me. I
Before GPS, Scotland’s Coast Was a Map Made From Castles, Churches, Chimneys and Hills
Before GPS, Scotland’s Coast Was a Map Made From Castles, Churches, Chimneys and Hills In the middle of the nineteenth century, sailors
When Your Cupboard Joins National Security
I have always kept food in the house, because I was brought up properly and because the weather in Scotland has never
Prince Harry and the Difficulty Of Coming Back After A Grand Exit
I first heard that Prince Harry was coming back on the village WhatsApp group. At 7.36 on Thursday morning, Morag posted: PRINCE
Shortbread, Superstition And The Law: How Scots Married Before The Modern Wedding
Long before Scottish weddings became affairs of hotel packages, photographers and carefully arranged seating plans, marriage could involve banns from the kirk,
Nobody Move: He’s Calling Edinburgh
There is a particular sort of patience required on a Highland single-track road in August. Mr Gunn possesses it, although I should
The Men Who Came to Take Lewis
In 1598, James VI granted a group of Lowland landowners sweeping rights over Lewis. They came with soldiers, craftsmen and plans for
Bessie Bell And Mary Gray: The Evidence Behind Perthshire’s Plague Ballad
FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2015 For centuries, Bessie Bell and Mary Gray have been remembered as two young Perthshire women who tried to
American Coffee and Other Emergencies
I was back at the wee fish shop somewhere between Thurso and Scrabster last Thursday, minding my own business, as I generally
Old Scottish Fisheries – A Scotland Once Described By Its Fish
FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2016 Long before oil, whisky or tourism became shorthand for Scottish wealth, foreign visitors and Scotland’s own chroniclers repeatedly
Clothes Don’t Make The Woman
I had finished afternoon tea at a lovely establishment in the Highlands and was sitting on a bench outside, waiting for Mr
The TARDIS Is Now Scotland’s Most Reliable Form Of Public Transport
On Thursday evening, the King and Queen arrived in Glasgow by TARDIS. This was encouraging. For years, those of us living in
Mrs Gunn and the Postie Apocalypse
At eleven minutes past two, my mobile informed me that a parcel had been delivered. This was encouraging, as I had been
Mrs. Gunn’s Not-So-Secret Garden
There comes a point in every Highland garden when the gardener discovers she has mistaken tenancy for ownership. You may have bought
Mrs Gunn and the Secret Pink Toolbox
I was sitting in the front room on Sunday evening, enjoying the breeze after an unusually warm weekend. I had a book
If I Were Under Sixteen
If I were under sixteen, I would be worried the moment the government said it was giving me my childhood back. That
Mrs Gunn And The Village WhatsApp Group
I did not join the village WhatsApp group so much as become absorbed by it. One minute I was a respectable private
The Wolves at Scotland’s Public Water Door
Scotland’s water system is entering a new six year settlement that will shape bills, infrastructure, private contracts and industrial access from 2027.
My Internet Has Moved To London Without Me
I did not rush into Starlink. I pondered it, which is what Highland women do when faced with a new machine, a
An Open Letter to Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s says white eggs have a lower carbon footprint than brown eggs and is moving its own brand egg range away from
Modern Scot Responds: The Green Economy Headline Scotland Should Audit, Not Swallow
A Guardian article reports that the UK net zero economy is worth more than £100 billion a year and supports more than
Scotland Must Not Build a Digital Future It Cannot Escape
AI data centres are being promoted as engines of growth, innovation and green technology. Scotland should ask a harder question before giving
The Other Way (Not a Tunnel)
I first heard the rumour at a wee fish shop somewhere between Thurso and Scrabster, while looking over crates of fish in
The Map That Proves Scotland Does Not Control Scotland
Scotland now hosts a layered network of military, nuclear, aviation, space, and environmental pressures. Some of it is historical and deeply woven
A Simple Cullen Skink Recipe
Cullen skink takes its name from a town on the Moray coast and from an older Scots word for soup. Made with
Mrs Gunn Investigates the £3,200 Coffee Machine
I am not dipping my toes into politics. I am saying that early because politics is like glitter. Once it gets on
Me and My Ass
A woman of a certain age must look honestly at the transport options available to her and ask whether civilisation has advanced
Stuart Beattie Of Rosslyn Chapel
First published in 2005 Most people who say they want to change the world mean it in the broadest possible sense. Stuart
Amazon’s Drone Can Reach Darlington. Now Try Thurso in February
I have nothing against progress, provided it knocks before entering and does not hover over the washing. Just today I read that
Scotland, Remember The Dandelions
There was once a time when Scots knew exactly what a dandelion was for. Not symbolically, or poetically. Scots once understood the
Port Erroll – Cruden Bay
There are places along the Scottish coast where several different versions of the country seem to exist at once. Port Erroll is
Walk Highlands
Founded by Helen and Paul Webster in 2006, the Walk Highlands website features more than 2,200 awe-inspiring, spectacular walking routes all over
The Posh, Quiet Divorce Won’t Trend in Scotland
It has finally happened. We have reached the point in British civilisation where even divorce has been quietly agreed to be happening,
Skirret, or Crummock, the Sweet Root Scotland Forgot
Before the potato became ordinary, and before sugar became cheap, there was skirret. In Scotland it was known as crummock, a word
Edinburgh: Stone & Shadows
Edinburgh reveals itself most precisely when the light begins to fall. In Edinburgh: Stone and Shadows, Stefan Lenz works with a rare
Forgotten Scottish Gardens: The Older Table
Alongside the structured discipline of the Scottish working garden, there existed in Scotland a quieter and older tradition of cultivation, one that
The Working Gardens of Scotland
There is a particular dignity in the working gardens of Scotland, one that has nothing to do with ornament and everything to
Even Imaginary Money is Taxed in the UK
There comes a moment in adult life when you realise you are no longer living in a country so much as in
Mrs. Bruce’s Mountain Quinoa
There comes a moment when one realises that food is no longer a matter of preference but of performance. The body, when
Flowers Grown in Scotland
Flowers Grown in Scotland is an exemplary website dedicated to showcasing the richness of Scotland’s floriculture directly from the fields of local
The Scottish Yarn Festival
Exploring the Rich Tapestry of Scottish Culture at the Scottish Yarn Festival In the heart of Perthshire, the Scottish Yarn Festival, previously
Tie The Knot Scotland
There are few industries in Scotland that combine heritage, hospitality, design, fashion, tourism and local business quite as naturally as the wedding
History of the Plague in Scotland
“History of the Plague in Scotland,” authored by L.A. Barbe in 1919, offers a meticulous account of one of the most devastating
Buchanan Bespoke Shoemaking
Buchanan Bespoke stands as a paragon of Scottish craftsmanship, rooted deeply in the proud heritage of traditional shoemaking. Their website offers a
Folklore Scotland
Folklore Scotland is an enchanting portal to the mystical and mysterious aspects of Scottish culture, making it a treasure trove for anyone
Edinburgh Research Archive (ERA)
In the digital age, access to scholarly information is crucial for the advancement of knowledge and innovation. The Edinburgh Research Archive (ERA),
Scottish Community Drama Association (SCDA)
If you’re keen on delving into the dynamic world of Scottish theatre or simply looking for a cultural deep dive from the
Project Mapping – Scotland’s Trains
In the fascinating world of rail network mapping, Andrew Smithers’ Project Mapping stands out as a rich repository and a critical platform
A Critical Inquiry into the Scottish Language
In his seminal work, “A Critical Inquiry into the Scottish Language,” Francisque-Michel embarks on a scholarly exploration of the intricate tapestry that
Clan Bruce
“Clan Bruce” by T. Innes presents a historical exploration into one of Scotland’s most illustrious and legendary families—the Bruces. Originating from the
The Old Scottish Wine Trade
“The Old Scottish Wine Trade,” authored by L.A. Barbe in 1919, offers a meticulous exploration of Scotland’s historical involvement in the importation
Historical Scotland Map by L.G. Bullock
This historical map by L.G. Bullock, was printed and published by John Bartholomew & Son Ltd. in 1950. It is a richly
Vintage Dundee Gingerbread
NOTE: This is a vintage Scottish recipe from the WW2 era where eggs were often replaced with dried eggs. If you would
Mrs. Bruce’s Lasagna
This recipe is from Mrs. Bruce of Aberdeen. Filling: – 1 pound of hamburger meat (mince) – 1 pack of streaky bacon
Oatcakes
This is a Scottish traditional recipe that has not been modified from its original version. You will need to substitute for modern
Authentic Scottish Haggis
This is an authentic Scottish recipe. You may wish to modify it with modern ingredients. 1. Procure a large stomach bag of
Scotland’s Lost Country Houses
Have you ever taken a drive through the Scottish countryside and come upon a dilapidated structure and wondered what led to its
Stonehaven, Scotland
Located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Stonehaven is a town steeped in a rich tapestry of history that reflects the broader narrative of Scotland’s
Edinburgh Road in South Queensferry, Scotland
Nestled about 10 miles from Edinburgh city center, South Queensferry is a picturesque waterfront town renowned for its stunning views of the
Skateraw Road in Newtonhill
Skateraw Road in Newtonhill, Scotland, encapsulates the charm of a village steeped in history and community spirit. Originally known as Skateraw, this
Pennan, Scotland
Nestled about 40 miles north of Aberdeen, the historic fishing village of Pennan has transformed into a charming holiday retreat, bustling with
Montrose at Night
Montrose, a picturesque coastal town in Angus, Scotland, is steeped in a rich historical tapestry that dates back centuries. Situated between Dundee
Fishtown of Usan, Scotland
Nestled in a picturesque bay near Montrose, the Fishtown of Usan stands as a haunting reminder of Scotland’s rich maritime past. Established
Catterline, Scotland
Nestled along the rugged coast of the North Sea in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the quaint village of Catterline is a place where history
Women in Scottish History
Women in Scottish History, or WISH, is a project funded and developed by the University of Guelph, and it’s a fascinating effort
Scots Words and Place-Names
Do you know the difference between a skellie and a skerrie or a smiddie and a souter? Or that wast is west
Aberdeen Gardening
I am simply delighted to have stumbled upon a website that not only offers detailed information about all of the beautiful plants
Mountain Bothies Association
Bothies are a great way for groups of 5 or less to seek shelter from the elements while visiting remote areas and
Caledonian Maps
Tucked away in the Highlands, just off the A96 and a few miles in from the Moray Firth, you’ll find Caledonian Maps
Ancient Scotland
Martin McCarthy has been taking photographs of Scotland’s landscape since 1993 and selflessly documenting Scotland’s ancient sites online since 1995. Based out
Scottish Brick History
The Roman occupation of Scotland in first century AD brought brick-making skills to the Scots. Before the industrial revolution all bricks in
Highlands Astronomical Society
The Highlands Astronomical Society (HAS) began like most astronomy clubs do, with a small group of passionate star-gazers meeting up to observe
‘Twas the Night Before Referendum…
Published by the Modern Scot on the evening of 17 September, 2014. ‘Twas the night before Referendum, when all through the land
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