Columnists

All Columnists Posts

Folk seem genuinely pleased by the local investment, which brings people in, creates jobs and speaks to the town's history, particularly, I think, the aquarium, writes Colin Farquhar.

Opinion

Colin Farquhar: Macduff finally on the up – with long-awaited supermarket near and aquarium revamp taking shape

September 4, 2024

Sufian, who is chairman and trustee of Aberdeen Muslims, had a succinct answer when asked why he and the other Foodbox volunteers pitch their gazebo outside Markies once a month to dish up 200 servings to help folks who are struggling, writes Scott Begbie.

Opinion

Scott Begbie: It’s not enough to celebrate those who help the less fortunate – we need to support them too

September 2, 2024

Ucan admitted freely to the Press and Journal that it had 'begged' councillors to find the money to accelerate work on an exciting new project, writes David Knight.

Opinion

David Knight: My cancer diagnosis makes me seriously question Aberdeen City Council’s charity cash snub

September 1, 2024

The highlight of my uneventful, quiet, but affa happy life is my grandchildren, writes Moreen Simipson. Image: Helen Hepburn.

Columnists

Moreen Simpson: Being a Nana is nae aywis easy but it’s the best job there is

August 30, 2024

The redeveloped castle, Bught Park and Northern Meeting Park will all be ready next year.

Inverness

John Ross: No Inverness Hogmanay party this year, but the bigger picture is worth celebrating

August 30, 2024

Scrabble makes learning Gaelic much more fun, writes Iain Maciver.

Columnists

Iain Maciver: New Gaelic scrabble board should make boring lessons a lot more fun

August 29, 2024

Future phases of Aberdeen beach regeneration can wait, if it means our city centre can thrive, writes Rebecca Buchan.

Opinion

Rebecca Buchan: Aberdeen beach plans can wait – we need to fix our broken city centre first

August 28, 2024

Creative Scotland?s first responsibility is to support and nurture artists, writes Euan McColm. It has failed to achieve that objective.

Columnists

Euan McColm: Creative Scotland exists to wreck rather than support the dreams of creative people

August 23, 2024

One gracious lady came up to me in the cafe in Lews Castle on Monday and told me how glad she was to see that I was not poorly but sorry that I was no longer writing for the P&J.

Columnists

Iain Maciver: Reports of my death have been gravely exaggerated – I’ve just moved days!

August 22, 2024

To some I'm sure it'll be an awkward fit for a place of worship to be turned into artists' studios or creative repositories but art and religion have always had a close bond, writes Colin Farquhar.

Opinion

Colin Farquhar: Could St Nicholas Church reinvention be saviour of Aberdeen’s Union Street?

August 21, 2024

Gulls are on our turf. It's time to turf them out., writes Scott Begbie

Opinion

Scott Begbie: North-east suffers while bird boffins lay down ridiculous rules to protect marauding seagulls

August 20, 2024

Has the council made a right mess of things with its approach to Academy Street changes?

Columnists

David Knight: Inverness roads changes have become an embarrassing muddle for council

August 18, 2024

Columnists

Moreen Simpson: Memories of Lang Stracht office are still close to my heart

August 16, 2024

Seven out of the 10 easiest places to sit the test are in Scotland.

Columnists

Iain Maciver: Travelling to the Western Isles is one L of a way to pass your driving test

August 15, 2024

Wouldn't it be lovely to be able to step on a plan and arrive in France in an hour rather than having to take multiple methods of transport to get there?

Opinion

Rebecca Buchan: Let’s get more flights to Aberdeen – and boost city with tourist tax fortune

August 14, 2024

The glamour and glitter of the Paris Olympics has been packed away for another four years, but issues about public funding for sport remain as the daily training grind for athletes marches on.

Columnists

David Knight: Catastrophic council cuts could cost us our Olympic heroes

August 11, 2024

Aberdeen City Council is set to cash in on selling leftover granite from heritage sites. Image: Kenny Elrick.

Opinion

The Flying Pigs: Reputational risk of selling historic Aberdeen granite? Happily council doesn’t have any reputation to lose!

August 10, 2024

Moreen Simpson got the shock of her life when she ended up on a nudist beach in France. Image: Helen Hepburn.

Opinion

Moreen Simpson: Trip doon memory lane to Cairry On over Aberdeen nudist plans taks me back to holiday hijinx in France

August 9, 2024

Every single person who has joined a “protest” that has led to a riot is a racist, writes Euan McColm. Image: PA

Opinion

Euan McColm: Politicians failing to condemn rioters are no better than thugs on the street – and racism in Scotland must be stopped

August 8, 2024

I am an Aberdeenshire loon through and through, and though I’ve now lived in the city for longer than I lived in the sticks, there was never any choice about where the wedding should be. Somewhere in our majestic Aberdeenshire countryside would make for the perfect day.

Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

Colin Farquhar: Our dream Fasque wedding will keep me connected to my Aberdeenshire roots

August 6, 2024

Flight between Paris and Aberdeen with Air France would be just the boost the granite city needs, writes Scott Begbie.

Opinion

Scott Begbie: Council’s soaring ambition to bring back Air France flights between Aberdeen and Paris should be applauded

August 5, 2024

David night column on Low Emission Zone signage

Columnists

David Knight: Aberdeen’s Low Emission Zone issues are a sign of the times

August 4, 2024

Opinion

The Flying Pigs: If Caithness’ affa bogg fields get World Heritage Status, then we hae plinty here!

August 3, 2024

To go with story by Rebecca Buchan. Moreen Simpson Picture shows; Moreen Simpson. Aberdeen. Supplied by DCT graphics Date; 01/08/2024

Opinion

Moreen Simpson: Fit REALLY happened fan Evening Express turned Blind Date and sent loon and quine on romantic Paris trip

August 2, 2024

Neil Young has explained the property fund being shared among Altens firms.

News

Neil Young: Decade on from downturn, ETZ is bringing brighter future to Aberdeen with building revamp cash

August 1, 2024

Well, if all these younger fatties are going to get Ozempic, then I’m thinking I’ll have some of that as well, thanks very much, writes Moreen Simpson.

Opinion

Moreen Simpson: Skinny jabs are nae for me, i’ll leave it for the younger fatties

October 20, 2024

I've come up with a perfect plan to deliver without further ado the long-awaited A9 and A96 upgrades from Inverness to Aberdeen and Perth, writes David Knight.

Opinion

David Knight: Will it take a ‘dodgy donation’ to finally get A9 and A96 dualling done?

October 20, 2024

Rebecca took a trip to Stonehaven. Image: Rebecca Baird/DC Thomson.

Opinion

Rebecca Baird: Stunning sights and fab food make Stonehaven a favourite place of mine – but steep stairs aren’t for everyone

October 20, 2024

For many Scots, Salmond remains a hero in death. In the weeks to come, emotion will dominate the discussion of his legacy, writes Euan McColm.

Opinion

Euan McColm: Salmond wasn’t a saint – and post-death attempts to clear his name will only expose the ugly truth

October 18, 2024

This shows all 21 councillors who voted in favour of keeping Aberdeen's bus gates. Image: Roddie Reid.

Opinion

Moreen Simpson: Shame we canna get rid o’ bus gate backers noo – but we’ll niver forget

October 17, 2024

This person is not a comedian. She's a grifter, exploiting people with trumped-up rubbish, preying on the very real problems that folk have, writes Colin Farquhar. Image Katie Hopkins Instagram.

Opinion

Colin Farquhar: Aberdeen should be doing better than staging toxic Katie Hopkins’ obnoxious comedy show

October 16, 2024

What we need now is the passion, vision and spirit that Alex Salmond lived and breathed to be rekindled in our hearts, writes Scott Begbie.

Opinion

Scott Begbie: Alex Salmond’s fighting spirit should live on in all of us

October 15, 2024

It would seem sensible to include the legal advice and lack of public consultation as part of any case if it ever reached the courts, writes David Knight.

Opinion

David Knight: It’s time Aberdeen looked to Inverness and took the council to court over bus gates fiasco

October 13, 2024

The farce of the recent full council meeting also made me want to weep with frustration and anger, writes Moreen Simpson.

Opinion

Moreen Simpson: Cooncil leaders should jist admit they dinna WANT tae listen to folk of Aberdeen

October 11, 2024

Aberdeen's granite heritage is why I love the city so much, writes Rebecca Buchan.

Opinion

Rebecca Buchan: Rising abandoned Aberdeen sites should spark moves to save crumbling landmarks

October 9, 2024

I have been in places where it's service with a snarl, writes Scott Begbie. On these occasions they deserve nothing.

Opinion

Scott Begbie: I’m all for tipping to support hard-working restaurant staff – but it should be a choice

October 8, 2024

Chief Constable Jo Farrell tried pouring oil on troubled waters, but her credibility with relatives of Alistair Wilson sank without trace after apparently announcing a new senior officer was on the case when, in fact, the investigator was still on holiday, writes David Knight.

Opinion

David Knight: You can’t make up the nonsense Keir Starmer, Aberdeen City Council and Police Scotland all say to justify their positions

October 6, 2024

Of course, the search for Alistair Wilson's murderer must not end. But who can have any faith that Police Scotland will ever make an arrest, writes Euan McColm.

Opinion

Euan McColm: Who has any faith Police Scotland will ever solve the Nairn banker murder case?

October 4, 2024

As young as I am (and I am!) I'm still from a generation who were given into trouble for speaking Doric at school. Ludicrous, innit? writes Colin Farquhar.

Opinion

Colin Farquhar: Can you tell a Whitehills accent from a Banff one? Doric is more than just the one dialect!

October 2, 2024

Scott's decided to give up the booze for Sober October.

Opinion

Scott Begbie: Health worries have convinced me to do Sober October – but maybe we could all do with cutting back

October 1, 2024

After condemnation of the cuts and demands for a u-turn by a majority of their own members at the Labour conference, Reeves and Starmer now look more like comic duo Reeves and Mortimer.

Opinion

David Knight: Labour should listen to Cher – by Turning Back Time with winter fuel U-turn before pensioners freeze

September 29, 2024

Health bosses were alarmed that orders for meals and sandwiches from hospital wards were often higher than the actual number of patients.

Columnists

David Knight: NHS sandwich saga is hard to swallow

September 22, 2024

Columnists

Euan McColm: Fairy Pools deserve more than a broken road and empty promises

September 20, 2024

Shot from Buckie singer Calum Jones' performance on series 8 of The Voice UK.

Opinion

Iain Maciver: Buckie’s own Calum Jones takes The Voice by storm

September 19, 2024

I managed to go to Bistro Verde last week and had mussels, oysters and turbot. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

Columnists

Colin Farquhar: Aberdeen serves up feast of flavours that caters to every taste

September 18, 2024

Farming

Brian Henderson: How my poo samples were mistaken for tasty biscuits

September 17, 2024

Columnists

Scott Begbie: How can 14 people transform Calgary’s fortunes but 45 councillors can’t do the same for Aberdeen?

September 17, 2024

Once funding is raised work will allow Belmont Cinema to go from well-worn to kitted out, writes Colin Farquhar.

Columnists

Colin Farquhar: Aberdeen’s Doors Open Day gave me a trip down memory lane

September 11, 2024

Inverness

Scott Begbie: I love Inverness but hotel prices are simply too high

September 10, 2024

Businesses looked on in horror at the gates fiasco damaging trade, so it was little wonder people were equally suspicious about the LEZ coming hard on the heels of that, writes David Knight.

Opinion

David Knight: Council excuses over huge LEZ and bus gate fines don’t convince me or the public

September 8, 2024

Columnists

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All Columnists Posts

Colin Farquhar: Macduff finally on the up – with long-awaited supermarket near and aquarium revamp taking shape

Scott Begbie: It’s not enough to celebrate those who help the less fortunate – we need to support them too

David Knight: My cancer diagnosis makes me seriously question Aberdeen City Council’s charity cash snub

Moreen Simpson: Being a Nana is nae aywis easy but it’s the best job there is

John Ross: No Inverness Hogmanay party this year, but the bigger picture is worth celebrating

Iain Maciver: New Gaelic scrabble board should make boring lessons a lot more fun

Rebecca Buchan: Aberdeen beach plans can wait – we need to fix our broken city centre first

Euan McColm: Creative Scotland exists to wreck rather than support the dreams of creative people

Iain Maciver: Reports of my death have been gravely exaggerated – I’ve just moved days!

Colin Farquhar: Could St Nicholas Church reinvention be saviour of Aberdeen’s Union Street?

Scott Begbie: North-east suffers while bird boffins lay down ridiculous rules to protect marauding seagulls

David Knight: Inverness roads changes have become an embarrassing muddle for council

Moreen Simpson: Memories of Lang Stracht office are still close to my heart

Iain Maciver: Travelling to the Western Isles is one L of a way to pass your driving test

Rebecca Buchan: Let’s get more flights to Aberdeen – and boost city with tourist tax fortune

David Knight: Catastrophic council cuts could cost us our Olympic heroes

The Flying Pigs: Reputational risk of selling historic Aberdeen granite? Happily council doesn’t have any reputation to lose!

Moreen Simpson: Trip doon memory lane to Cairry On over Aberdeen nudist plans taks me back to holiday hijinx in France

Euan McColm: Politicians failing to condemn rioters are no better than thugs on the street – and racism in Scotland must be stopped

Colin Farquhar: Our dream Fasque wedding will keep me connected to my Aberdeenshire roots

Scott Begbie: Council’s soaring ambition to bring back Air France flights between Aberdeen and Paris should be applauded

David Knight: Aberdeen’s Low Emission Zone issues are a sign of the times

The Flying Pigs: If Caithness’ affa bogg fields get World Heritage Status, then we hae plinty here!

Moreen Simpson: Fit REALLY happened fan Evening Express turned Blind Date and sent loon and quine on romantic Paris trip

Neil Young: Decade on from downturn, ETZ is bringing brighter future to Aberdeen with building revamp cash

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