Amy MacBeath

Check out all the latest on music from around Scotland (including some of my own reviews might I add) at isthismusic.com!!!

The last week of my postgrad in multimedia journalism is here and news on the job front has only become more dismal since I started!  With further cuts at the Daily Record on top of the seemingly endless announcements of redundancies and cost cutting the future for us young budding journos is hazy! 

But I refuse to become disheartened!  The blunt, honest advice received about the realities of my chosen career only motivate me further.  As moods dip lower I am determined to remain positive and try and make the most of what comes my way. 

So, until the day comes when I have to sign on (fingers crossed it won’t happen!) I am going to be optimistic – after all there will always be a place for keen, (multimedia trained) journalists….

…let’s just hope there’s room for this Invernesian one!

Mid-terraced cottage available for rent in scenic Speyside town of Grantown on Spey. The partly furnished property consists of a lounge with electric fire, kitchen with working open fire, bathroom fitted with electric shower and two bedrooms. Electricity is by means of top up cards and there are convection heaters in the property. There is also parking available. Central location with a wide range of amenities (including post office, supermarket, shops) readily available. The area is popular for outdoor pursuits with the River Spey a short distance away. A bus service runs to the popular resort town of Aviemore (14 miles) with further shopping opportunities and transport links. Inverness (35 miles) provides transport links by road, rail and air and has plenty shops and businesses for those wishing to commute.

No smokers, pets or DSS please. Deposit & references required.  Contact macbeath4@btinternet.com or comment on this blog with contact details and I’ll get back to you!

I’ve not totally lost it don’t worry – just saw an advert for a new limited edition Walker’s crisp flavour Cajun Squirrel.  Now, I am a little baffled by this but what really got me was the small print on the bottom of the screen saying “Over 16s only”.  Why?!  I don’t understand why exactly there appears to be an age restriction…unless squirrels have a little known intoxicating quality.  Either way, that has most definitely got to be the strangest flavour of anything I have come across – the link between what I consider cajun and the fluffy tailed little creatures is also a little lost on me.  Some kid on youtube described them as cheesy, spicy and alright (he’s not going to win any food critic emmy’s any time soon)!  I am weirdly intrigued and may just have to investigate this matter further along with the other combos they’ve come up with this time!

I decided recently that I love cooking again, not just like heating something up or adding a jar of sauce but proper homely efforts that may you feel all warm and cosy inside.  It’s never fun cooking for one, there’s no satisfaction in the finished product if you don’t have someone else to enjoy it.  By sheer guesswork alone I’ve learned that I can make a pan of broth or tattee soup, macaroni or lasagna just like my mum’s and even her mum’s (both great cooks!) and my veggy efforts have gone down well with my vegetarian sister, all good signs.  Even my cranachan attempt was scoffed!  But I haven’t yet discovered my trademark recipe…my latest creation was a butternut squash risotto with chili and creme fraiche…very yummy…but I now have to go on to bigger and better things!  So the search begins to find my very own ’signature’ dish!

With the G20 Summit happening in London and protesters insisting they will bring the city to a standstill it begs the question, how much can really be achieved?  Meetings between the 22 heads of state will carry on regardless of who turns out to campaign.  I respect the folk who take the opportunity to fight for a cause they truly believe in, if it was something on a local level affecting my family I would probably be all for taking part.  My generation missed the days of sticking to the man and flower power so perhaps we don’t possess the same spirit to rebel for the cause.  I just hope that protests remain peaceful and that no fools out there ruin it for everyone – after all they are spending £7.5m on policing the summit!

This came up this morning at the BBC watching Graham Stewart present the Morning Extra programme, which I was fortunate enough to sit in on.  Once I had got over the initial shock of getting up at 5.30am it was nice to be up and about before the rush and see Glasgow calm and still as the sun came up – a far cry from the scenes I imagine will be on the streets of London.