I feel sickened by the continuing spiral of violence and death in the Middle East. As I watch the news today, more people are dying, men, women, children, and for what? It seems senseless, and with each further loss, this most complex and fraught of conflicts feels doomed to an even deeper chasm between the two sides, and the accompanying hardening of attitudes and beliefs, and cycle of hatred and killing. Of course, the Israeli people have the right to defend their nation.

From time to time we all get wrapped up in the daily grind, and overly focused on problems, worries or insecurities. Me too – guilty as charged. But occasionally something happens that makes you stop and think. Perhaps an event outwith the norm that gives you a jolt, and helps you (or forces you) to step back from things a bit, lift your eyes, and look around. This is all about getting some kind of perspective on your life, on where you are and on what you are doing, or ar

Oliver James is a renowned British psychologist. Here, his recent article in the Guardian explores the role that ‘ecotherapy’ can take in leading to a healthier mind. “At the age of 11 I was an angry boy who earned unpopularity through assiduous selfishness and hostility. At that time I was at a boarding school in Kent, surrounded by rich, fecund forest. It proved my saviour in several different ways. The first was literal. The forest was my protection from occasional hordes

‘Wow’, is all I can say. I, like most of the rest of the football watching public, have been completely blown away by the match, team performances, and overall result in the World Cup semi-final last night between Brazil and Germany. Destruction. Annihilation. Humiliation. In the context of international football, and historically what we know and believe about the grand order of things, the script was well and truly ripped up. Just, wow. In hindsight, I have been a littl

You may have seen the news yesterday that the 18-year-old Dundee United Football Club midfield sensation, Ryan Gauld, who has been dubbed ‘mini Messi’ by teammates, has clinched a £3 million move to Sporting Lisbon. Many of you have probably not even heard of Gauld. Take it from me, he’s good, very good - I saw him put in some classy performances for United last season. United manager Jackie McNamara has proclaimed him as, potentially, “one of the greats of our game”. I ha