Fence Falls On Pensioner

The paper of record that diligently notes Births, Marriages, Deaths (and a fa’ings oot that make it to court) for us little folk is the twice weekly Perthshire Advertiser. It’s the very embodiment of parochial. For instance, some years ago in the week of Black Wednesday when Major Major and Norman Lamont tossed billions of pounds away in a vain attempt to stabilise the exchange rate, the front page headline of the PA was:FENCE FALLS ON PENSIONER accompanied by a photo of said auld yin with a sticking plaster on his forehead gazing down at a bit of dilapidated larch lap.

However. The PA is not blind to the rich variety of our rural hinterland, and to its credit regularly carries well illustrated articles encouraging us all, young and pensioners alike, to get out there. Currently, the paper is running a competition inviting readers to nominate their favourite viewpoint in Perthshire and submit a photo from it. But their timing is a bit off. Thus far readers don’t seem able to see the views for the trees, with Big Tree Country right now in full autumnal pomp.

So this would be a good time to sling a camera into your bar bag and get out on your bike to your fav viewpoint. And if you get a rejection from the PA. . . Bless. Flickr it instead, and send me a link.

50 mil up for grabs!

The Sustrans Connect2 bid for Big Lottery sponds has made the cut to the last four projects going for a whopping £50m jackpot this December. ITV will be hosting a series of programmes leading up to a crucial televised poll when viewers will decide which project will scoop the lot. Unlike the other three single site candidates (BOO! HISS!) the Connect2 bid will benefit people all over the UK. In all, Sustrans has 79 individual projects designed to make walking and cycling in and out of towns and cities and out into the countryside a whole lot easier. And the one dearest to Fietser's heart is the Destiny Bridge across the Tay. . .

Linking Perth with Scone, the Destiny Bridge (geddit?) will give cyclists and walkers a virtually traffic-less passage in and out of town. Better still, it will be a boon to the wheelchair gaddabouts from Upper Springland who will be spared the hassle of getting through Perth's notorious Bridgend. They'll be straight across the bridge onto the North Inch and heading for the bright lights in the time it would have taken their minibus to get as far as the traffic lights on the Scone road.

But the Connect2 bid needs all your votes. Visit www.sustransconnect2.org.uk to register and get updates on how and when to vote.