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The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
I walked the Royal Mile for hours. I didn't find a single Scot
A brief stop at the Adam Smith statue to gather my bearings, and I'm off — set loose amidst a hodge-podge of pensioners, university students, and middle-aged mums on holiday. The tourist is not a discrete creature. Wearing a hat and sunglasses, and perhaps a hip pack (or maybe a flask); they peer up and down the mile, phones held aloft, engrossed by such luminaries as the 'Heritage Clearance Shop' and the 'House of Scotland'. Carlos & Martha were visting from Spain. (Image: Gordon Terris/Herald & Times) I speak to a Spanish couple in the shadow of St Giles' Cathedral. 'In the afternoon, we will go to the castle. Now, we have a city tour,' Carlos tells me 'It's very warm right now,' Martha says with a laugh. The couple have just arrived in Edinburgh — and were surely expecting cooler weather. 'We're spending three days here, and then we'll travel around for the next week,' Carlos adds. Higher up the Royal Mile, I speak to a group of French tourists. 'It's been good, but we've just arrived,' one man told me. 'We are going to the castle and Holyrood,' his female companion notes. I suggest the couple trek up Arthur's Seat and take in the views high atop the ancient volcano. This is met with enthusiasm. 'It's part of the plan,' I'm told. 'Are you with Time Magazine?' the man says with a wry smile as our photographer takes his picture. 'Close enough, mate,' I respond, 'close enough'. Christina and Hubert travelled from Germany. (Image: Gordon Terris) Moving closer to Edinburgh Castle, I speak to Hubert and Christa, a couple visiting from Austria (not Germany, as I erroneously guessed, much to my embarrassment). 'We just arrived today,' Hubert says, 'We are going to see the castle. We got two tickets, it was hard work to get it online. 'Depending on the weather, we're planning on going hiking in the north and west — and comparing it to the city.' At the gates of the castle, I speak to Adam and Megan, from Northern Ireland. 'We're having a look about at the minute, trying to figure out what we want to do,' Megan says, with partner Adam beside her. 'We've only arrived like half an hour ago,' he adds. Bent was visiting his son Dan, who has lived in Scotland for 11 years. (Image: Gordon Terris) Next to the Northern Irish couple is Bent from Denmark, who is visiting his son Dan. A quick look, and it's clear they are related. 'We've seen the castle,' Bent says. 'It has an absolutely great view.' Dan, who has lived in Scotland for 11 years, is acting as tour guide. 'We've been here ten times to visit him over the years,' Bent notes. I'm at the top of the Royal Mile, and it's just gone 11 AM. I speak to Kurt and Denise, a friendly couple from Kentucky. 'We just got here yesterday morning, and came from Linlithgow this morning,' says Kurt, who wears a blue University of Kentucky basketball jumper. 'We're going to the castle and have booked the Scottish Experience for the afternoon, and just have a wander around Old Town,' he says, clutching a Starbucks coffee in his right hand. 'How did you know we're from Kentucky? Are you a psychic?' Denise laughs. She's unaware of my college basketball knowledge, limited as it may be. Edinburgh's phone booths aren't safe from tourist photoshoots. (Image: Gordon Terris) I feel transported to a beach near Melbourne as I speak to a jovial quartet of Aussies from Geelong. They're about to join a tour group led by a man with a large red umbrella — but have a minute to chat. 'It's been absolutely splendid weather,' David tells me. 'It hasn't rained in a month. We were shocked.' 'We're going on a Royal Mile tour this morning, and going to Edinburgh Castle this afternoon,' Simon adds. Michaela says: 'It's a beautiful city. The streets are a bit more open than Glasgow, not as dark and Gotham City-like.' 'I thought St Giles Cathedral was just magnificent. Everywhere you look there's something to see,' notes Robin. I bid farewell, as the group thanks the umbrella man for waiting. Moving down the Royal Mile, I stop outside a red-brick pub on a bustling corner. 'I absolutely love Edinburgh,' says Misty from North Dakota, as husband Aaron nods in agreement. 'We've been at Holyroodhouse today, and the castle yesterday.' Reem and Kurt are from Michigan. 'We've seen a lot of Reformation history,' says Reem, as the couple sits at a bus stop, waiting for an open top tour bus. 'We've seen Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle and St Andrews,' Kurt adds, listing a wide selection of all the major tourist sites. 'The weather is perfect,' Reem notes. 'It's not too hot and there's some sun.' Cameras at the ready. (Image: Gordon Terris) I briefly consider hopping on the bus, but the £18 charge for a 70-minute roundtrip is far above my price point — and probably most Scots. On my way back to Waverly, I turn down Cockburn Street. Lined with cozy boutiques and cafes, the avenue is less kitschy than the Royal Mile. There, I speak to a Canadian family. A middle-aged man tells me: 'We're here for ten days, and it's been good. We've been to Dundee as well. 'Well, which do you prefer?', I ask with a grin. 'Edinburgh,' he responds, perhaps unsurprisingly. 'We're going up to the castle now.' Walking along the cobbled street, I stop to speak to Martin and Karen from Perth. Finally, a Scottish couple! No — they're from Perth, Australia. Visiting their niece Leanne, the pair are in Edinburgh for just two days before heading south. 'I wish we were staying longer, it's magnificent,' Karen says. 'All the old buildings are lovely.' Read more: As I walk back towards the train station, away from the tourist traps, I begin to see signs that all is not what it seems. A man lies huddled on some cardboard in a shopfront, an empty packet of Tangfastics and a beggars bowl in front of him. This is the Edinburgh the visitors don't see — or perhaps, choose to ignore. Tourism clearly provides a boon to Scotland's economy. In 2023, 109 million tourist visits generated £10.8 billion in revenue and led to the employment of 245,000 people. Nowhere is this more apparent than Edinburgh, from the trinket shops of the Royal Mile to the scores of Harry Potter fan spots across the city. Yet, this financial boost comes with a price. I walked for hours without speaking to a single Scot in one of our country's largest and most historical cities. And yet, the future of Edinburgh rests in the hands of those who care most about it. To find those people, it seems one must take to the lanes, neighborhoods, tenements, and terraced houses. That is where the real city takes its shape.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd concern raised as they risk repeating mistake with transfer target
Manchester United are the favourites to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich this summer but one pundit has warned against the move because he believes Ruben Amorim needs to bring in experienced campaigners Darren Bent has cast doubt on whether Liam Delap is capable of leading Manchester United 's frontline with the former striker turned pundit instead urging Old Trafford chiefs to sign an elder statesman this summer. Goal shy United are in dire need of a prolific scorer this summer to avoid the embarrassment of a domestic campaign that sees them in the bottom quarter of the table. And with under fire head coach Ruben Amorim still looking to guide the club to Europa League final glory against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao next week with the prize of a spot in next season's Champions League on the line, there is a pressing need for improvements in attack. But Bent reckons an experienced figure should be the priority to help develop Rasmus Hojlund. The Danish youngster has scored just four goals this season - compared to a dozen for Delap at relegated Ipswich - and Bent feels having two relatively inexperienced men up top would be a mistake. 'You're talking about 16 Premier League goals between them: four for Rasmus and 12 for Liam,' Bent told talkSPORT. 'Listen, I'm a big fan of his [Delap]. Watching him week in, week out, of course he's improved so much and the confidence that he's got in his own ability, the confidence he's got to go up against anybody. He doesn't care who it is, he won't get overawed by anyone. 'What you don't want is to have two young centre-forwards. This is his first full season in the Premier League. 'To go from Ipswich, who were in the Championship last season, to Manchester United and be expected to lead the line and score the goals… 'It might work. I think he's got the confidence within himself to do it but there's going to be dips in his form, goal droughts, and that's where you need maybe that elder statesman to learn from.' Delap, who joined Ipswich from Manchester City last summer, has plenty of admirers with Chelsea among the other Premier League clubs maintaining a keen interest. He is expected to depart Portman Road because of a relegation clause of £30m built into his contract. That fee will still see The Tractor Boys double their initial investment of £15m in the all action centre forward.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Man Utd told they should have 'concern' about signing Chelsea and Arsenal target
Darren Bent says Manchester United signing another inexperienced striker in Liam Delap should be a 'concern' considering the difficult time Rasmus Hojlund has had at the club. Delap, 22, has earned himself plenty of admirers across an eye-catching debut season with Ipswich having left Manchester City for Portman Road last summer. An impressive return of 12 goals and two assists have not been enough to save Ipswich from the drop, but the 22-year-old has proven himself to be a handful for opposition defences throughout the campaign. The likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Newcastle are all believed to be eyeing a bid for Delap ahead of the summer transfer window, with the England Under-21 international available for a fee of just £30million due to a relegation clause in his contract. The latest reports suggest United are in pole position to wrap up a deal, though, and the forward is believed to be keen on the idea of returning to Manchester, despite his previous ties to City. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. However, ex-England, Tottenham and Ipswich striker Bent believes United first need to bring in an 'older statesman' before taking another gamble on a relatively unproven No.9. 'You're talking about 16 Premier League goals between them: four for Rasmus and 12 for Liam,' Bent told talkSPORT. 'Listen, I'm a big fan of his [Delap]. Watching him week in, week out, of course he's improved so much and the confidence that he's got in his own ability, the confidence he's got to go up against anybody. He doesn't care who it is, he won't get overawed by anyone. 'What you don't want is to have two young centre-forwards. This is his first full season in the Premier League. 'To go from Ipswich, who were in the Championship last season, to Manchester United and be expected to lead the line and score the goals… 'It might work. I think he's got the confidence within himself to do it but there's going to be dips in his form, goal droughts, and that's where you need maybe that older statesman to learn from.' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video According to Bent, United would 'almost be making the same mistake again' if they captured Delap before adding greater experience to their frontline. 'To have two [young centre-forwards], that would be a little bit of a concern for me because we've seen Rasmus, this season, really struggle in the Premier League and have no one to lean on for that bit of advice or confidence,' he added. 'Then, if you add Liam Delap as well, you're almost making the same mistake again, even though it's not a mistake as they're both good players. 'But I think you need a more experienced centre-forward and then you bring in maybe a Liam Delap.' Bent would not blame Delap if the forward went on to sign for United given it is an opportunity that may not come around again. He continued: 'It's about opportunities so he might look at Chelsea and go, 'Nicolas Jackson is probably going to play more than I am, I'm not quite sure with the Kai Havertz situation at Arsenal..' 'But he's probably looking at United and going, 'They're a top club and I'm up against Hojlund', so he's obviously going to fancy himself to play games there. 'Either way, it's a great opportunity to go to Manchester United and it doesn't come around often.' Which club would be the best move for Delap? For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Arsenal exploring transfer deal to sign Brazil striker from Premier League rivals MORE: Dwight Yorke tells Man Utd to sign Brighton star and axe struggling defender MORE: Jonathan David speaks out on future amid Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal interest
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Power Rangers Kimberley star - from Netflix snub to comics return
Amy Jo Johnson shot to fame as the original pink ranger in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in 1993, but she has since gone on to a very different life Those who spent their childhood in the '90s will undoubtedly recall the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with their vibrant costumes and thrilling showdowns against the likes of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Amy Jo Johnson, who debuted as the original Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart in 1993, graced the screen in 138 episodes and three movies until her exit in 1995. Reflecting on her first encounter with the iconic pink spandex to Entertainment Tonight last year, she said: "I think at the time it was like, 'Oh my God! I'm gonna be wearing pink spandex on national television. What have I gotten myself into?'," Bleeding Cool reported. Her character eventually left the show after passing on her powers to the new pink ranger, Katherine Hillard, though Amy did make a few special returns. Nowadays, Amy's life might not involve morphin' battles, but it's certainly full of action. She's made her mark on TV series such as ER, Felicity, and Flashpoint, and has ventured into directing with short films like Bent in 2013 and Lines in 2014. Her directorial debut for a feature film came with The Space Between in 2016, followed by the dark comedy Tammy's Always Dying in 2019. On top of her acting and directing pursuits, she's also a singer-songwriter, having released an EP titled Still Here just last year. In a nostalgic nod to the past, Netflix dropped a special Power Rangers reunion episode in 2023, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always, bringing back fan-favourite characters from the franchise's three-decade legacy. However, Amy was noticeably absent from the line-up, reports the Mirror US. Despite rumours suggesting she declined the offer due to financial disagreements, she insisted this wasn't true. On X, formerly Twitter, she said: "Please stop saying I didn't do reunion because of money Simply not true. Maybe I just didn't want to wear spandex in my couldn't go to NZ for a month. Or none of ur beeswax." She also mentioned that both she and the late Jason David Frank, known for his role as the White Ranger, who died in November 2022, chose not to participate "for our own reasons". Earlier in the year, she had already tackled similar speculation, stating: "For the record I never said no... I just didn't say yes to what was offered. But other fun stuff is in-store!". Despite stepping away from the on-screen action, Amy did make a comeback to the Power Rangers universe later in the year, albeit through a different medium. She penned a four-part comic book series called Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return, which she described as a "heartfelt love letter" to the dedicated fanbase. She continues to engage with enthusiasts at conventions, sharing experiences from her days donning the iconic pink suit. Reflecting on her impact as a childhood hero to many, she expressed a newfound appreciation, saying: "I didn't understand what Kimberly represented until more recently." She added: "Kimberly wasn't Amy Jo, but it's really cool to have played a character that inspired so many girls in that way. It's probably one of the biggest blessings in my life."
Edinburgh Live
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Power Rangers' Kimberly actress Amy Jo Johnson's life now and why she'll never return
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Those who spent their childhood in the '90s will undoubtedly recall the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, with their vibrant costumes and thrilling confrontations with villains like Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Amy Jo Johnson graced our screens as the original Pink Ranger Kimberly Hart in 1993, featuring in 138 episodes and three movies until her departure in 1995. Reflecting on her first glimpse of the iconic pink spandex with Entertainment Tonight, she said: "I think at the time it was like, 'Oh my God! I'm gonna be wearing pink spandex on national television'," Bleeding Cool reported. "'What have I gotten myself into?'" Her character eventually passed on her powers to Zordon's new recruit, Katherine Hillard, though Amy did make a few special returns to the show. Nowadays, Amy's life may not involve morphin' battles, but she's just as busy. She's made appearances in hit series such as ER, Felicity, and Flashpoint, and has explored directing with short films like Bent and Lines. Her directorial debut in feature films came with The Space Between in 2016, followed by the dark comedy Tammy's Always Dying in 2019. Additionally, she's showcased her musical talents, releasing an EP titled Still Here just last year. (Image: 1995 Ron Galella, Ltd.) In a thrilling 2023 release, Netflix brought together iconic characters from the past three decades in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always. Although many familiar faces returned, Amy was noticeably absent, reports the Mirror US. Although there were rumours of a pay dispute, Amy said this wasn't true. Taking to X (previously known as Twitter), she said: "Please stop saying I didn't do reunion because of money Simply not true. Maybe I just didn't want to wear spandex in my couldn't go to NZ for a month. Or none of ur beeswax." She also revealed that she and the late White Ranger actor Jason David Frank independently chose not to participate "for our own reasons". Earlier that year, she had responded to similar speculation, remarking: "For the record I never said no... I just didn't say yes to what was offered. But other fun stuff is in-store!" (Image: Getty Images) Nonetheless, Amy embraced the Power Rangers legacy from another angle, penning a four-part comic series called Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return, which she hailed as a "heartfelt love letter" to supporters. A familiar figure at conventions, Amy continues to engage with enthusiasts, reflecting on her impact as the original Pink Ranger. With a reflective view on her influence, she said: "I didn't understand what Kimberly represented until more recently." She added: "Kimberly wasn't Amy Jo, but it's really cool to have played a character that inspired so many girls in that way. It's probably one of the biggest blessings in my life."
