Latest news with #WilliamWallace
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Scottish gifts for fathers who enjoy the finer things in life ...
Struggling to find the perfect gift for Father's Day on June 15? From timeless classics to unique finds, our guide has something to suit whether he's into timepieces, travel or even a wee tipple WALLACE MONUMENT TRIP CELEBRATE Father's Day with an unforgettable visit to Stirling's National Wallace Monument – where heroic tales and stunning views await. Discover how William Wallace, Scotland's National Hero, led a nation to victory. Climb the 246-step spiral staircase together, and marvel at the mighty Wallace Sword. Relive the historic drama of the Battle of Stirling Bridge then design your own battle shield – a perfect activity for parents and wee warriors alike. Finish your adventure on The Crown, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views across Scotland's historic heartland – a memory-making moment for the whole family. Book tickets at ONCE UPON A WHISKY TREAT Dad to a whisky adventure he'll never forget with Once Upon a Whisky, with walking tours in Glasgow and Edinburgh that bring the spirit of Scotland to life. Whether he's a connoisseur or merely whisky-curious, these experiences blend storytelling, culture, and exceptional drams. This Father's Day simply gift one of their beautiful gift cards so they can experience the taste of Scotland, one sip at a time. They can send the physical gift by post or a digital version straight to your inbox. MALT OF THE MONTH has crowned GlenAllachie 12 Year Old its June choice – fresh off winning the prestigious World's Best Single Malt Whisky award. For just £47.50, you'll get a 70cl bottle, a free GlenAllachie nosing glass, tasting note and cocktail recipe cards. It's a world-class dram delivered fast with next-working-day shipping. Limited stock, maximum impact—because your dad deserves the best. Order now at and make a toast to remember this Father's Day. LONGINES WATCHES MARKING a century of horological innovation, luxury brand Longines recently unveiled the Spirit Zulu Time 1925 – a refined GMT watch blending heritage, precision and global connection which is available now at their Glasgow boutique. Whether worn under the cuff of a three-piece suit or over the sleeve of a flight jacket, this watch speaks the quiet, articulate language of refinement and purpose.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish gifts for fathers who enjoy the finer things in life ...
Discover how William Wallace, Scotland's National Hero, led a nation to victory. Climb the 246-step spiral staircase together, and marvel at the mighty Wallace Sword. Relive the historic drama of the Battle of Stirling Bridge then design your own battle shield – a perfect activity for parents and wee warriors alike. Finish your adventure on The Crown, where you'll enjoy breathtaking views across Scotland's historic heartland – a memory-making moment for the whole family. Book tickets at ONCE UPON A WHISKY TREAT Dad to a whisky adventure he'll never forget with Once Upon a Whisky, with walking tours in Glasgow and Edinburgh that bring the spirit of Scotland to life. Whether he's a connoisseur or merely whisky-curious, these experiences blend storytelling, culture, and exceptional drams. This Father's Day simply gift one of their beautiful gift cards so they can experience the taste of Scotland, one sip at a time. They can send the physical gift by post or a digital version straight to your inbox. MALT OF THE MONTH has crowned GlenAllachie 12 Year Old its June choice – fresh off winning the prestigious World's Best Single Malt Whisky award. For just £47.50, you'll get a 70cl bottle, a free GlenAllachie nosing glass, tasting note and cocktail recipe cards. It's a world-class dram delivered fast with next-working-day shipping. Limited stock, maximum impact—because your dad deserves the best. Order now at and make a toast to remember this Father's Day. LONGINES WATCHES MARKING a century of horological innovation, luxury brand Longines recently unveiled the Spirit Zulu Time 1925 – a refined GMT watch blending heritage, precision and global connection which is available now at their Glasgow boutique. Whether worn under the cuff of a three-piece suit or over the sleeve of a flight jacket, this watch speaks the quiet, articulate language of refinement and purpose.
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Council awards $2.76 million contract for Skyline Drive watermain replacement
Gibsons council unanimously approved a contract award for water main replacement and road paving on Skyline Drive during a May 27 special meeting of council. William Wallace, Gibsons director of finance, highlighted that the project, valued at up to $2.76 million, is the first major infrastructure project since COVID-19 that hasn't required additional funding beyond the original budget. The contract was awarded following a competitive bidding process that received three submissions. One bid stood out due to its pricing and overall quality, prompting staff to recommend the award said Trevor Rutley, Gibsons director of infrastructure services. The work will focus on the highest-priority section of Skyline Drive, where two substantial water main breaks occurred within recent years. The targeted area also includes associated side streets like Avalon Drive, Shoal Lookout, and Allison Way, which have been identified in the town's water system strategic plan as requiring attention due to condition and capacity issues. Rutley explained that the current scope represents approximately half of the total water main replacement needed on the bluff area. The remaining work, estimated at $5-6 million, would require additional funding in future years. Council members emphasized the importance of clear communication with residents about project boundaries, particularly given that some properties will receive upgrades while neighbouring homes may not be included in this phase. The project is funded through an alternative approval process (AAP) authorizing the Town to borrow funds to complete the Skyline Drive water main project, which closed on July 3, 2024. The AAP secured $2,185,000 for water main replacement (Water) and $555,000 for paving (General). Construction is expected to be completed before winter weather conditions halt paving operations. Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter's civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Guardian
7 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
A herbal remedy that cuts the garlic mustard
My Kentish great-grandmother used 'Jack-in-the-'edge' as she called it (garlic mustard) to make an all-purpose salve for her large family (Nell Frizzell, 24 May). The minced leaves were put in a dish with pork fat and cooked gently overnight in the kitchen range's slow oven. This produced a fragrant ointment thought to have antiseptic BaileySt Albans, Hertfordshire Barbara Stewart-Knox's assertion that meat producers are 'the most greedy industry on the planet' (Letters, 23 May) misses some far stronger candidates for greediness. Private equity, for example, takes far higher profits, and manages to pay less tax, than most meat producers; and others in the financial sector come close in their pursuit of high pay and WallaceLiberal Democrat, House of Lords That anyone can be 'accused' of writing outside their own experience is ludicrous (American Dirt author Jeanine Cummins: 'I didn't need to justify my right to write that book, 25 May). Just imagine, if Shakespeare had been so constrained, the world would never have known LewisSt Etienne de Gourgas, France What's the difference between a sentence and a cat? Well, one has pauses at the end of its clauses while the other has clawses at the end of its pawses (Letters, 29 May).Jaki BrienNeston, Cheshire Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Braveheart at 30: Mel Gibson's gory, hokey Oscar winner plays like a biblical epic
For a storied best picture Oscar winner and dorm-wall poster staple of the 1990s and beyond, it's a little surprising how modest Braveheart's success was when it opened in theaters 30 years ago. Though it powered through a mild opening to become a solid summer hit, on the 1995 charts it sits below Father of the Bride Part II and Congo (though congratulations are in order; it did edge out both Grumpier Old Men and Mortal Kombat). Even among other Mel Gibson vehicles from the 90s, you might be surprised to learn that Maverick, Conspiracy Theory and Payback all posted stronger numbers. But Braveheart stuck around, both in theaters and in the public consciousness. It wasn't necessarily tipped as an awards contender at the time of release – Gibson had only directed one other movie, a small-scale drama called The Man Without a Face – but wound up nominated for 10 Oscars and winning half of them, including a best director prize for Gibson. He wasn't nominated for his performance, but it became a career signature, his rousing speech and blue facepaint instantly absorbed into his iconography. He plays William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against King Edward I in the 13th century, when Scotland's dead king left no heir and England swooped in to conquer. The details of the story, which positions Robert the Bruce (Angus McFadyen) as a politicking compromiser, are inspired more from an epic poem than the historical record, which presumably aided its easy-to-follow epic pull. The movie itself is sort of a print-the-legend affair, too, rather than a parade of perfect scenes. Its three hours are full of hacky touches: plummy introductory narration getting the audience up to speed on the historical context; dialogue that underlines motivations at every turn; the occasional embarrassing tribute to its star's virility; Gibson's trademark zany broadness peeking through at odd times. Worst of that material is the running subplot about the king's gay son, where Gibson sees fit to stage the scene where the king throws his son's lover out a window to his death like a grim slapstick punchline – because to Gibson, that's precisely what it is. (King Edward may be a cruel tyrant, Gibson seems to be saying, but he sure isn't weak like his mincing son!) At times the movie resembles nothing more than an R-rated version of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – and some accounts of its historical accuracy or lack thereof would bear out that comparison. What most people are thinking of when they think about Braveheart is a lengthy sequence in the middle of the film, where Gibson's Wallace, face striped in that memorable blue, gives his stirring speech about living a long life of regretting a lack of freedom, then leads the Scotsmen into a long and impressively gory battle, ending in triumph. Half an hour later, there's another, less victorious for the Scots, also memorably gory. And of course, the capture, torture and defiant death of William Wallace at the end of the film is a notable culmination (though by no means end) of Gibson's fixation on chronicling extensive bodily punishment, a grimmer Catholic-guilt precursor to what Tom Cruise puts himself in the name of stunts. This may have been the precise point where Gibson became better known for taking that punishment than as a romantic lead; presumably less remembered or cherished among Braveheart's fans is Wallace's unconvincing dalliance with Princess Isabella of France, played by the decade-younger Sophie Marceau. The ease of reducing Braveheart to its highlights-reel essentials makes it a throwback to the have-you-actually-watched-this-lately epics of decades earlier – not the durably brilliant likes of Lawrence of Arabia or Spartacus, but rather more akin to the biblical epics that don't get quite as much play as The Ten Commandments. Of course, that's where Gibson would go next as a director, and as surprisingly modest a grosser as Braveheart was in its day, The Passion of the Christ was shockingly huge nine years later. Yet despite that massive hit and his Braveheart Oscar in tow, Gibson's directorial career never really reached its full potential. Some of that was his own doing, as drunken, hate-filled antics came to dominate his public image right around the time he unleashed his, ah, Passion. But his peers were clearly ready to forgive (how else to explain the Oscar attention afforded to the similarly martyr-focused and gory Hacksaw Ridge?) and directing offered a clear opportunity to stay a little further from the spotlight while remaining in control of his films. His most recent project, the terribly generic (though recognizably Gibson-y) Flight Risk landed with a thud this past January. Maybe Braveheart, successful as it was in the long term, made it harder to accept Gibson as a matinee idol with flashes of intriguing darkness, and easier to see him as a passionate madman who could really draw some blood. Or maybe it was just a hard one to top in the affections of so many bros. Regardless, the movie itself re-established a beachhead at the Oscars for mega-sized epics. After the Dances with Wolves victory at the top of the decade, the anointed best pictures got a little more eclectic for a few years: horror thriller The Silence of the Lambs, elegiac revisionist western Unforgiven, Spielberg's masterly Schindler's List, the picaresque comedy-drama Forrest Gump. Braveheart came along and waved the flag for subsequent winners like The English Patient, The Lord of the Rings and especially Gladiator. Thirty years on, that style of film-making feels more distant than it did back in 1995, its resources more likely to be poured into expensive fantasy. Of course, Braveheart is its own form of expensive fantasy, too, selling the power of its own brawny dumbness. For a few hours, it summons enough powerful sweep to convince the audience that Gibson, weird hang-ups and all, might be a star for the ages.
