David Ross

From 1988 to 2017 David Ross was the Highland Correspondent of The Herald. His patch stretched from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to the Shetland island of Unst in the north; and from St Kilda, in the West, to the whisky country of Speyside in the east. From his home on the Black Isle he covered all the big stories, from the fight against a nuclear waste dump in Caithness to plans to remove half a mountain on the island of Harris. He helped the first community land buyout in modern times in Assynt, covered in depth the anti-toll campaign on the Skye Bridge, the efforts to save Gaelic and protect ferry services.In Highland Herald he reflects on the important issues which affected the Highlands and Islands during his time. He tells how his late father-in-law, the Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, helped him. He had never written in depth about Sorley when he was alive, as it would have been excruciatingly embarrassing for both of us, but does so now.

A guide to understanding the Scots that gets under their kilts to reveal all in an affectionate and humorous fashion.

For almost a thousand years, Scotland and England have been neighbour nations. For more than half that time, they were foreign countries, often at war. Four hundred years ago, they began to share a monarchy; three hundred years ago, they joined in a United Kingdom. A new concept of Britishness arose, but for most purposes Scots remained Scots and English remained English, and the old sense of rivalry remained. In olden times, a war of words and propaganda accompanied the fighting. As the countries got to know each other better and the fighting died down, the verbal exchanges continued, and became sharper, more wide-ranging, and funnier. This book provides a unique record of the long contest of verbal warfare across the Border, from its beginnings right up to the present day. Auld Enemies will be a useful handbook that can be enjoyed whichever side youre on.

When a young Ayrshire band unexpectedly hits the big time with the smash hit record of 1984, everything looks rosy, despite their delusional young manager and a thwarted plot to kidnap Boy George. What could possibly go wrong? The riotously funny, heartwarming, and deeply poignant second book in the bestselling Disco Days Trilogy.***Now adapted for the stage by Scotlands Borderline Theatre Co. and the Ayr Gaiety theatre***This band would definitely bring on Stockholm SyndromeBoy GeorgeAn astonishing tour de forceJohn NivenA great white-knuckle read set in the world of hope, dreams and DIY popStuart CosgroveThe Rise and Fall of the Miraculous Vespas is the timeless story of the quest for pop immortality. When a young Ayrshire band miraculously hits the big time with the smash hit record of 1984, international stardom beckons. Thats despite having a delusional teenage manager propelled by a dark, malign voice in his headCan Max Mojos band of talented social misfits repeat the success and pay back the mounting debts accrued from an increasingly agitated cartel of local gangsters? Or will they have to kidnap Boy George and hope for the best?Featuring much-loved characters from the international bestseller, The Last Days of Disco, this is an absurdly funny, riotously ambitious and deeply human story of small-town rivalries, music, confused adolescence and, above all, hope, from one of Scotlands finest new voices.Praise for David F. RossThis is a book that might just make you cry like nobodys watchingIain MacLeod, Sunday MailWarm, funny and evocativeChris BrookmyreCrucially Rosss novel succeeds in balancing light and dark, in that it can leap smoothly from brutal social realism to laugh-out-loud humour within a few sentencesPress & JournalMore than just a nostalgic recreation of the authors youth, its a compassionate, affecting story of a family in crisis at a time of upheaval and transformation, when disco wasnt the only thing whose days were numberedHerald ScotlandRoss creates beautifully rounded characters full of humanity and perhaps most of all, hope. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It s rude, keenly observed and candidly down to earthLiam Rudden, ScotsmanTheres a bittersweet poignancy to David F. Rosss debut novel, The Last Days of DiscoEdinburgh Evening NewsFull of comedy, pathos and great tunesHardeep Singh KohliDark, hilarious and heartbreakingMuriel GrayIf I saw that in a store I would buy it without even looking at what was insideIrvine WelshLike the vinyl that crackles off every page as warm and authentic as Roddy Doyle at his very bestNick QuantrillA solid-gold hit of a book! The closest youll ever get to being on Top of the PopsColin McCredie

Running Fitness presents a structured and practical training guide aimed at a large portion of the running community, including beginners and those looking to improve in the sport. Author David Ross, a runner of many years experience, provides a training path that develops running capability from a simple 5K race up to full marathon, whilst making the sport easily accessible to those who wish to enjoy many years of fulfilment, success and longevity. Learn about warm-up and cool-down drills, speed and hill training, long runs, race pace, recovery and rest, plus cross training, core fitness, diet and energy supplements.

Bobby and Joeys new mobile disco business seems like the answer to everything, until they lock horns with the local gangster First in the critically acclaimed, hilarious and heartbreaking Disco Days Trilogy, by one of Scotlands finest writers.***Longlisted for the Authors Club First Novel Award***This is a book that might just make you cry like nobodys watchingIain MacLeod, Sunday MailRoss creates beautifully rounded characters full of humanity and perhaps most of all, hope. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It s rude, keenly observed and candidly down to earthLiam Rudden, ScotsmanWarm, funny and evocativeChris BrookmyreEarly in the decade that taste forgot, Fat Franny Duncan is on top of the world. He is the undoubted King of the Ayrshire Mobile Disco scene, controlling and ruling the competition with an iron fist. But the future is uncertain. A new partnership is coming and is threatening to destroy the big mans empire...Bobby Cassidy and Joey Miller have been best mates since primary school. Joey is an idealist; Bobby just wants to get laid and avoid following his brother Gary to the Falklands. A partnership in their new mobile disco venture seems like the answer to everything.The Last Days of Disco is about family, music, small-time gangsters and the fear of being sent to the Falklands by the biggest gangster of them all. Witty, energetic and entirely authentic, its also heartbreakingly honest, weaving together tragedy and comedy with an uncanny and unsettling elegance. A simply stunning debut.Crucially Rosss novel succeeds in balancing light and dark, in that it can leap smoothly from brutal social realism to laugh-out-loud humour within a few sentencesPress & JournalMore than just a nostalgic recreation of the authors youth, its a compassionate, affecting story of a family in crisis at a time of upheaval and transformation, when disco wasnt the only thing whose days were numberedHerald ScotlandTheres a bittersweet poignancy to David F. Rosss debut novel, The Last Days of DiscoEdinburgh Evening NewsFull of comedy, pathos and great tunesHardeep Singh KohliDark, hilarious and heartbreakingMuriel GrayCaptures the time, the spirit I loved itJohn NivenIf I saw that in a store I would buy it without even looking at what was insideIrvine WelshLike the vinyl that crackles off every page, The Last Days of Disco is as warm and authentic as Roddy Doyle at his very bestNick Quantrill

The unforgettable finale to the international, bestselling Disco Days Trilogy Bobby, Joey and Max Mojo return in an attempt to reclaim the elusive stardom of their youth, reuniting a legendary band that didnt quite live up to expectations, with predictable resultsA real new talent on the Scottish literary scenePress & JournalBy turn hilarious and heart-breaking, more than anything Ross creates beautifully rounded characters full of humanity and perhaps most of all, hopeLiam Rudden, ScotsmanDavid Ross carved out an enduring place for himself among contemporary Scottish novelistsAlastair Mabb, Herald ScotlandThe Disco Boys and The Band are backIn the early 80s, Bobby Cassidy and Joey Miller were inseparable; childhood friends and fledgling business associates. Now, both are depressed and lonely, and they havent spoken to each other in more than ten years. A bizarre opportunity to honour the memory of someone close to both of them presents itself, if only they can forgive ... and forget.With the help of the deluded Max Mojo and the faithful Hamish May, can they pull off the impossible, and reunite the legendary Ayrshire band, The Miraculous Vespas, for a one-off Music Festival The Big Bang on a remote, uninhabited Scottish island?Absurdly funny, deeply moving and utterly human, The Man Who Loves Islands is an unforgettable finale to the Disco Days trilogy a modern classic pumped full of music and middle-aged madness, written from the heart and pen of one of Scotlands finest new voices.Praise for David F. RossA warm, funny consideration of reconciliation between middle-aged friends and a celebration of musics healing powers. Suggest to fans of Nick HornbyLibrary JournalWarm, funny and evocative. If you grew up in the eighties, youre going to love thisChris BrookmyreDark, hilarious, funny and heart-breaking all at the same time, a book that sums up the spirit of an era and a country in a way that will make you wince and laugh at the same timeMuriel GrayAn astonishing tour de forceJohn NivenThis is a book that might just make you cry like nobodys watchingIain MacLeod, Sunday MailCrucially Rosss novel succeeds in balancing light and dark, in that it can leap smoothly from brutal social realism to laugh-out-loud humour within a few sentencesPress & JournalFull of comedy, pathos and great tunesHardeep Singh KohliIf I saw that in a store I would buy it without even looking at what was insideIrvine WelshLike the vinyl that crackles off every page as warm and authentic as Roddy Doyle at his very bestNick QuantrillA solid-gold hit of a book! The closest youll ever get to being on Top of the PopsColin McCredie

David Ross has produced an extraordinary, eclectic and hilarious collection of thematically arranged Scottish insults, abuse and invective which has been wonderfully illustrated throughout by Rupert Besley. The best insults, according to the author, occupy an indefinite space between wit and abuse, containing elements of both to varying degree; they must always sting the victim, or else they are a failure. This book is full of rich and expressive examples of insult and invective for all occasions from all over Scotland. These have been passed down through the centuries or have emerged in modern times, proving that clever insults are infinitely more amusing and memorable than good jokes. And so, happy reading. If you dont like it, awa an bile yer heid!

La colección Enciclopedias básicas del transporte nos presenta en un formato cómodo con ilustraciones a todo color y encuadernación en tapa dura, lo más interesante en la historia de los trenes y locomotoras, automoviles, barcos, aviacion y motocicletas desde sus inicios hasta nuestros dias.

David RossWritten by renowned Aristotle scholar Sir David Ross, this study has long been established as one of the foremost surveys of Aristotle's life, work and philosophy. With John L. Ackrill's introduction and updated bibliography, created for the sixth edition, the book continues to serve as a standard guide, both for the student of ancient history and the general reader.

Life is too short to waste on unproductive workshops and draining meetings.Weve all sat through workshops and meetings that drag. Perhaps participants were overwhelmed by "zoom fatigue" or there were plenty of opinions but no agreed way forward. This book provides a fail-safe methodology to address these common pitfalls and design and host workshops and meetings that produce real business outcomes.Created by a leading workshop training provider, the POISED methodology consists of six practical stepsPurpose, Outcomes, Identify question, Stakeholders, Exercises and Detailed planthat enable business leaders to design highly collaborative and productive sessions. With the tools and techniques provided in this book, you will be able to utilise online, in-person and hybrid workshop and meeting toolkits define realistic and measurable outcomes for the session that achieve buy-in from participants and deliver business value design a logical agenda for the session that includes time for action planning leverage collaborative exercises that give everyone a voice (with 30 online workshop exercises included to help you hit the ground running) understand the key skills required to facilitate an effective session and how these can be developed follow up after the workshop to maintain momentum and make a real impact This comprehensive guide is essential for those inside a business seeking to collaborate with other employees, teams, customers, partners or suppliers to produce transformative outcomes.

From poverty to immense wealth, from humble beginnings to international celebrity, George and Robert Stephensons was an extraordinary joint career. Together they overshadow all other engineers, with the possible exception of Roberts friend Isambard Kingdom Brunel, for one vital reason: they were winners. For them it was not enough to follow the progress made by others. They had to be the best. Colossal in confidence, ability, energy and ambition, George Stephenson was also a man of huge rages and jealousies, determined to create his own legend. Brought up from infancy by his father, Robert was a very different person. Driven by the need to be the super-successful son his father wanted, he struggled with self-distrust and morbid depression. More than once his career and reputation teetered on the edge of disaster. But by being flawed, he emerges as a far more appealing and sympathetic figure than the conventional picture of the eminent engineer. David Rosss new biography of George and Robert Stephenson sheds new light on these two giants of British engineering.

Guía exhaustiva de trenes y locomotoras.

The 2000-plus years of Scottish history have seen a huge variety of events, from great national moments to personal achievements, each one helping to make and mould the character of the nation. This compendium takes note of the milestones historical as well as cultural, serious as well as entertaining but also of the many steps between them. Carefully chosen and researched for their interest and variety, they make a fascinating record: 150 vignettes form a family album of the Scottish people from the Romans in Scotland in the first century CE to climate change in the 2020s. And everything in between.

Surnames give us a sense of identity and belonging. Even in todays mobile society they can have strong links with particular areas. They are keys to our family history. And they always have an original meaning. This new collection of some 400 names, gathered from Shetland to Galloway, provides an informative and reliable guide to Scottish surnames from Abercrombie and Abernethy to Younie and Yuill. In each case the original meaning is given, along with the original location and its first recorded appearance. Historical details of particular interest are also noted. Scottish Surnames informs, entertains and may even settle (or start) some arguments. Its an essential item for any Scottish-interest bookshelf.

A braided memoir of resilience, self-discovery, and the search for home. From the Cyclops Cave: A Braided Memoir intertwines past and present, weaving a turbulent childhood in 1950s California with an adult life shaped by solitude on the Cycladic islands of Greece. Abandoned by his father and raised by strangers, the author grows up yearning for connection; decades later, in a primitive hut locals call the Cyclops Cave, he finds both refuge and reckoning. Through braided chapters moving between memory and the immediacy of Greek island life, this poignant memoir explores resilience, identity, and the lifelong journey to belong.

Edwin Moore, David RossCollins Gems are smartly designed pocket reference guides, providing knowledge at a glance on a wide variety of popular and timely topics. Packed with color photos and illustrations, and sporting durable flexi-bindings, these unique quick-reference books offer the minimum in size and the maximum in useful information.