Latest news with #Moffat
Scotsman
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
To See Ourselves by Alistair Moffat review: 'a double-layered approach to writing history'
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As its subtitle suggests, this is a book that attempts to ride two horses at the same time. On the one hand, Alistair Moffat sets out to chart the various social and political changes that have taken place in Scotland over the last 75 years, yet this is also a personal account, an almost-memoir, so to varying degrees the macro-scale events described are also filtered through the author's own experiences. Alistair Moffat | Ryan Rutherford This kind of double-layered approach to writing history has the potential to go horribly wrong: too much "me", and the author runs the risk of seeming self-important; not enough "me", however, and there's a risk of ending up with something that reads like a school textbook with a few token anecdotes bolted on to spice things up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Happily, Moffat succeeds in pulling off this tricky act of literary horsemanship - partly because he gets the balance between these two aspects just right, but also because his life story just-so-happens to embody so many of the important changes that have taken place since the end of the Second World War. The fact that he grew up in a prefab council house in Kelso, for example, means he can talk first-hand about the social housing initiatives of the mid-20th century; as a beneficiary of a free university education, he can speak to the huge possibilities this far-sighted policy unlocked for a whole generation of young people; thanks to his spell as director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1976-81, during which time he successfully negotiated for the Fringe Club on the Royal Mile to stay open until 2am, he is well placed to write on changing attitudes to both alcohol and entertainment; and his time as Director of Programmes at Scottish Television means he can write with authority on the seismic changes which have swept Scotland's media landscape. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Moffat has played an active role in politics too - indeed, has perhaps played a more pivotal role in Scotland's larger story than many people realise. Having campaigned (unsuccessfully) for Gordon Brown in Edinburgh South in the General Election of 1979, the two men remained friends, and in the run-up to the 2014 Independence Referendum both were of the opinion that the vote would be close, and that Brown urgently needed to express his views about it to David Cameron. With the Prime Minister refusing to engage, however, Moffat contacted Conservative MP and fellow Borderer Rory Stewart and, Moffat writes, "the blockage was quickly removed." Next sentence: "Centrally important at that moment was 'The Vow...'" Would The Vow have been made, then, without the hasty bridge-building effected by Moffat and Stewart? Either way, this passage neatly encapsulates the great trick this book pulls off again and again: demonstrating how the great arc of history is often rooted in apparently minor details.
News.com.au
7 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Adrian Portelli-backed racing star James Moffat lists Donvale house
Supercars Championship and Trans Am Series racing driver James Moffat is selling his first luxury home build, recently completed in Donvale. Racing with the support of high-profile car enthusiast and billionaire Adrian Portelli's LMCT+ lottery business since 2021, the son of motorsport legend Allan Moffat claimed the 2023 Trans Am title. He's also been on the podium at Bathurst on multiple occasions, though said he was still hoping to claim first place in the iconic racing meet. Bonnie Doon listing proves Darryl Kerrigan was a real estate genius But after watching renovation shows on TV a number of years ago Moffat figured he could give that a crack and has built from renovating homes with his wife Leah, to developing townhouse complexes with Sapporo Developments. 'I'm spending more time on building at this point … but any time I get to jump back into the racing car is always enjoyable,' Moffat said. 'When I was first out of school I was hell bent and fully focused on trying to become a supercar driver. 'But my interest in the building industry was sparked by all those years when the reality TV shows popped up. I look at most things and think 'I can have a crack at that'.' He and wife Leah even put in an application to be on The Block. Moffat has just finished his first luxury home at 12 Cabena St, Donvale, a four-bedroom home he designed alongside a draftsman and now has listed for $2.7m-$2.9m ahead of a forthcoming auction. 'We are very happy with the outcome at Donvale,' he said. 'I have built it almost as if it was for me with all the things I would like.' Naturally there's a three-car garage in the home, but there's a number of other features that could easily slip past buyers — like the concealable sliding glass door that can wall the home's main living zone off from the rest of the home, helping to save heating rooms you aren't using. The butler's pantry is also cleverly designed so that when its door is left open the only thing in sight is the pantry cupboards — but with the benchspace just out of guests eyelines. Other features that stand out include the 5m-high sloped ceiling of the rear living zone, the 6m-high void above the entry hall, curved sections of the facade that are reflected in the kitchen's island bench and options for a main bedroom on the ground and first floors. 'So it's a project we think of as second to none, and there's not really anything like it in Donvale,' he said. The home also features bluetooth connectivity to allow certain features to be controlled from your phone, a Swan Security system, 50-bottle wine fridge and a backyard barbecue kitchen set amid low-maintenance gardens. Jellis Craig Doncaster's Kristy Djordevic and Chris Savvides are handling the home's sale, with Mr Savvides noting it was in an enviable location near Donvale Reserve, a range of sought-after private and public schools as well as shops and eateries at Tunstall Square. Mr Savvides said between the home's custom design and Moffat's attention to detail there were few homes like it in Donvale. 'We have had buyers look at it from Mt Waverley, the local area and across Boroondara and Stonnington,' he said.
Global News
07-07-2025
- General
- Global News
Police probe fire that destroyed central Alberta home, displaced neighbours
As police continue to investigate a devastating house fire in Lamont, Alta., last week, people in the community located about a one-hour drive northeast of Edmonton are speaking out about what they remember being a very sudden and dramatic blaze. '(An) explosion happened and we had to rush out,' Ryan Joseph Moffat told Global News on Monday as he spoke about his frightening ordeal early Friday morning. He said that it was late at night when he heard a smashing sound that he later learned was some of his windows being blown out because of a fire that was burning at the home next door. He said the next thing he knew, some neighbours kicked in the door and helped to safely get him, his fiancée and their three children out. The fire destroyed one home and caused significant damage to Moffat's home. He said the damage is so severe his family is temporarily living at his mother's home nearby. Story continues below advertisement The circumstances surrounding the blaze are 'suspicious in nature,' the RCMP said in a news release issued Saturday. Police said the fire did not result in any injuries. Moffat, who said he has spent time as a volunteer with the Town of Lamont's fire department, said he was grateful to firefighters for getting his dog out of his home. His cat was later found 'alive somehow,' he added. 'All the windows on that side of the house had been completely blown inwards from the explosion,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'To our knowledge, no one was in the first building because it was under renovation,' a spokesperson for Lamont County told Global News in an email. 'The first building was a complete loss and knocked down in about two hours.' View image in full screen Two homes caught fire in Lamont, Alta., on July 4, 2025. COURTESY: Aleasha Haukenfrers Aleasha Haukenfrers lives close to where the fire broke out and said she was sitting with a friend at her kitchen table at around 1 a.m. on Friday when they were startled by a noise. Story continues below advertisement 'All of a sudden, the curtain blew in and there was this loud percussion of an explosion that just happened,' she recalled. 'And it blew the curtain maybe a foot away from the window and we looked at each other. 'It was weird because, we both said to each other … 'I've got a really bad feeling.' … That's when the boom happened.' Haukenfrers said she alerted the fire department and was stunned by how quickly the damage unfolded. She recorded some video of the fire and shared it with Global News. 'I couldn't believe (it),' she said. 'The smoke was so thick — it was insane. 'I'm just glad nobody was hurt. Especially with there being kids around.' View image in full screen A photo taken on July 7, 2025 shows the aftermath of a fire that destroyed one home and damaged another in Lamont, Alta., on July 4, 2025. Global News Lorrie Paradis stopped by the scene of the fire on Monday and told Global News the home that was destroyed used to belong to her mother-in-law. Story continues below advertisement 'Lots of memories,' she said as she fought back tears. Moffat said he does not have fire insurance for his home anymore, a step he and his family took to save money amid the rise in the cost of living in recent years. He said the home has been inspected since the blaze and that the damage is estimated to be anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000. He said his mother and his aunt have launched an online fundraiser to help his young family deal with what happened. He said the room his two oldest children slept in is 'completely gone' but that thanks to the generosity of the community, they at least have the essentials they need. –with files from Global News' Kabi Moulitharan
The National
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
REVIEW: A perfectly miserable night with Glasgow's most miserable band
Walking up to Arab Strap's headline show at Queen's Park Arena, Glasgow, on Friday night can't be further from that image. In pouring July rain, the punters brave enough to venture to this outdoor gig stomp around the festival grounds in walking boots and Munro-ready waterproof coats, trying desperately to stop the rain from watering down their plastic-cupped pints. Even frontman Aidan Moffat seems surprised that there's a sizeable crowd standing in front of him on what may well be the bleakest day of summer 2025. "I live nearby," he tells us. "And I wouldn't have come out tonight." (Image: NQ) But, and I ask this with all sincerity: Is there any better way of enjoying an Arab Strap show? The frankly miserable surroundings are the perfect atmospheric accompaniment to Glasgow's most miserable band. Opening with Allatonceness, a banger track from their most recent album "I'm Totally Fine with It Don't Give a Fuck Anymore", the deep, rich sounds are exactly what I need. The band sounds incredible, with the keys and synths particularly audible and hitting hard. At previous Strap shows, the prioritisation of guitars in the mix has covered up those more melodic notes. Tonight, it's brilliant. Dare I say it – maybe even preferable to the recorded versions. The band roll through plenty tracks from the most recent release, but get the crowd hyped up with the older cuts. Moffat also sounds most passionate on those. New Birds, from Philophobia of 1998, stands out. The crowd is silent as Moffat recites those devastating, poetic lines about reconnecting with a former lover years later. READ MORE: Arab Strap on Kneecap, free speech and gigging in Glasgow It is a moving moment when Moffat dedicates the anthemic Shy Retirer to Keith McIver of Optimo, who announced last week that he has been diagnosed with an untreatable brain tumour. The frontman reveals that lyrics in the song about the "c***ed circus" are all about going out partying at Optimo shows, and the audience claps approvingly for the iconic DJ. Returning for an encore, there is a huge cheer for the ever-popular Girls of Summer. That brilliant post-punk section seems to go on forever in the best way possible. Those repetitive synth notes. Fantastic. Bringing things to an end, Moffat says: "Something's in the air tonight ... are there any questions?" The crowd roars for an oldie and shout out their requests, before Moffat and co treat us to a few final tunes as all the light of the evening fades away. It is a great show, and the turnout in this legitimately horrible weather is a testament to Arab Strap's icon status in the Glasgow music scene. See them yourself, whenever you can. There are more shows in the Glasgow Big Nights Out series coming up, including Yard Act and Geordie Greep. Find out more here
BBC News
04-07-2025
- BBC News
Inquiry finds Moffat fatal crash lorry driver fell asleep
A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) has concluded a German lorry driver who died when his vehicle overturned in southern Scotland probably fell asleep at the Hein, 25, was killed in a crash on the A74(M) motorway near Moffat on 14 July 2023 after his vehicle left the Colm Dempsey said the cause of the accident had "inevitably to be a matter of inference".The inquiry found there were no precautions which could have avoided the accident nor any defects in working systems which had contributed to it. The FAI was held at Dumfries Sheriff Court earlier this the time of the accident, Mr Hein was employed by the company Josef Schnell as a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) inquiry heard that he had been driving as part of a convoy from Hull towards Perth when the accident lorry failed to negotiate a right hand bend and left the carriageway over a grass verge onto an embankment and services were called but Mr Hein was pronounced dead at the scene of the analysis showed he had observed rest periods and had not exceeded permitted driving times. 'Experienced professional driver' There was no evidence of mechanical failure or any evasive action such as emergency braking or and urine analyses also found no trace of drugs or alcohol in his inquiry said Mr Hein was a "hard working and experienced professional driver" who was "much loved by his family and friends".Sheriff Colm said: "On the available evidence, the conclusion which I have reached, is that Mr Hein fell asleep at the wheel."His vehicle thereafter failed to negotiate a slight right hand bend and left the carriageway before overturning."He concluded by expressing his condolences to Mr Hein's family and friends.
