WITH THE shock news from Australia that even a wee smidgeon of seaweed in livestock rations can dramatically cut those pesky methane emissions and boost breeding performance, one has to wonder how long until there’s a new Gold Rush (or Greeny-Brown Rush perhaps) to the Highland and Islands coastline of Scotland, where there is no shortage of seaweed swaying in our splendid waters.

But should these astonishing chemical effects prove to be transferable from the Oz research to our own rockpools, how long will it also be before the long-suffering better-halves of Scotland’s rural men decide that methane-cutting, virility-boosting seaweed meals are wasted on the cows and sheep, and belong instead on the dinner table?

Finlay’s breakfast takeaway

EVER the doting husband, Rannoch man Finlay McIntyre, of Dunalastair Estate, dropped his better half, Gill off at work at Highland Safaris, Dull, one morning before popping in for one of the perks of the job – a wee spot of breakfast. 

The former auctioneer at ANM had reversed into a parking bay for a quick getaway but, unbeknown to him, he’d managed to catch the fence behind him on his tow bar. When it came to driving away, the cheery chappy thought he was quite the lad going by the number of folk waving to him on his way out, until he caught sight of eight posts and a strainer fleeing along behind him!

Kirsty takes pole position

A VET from the Keith-based Seaforth Veterinary Group, proved that she’s more than a pretty face when she recently took part in the Saltire Rally Club’s ladies auto-test.

Perthshire lass Kirsty Horne, or ‘wee Kirsty’ as she’s known, has taken part in a couple of the Saltire club’s rallies before as co-driver for her brother, ‘wee Sandy’ (not to be confused with ‘big Sandy’, their father) but it was her turn in the driving seat this time round and she certainly gave her brother a run for his money as she only went and won! 
With some impressive driving skills on show, she claimed the top spot in the dynamic duo’s trusty Ford Ka, which also secured them the best novice title in a similar rally for the past two years in a row. 

Gordy goes off the map in England

And while we are on the subject of rally driving, witness our own news editor Gordon Davidson, careening across Northumbria last Friday, en route to a site visit with Egger Forestry in Hexham.

Always with an eye out for a photo opportunity, Gordy had spotted a single dairy cow being transported down the M6 in a wee horsebox, somewhat comically sticking its head out the back and moo-ing at the hurtling traffic.

Exhorting his passenger to take a snap out the side window, he manoeuvred into position – only for the driver leading the trailer to suddenly (or as suddenly as you can at 40mph towing a cow) take the next exit, and head off in the rough direction of Brampton.

A photo was eventually taken, long after the comedy value of the situation was gone, as the trailer turned into a farm road-end – by which time there was no mobile signal to access the sat-nav services needed to get back to the main drag.