In Pure Spirit

It’s been a little while since I wandered down to Love Gorgie Farm (now no longer running) and was surprised to see the alpacas had been shaved. In fact, my eyes were assaulted by the unexpectedness of it. You probably know alpacas as the cute, fluffy things with the cheeky smiles, but their necks are actually surprisingly thin under all of that floof! Anyway, I thought I’d make a quick post about it to share the love. I do wonder sometimes what happened to these alpacas. Where are they now?

Have you had, or are you likely to have the opportunity for, a shingles vaccine? If so, we have some news that might make getting stabbed in the arm a little more appealing. There’s an increasing body of evidence to suggest that a common shingles vaccination, known as Shingrix, may reduce the the risk of dementia by as much as 51%.

Sardines are experiencing a ‘moment’ when it comes to tinned food popularity. ‘Sardinemaxxing’ and tinned fish in general are now considered ‘in’ when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck nutrition-wise, and for good skin health. The latest Pinterest trends report released on Tuesday stated how “tinned fish is the new low-lift flex,” and searches for “sardines breakfast” have increased by 1,815 per cent.

The intersection of ancient tradition and contemporary design often feels forced, yet occasionally a piece emerges that carries its history with a quiet, unpretentious dignity. The zodiac bracelets from Art Chinese Design (ACD) – a Canadian-managed boutique with deep roots in Chinese heritage – are a study in this balance. The Essentials 1 Embrace the Horse’s indomitable energy with artisan bracelets that blend ancient heritage and modern style.

The centenary of a “silly old bear” is about to transform a real-world landscape into something truly mythical. If you grew up wandering the pages of A. A. Milne’s beloved stories, you likely have a map of the Hundred Acre Wood etched into your memory. But for those who want to step through the looking glass and into the actual forest that inspired the magic, 2026 is going to be a very big year indeed.

In the modern world, where the hum of technology and the weight of global uncertainty can feel overwhelming, many are seeking new ways to find their centre. While traditional talk therapy is a vital resource, there is a growing movement toward using the ancient symbolism of the Tarot to support mental wellness. It is a fascinating blend of the old and the new, where 15th-century archetypes meet 21st-century psychology.

Today (10th December) marks Human Rights Day, and Amnesty International has taken the opportunity to draw our attention to the fact that most people in the UK are strong backers of human rights protections, believing they’re now more important than ever. We’re living in turbulent (and sometimes alarming) times, with various political decisions making us question whether human rights are taking a backwards step.

The archaeology world thought it was time to say goodbye. In 2024, after twenty years of groundbreaking discovery, the Ness of Brodgar, arguably the most significant Neolithic site in the British Isles, was officially “put to bed”. The trenches were backfilled, the stone structures covered, and the site returned to the silence of the Orkney landscape. But the Ness wasn’t ready to sleep.

The truth is out there… or at least, it’s on streaming. For decades, the idea of the US government admitting to the existence of aliens was the stuff of tin-foil hats and The X-Files reruns. But a new documentary, The Age of Disclosure, claims that the “I Want to Believe” poster on Mulder’s wall might need updating to “I Know.” Directed by Dan Farah, this film isn’t just another blurry video of a light in the sky.

We have long told stories of what lies beneath the waves. From the ship-crushing Kraken of Norse mythology to the slumbering cosmic entity Cthulhu, humanity has always suspected that something intelligent, and perhaps a little terrifying, is watching us from the deep. But what if that intelligence just wanted to play a little jazz? The Essentials 1 Instead of becoming a snack at a fish market, one lucky octopus was rescued for a bizarre musical experiment.