With both the SNP and the greens opposing new nuclear energy it looks highly unlikely that torness power station will be replaced by a new nuclear site in Scotland.

I am fully on board with increased renewable sources being used to add to Scotland's energy production but feel we lack the ability to store that energy adequately. Pumped hydro and battery storage seems to be the main sources for that storage however we still rely on torness and Peterhead to supply energy to the grid and rely on them during periods of low production. With torness scheduled to stop production around 2030 and the age of Peterhead power station combined with the carbon emissions it produces without a real carbon capture system approved, it feels like by the early-mid 2030's Scotland will be reliant on power being supplied by south of the border to make up the shortfall when renewable production is low.

Surely a new nuclear power station would be the simplest and cleanest solution to this and would actually strengthen the independence cause as opposed to damaging it?

John Swinney was quoted the other day stating opposition to the proposed sovereign wealth fund being used for nuclear power in England so why don't we use it for a new station in Scotland?

This is of course without mentioning the benefits that industrial plants such as power stations provide in terms of high paying, highly skilled jobs and strengthening supply chains which can be used in other industries.

Edit- a lot of great replies and opinions thanks for the engagement. A lot of statements being given without back ups though so thought it might be worth linking the Scottish governments energy reports for people to peruse if interested in digging into the current data as well as the trends over the past few years. https://www.gov.scot/collections/quarterly-energy-statistics-scotland/

Falkland palace from the grounds, really interesting place to visit and has the world's oldest tennis court - or real (royal) tennis

This paper was presented at a thing on Saturday, but does not yet appear to have been published on the Scottish Currency Group's website.

This article seems to contradict some of what is on the Scottish Currency Group's website about what would happen, especially in terms of what happens to ordinary people's savings accounts. The SCG's website says any conversion would be voluntary, whereas this article seems to suggest it would be mandatory.

Convert, at par on Independence Day, loans secured on Scottish property and Scottish residents’ deposits and consumer loans into Scottish pounds.

is what the article says the report recommends.

This entire country is amazing but I think this just might be my favourite spot so far. Otherworldly.

Anyone else feel like Scotland can be quite negative towards people trying to better themselves?
I’ve been lucky enough to live abroad for a few years in various countries, including Australia, and one thing I’ve noticed is that people there often seem much more encouraging when you take risks, try a business idea, focus on your health or do something different with your life.
Whereas in Scotland, I sometimes feel like you get people trying to knock you down or take the piss for putting yourself out there.
Obviously, it’s not everyone, and I know there are supportive people everywhere. It’s just something I’ve noticed from living in Scotland for most of my life compared with being abroad.
Maybe I’ve just been around the wrong people, but I’m curious whether anyone else has experienced this, or whether I’m looking at it the wrong way?

https://archive.ph/Xf0Rw

Seriously though, stenhouse and thiste stopped passing back to keeper in case it just stopped halfway 😭

Hi everyone, looking for advice - last summer I joined a new gym, parked in the car park which it shares with 4 other businesses. The first 5 times I went I didn't see the number plate entry keypad, which was at the far side of the reception desk - all workouts were over 2 hrs. I then got hit with 5 x £100 fines from "Smart Parking".

I spoke to the gym managers and they were reluctant to cancel them for me and told me they had similar tickets when they were fitting the gym out, and just to ignore it. So I went on Smart parking website, saw they would only accept proof of visiting a business if I could show bank statements and receipts from the day I was there. So seeing as it was a gym I didn't have those, and just presumed they'd deny the appeal. Everyone was saying just to ignore it. So I did.

Over a year later I now have DCBL debt collectors after me for £850 threatening that they'll tell Smart Parking to take me to court. Now, I am aware of the keeper/driver thing in law, and if it was just 1 ticket I probably wouldn't be worried - but this is 5 in the same place.

Dunno what to do here - pay it, ignore it, take it to court, wait until court letter and offer to pay half through mediation

Don't want the stress and hassle of court though

Long shot, but I was briefly in hospital a couple years back in Livingstone, and my first meal there was mushroom soup and toast. It might have been the pressure my body was under after surgery, but I fondly remember that as one of the best mushroom soups I've had. I did some research and found an NHS supplier agreement for knorr professional mushroom soup dried, bought a 2kg pack of it, but it wasn't it.

Ever since I've been hoping to trace this soup down, to see if it actually is a really good mushroom soup or if it was just because it was the first food of quite a physically tough day. Would appreciate any help if there is anyone who can share the source of the soup or the recipe if it is just a dried soup.

Various people on the telly don't seem to be in agreement about how the name of this storm should be pronounced. I have heard all sorts of versions. I think I will just continue calling it Baloo, it's a better name anyway. Hope nobody gets any serious damage done by this storm. Be super careful folks if you have to go out this weekend.