Evening Times

City Lights Will Dazzle for My Birthday Bash; Glasgow Style Is Sure to Impress Party Pals

THE final countdown has begun. There are now only five days left until my two Ab Fabbiest London chums arrive in Glasgow to help celebrate my 29-and-a-half-th birthday (not a day over 30, never!) next weekend. The birthday itself has become little more than a footnote.

Kids Need a Sporting Chance

PLAYING sport should not just be fun for today's kids - it could be a life saver. With obesity rates five times higher than 25 years ago and Playstation kids in grave danger of growing up without social skills or friends, Scots youngsters need the exercise and the team- building skills of the sports field more than ever.

Beat the Winter Blues

AS the nights draw in, many of us will experience a dose of the winter blues. A lack of energy and feeling irritable are the most debilitating symptoms, caused because lack of light means we produce less of the mood-boosting brain chemical, serotonin.

(Pounds) 38m Boost for Services

A MULTI-million pound plan to improve local government services has been announced by the Scottish Executive. Finance Minister Tom McCabe said (pounds) 38million would be used to fund projects, including (pounds) 13m for customer service training, as part of the Customer First strategy.

Lights Out at the Fort After Pile-Up Fears; Police Halt Tests After Motorway Scare

MOTORISTS on Scotland's busiest motorway feared for their safety after being blinded by purple lights from Glasgow's biggest shopping centre. Police chiefs were so worried about a possible pile-up on the M8 they ordered an immediate halt to tests on the night-time lighting at the Glasgow Fort in Easterhouse, which just opened two weeks ago.

Let Nature Bring Out the Best in You

WHILE it is a well documented fact that more and more people are choosing to eat organic food, it seems we now are paying more attention to the contents of the products we put on our skin, too. And it's perhaps not surprising. Health scares over the safety of the chemicals, food and additives that are part and parcel of our everyday lives appear in newspapers almost daily, and it can be difficult to work out what's safe and what could pose a risk.

Doc Guilty of Sex Charge

A Dumfries gynaecologist at a maternity hospital has been found guilty of indecently assaulting a female colleague. A jury at Bristol Crown Court found Dr Tapash Saha, 43, guilty of grabbing and massaging a woman doctor at St Michaels hospital in Bristol in August 2002.

Scheme Targets Troubled Teenagers Helped By

A scheme seeking to transform the lives of children in one of Glasgow's most deprived areas has been launched. The Greater Easterhouse Youth Involvement Project, targets 12-19- year-olds who offend or need help with drug or alcohol misuse.

Winter Beauty Tips

WINTER will soon be upon us, so follow our top tips to face the season with a smile. - Keep your skin hydrated - so down those eight glasses of water a day to boost moisture levels.

Beauty Update

GET into the mood for Hallowe'en with Lush bath treats. Treat yourself to the stimulating Demon In The Dark soap, (pounds) 1.70, which is made with fresh, organic apple juice and an infusion of mint. Or why not try Something Wicked This Way Comes luxury bath melt, left, with ginger and jasmine, (pounds) 2.99, which is filled with pink glitter to leave you shimmering.

Check Out What's Really Organic

THERE are no laws to guarantee that health and beauty-care products labelled organic are indeed organic. But when you buy a health or beauty product bearing the Soil Association symbol, it has been independently verified as organic.

10 Things You Didn't Know About... Dumbarton Castle

The name Dumbarton comes from Dun Breatann, meaning fortress of the Britons. The ancient Britons recognised the area's strategic potential and made Dumbarton Rock the centre of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. - The basalt volcanic plug on which the castle stands is 254ft high. It overlooks the River Clyde and River Leven, and has two peaks - White Tower Crag and The Beak.

Cut Down Expenses for Mps

Why don't they cut the obscene expenses claimed by certain MPs and give the money to the wards for chairs? I am disgusted that these MPs are being allowed to get away with claiming such exorbitant sums of money, and I can't believe it's necessary.

A Postcard From... Dorothy Paul

FROM appearing in The One O'Clock Gang on the radio to starring in The Steamie and her own one-woman shows, Dorothy Paul's stage career has now spanned six decades. Dorothy is currently preparing to return to the Pavilion Theatre with a new show and is also about to star in Festival, a film comedy by The Book Group creator Annie Griffin.

Family Day Out Spooky Special

THERE are lots of spooky goings on this weekend to celebrate the magic and mayhem of Hallowe'en. So dig out your costumes, fill up on monkey nuts and get out to enjoy some fright-filled family fun.

It's Now or Never for a Health Check

The first leg of this week's column is directed towards the male of the species, although that should not preclude females reading it as well. In fact, it would probably help if the ladies did peruse it, as some action might follow.

Christmas Markets; N Festive Shopping with a Difference; Festive Frenzy Is About to Break Out. Tv Ads Will Be Full of Fairy Lights, Tinsel, Glitter and Artificial Snow. The Annual Shopping Assault Will Leave Everyone Counting the Cost Until Spring. But Fear Not, Sam Clarke has Found a Way to Recapture the Magic of Christmas.

CROSSING the North Sea in the middle of winter can be like taking a rollercoaster ride - for up to 12 hours. But for thousands of Scots, the sometimes stomach churning journey is becoming an annual pilgrimage.

Going Places

FOR the chance to shop until you drop into a swanky spa, check out the pre-Christmas breaks at the Chester Grosvenor and Spa. The five-star residence is offering a luxury weekend for (pounds) 175 per person for two nights sharing a double room with full English breakfast. To find out more call 01244 324024 or go to www.chestergrosvenor.com - WHY not combine Christmas shopping with a ski break in Oslo? The Tryvann Ski Centre is a 20-minute tram ride from the city centre meaning you can combine...

Fan Sentenced in Bigots Crackdown; Sectarian Comments at Old Firm Clash at Celtic Park

A FOOTBALL fan is the first to be convicted of sectarianism in a police crackdown on bigots in Glasgow. The 31-year-old man appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court after making sectarian comments during an Old Firm clash at Celtic Park in August.

(Pounds) 250 Fine for Racist Abuse

A MAN has been fined (pounds) 250 for screaming racist abuse at a ticket inspector on a Glasgow bus. The 44-year-old was found guilty of racially aggravated breach of the peace following the incident onboard a bus in Maryhill Road.