Amidst the tempestuous, soggy and altogether dull start to 2014 comes a much needed Saturday in Lanzarote.

Well, it’s 16 miles outside of Central London actually at Kempton for the Lanzarote Hurdle, so if it’s warmth you have in mind watching this one I’m guessing you’ll have your central heating on full blast.

All the same it’s a none too shabby weekend of action with a couple of competitive handicaps to sift through and, with that Cheltenham clock counting down all the while, talent spotting is of the essence!

We’ll start with a race guaranteed to get people reaching for the holiday brochures like no other at this time of year, it’s the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. Never one for a ‘star’ but always a nice race to get stuck into, this fixture of the January calendar has been relatively kind to punters for the last few years, with winners of the last five renewals returning single-figure odds (including two favourites). With the head of the market seeming the fairly obvious place to start we’ll start by looking at the ante-post favourite, Junction Fourteen.

After a far from compelling 2012-13 season where just about everything that could have gone wrong did, it’s been happier times for Emma Lavelle’s stable this term and her yard is swinging along nicely. Her well-bred son of King’s Theatre was a course and distance winner last time out on Boxing Day, brushing aside a moderate field but creating a decent impression in doing so. He does look to have improvement in him and could still be competitive off 16lbs higher, although this is a much tougher assignment that the one he faced last time and I believe he may just be short enough to take on.

Despite a relatively slow start to a season the Nicholls team are now firing and it’s one of his, Saphir Du Rheu, who finds himself next in the market here. The French-bred five year old was sent off a well-fancied 6/1 favourite for the Fred Winter at last year’s festival, only to sum up the Ditcheat handler’s week by finishing nearer last than first. He kicked off this season with a couple of slightly better although none too impressive runs before being given a bit more of a trip last time out at Sandown. There, over two miles six furlongs, he travelled well under Daryl Jacob before kicking clear up the straight and absolutely bolting up, leaving the impression of a horse that Nicholls had always seemed confident was in there somewhere. If he wants to back that win up he’ll have to do it the hard way, running off top weight after a 15lb rise, although such was the emphatic style of his last win, defying such a rise may not be beyond him. Since crossing over from France though he has been a fairly in and out character and is another I’d rather watch here, even if he does have the talent.

A ‘good-guy’ trainer I’ve been happy to see the rise of in recent times is Charlie Longsdon. This year really does seem to have been the year he’s stamped his authority on the game and it’s great to see him being given the ammunition with which to do so. Although successful, big Saturday races have, for one reason or another, often eluded him, but I believe his runner Spirit Of Shankly could be the one to bring home the bacon to a much deserving yard. His form from this season tells me he’s a better horse than his mark suggests; a narrow defeat when giving weight to the well-regarded Royal Regatta followed by a smooth five length success when again giving weight to another highly thought-of type in Urban Hymn last time out, that’s the form of a proper horse. I’m just praying he runs in this as at the time of writing he is engaged in two other races on the Saturday, although at this stage Kempton for this would look the more likely appointment. The handicapper does seem to have been lenient and, going off 136 I’d have to give him a massive chance for a stable that’s once again banging in the winners.

Our second big handicap sees us head to Warwick for the Betfred Classic Chase. The field has a very competitive look to it with plenty of battle-hardened characters from down the years engaged to once again go toe-to-toe in what could end up being a bit of a Midlands mud wrestle. A quick glance at the head of the market here sees Martin Keighley’s Merlin’s Wish hold favouritism, although with him expected to take his place at Catterick on Thursday that could present an opportunity to Vesper Bell. The Willie Mullins raider was all the rage in the betting for the Becher before taking an unfortunate tumble at the first. However, his Irish form is (to me) questionable and his Punchestown festival run was hardly franked by Goonyella’s no show in the Welsh National, especially when you consider that the old war horse Silver By Nature was not that far away in fourth giving away lumps of weight. I could be wrong but I personally can’t take to him and he’s not my idea of the winner here.

If this does turn into a real war of attrition it could bring David Pipe’s long term absentee Master Overseer into it. He is a bit of a character as you really never know what he’s going to give you – the form of his last seven runs reads P1P1P1P – although I suppose if you want to read that literally you’d say he should win on his next outing! Technically, there is plenty going against him. He is going off 146, just 1lb below a career high mark at the age of eleven and he is returning to the track after a 301 day absence so there are plenty that would dismiss his chances. Such an approach just has David Pipe written all over it though! There is no way he’d would send out the old warrior unless he knew there would be a big run due and I can see just that, especially with the official going currently described as heavy. It may all be a bit cloak and dagger but that’s the master of Pond House at his best. The 20/1 currently available for this lad looks too big to me and, if Pipey can work his magic he looks well worth a punt.

One other horse I’d like to draw attention to in this is Victors Serenade from the Anthony Honeyball team. He’s one who’s been on the upgrade for some time now for a small-time yard that’s going places. Last time out he was given a spin over hurdles over 3 miles to try and spruce him up. He battled back well that day to reclaim second and is crying out for a trip. He’s another who’ll appreciate conditions and if his jumping holds out then he could get involved at a big price.

SATURDAY SELECTIONS

Kempton (2.40) Spirit Of Shankly

Warwick (3.35) Master Overseer, Victors Serenade (each-way)

A Galashiels man who assaulted his friend just a day after being released early from prison has been ordered to serve the remaining four months of his sentence.

In addition, Rory Morrison was given another 96 days in jail for punching Kevin Wilkinson in the face during a drunken bust-up over a smashed bottle of vodka in the town’s Talisman Avenue on December 14.

Prosecutor Graham Fraser told Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday that the 26-year-old had been released from jail on December 13 and was arrested the following day. Morrison had been held in custody since then.

Mr Fraser said Mr Wilkinson was taken to Borders General Hospital and kept on observation through the night after falling to the ground.

He added: “Neighbours are being disturbed at this time of night by this kind of behaviour.”

Morrison’s solicitor, Ross Dow, said: “He had just been released from custody and got carried away.

“He has been remanded over Christmas and New Year, and is very much caught up in the revolving door at Her Majesty’s prison, Edinburgh.”

He asked for a community-based disposal as an alternative to custody.

But Sheriff Peter Paterson said he doubted whether Morrison had the ability to exist in the community without offending, given the short space of time he had been released and arrested again.

A carer who stole two bank cards from an elderly dementia-suffering couple she was looking after and withdrew £4,900 has been told to expect a prison sentence.

But on Monday Sheriff Peter Paterson delayed sending Kirsty Ritchie to jail until he finds out what arrangements have been made for her two-year-old daughter while she is behind bars.

The 28-year-old, of Gala Park Court in Galashiels, pleaded guilty to stealing the bank cards from the couple – aged 91 and 92 – and withdrawing the money over a three- month period.

The fraud came to light when the daughter and son of the elderly couple noticed unauthorised transactions of the account.

Ritchie also admitted pretending to Amazon.co.uk that she was her 91-year-old client to set up an account in the woman’s name, and was supplied goods to the value of £4,451.88.

Ritchie – who now works in a hotel – claimed an abusive former partner pressurised her to order goods using the Amazon account and steal the money, but accepted it was her responsibility.

Defending, Greg McDonnel told Selkirk Sheriff Court, pictured: “She is deeply remorseful for her behaviour. She is fully aware of the seriousness of these charges against her.”

He asked for a community-based disposal to be imposed, allowing his client to repay the money she stole.

But Sheriff Paterson said: “My inclination is to impose a custodial sentence.”

He deferred sentence for a week to find out what arrangements would be made for the child if a prison sentence was imposed.

Bullying is brutal and abysmal. It comes in many forms. It can scar for life and drive people to take their own lives. The young are particularly vulnerable and schooldays are unfortunately times when the bully is at his or her best.

Advances in technology has given the bully a new weapon. Social network sites and the mobile phone now give him or her the cowardly cloak of anonymity. The bully can be only a few feet away from their victim as they gloat in their despicability.

Cyber-bullying has been highlighted this week by Borders MSP John Lamont. Using Freedom of Information legislation, he’s uncovered the fact that 16 cases of such acts were reported in local schools since 2010 – four in primaries. And that’s only the incidents reported and recorded.

The true figure will be much greater.

Mr Lamont also discovered that, over the past three years, 233 mobile phones were confiscated from pupils in a single secondary school in the Borders. The council did not disclose the name of the school, but said it was the only one which had centrally recorded the confiscations. One can only suspect that there is a link.

There are two extremely worrying aspects here. Why are children allowed to take mobiles into the classroom? They are banned in many workplaces, so why not the classroom? And why are the statistics not fully and properly recorded?

Kelso17

Melrose39

MELROSE cemented their position at the top of the RBS Regional Cup qualification group with an emphatic win over Kelso at Poynder Park on Saturday, writes Norman Anderson.

The match needed an early morning pitch inspection to assure it was to be played and a healthy crowd turned up for the game.

Both sides were under strength due to injuries and unavailability, but it gave several youngsters the opportunity to play rugby at top level.

For the hosts it was an opportunity to recover from the previous week’s debacle against Selkirk. Indeed, it was a much-improved performance and, in general, they stuck to their task well, but premier league Melrose had too many guns for the Tweedsiders.

Melrose drew first blood with a Nick Beavon try, which Ben Chalmers converted. He slotted a penalty shortly after and things looked ominous for Kelso, but they struck back after 17 minutes when scrum ball was whistled along the line for full back Murray Hastie to speed over. Matt Douglas converted to close the gap to three points. Shortly after, a driven lineout by Melrose allowed Allan Dodds to race over after Kelso just run out of defenders.

Chalmers missed the conversion, but was successful with a later penalty. In the meantime, Kelso lost Terry Skeet to the bin and he was quickly followed by Callum Anderson for Melrose. Douglas popped over a penalty after Anderson’s offence.

Melrose dominated the scoring in the second half with further tries by Ruaridh Knott after 42 and 80 minutes, and Austin Lockington after 72 minutes. Chalmers converted the first of these tries, with Andrew Skeen adding the extras to the other two. In between times, Kelso scored through prop Terry Skeet after his side kicked a penalty into the corner and, from the lineout, firstly Michael Robertson was stopped short, but the second wave took Skeet over. Douglas converted.

So a bonus point win to Melrose and probable qualification to the cup quarter-final – and to Kelso the knowledge that this was a better performance.

Selkirk A34

Hawick Linden0

HAWICK LINDEN were able to blow away some of the festive cobwebs when playing their first game for three weeks in a friendly fixture at Philiphaugh.

The home team opened the scoring in the eighth minute when a long switch pass back to the blind side by Mikey Davies created the space for Craig MacDougall to go over for the touchdown. The lead was doubled when Linden lost their own lineout and Selkirk loose head prop Craig Elliot came on a short ball to plunge over.

A poor Linden lineout in the Selkirk half squandered possession and a half-break by MacDougall allowed Callum McEwan to show his pace and race in at the corner.

For the Teries, Greg Thomson made good inroads into home territory, but Stuart Williams’ thrust to the line ended with Selkirk turning the ball over. The Linden were trying hard to open their account and Greg Baillie’s chase of his own kick ahead into the in-goal area just failed to do so.

The home team stretched their lead to 20-0 after the restart when they went blind from a scrum five and MacDougall touched down again as he twisted in the tackle. This was quickly followed by a soft try from the Linden’s perspective as Eddie Turner barged over from a quick tap penalty. Rory Banks converted.

At this point a hand injury forced Graham Blacklock to retire, leaving the Linden, who had already suffered a trail of injuries, with only 14 players.

Selkirk’s final score came when play was spread wide and McEwan flirted with the touchline as he sped up the stand side and Banks’ conversion completed the scoring.

Hawick17

Peebles10

Peter Wright’s Peebles outfit almost pulled off a surprise victory in this RBS Regional Cup match on Saturday when running Premiership outfit Hawick close on the PSA pitch.

With Mansfield Park being more suitable for playing water polo than rugby, Phil Leck’s side were once again forced into seeking alternative accommodation – and this time it was the semi-junior outfit who assisted by offering up their Burnfoot venue.

Speaking after the match, however, the Hawick coach refused to use the change of venue as an excuse for a below-par performance.

“We always approach a game in the same way and all we did on Saturday was to move from playing on one piece of grass to another,” he said.

“There are no excuses from our point of view. We just weren’t firing on all cylinders – we scored three tries when really we should have scored five or six.

“I take nothing away from Peebles either. They defended really well. Peter has got them well drilled and they did everything that was asked of them.”

The Greens began brightly and when captain Greg Cottrell slipped a scoring pass to Neil Renwick after 12 minutes, everything looked to be going with the form book.

The rest of the half, however, was a tale of Peebles possession and they were rewarded late in the period when Kieran Brown went under the posts for a try converted by Greg Raeburn to give the visitors a 7-5 interval lead.

The Greens raised the tempo after the restart and a fast-handling move resulted in Lee Armstrong going over for a try converted by Neil Renwick.

Peebles came back well with a drive up the middle, leading to a Hawick infringement on the 22-metre line. Raeburn converted to bring his team to within two points. The aggressive forward play continued and Peebles won another penalty shortly afterwards, but the kick went wide.

As the game moved into the closing quarter, Hawick began to gain control and spent long periods of play in the Tweeddale outfit’s 22.

The visiting defence held firm until a pass out to the right gave Neil McColm a few yards of space which he used to good effect by sprinting into the corner. The remainder of the match was played out with Hawick flattering to deceive – promising moves breaking up before breakthroughs were achieved.

Some of the region’s top Texel breeders put animals forward for in-lamb pedigree sales at Carlisle’s Borderway Auction Mart this month.

Around 170 ewes and gimmers from Arnold Park’s renowned Drinkstone flock at Hawick came under the hammer at Harrison and Hetherington’s year opening sale on Monday (January 6).

This Monday (January 13) animals from the Brijon Flock, run by Brian Redhead and Jonathan Watson, Bowsden Moor, Berwick and from the Tweed Flock of Neil Crighton, Loanend, Berwick are forward for sale.

The entire crop of MV accredited and vaccinated 2012 females from the Tweed Flock are going under the hammer, with the guarantee that they are in-lamb to either Langside Rolex or Teviot Rocket. The flock’s EBVs have been recorded since 2002, and last year it was in the top 10% for the breed, with the 2012 lambs third overall out of the 200 flocks monitored in the scheme.

Mr Crighton said: “These gimmers have shape, size and skins and I would have great confidence they will go on and perform for prospective buyers.”

And similarly the whole in-lamb gimmer crop from the Brijon Texel Flock, which is MV accredited and vaccinated, is up for grabs in the flock’s first reduction sale.

Mr Watson said:“We have been breeding Texels since 1999, running 140 ewes, and we felt that this was the time to sell our entire lamb gimmer crop.”

Monday’s auction is expected to attract both pedigree and commercial buyers.

Hawick teenager Dylan Ali was the toast of the town last week after winning the prestigious New Year Sprint at Musselburgh Race Course.

The 18-year-old was one of five Borderers to line up in the final of the historic event, in front of a massive race-day crowd, after cruising through his cross-tie in 11.80 seconds.

It hadn’t been all plain sailing for the youngster, however. He only just qualified for the semi-final stages as the slowest of 10 fastest losers in Tuesday’s heats in a time of 12.26 seconds.

He told TheSouthern: “I was pretty disappointed with my heat, but I also had a run in the Invitation Sprint which gave me that wee bit boost.

“I think that extra run helped a lot and I came second which was a bonus. I knew then that I had it in my legs.”

Indeed he did. Running from his mark of 7.5m, Ali, who is a waiter/barman at Hawick’s New Deli Bar and Restaurant, lined up in the final as joint favourite alongside fellow Teri Jack Wilson 13m, Seb Harrison (Jedburgh) 6.5m, Craig Bruce (Selkirk) 12m and the only female runner to make it to the final, Jazmine Tomlinson for the TLJT club, who ran off 21.5m. Also in the final line-up were Kevin Eddie (Dunfermline) 9m, Charlie Carstairs (Lasswade AC) 7.75m and Cameron Smith (Central AC) 8m.

Ali repeated his cross-tie feat and then won the final in a scorching 11.59 seconds, despite the heavy ground conditions, to become the 10th Hawick winner of the 110m race which has been held annually on or around New Year’s Day since 1870. Eddie was second with Harrison taking third place.

“I’ve only entered the event the last couple of years and never got past the heat stages, so I’m absolutely chuffed to bits to have won it,” added Ali who has been entering both professional and amateur events since the age of nine.

Coach David Rae was moved to tears as he watched his charge sail in, while training partner Leigh Marshall, himself a former winner of the race, was one of the first to congratulate him.

“Dylan’s performance today was absolutely phenomenal. It’s a pleasure training with him and to be honest the whole squad is great,” he said.

Rae added: “I can’t emphasise enough the amount of work that Dylan has put in to achieve the level he is at.

“He trains so hard and at 18-year-old is prepared to put in the effort and miss out on a lot of the things other lads his age are doing. He thoroughly deserves this win.

Ali in turn paid tribute to his mentors.

“I have so many people to be grateful to,” he said.

“David, Che Campbell (assistant coach), Steven Riddell (physio), the squad, my family – they have all been great and I’m just delighted to give them all something back.”

And then, of course, there is the £4,000 prize pot to be taken into consideration.

“I haven’t thought what I will do with the prize money yet, but I think I may be buying a few beers for the boys,” he concluded.

Marshall, who was unable to compete in this year’s event due to an injury, hopes to be fit enough to join Ali when competing indoors at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow later this month.

Participating in the supporting events at Musselburgh the previous day, David Grieve also put victory Hawick’s way by taking the spoils in the veterans’ 90m handicap event. A member of the Billy Edgar school, 58-year-old Grieve (13.5m) earned a spot in the 90m handicap open final due to this, and came in third.

Borders athletes dominated the youths’ events with Jedburgh’s Cameron Fisher taking top spot in the 90m sprint and Tweed Leader Jed Track trio – Laura Munro, Angus Bryce and Danielle Lockie – bagging one, two, three respectively in the 60m 10-under 13s run.

Power cables supplying Rumbletonrig Farm at Greenlaw, brought down by the festive storms, were snatched by thieves. Police say the cables were worth around £8,000 and their theft delayed electricity being restored to the farm.

The cables had been left on the farm awaiting engineers to carry out repairs. Police have appealed for information.

Police Scotland have confirmed that the initial identification of animal carcasses found near Peebles on Friday as badgers was wrong.

On Tuesday it emerged that the ‘partial’ remains were in fact those of six roe deer. The animals had been skinned.

The disturbing discovery was made by a farmer on Bonnington Road last week, with Police Scotland initially stating it was six skinned badgers.

However, after the carcasses were examined by experts at the Scottish Agricultural College, their true identity was revealed this week.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman told The Southern: “The officers who responded were presented with animal remains which had no distinguishing features.

“As they were led to believe the remains were those of badgers, they forensically recovered them – carefully putting them in bags with minimal contact.

“Therefore, it was only when the experts examined the remains that it became apparent they were those of roe deer.”

Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the creatures’ deaths are ongoing and anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to come forward immediately.

Chief Inspector Andrew Clark, the local area commander, said: “Police Scotland is committed to the full and thorough enquiry into instances of this nature. Being a rural policing area, we are aware of the significance of such finds and will continue to robustly investigate wildlife crime in the Borders”

DI Raymond Brown, who is leading the investigation, added: “An enquiry continues to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the discovery and to confirm if any criminality is involved.”

SSPCA Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said: “Deer poaching and deer coursing are national wildlife crime priorities.

“They are incredibly difficult crimes to detect, but we are always encouraging people to contact ourselves and the police with as much information as possible on any activity they have either witnessed or suspect.”

‘Serious concerns’ have prompted the Care Inspectorate to issue an improvement notice on Knowesouth Care Centre, near Denholm.

The home, which provides care for up to 50 residents, has had a self-imposed restriction on new admissions since the first in a series of damning inspection reports in May 2013.

Following the most recent inspection, in November, the Care Inspectorate graded the service ‘weak’ in two areas and ‘unsatisfactory’ in the other two.

As a result of the inspection, and lack of progress following the imposition of a series of requirements after an inspection in September, an improvement notice was served last month.

A Care Inspectorate spokesman said: “We carried out an unannounced inspection of this service in November and that inspection raised serious concerns.

“As a result of our investigation the service was served with a formal improvement notice on December 6 which lays out how we require this service to improve.

“The health, safety and well-being of residents is our primary concern and unless significant improvement is made we will not hesitate to take further action.”

A further inspection will be made some time after January 13, which is the deadline for the necessary improvements to be made.

If they are not made, the Care Inspectorate will seek to remove the care home’s registration to operate.

The improvement notice centres on three areas: staffing levels, management and leadership, and personal plans.

A spokesperson for Knowesouth owners said: “St Philip’s Care is committed in providing the highest standards of care and quality to all the residents we care for.

“We accept there have  been some issues and concerns which have resulted in the Care Inspectorate issuing an improvement notice, which is regretful. 

“In conjunction with the council we have detailed action plans in place to address these issues.”

The spokesperson added that the firm was committed to ensuring that the improvement notice is met, and had already met requirements contained in the last inspection report.

The filmmakers have taken a conventional line, chronologically speaking, which gives this biopic an old-fashioned look.

The problem is politics. There was too much of it in South Africa in the 50s and 60s and not enough screen time to untangle the wrangles.

The result is Mandela Lite, bits and pieces of the great man’s rise to iconhood, from country boy to Soweto lawyer to ANC activist to Robben Island, to freedom’s gift of international adulation.

The whites are portrayed as arrogant and vicious – police, prison guards, the racist rich. Only near the end when the writing is on the wall and men like De Klerk have the courage to read it do they soften their attitude towards ‘kaffirs’, using Mandela as their Get Out Of Jail Free card, 
although, ironically, he was the one who spent half a lifetime behind bars.

The film touches the corners of the envelope without revealing what is inside.

Mandela’s colleagues in the party and in prison are sketched lightly in crayon. Winnie’s (Naomie Harris) work in the townships is glimpsed in passing.

She is arrested, tortured and flung into solitary for more than a year. Later, when her supporters are accused of tyre collar killings and a civil war between blacks appears imminent, as the country slides dangerously towards chaos, Mandela goes on television to plead for forgiveness and peace,

Idris Elba (Stringer Bell from The Wire and DCI John Luther in Luther), an East End boy with African roots, gives an honourable performance as Mandela, avoiding the polished veneer in favour of dust and grit. He is too tall and well built for the role, like Liam Neeson in Rob Roy, towering above the minions, and yet with intelligence and commitment seasons well into the wise old man of recent years.

Long Walk To Freedom is not a blackwash. It is well made, sincere and one-sided. It should prick tears from your eyes. Instead, it speaks in a soft voice.

Could this be another Bridge Over The River? Why? Same connections, same conditions, same continent.

Back in a POW camp in the jungle where British soldiers, after the fall of Singapore, are worked to death building a railway, and treated worse than street curs.

The Railway Man goes beyond the war years into that void called Peace, mentally wounded by the knowledge of what has been and yet unable to speak of it, or move forward into the protection of ordinary life.

One of the survivors who meets regularly at the Berwick-upon-Tweed servicemen’s club reveals: “We can’t live; we can’t sleep; we are an army of ghosts.”

To have suffered so cruelly for so long breaks a man’s spirit and turns memories to stone.

Eric Lomax is one of them. He marries a lady he meets on the train to Crewe. Later, he returns to the camp, which has become a tourist attraction, to confront one of the Japanese guards who tortured him.

It is a story of courage, redemption and forgiveness. And it’s true.

What might have been layered with sentiment and illustrated by scenes from former POW movies, with a weeping wife in the wings and Lomax shouting at her: “Don’t ever interfere with matters that do not concern you,” followed by a kind of apology, “I’m still at war,” avoids the traditional booby traps and comes through with an honesty that gives the film a sense of purpose far greater than any trailer or treatment might imply.

Colin Firth has come a long way since Darcy’s wet shirt in Pride & Prejudice and the toffee-nosed spoilsport from St Trinian’s. After an Oscar for The King’s Speech and a Golden Globe for A Single Man he doesn’t have to say sorry ever again, certainly not here, where his thoughtful, emotionally cauterized performance as Lomax is perfectly judged.

Also mentioned in dispatches is Nicole Kidman’s sensitive portrayal of the lady on the train, so beautifully understated.

Kwai? This matches its power and its glory, like a bookend.

No-one says, “Get thee to a champagne supper at The Ritz.” They say, “Get thee to a nunnery.” Sounds like a punishment.

Guillaume Nicloux’s film, based on Denis Diderot’s novel, extenuates the hypocrisy of the Catholic church and yet again, as in Philomena, it is the nuns who take the blame.

This is 18th-century France. The class system has strict rules of etiquette and membership. You can’t be too poor, for example, or admit to having a bastard child. No hanky in the pantry, madame. All above board, what?

Suzanne (Pauline Etienne) has that rare quality amongst young gals of Le Posh. She has attitude. When dumped in a nunnery by her awful family because they can’t afford to keep her in the manner born and, anyway, she was conceived the wrong side of the blanket (“Your birth is my only sin,” Mama confesses helpfully) although no-one is supposed to know, she doesn’t take it lying down. She takes it on her knees. And rebels. Loudly.

The film is beautifully made and perfectly played. Despite the Brits’ insistence on their superiority in the costume drama department, the French cannot be faulted when they put their minds to it. And Nicloux does.

Suzanne’s experience as a daughter of Christ, or whatever they call novice nuns, is truly shocking. It’s not only priests who indulge their sexual fantasies on choirboys, it seems. What happens when a Mother Superior gives in to her lesbian lusts? Turn away, O Lord.

The title of the film does not demand your attention. Rather, it implies sacrifice, humility and a life of religious devotion. Don’t be misled.

This has been torched by the fires of hell and scarred by the blades of passion.

A rural economic development programme for the south of Scotland was discussed between councillors and John Swinney last month.

The Scottish Government’s cabinet secretary for finance, employment and sustainable growth met members of the South of Scotland Alliance at the Heart of Hawick.

The alliance is made up of SBC and Dumfries and Galloway Council, Scottish Enterprise and Mr Swinney.

At the meeting in Hawick new EU programmes, superfast broadband and mobile phone coverage and assisted area status were discussed, as well as a rural economic programme.

An SBC spokesman said: “There were constructive talks and significant consensus around the table, whilst recognising challenges which still need to be overcome.”

Chair of the alliance, Councillor Stuart Bell, SBC’s executive member for economic development, said: “Both local authorities will work with Scottish Enterprise through our partnership to formulate an agreed programme for rural economic development. This will be a great opportunity for the Borders.”

Mr Bell added: “Topics such as mobile phone and superfast broadband coverage are vital if the south of Scotland economy is to grow, and we welcome the chance to put our case across to the cabinet secretary.”

Dumfries and Galloway councillor Colin Smyth said: “Alongside our partners in the alliance, we have ambitious and achievable plans for boosting the economic performance of the south of Scotland.

“All we need is the high level support to allow us to activate these vital infrastructure works.”

Mr Swinney said: “The Scottish Government is committed to the delivery of higher levels of sustainable growth to build a Scotland that is stronger, wealthier and fairer. At the heart of this approach is a partnership with local government and the enterprise agencies.

“The alliance demonstrates this partnership in action and I cannot overemphasise the substantial benefits that come out of it.”

CHAIRMAN Chris Highton will once again preside over the Selkirk Cricket Club AGM to be held in the Philiphaugh clubrooms later this month.

Following the success of last season. the club is now looking forward to entering Division Four of the East of Scotland League.

The AGM will take place on Friday, January 24, at 7.15pm. All members welcome and a good turnout would be appreciated.

The festive period saw some of the worst storms and flooding experienced in recent years.

People across the Borders were shocked to see the impact on Jedburgh and the surrounding areas of the storms during the last few weeks.

The gale-force winds which battered the whole country caused serious disruption to travel and services across our region – and for the 5,000 or so Borders properties that lost power, it was a difficult time.

Like other parliamentarians, over the holidays I spoke to senior officials at Scottish Borders Council regarding the clear-up efforts and the role of the emergency services, volunteers and local authority officers.

I joined with others in thanking everyone for their responses. I was also heartened by the general public response to the crisis and the way people looked out for their neighbours.

Let’s hope that the rest of the winter sees substantial improvement in the weather.

The Mesothelioma Bill

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos.

It is a “long-tail” disease – symptoms may not appear until decades after exposure – but when symptoms do appear, it is often rapidly terminal.

Earlier this week the Mesothelioma Bill passed its Report Stage in the House of Commons. This will ensure that newly-diagnosed victims of mesothelioma – the aggressive and fatal cancer caused by asbestos – will receive help for the first time through a new support scheme.

The aggressive and terminal nature of this disease, coupled with the fact that we’re approaching a peak in cases in the coming years, makes it imperative that we get this legislation in place as soon as possible.

The funding package will award more than £350million over 10 years to around 3,000 mesothelioma victims across the UK who have been prevented from claiming compensation because they cannot trace a liable employer or an employers’ liability insurer.

This Bill shows that we live in a compassionate and caring society.

I hope that the Government continues to do everything it can to ensure that nobody is exposed to asbestos today or in the future.

IT’S been rather quiet on the local amateur athletics front over the festive period – but that’s all about to change this weekend.

On Saturday, the Inter-district Cross-country Championships take place in Holyrood Park, featuring some of Team Borders’ successful selections, while, on Sunday, it’s the Paxton leg of the Winter Cross-country series.

On a more social footing, 52 runners from Gala Harriers and Lauder Limpers ran over the muddy Southern Upland Way from Lauder to Melrose, finishing up with bacon rolls and coffee at the Greenyards, for the annual New Year outing.

A jolly good time was had by all.

THE New Year’s Day Whisky Run in Langholm took place in dry weather, but some sections of the eight-mile course were a bit muddy, writes John Smith.

Taking part in the increasingly-popular event were a good entry of 60 enthusiastic runners and walkers, along with a couple of dogs, while Alison Hutton went round the course on her bicycle.

In an exciting race, the first three runners were all from the Annan club and were only separated by a few seconds.

The winner of the whisky was Kevin Plummer from Wamphray in 54 minutes 38 seconds, with Rory Longmore of Moffat second with 54.43 and the previous year’s winner, Andy Render of Annan, was third in 54.44. Kevin Graham of Langholm finished fourth (55.40).

Organiser Charlie Graham called on Alison Tinker, who had helped to look after things with her husband Mike, to present the winner with his prize.

The proceeds from the race will go to the Langholm Day Centre.