‘Moobs’ and ‘gender-fluid’ are among more than 1,000 new words and phrases in the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary - along with ‘Westminster bubble.’

Gender-fluid, an adjective first recorded in 1987, now refers to a person who doesn’t identify with a single fixed gender.

Moobs is the chiefly British colloquialism, first recorded in 2001, used to describe unusually prominent breasts on a man, typically as a result of excess pectoral fat.

A feast of food-related terms have also made the latest update, which includes cheese eater and cheese-eating, chef de partie and chef de cabinet, as well as chefdom - a noun meaning the overall fact, state, or positioning of becoming a chef.

Cheeseball has also been added, to describe someone or something lacking taste, style, or originality; or the breaded and deep fried cheese appetizer.

Another new addition is Bocconcini, which can denote any small items of food, also means balls of mozzarella.

And fans of Greek food will be pleased to see the inclusion of the spinach and cheese stuffed filo pastry pie, spanakopita.

Foodie words from South-East Asia have also made their way into the update, with the addition of the Malaysian or Indonesian dish, rendang; the flat rice noodle dish stir-fried in soy sauce and shrimp paste, char kway teow; and the Filipino oxtail stew with a peanut-based sauce, kare-kare.

Other interesting additions include ‘fuhgeddaboudit’ - a US colloquialism, associated especially with New York and New Jersey, reflecting an attempted regional pronunciation of the phrase ‘forget about it’ - used to indicate a suggested scenario is unlikely or undesirable.

First used in 1998, ‘Westminster bubble’ describes an insular community of politicians, journalists, and civil servants, who appear to be out of touch with the experiences of the wider British public.

Yogalates - what when Pilates exercises and combined with the postures and breathing techniques of yoga - is also included along with YOLO, a popular acronym used on social media, meaning ‘you only live once.’

Michael Proffitt, chief editor of the OED, said the latest update includes more than 1,000 revised and updated entries and around 1,200 new senses.

He added: “This confirms the OED as one of the largest and longest-running language research projects in the world.”

The OED is a guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of more than 829,000 words, senses, and compounds - past and present - from across the English-speaking world.

It’s been more than 20 years since George Cole graced our screens as the wheeler-dealer Arthur Daley but it seems that the image of used car salesmen as dodgy backstreet scammers is still alive and well.

In fact, the British public trust second-hand car sellers even less than bankers and estate agents.

According to the latest market report from Autotrader, only 7 per cent of British consumers say they trust used car dealerships, ranking it as the least-trusted industry in the country.

The survey of 5,000 consumers found that the used-car market was trusted 11 per cent less than the financial sector and four per cent less than estate agents - giving an idea of just how bad its reputation is.

However, when the study asked about buyers’ previous experience the statistic was turned on its head, with more than two thirds (68 per cent) said they had a significant level of trust in the dealer and only 7 per cent saying they didn’t trust the person they bought their last car from.

Autotrader’s operations director, Nathan Coe, insisted that the problem was one of perception rather than reality.

He said: “Despite most consumers having positive experiences at the dealership, the industry still suffers with a lack of trustworthiness which resonates strongly with consumers.

“Changing these perceptions will be a challenge but the reward could be substantial for the industry.”

The Autotrader report says that a lack of transparency in online research could be partly to blame for the continued poor perception of the industry.

With buyers spending an average of 11 hours online researching their purchase this is a big problem for traders, especially as just 22 per cent said they fully trusted dealerships’ websites.

The report found that a fifth of buyers claimed to have found vague or misleading information regarding the buying process and 42 per cent said that this had made the whole process more stressful.

More than a third (36 per cent) said that a lack of transparency had actually put them off buying a car altogether.

Sue Robinson, director of the National Franchised Dealers Association, said: “Now more than ever, the majority of customers will ensure they have taken into account every single detail before committing to a big purchase. Having clear, accurate and honest information is vital in today’s market.

“A more transparent approach would help improve perceptions and benefit both consumers and businesses.”

Ambitious plans to improve the centre of Selkirk can be viewed at Doors Open Day on Saturday, September 17.

The £450,000 plan – which aims to revitalise the town centre and is part-funded by the Selkirk Conservation Regeneration Scheme (CARS) – will go on display in Victoria Halls from 10am-4pm for Souters and visitors to comment on.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has been working with the Selkirk Stakeholder Group, made up of representatives from organisations across the town, on the programme of streetscape works.

The town centre works have a series of aims, including providing safer and improved areas for bus passengers to board and better seating and pavement surfaces, while working to complement and enhance Selkirk’s historic conservation area.

The programme will also look to improve some pedestrian crossings in the town centre, and build in flexibility to allow Market Place to be easily used for events and markets.

SBC’s executive member for roads and infrastructure, Councillor Gordon Edgar, said: “We are keen to hear the views of those who live and work in the town and who will benefit from an improved town centre environment.

“Further consultation is required with Historic Environment Scotland, Selkirk CARS and Transport Scotland and Amey to conclude the design, but it is hoped construction can begin next year.”

Borderers are being asked for their views on a project that could see more golden eagles soar in Borders skies.

The initiative – known as the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project – has been pledged more than £1 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and has the backing of the Scottish Government.

It aims to boost numbers of the iconic bird in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

Currently, there are only two to four pairs, with limited nesting success. It is believed there is habitat for up to 16 pairs. The project’s organisers are now keen to hear local opinions on the initiative – which could see eagle chicks raised and released in the Moffat Hills and various locations in the Borders.

They have already launched an online survey to gather as many views as possible, and are hosting public meetings and drop-ins in Peebles on September 26 and Selkirk on September 27.

“We’d like to hear from as many people as possible,” said project manager Cat Barlow.

“We think this project is incredibly exciting. A revived population of golden eagles offers great opportunities for tourism and wider benefits for people and nature in the south of Scotland. Presentations will explain what is proposed and look at the successes of similar schemes elsewhere in the country.

“We will be inviting organisations, community groups and schools to the events – and we would like to hear everyone’s views, for or against. All information gathered will be used to develop the next phase of the funding process.”

Borders runner Libby Clegg accomplished her ambition of double Paralympic gold late last night in Rio as she won the T11 200 metres final.

Libby, from Newcastleton, clocked a time of 24.51 seconds with her guided runner, Chris Clarke, to finish well ahead of closest rival, China’s Liu Cuong, and create a new Paralympic record.

Contentious issues had dogged Libby on her way to Friday’s T11 100 metres final – in which she also won gold. There was a protest that she’d been illegally ‘helped’ by Chris in the semi-final, but her appeal against claim was upheld.

And there was more controversy at the beginning of the 200m final, when the hot home favourite and fastest qualifier, 37-year-old Brazilian, Terezinha Guilhermina, was disqualified for a false start.

But Libby recovered her composure and concentration and never looked under threat as she doubled her Rio 2016 gold medal tally.

The delighted 26-year-old had said before the Games that she’d love to adda gold to a pair of silvers she collected at Beijing 2008 and London four years ago.

Libby was reclassified as a T11 athlete after a decline in her sight – she has a condition known as Stargardt’s macular dystrophy and has just slight peripheral vision in her left eye only. This meant she now has to compete blindfolded, and she only did so for the first time in a race in July.

She had around £20,000 of Lottery funding axed after missing last year’s IPC World Championships because of injury and, in February this year, she switched guides, hooking up with Chris Clarke.

After the medal presentation ceremony, Libby told televisoin viewers she had “massively surprised herself” with the success so soon after donning the blindfold.

“If you had asked me nine or 10 months ago if this was going to happen, I probably would have told you it wasn’t possible,” she said.

Libby said she was a bit “daunted” about using a blindfold but her guide and her coaching staff had helped her enormously, while she had a really good training group.

“We enjoy running and we enjoy training, so it’s a great atmosphere,” she added.

Chris Clarke described Libby as “inspirational”, adding: “Seeing what she’s gone through in the past year and to be part of that journey – it just inspires me to do better in my career . I’m just glad to be a part of it. It’s an absolute adventure - it has been so far.”

Libby’s next target is the 2017 World Championships in London, while her younger brother Stephen is competing later today (Wednesday) in the swimming events at Rio.

With the advancement in technology over the years the current generation is more interested in PlayStations and iPads these days than playing outdoors.

Times have changed and with it we have lost some of the great games that saw us while away hours of our youth while also keeping active. While our children may not have heard of some of these old classics, you can bet they will enjoy them just as much as we did all those years ago. There will be slightly different regional names for the games depending on where you grew up so we’ve gone with the most commonly used. With some of them there is an element of safety that needs to be taken into account so common sense is needed.

One of the most popular British toys of all time is making a comeback.

The Sindy doll, created in the 1960s as an alternative to her American cousin Barbie, has received a makeover after disappearing from UK high streets in 2009 along with stockist Woolworths.

Tesco has given the doll a revamp, a new range of clothes, and made her seven inches taller.

“We’ve restored her beautiful and unique look,” said Tesco’s head toy buyer Dawn Lavalette, adding: “we also think that many mums out there, who were fans of the original doll themselves, will secretly want one too.”

Sindy, now 18 inches tall, will have 11 outfits, eight pairs of shoes and accessories while she will also have the company of three friends - Zoe, Kate and Laura.

Ms Lavalette added: “This is just the start of the Sindy revival and next year we will have a whole range of exciting additions for customers to add to their collection, including more playsets and stylish outfits.”

Sindy’s popularity declined in the second half of the 1980s as more Barbie dolls began to be sold.

After a makeover made Sindy look more like her American rival, there were legal battles with Mattel, the makers of Barbie, who felt their product was being copied.

Sindy was changed again but the sales slump continued and the end of Woolworths was also the death knell for Sindy - until now.

An open day is being held on Saturday at one of the area’s indoor bowling clubs, to showcase new playing facilities and stimulate fresh interest in the game.

Tweedbank IBC’s committee hopes to revitalise local support for the sport and hopefully attract some new members – enthusiasts new to the game or past members who may be willing to take it up again.

The event runs from 11am-4pm at the club’s Galashiels premises, which are managed by Live Borders.

All ages and abilities are welcome and the day promises fun, games and competitions, with a raffle and refreshments, while there will be a special membership offer available on the day.

Secretary Christine Kellet said the club was very proud of reaching the national team championship final last year and wanted to remind people of the enjoyment they could get from playing bowls in a first-class local facility.

While the club received grant aid from sources including Club Sport Borders, players raised much of the £10,000 themselves for the new underlay.

“ The committee members have worked very hard over the summer months and have secured funding to replace the underlay on the carpet, which will greatly improve the bowling surface,” added Christine. “We would like members to get the credit for that.”

Tweedbank also hoped to run a pro-am tournament in November but, for the moment, it was appealing to potential new members, ex-members and the local community to come along on Saturday.

Dead air - that moment when the music unexpectedly stops - is the greatest fear of the radio DJ.

But now, the world’s first radio station playing only the music of deceased musicians has been launched.

The man behind the internet station, radio and TV presenter Steve Penk, came up with the idea earlier this year as he reflected on 2016’s unusually large number of departed acts, including David Bowie and Prince.

“I developed the radio station format as an uplifting positive tribute to all these wonderful artists who are sadly no longer with us,” Penk said.

The former host of ITV’s Naughtiest Blunders and TV Nightmares and the man responsible for a prank call to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair on Capital FM, is always prepared to expand a playlist which saw ska legend Prince Buster added just a few days ago.

“Many of the original rock ‘n’ roll giants are still with us: Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Fats Domino, but these artists will sadly die in the next few years and of course will be added to the Radio Dead playlist,” he said.

Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the first use of the tank in warfare.

Rushed into action during the Battle of the Somme, the Mark I tank was developed in response to the appalling conditions on the front.

It was designed to cross trenches and resist small arms fire and it was hoped it would help allied forces break the bloody stalemate that had developed.

David Willey, from Dorset Tank Museum, said: “The British Army sent its new ‘secret weapon’ into action - and it did so in order to prevent the sort of casualties experienced on that first day of the battle.”

Commemorating the anniversary today, a replica Mark IV tank supplied by Dorset Tank Museum has been placed in Trafalgar Square.

We are fast approaching the second peak breeding season for the delightful tick, spring being the other.

Autumn sees a rapid rise in the tick population throughout Britain and the effects of climate change had added to the quantity of adults surviving through winter to breed again in the spring.

As such they are becoming a growing problem, for pet owners and humans alike, as certain species can play host to some bacteria and parasites that can cause serious health issues if they can gain access to bloodstreams. They are traditionally thought of in relation to rural areas but his is not exclusively the case any longer; urban areas and well foliaged gardens can be excellent habitats a creature that has perfected it’s lifestyle over millions of years.

As such the golden rule is that the sooner the tick can be properly removed the better. Two main diseases have so far been linked to certain varieties of ticks; Lyme disease and Babesiosis.

Following walks with your dog it is important to check them all over for ticks. Once first attached they may be very small as they have not become engorged with the host’s blood so it is important to check for even the smallest of unusual lumps or bumps. Similarly, cats should be checked regularly.

There are products available that are designed to deter ticks but we would advise that you speak to your vet for advice for your pets as some are species specific and harmful to other types of animals.

Time, removal and advice are keys to minimising risks.

After weeks of low river levels, the Ettrick was in full spate at the weekend. It was so high at Murray’s Cauld that the twin turbines, installed to generate electricity from the power of the river, were automatically turned off.

The cauld itself was flowing from side to side, the first time for months, and a few salmon were trying to battle against the raging water, by leaping skyward in a futile effort to get upstream. The recently installed fish pass was a much more sensible option.

A few predators were gathering at the less turbulent, shallower side, namely a couple of herons, three goosanders and a pair of carrion crows ready to pounce on any small fish dropped by the others.

It was strange walking my usually peaceful route up by the old mill lade on Saturday, as it was transformed by loudspeakers and bustle by the annual Yarrow and Ettrick Show, which was in full swing in an adjacent field.

Nonetheless it was good to see so many people still supporting this annual tradition.

The signs of approachin autumn are all around, but a few swallows and martins still remain on the wires outside my house, as a last reminder of summer.

Rowan berries, haws and rosehips are ripening fast in readiness for the incoming hordes of wintering birds, which will be here soon.

“Treacle” our cockapoo has also changed from her summer diet to her autumn one.

During the summer she discovered the wonders of wild raspberries during our walks and could frequently be seen helping herself, carefully pulling the ripe fruit from the canes, leaving the green ones.

was most impressed at the weekend, to see that she has now switched to brambles.

I watched fascinated as she carefully pulled each black berry with her teeth, somehow managing to avoid the plant’s viscous thorns.

I know it is probably how wild dogs manged to supplement their diet, but I thought that such habits had since been bred out of them.

Does anyone else’s dog do this?

Drop me an e-mail to corbie@homecall.co.uk and let me know.

Pride and delight reigned in the Clegg household on Tuesday night as athlete Libby accomplished her Paralympic dream.

The sprinter from Newcastleton clinched gold and set a new Paralympic record in Rio de Janeiro as she won the T11 200 metres final.

This complemented the glory of her T11 100 metres final victory on Friday.

Libby (26) now has a brace of gold medals to add to the silvers she won in her two previous Paralympic appearances, in London and Beijing.

On Tuesday, Brazil’s home favourite and fastest final qualifier, Terezhina Guilhermina, was disqualified for a false start.

But Libby still ran a powerful and decisive race to win in 24.51 seconds, supported by mum Moira, sister Felicity and brother Stephen, who was due to compete in the swimming heats in Rio as we went to press.

“The whole family is very proud of her,” said dad Peter (50) at the family home. “She has really worked hard.”

He added: “I knew what she was capable of, but you never know who is going to turn up and produce something. I was confident – but it’s all on the day, isn’t it?”

Libby has the degenerative eye condition Stargardt’s macular dystrophy and her sight has declined, causing her to be reclassified for the Paralympics. She now has to compete blindfolded, which, although “daunting” at first, has not hindered her success.

She told TV viewers she had “massively surprised herself” and she wouldn’t have believed nine or 10 months ago that such a win was possible.

Libby also had around £20,000 in Lottery funding axed because she missed the IPC World Championships last year through injury, while in February, she switched to a new guide runner, Chris Clarke.

Peter added Libby was funding herself after her injury and her personal sponsors doubled what they were giving her, which meant she could train the way she wanted. “It was good of them to have confidence in her,” he said.

Peter said Libby was heading to Mexico for a holiday after her Paralympic return, but the family would probably celebrate eventually with a party, in Newcastleton or in Langholm.

There’s no wonder the Innerleithen Pipe Band Championships went like clockwork on Saturday, with the Pipes and Drums of Basel paying a visit.

And the Swiss band, formed in 1978 by pipes-obsessed members of a carnival group, impressed the judges enough to claim some silverware as a reward for travelling all that way.

Bruce Hamilton, president of event organiser St Ronan’s Piping Society, said: “This has been another successful year for the society.

“The sunny weather held for us on the day of our contest, and it was great to see the Pipes and Drums of Basel, all the way from Switzerland, competing here at Innerleithen for the first time, and also, for them, winning a few trophies.

“Let’s hope they can make it a regular appearance.

“Thanks must go to all of the bands who travelled from afar to give us some excellent performances on the day; our sponsors, patrons and advertisers without whose financial support this event could not happen; and, of course, the piping society committee, whose hard work behind the scenes makes this event so successful.

As ever at Innerleithen, there was something for everyone, with competitions for juveniles and drum majors, a plethora of stalls, face-painting, pony rides and the obligatory beer tent to wet those whistles.

Chieftain Sandra Stokoe was piped down to the school grounds from St Ronan’s Road and took over the reins from last year’s chieftain, Norman Scott, to kick off the competition.

Society secretary Allan Johnston said: “It was great that so see so many people who turned out in the sunshine to witness some of the best pipe band performances from South and Central Scotland.

“Our contest is growing in stature every year and is attracting more and more bands to enjoy our Innerleithen hospitality.

“Our venue is great, and it was great to see so many youngsters taking part and they certainly enjoyed some of the excellent facilities on hand.

“Our provisional date for next year’s contest is Saturday, September 9, 2017, again in the grounds of St Ronan’s Primary School. Reserve that date now for a great day out in friendly Innerleithen.”

Mr Hamilton added: “As always, we are looking for more volunteers to join the committee and anyone interested should contact us. You can find us on Facebook – just search for St Ronan’s Piping Society.”

 See our website for more photographs.

The 96th annual Yarrow and Ettrick Show took place at Philiphaugh, near Selkirk, on Saturday, blessed by great weather and a high standard of livestock.

And while entries were down a little, there was a high standard of stock on display.

Overall sheep champion at the show was won by Alan McClymont, of Kirkstead.

Alistair Black, president of Yarrow and Ettrick Pastoral Society, which organises the show, said: “The day went really rather well, even though the ground was a little soggy underfoot after the heavy rain on Thursday and Friday.

“The sun on Saturday brought a good number to Philiphaugh, and although the number of entries was a little down on last year, the standard of stock was very high.

“It was a very strong show of sheep in all classes, and the horses were good as well.

“I’d like to thank all the committee for their hard work before and during the show, and all the competitors and members of the public for making it a memorable show.”

Two talented dogs from a Heriot farm can retire happy as they and their human won the brace competition in the International Sheep Dog Trials in Wales.

When nine-year-old Mac and eight-year-old Ban – with more than a little help from just as talented tenant farmer Julie Hill – soared to victory in Tywyn at the weekend, it was their last hurrah in competition, but they will still be working the farm and doing demonstrations.

And for Julie, the part of her job that became a hobby has now gone full circle and become a paying part of her business, as she is one the most successful trainers in the history of international sheepdog trials.

Her list of titles is impressive – and she puts her success down to her technique for training dogs – called the Natural Way – understanding and utilising the language of the dog as a pack animal, enabling Julie to communicate with dogs through body language.

She runs demonstrations at Carcant Farm, Heriot, for small interested groups to coachloads of tourists.

Julie, who is originally from Scunthorpe but has been at Carcant since 2005, said that the brace competition is one of the most difficult challenges available to the dog handler.

She said: “It’s quite intricate. You have to command both dogs at the same time and use different whistles and commands for each dog, but in order for the brace to work smoothly, they have to work in sync with each other, and with the sheep, and must be able to react to the sheep themselves.

“Mac and Ban are fantastic dogs, probably my most successful ever brace team. They connect so well together it just works really well.

“They are, I suppose, my good buddies.”

Julie, 53, works the farm with her partner Bobby Henderson, who also competes in the sheep dog circuit to a high level. Before moving to Scotland in 1988, Julie worked with horses in Cambridge, but she knows she has now found her calling.

She said: “It’s not a job, it’s a way of life. The competitions are a hobby, I guess, but they are really enjoyable.

“We love it here in the Borders – it is a great place to be – and we are really lucky to have such fantastic landlords. They are really supportive of everything we do.”

For more information on Julie’s demonstrations, visit nethhillbordercollies.co.uk or telephone her on 01875 835249.

People around the country are being challenged to see how they would cope without their hearing to mark Lipreading Awareness Week.

In a bid to raise the profile of lipreading and improve understanding of it Age UK Hearing Aids have created a lip-reading quiz to highlight just how difficult it can be.

While most of us take our ability to hear for granted around 20 per cent of people in the UK are thought to be affected by some form of hearing loss and lip-reading and sign language are major tools for those with hearing difficulties.

In a statement accompanying the quiz, Age UK Hearing Aids said: “Lip-reading involves understanding what people are saying by observing the speaker’s lip movements, which is a significant communication tool for those with little or no hearing.

“A lot of concentration is required when lip-reading, and is a hard skill to master for those who have recently been diagnosed with hearing loss.”

To show just how tricky reading lips can be the quiz - hosted HERE - offers ten short clips of people speaking and asks the viewer to choose the correct interpretation from three potential phrases.

The charity has also created a list of advice to make life easier for lip readers:

Do not get frustrated. Remain patient and repeat your sentences if necessary, encouraging the lip reader to ask for help if they are still unsure.

You may like to reword your sentence if it was not understood after the first or second instance.

Even if the lip-reader has an assistant, it is still advised that you direct your speech to the person affected by hearing loss.

While speaking out loud may help, added volume does not always add clarity, so please do not shout.

Use your body language and facial expressions to provide extra clues for the lip reader.

Minimise the distractions around you, such as the audio from a radio, flickering images on a television or even excessive decoration in a room.

When out and about with someone who needs to lip-read, make sure to choose places with bright lighting, and pick round tables when eating at restaurants.

Why not learn the basics of sign language to communicate even more clearly?

Take the Quiz

False name

A motorist who ran out of petrol on the A72 road between Cardrona and Peebles gave police a false name when they arrived on the scene, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

David Smith, 29, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice and driving with no insurance or licence last week.

The court was told that Smith, of Wester Common Road in Glasgow, gave his brother’s identification to officers and was allowed to go on his way, but he was later apprehended in Edinburgh on two warrants, and it was then that his true identity emerged.

Smith was jailed for three months for attempting to pervert the course of justice by giving a false name and date of birth.

He was also disqualified from driving for 12 months for having no insurance.

Temper lost

A Peebles woman has admitted making offensive comments outside the home of relatives of a former partner.

Julieann Dodds, 34, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner near her Glensax Road home at lunchtime on Saturday, June 21.

Her lawyer said her temper had got the better of her.

Sentence was deferred for six months at Selkirk Sheriff Court for good behaviour.

Toiletry theft

A Galashiels man caught shoplifting claimed he was under the influence of alcohol at the time, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

Scott Chisholm, 25, of Beech Avenue, pleaded guilty to stealing earphones and toiletries with a total value of £5.50 from the town’s Home Bargains store, in Channel Street, on March 16.

The court was told there was no recovery of the items.

CCTV footage captured him putting the items down the front of his jacket.

Chisholm told police: “When it happened, I was under the influence, and it was a silly mistake.”

Defence lawyer Robert More accepted it was his client’s third shoplifting conviction in recent times and said he been attempting to tackle his difficulty with drugs for the past eight or nine years.

Chisholm was given an 18-month drug treatment and testing order.

Unpaid work

A man has been ordered to carry out 200 hours’ unpaid work after admitting drug-dealing.

Bryan Dickson, 47, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to being concerned in the supply of cannabis after police found £400 worth of the class-B drug in his Wood Street home in Galashiels on May 19.

A total of £890 was found in cash, and there was also evidence of drug dealing in messages on his mobile phone.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said his client used cannabis regularly and sold some to friends to help fund his own drug use.

A community payback order was imposed as a direct alternative to custody, and £500 of the found cash was forfeited as proceeds of crime.

Heroin offence

A 28-year-old man has been jailed for six months at Selkirk Sheriff Court after admitting being concerned in the supply of heroin from a Galashiels flat.

Jobless Crawford Hull, 28, pleaded guilty to committing the offence at the property in Church Square on March 28.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said police recovered a number of items from the flat including £250 in cash, brown powder and drug-related sundry items.

They also checked the accused’s mobile phone and found it to contain messages implying Hull was involved in drug-dealing.

When interviewed by police, Hull said he bought big batches to save money and admitted he was involved in drug-dealing.

The value of the heroin found in the house was £150.

Defence lawyer Ross Dow said: “He was selling some of it to pay for his own.”

He added that Hull, of Maxmill Park, Kelso, is no longer taking heroin.

In addition to the six-month jail sentence, sheriff Valerie Johnston ordered the forfeiture of the £250 seized as the proceeds of crime.

Case deferred

Stuart Hunter, 52, admitted a charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by repeatedly uttering sexuallly offensive remarks to Scottish Borders Council support workers at his home in Weirgate Avenue, St Boswells, on February 22.

Sentence was deferred at Selkirk Sheriff Court for background reports.

Trial delay

The trial of a Kelso woman accused of embezzling £19,000 while working as administrator for a Selkirk playgroup has been moved back to December 8.

Fiona Hughes, 49, of Kaimflat Cottages, denies the offence, said to have happened at the Argus Playgroup at the town’s Goslawdales between August 1, 2011, and November 1, 2014.

An intermediate hearing will take place at Selkirk Sheriff Court on November 7.

Reports order

A bust-up over the use of a tablet computer resulted in a 47-year-old man threatening his 15-year-old stepdaughter and struggling violently with his wife, Selkirk Sheriff Court has been told.

David Greenhill pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at a house in Wood Street, Galashiels, on the morning of Sunday, May 1.

Background reports previously ordered were not available, so sentence was deferred until October 10.

Dealer jailed

A Galashiels drug dealer who had heroin in his home worth a street value of £8,000 was jailed for 14 months at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Christopher Ferguson, 28, pleaded guilty to a charge of being concerned in the supply of the class A drug at his home in High Street in June.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said police had obtained a search warrant for his flat to look for items in relation to an alleged assault, but during the search, officers found quantitites of brown powder and items consistent with drug-dealing.

Mr Fraser said 81 grammes of diamorphine were found and when cut up into small deals had a street value of £8,000.

Defence lawyer Robert More said that Ferguson insisted the drugs were not his but accepted they were found in his home, which, he said, was used by two other people.

Sheriff Valerie Johnston described heroin as a “particularly damaging drug” and said that with Ferguson’s record a custodial sentence was inevitable.

She backdated the 14-month prison sentence to June 15 when Ferguson was first taken into custody

Guilty pleas

Two teenagers who admitted assaulting police officers during a disturbance in Galashiels will be sentenced next month.

David Scougall, 18, pleaded guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to five offences at his Gala Park Court home on July 5 including kicking two officers to the body.

A 16-year-old female, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted charges of struggling violently with two police officers and also assaulting a female constable which resulted in the officer being hospitalised.

Sentence was deferred until October 10 when Scougall has other matters calling.

The advice of the children’s hearing is being sought in relation to the 16-year-old girl.

Shop offence

Pushing an Eyemouth shop worker during a domestic argument with his partner resulted in a £250 fine for Stuart McMillan.

He pleaded guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, shouting and swearing and acting in an aggressive manner before pushing the staff member as he fell over and knocked a bottle of wine onto the floor.

The offence happened in the Co-op in High Street, Eyemouth, on February 13.

The court heard that McMillan of Dobbies Road, Bonnyrigg, had been visiting relatives in Eyemouth but got involved in a bust-up with his partner which spilled over into the shop.

The staff member was in between the couple when she was pushed with the incident being captured on CCTV.

Sheriff Peter Paterson warned McMillan this was the second time he had been in court for what was effectively a domestic matter and warned a different course would be taken if he appeared again for a similar offence.

Unpaid work

A Galashiels man who repeatedly punched a man to the head and demanded money from him has been ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

John Grierson, 29, of Kenilworth Avenue, was also put on supervision for two years at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

He was convicted of assaulting Darren Richardson with intent to rob along with two teenagers and a 22-year-old sentenced earlier.

It follows an incident at a house in Larchbank Street, Galashiels, in January 2015.

The community payback order was imposed as a direct alternative to custody.

Theft case

A man convicted of theft by housebreaking will be sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court next month.

Harrison Long, 25, of Torwoodlee Road, Galashiels, also admitted a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the incident at a property in Walkerburn in May.

Sentence was deferred at Edinburgh Sheriff Court until October 5 for the production of background reports.

Threats made

A 20-year-old man has admitted threatening his pregnant partner and making offensive comments about her by sending her telephone messages, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has heard.

Keiran Davies, formerly of Eyemouth but now living at Beattie Court in Hawick, pleaded guilty to the offence, committed on Tuesday, August 30.

The offence was committed while Davies was on bail.

Sentence has been deferred until October 3 for the production of background reports.

Davies was granted bail to his Hawick address on the condition he does not contact his partner or enter Eyemouth.

Knife charges

A 23-year-old man who ran amok in Innerleithen with a knife will be sentenced next month.

Dean O’Donnell pleaded guilty on indictment to chasing members of the public with a knife and uttering threats of violence in Waverley Road, Innerleithen, on October 1 last year.

He also admitted repeatedly lunging at two men with the knife and attempting to strike them as well as assaulting a woman by pushing her to the ground to her injury.

O’Donnell, of McNeil Terrace, Loanhead, also pleaded guilty to possession of a knife.

Not guilty pleas to four other charges were accepted by the crown.

He was due to be sentenced at Jedburgh Sheriff Court.

But the court was told that he had been jailed at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this week for 80 for breaching his community pay back order and is not due to be released until October 5.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence on the Jedburgh case until October 7 when he is due to be at Liberty.

Blade offence

A drunken Hawick man was spotted by concerned neighbours wandering around a car park late at night with a knife, Jedburgh Sheriff Court has been told.

Thomas Laidlaw, 64, pleaded guilty to being in possession of a sharply-pointed blade near his Wilton Crescent home on June 1 last year.

The court heard how a neighbour confronted him in the car park and Laidlaw stumbled before dropping the knife and heading home.

Sheriff Peter Paterson deferred sentence for background reports including a restriction-of-liberty order assessment until October 3.

Drug trial

A Hawick man will stand trial next month at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on a charge of being in possession of a class-A drug.

Jamie Brown, 25, denies having psilocin at his home in Mansfield Crescent on August 8 last year.

The trial is due to take place on October 4.

Charges denied

A Hawick man has been accused of placing a woman in a state of fear and alarm.

Leslie Hunter, 48, of Stonefield Place, denies engaging in a course of conduct in repeatedly causing damage to her vehicle, making a false report that she assaulted him and behaving in an aggressive manner.

The offence is alleged to have been committed in Havelock Street between May 14 and July 1.

The trial is scheduled to take place at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 6.

Officers bitten

Background reports have been called for a Hawick woman who admitted biting two police officers during a disturbance.

Emma Stewart, 23, of Duke Street, pleaded guilty to the offences, which happened in North Bridge Street, Hawick, on April 20.

She bit one constable on the body to his injury and also assaulted another officer by biting him on the body and spit blood at him.

Sheriff Peter Paterson said he would need to consider all options and deferred sentence for reports including a restriction-of-liberty order assessment.

The case will recall at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on October 3.

Drunk in charge

A Kelso woman has admitted being drunk in charge in a public place of a child under 10 years of age.

Jade McCann, 30, pleaded guilty to the offence near her home in Inchmyre on May 30.

Sentence was deferred at Jedburgh Sheriff Court for three months.

Racist remarks

A Jedburgh man has admitted making racially offensive remarks towards a Borders General Hospital doctor at the town’s sheriff court.

James Markie, 48, also pleaded guilty to assaulting Brian Hall at his home in Headrig earlier on March 18 by repeatedly punching and kicking him on the head.

Sentence was deferred until October 3 for the production of background reports.

Cigarette row

A Peebles teenager who snapped when his mother would not go to a shop and buy him cigarettes has been fined £500 and ordered to pay her £150 compensation at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Peter Morey was described as having “an appalling attitude” towards his mother and immature.

The 18-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening or abusive behaviour by shouting and swearing, throwing furniture items across a room and repeatedly slam doors causing damage in the family home in Dalatho Crescent on November 3.

Procurator fiscal Graham Fraser said the disturbance started at about 9.30pm when Morey demanded his mother go to the shop to buy cigarettes for him.

When she refused, he started swearing at her and turned over a sofa and a clothes drier.

Mr Fraser said he continued to direct abuse towards his 38-year-old mum, who was forced to call her 65-year-old mother for help, but even when she arrived Morey refused to calm down.

He continued: “He abused his grandmother as well, and eventually the police were called.

“He left with a holdall full of clothes. The mother and grandmother were visibly upset at what had happened.

Defence lawyer Mat Patrick said: “The eruption in the house had been building up for sometime. It did not take much for him to lose his temper and control.”

Morey was initially given a community payback order involving 100 hours’ unpaid work, but he had been unable to carry out the unpaid work as he was working away from home.

Instead, the community order was replaced with a fine and compensation.

Heroin charge

A Galashiels man will stand trial at Selkirk Sheriff Court on a charge of heroin dealing.

Glen Noble, 29, is also accused of being concerned in the supply of diazepam at his home in Glendinning Terrace, on July 30.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges, and a trial date was set for December 8, with an intermediate hearing on November 7.

Pretty in pink he might not be, but Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell certainly looks to be in the pink about showing his support for Breast Cancer Now.

The Scottish Secretary is also urging his constituents in the Borders to follow his lead by dressing up in pink to take part in its latest nationwide fundraising event on Friday, October 21.

Mr Mundell said: “I’m fully committed to standing up for women and families affected by the disease, and I am very proud to take part in Wear It Pink.”

For details, go to www.wearitpink.org

I hope everyone in the local community will join me by wearing it pink on Friday 21 October and show their support for Breast Cancer Now.

“Through cutting-edge research, Breast Cancer Now are tackling the disease from all angles to ensure that, by 2050, everyone that develops the disease will live. But we all need to join forces and act now, and in wear it pink there is a fun and simple way for everyone to get involved.”

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now said:

“It’s wonderful to see so much parliamentary support for wear it pink. It’s a great opportunity for friends, co-workers and families across the UK to have some fun, wear something pink and show their support for those affected by breast cancer.

“Far too many women are still losing their lives to this dreadful disease. On Friday 21st October, every cake baked, every feather boa or pink tie worn and every laugh shared will help us create a future where no one dies from breast cancer.

“We will all be standing together, with colleagues and friends, to stop breast cancer taking the lives of the people we love – and we very much hope you’ll join us.”

Peebles has been named champion of champions after doing blooming well in the 17th Floral Gateway awards, held at Scottish Borders Council’s headquarters last week.

The Tweedside town was the pick of the crop for the first time after judges were impressed with the amount of work volunteers put into making their town beautiful.

Avril Murray, of volunteers’ group Bonnie Peebles, spoke of her pride in her group’s work.

She said: “We are delighted to be named champion of champions.

“Such a lot of hard work goes into it, and it is fantastic to have that work recognised.

“There is a lot of community spirit in Peebles, and that comes through in what we do.”

The group looks after eight flowerbeds in the town, which they volunteered to take over after the council made budget cutbacks.

She said: “We didn’t want to lose any of the beds, so we took them all on.”

The full results were: champion of champions – Peebles.

Town – 1, Kelso; 2, Hawick; 3, Galashiels.

Large village – 1, Melrose; 2, Newtown St Boswells; 3, Lauder.

Small village – 1, Ayton; 2, Greenlaw; 3, Ancrum.

Wee village – 1, Birgham; 2, Morebattle; 3, Burnmouth.

Border Biodiversity winner – Ancrum.

Clean and tidy winners – Duns, Eyemouth, Kelso and Melrose.

Quality of life winners – Lauder and Birgham.

Welcome award winners – Duns, Eyemouth, Kelso and Lauder.

The four joint winners of the clean and tidy Award each receive a new waste bin for their communities, while the two quality of life winners will receive a new bench.

Hawick and Hermitage councillor David Paterson, the council’s executive member for environmental services, said: “The Floral Gateway Awards aim to recognise the huge amount of work which goes in across the Borders by teams of volunteers, and I am delighted that communities have also embraced the new awards we introduced last year.

“Well done to all participants, but particularly the hard-working team at Peebles who thoroughly deserved the champion of champions award.

“On behalf of the council, I thank all the entries for their efforts in helping to make the Borders a beautiful place to live and visit.”