Queen seeks gardener for Scottish home

Queen Elizabeth II is searching for a chief gardener to keep things green around Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the royal family since 1852. In a help wanted ad on the Balmoral website, the royals said they sought an experienced gardener "capable of meeting the high standards at this important property."

If you think you could be up to the job, you can read more here.

Nova Scotia in the News

There is a whole chapter about Nova Scotia and its links with Scotland in the forthcoming Scottish Miscellany but Nova Scotia has found itself in the news recently over the Queen's proposed visit to the International Tattoo.

Apparently there were health and safety issues over the 83 year-old walking up 17 stairs, when there are many more than that at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle that Her Royal Highness negotiates on a regular basis without any problems. One Canadian spokesperson said the issue wasn't over the Queen's age but the fact that she hadn't been trained to use the stairs. Now that is Health and Safety gone mad!

You can read more about the story here.