The Hamester
Eternal optimist. Let’s try and find out what happens.
Does anyone still wear a hat!?
- 09 Feb, 2026
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Noo that everyone and their strife is wearing wee docker caps again like it's 1982, I thought I'd break out some fashion tips from my stale old jar of things bygone. Right so here's the way things...
read moreLet there be light
- 30 Jan, 2026
- The Hamester
- Scone Watch
Dear Doonhamers, have you heard of electricity? Have you tried it yet? Well whether your a keen user of electricity or just electro-curious, the power of electricity was unavoidable to most...
read moreHustlers and fiddlers
- 20 Jan, 2026
- The Hamester
- Rattle Bag
Reading the dictionary the other day - as you do - I came across a phrase that was new to me. "Bunnet Hustler" According to the Collins Dictionary, and I'm simplifying here ... a Bunnet Hustler is a...
read moreEscaped golfer apprehended after struggle with a mobility scooter
- 10 Dec, 2025
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Shocked residents of Summerhill were today supporting each other after terrified residents we forced to hide behind curtains awaiting the arrival of the SSPCA's Golf Division. The incident began on...
read moreAyeman Toofaan - In conversation with
- 04 Dec, 2025
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
A dinnae get it, ya'ani. So yer tellin me that every year, roon aboot the same time, this river floods aw the road an shops an hooses. It even gans up the vennel a bit. An this happens every year?...
read moreBBC journalist hospitalised
- 13 Oct, 2025
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
An unnamed BBC journalist (Barney Toner) was found exhausted, pacing around Cresswell repeating the phrase, "You don’t expect it to happen in a place like this. He was a quiet man, kept himself to...
read moreChristmas Appeal 2025
- 01 Oct, 2025
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
We've aw seen it an look't awa; airtists that hing their works aw skewwhiff. It's a miserable sicht. At this time of year, please spare a thought fir aw they angularlly challenged paintings o birdies...
read moreOver regular
- 30 Aug, 2024
- The Hamester
- Rattle Bag
You sell bags. I bought one from you. Now you email me every two weeks. About bags. I've got one. You sold it to me. Seriously. You know that. If anyone knows about the bags I have, it's you.
read moreRemembering, 'Straight Ootta Beeswing'
- 29 Aug, 2024
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
This month marks the 35th anniversary of the release of cult Gallovidian album, 'Straight Ootta Beeswing'. The breakthrough album was the first of many that brought Galwegian crooning to the...
read moreHealth and safety
- 12 Aug, 2024
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
In a recent session of Full Council chaired by Councillor Max High, Dumfries & Galloway set forward a plan to ban all walking and cycling on safety grounds. A transcript of said meeting...
read moreWe're Doonhamers
- 14 May, 2024
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
[With sincere apologies to Paul Whitehouse and the Fast Show team for a bad rendition of their "Cockneys"] Hiyaaaaaaa. We're Doonhamers. Born in the sound of Greyfriars, I mean, Western Orthodox...
read moreThe die is cast on the game board
- 18 Mar, 2024
- The Hamester
- Rattle Bag
Well that's it. The die has been cast. Public nominations for the Chair of the new Dumfries Town Board closed at 5pm yesterday and the full council will ruminate over who shall be appointed, making...
read moreMystery Chanter Causes Cafe Chaos
- 12 Jan, 2024
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Police are appealing for information about the identity of a mystery man who burst into a local town centre cafe dressed as a superhero, stood atop a table and performed Madonna's 80s hit song, "La...
read moreA new slogan for Dumfries
- 17 Dec, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Around the time of the UCI's arrival in Dumfries this summer some wag chalked up a slogan at the top of the Whitesands with the phrase "Seagulls make Dumfries". Presumably this was in reaction to the...
read moreUglied up
- 25 Nov, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
-: What's wrang wi your gub? :- You. -: Me? How? :- Yiv uglied up ma kids! -: Whit? :- Yiv uglied up ma kids! Look at me, am gorgeous. Like proper gorgeous. Look at the kids. No sae gorgeous. A...
read moreBREAKING: Roads News
- 10 Nov, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Just in! It took over a week, but the Roads Department of D&G council has finally approved work to begin removing all the new tarmac that was laid during the UCI World Paracycling Championships. A...
read morePath, interrupted
- 10 Nov, 2023
- The Hamester
- Rattle Bag
I wish this one was a joke. In their haste to add more EV chargers in Brooms Road car park, ChargePlace Scotland has obliterated what was a safe, accessible, walking and wheeling route through the...
read moreNew flood protection scheme announced
- 30 Aug, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Keen-eyed readers may have noticed the yellow road closure signs that appeared this morning on the Whitesands and, rather curiously, extend into Dock Park. After a quick call to the Roads Department...
read moreNew secret audio archive uncovered
- 30 Aug, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
On this day in 1973, Richard Nixon was finally confessing to his role in the Watergate debacle and Cilla Black was unaware that she still had a lorra, lorra laughs ahead of her. Back home in Dumfries...
read moreLetters: July 2023
- 23 Aug, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
Dear Mr Hamester I liked your story about Peppa Pig falling down a well never to be seen again. Please write more about fictional animals meeting a long, drawn out sticky demise. Mikey J -- ED. I...
read moreAff ma heid wi the Fun Lovin' Criminals
- 18 Jul, 2023
- The Hamester
- Hame Truths
WARNING: Definitely contains profanity. May contain a few nuts. Excessive use of jam. In advance of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals headline appearance at the Doonhame festival this weekend, Scone Watch...
read moreDinnae skip the sunscreen
- 07 Jul, 2023
- The Hamester
- Misconnections
Skipping man, O skipping man Do you know you have a fan? Please don’t be so hard on yourself And cover your arms, or you’ll get more than a tan. Basal cell carcinoma, or mibbe a wee melanoma. Skin...
read more