Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London 2012 Organising Committee, said: “Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life.

“The Flame symbolises the Olympic spirit and its journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets.

“Now the people know the route the Olympic Flame will be carried along and the Torchbearers for their community, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Falkirk’s moment to shine.”

Falkirk, travelling from Glenfuir Road, through West Bridge Street, Cockburn Street, Hodge Street, Arnot Street, St Crispins Place, Callendar Road and Bellsmeadow Road. The police will set up some traffic restrictions during the day and some disruption to local traffic is expected.

The Skinflats leg of the journey is due to start at 2.40 p.m. before the torch heads across the Firth of Forth to Cairneyhill.

In the 1948 Olympic Games  James “Jimmy” McColl  represented Great Britain at the 1948 Summer Olympics, making two appearances. McColl had been with amateur club Queen’s Park until the Summer of the Olympics in which he played.He later played for Falkirk. There has been some controversy over the Great Britain football team for the 2012 Olympics with three Home Nation Football Associations refusing to allow players to be selected for the team . A large number of players have been contacted individually about playing in the GB team and most of them want to play for the team . There is very little the SFA can do to prevent players taking part.

Linlithgow Palace HDR picture

Linlithgow Palace is a popular subject for pictures because of its attractive location next to Linlithgow Loch. The Palace is the birthplace of Mary , Queen of Scots . The fountain in the courtyard has been restored recently. This picture is an HDR image produced using Photomatix. The picture is available as a screensaver

1. Create good first impressions when guests arrive with fairylights , candles and Christmas cards

2. Decorate the tree with colourful decorations , gifts and  interesting baubles

3. Bake cookies and biscuits cut into festive shapes

4. Create a Scandinavian gingerbread house

5. Use Christmas theme dressings and centrepieces for the dining table

6. Enjoy delicious hot drinks such as mulled wine or hot chocolate

7. Fill your house with fairylights of all colours to add a sparkle

8. Shop online for presents for a less stressful experience

9.Wrap and tag all your gifts in advance

10.Organise all your Christmas jobs so none are left until the last minute

Pippa Middleton , the younger sister of Duchess Catherine – has penned a guide for the Party Times online magazine she edits as part of her family’s mail order business in order to help people have a “stress-free” festive season.
Pippa cites “first impressions” as the most important thing to remember and goes on to offer advice on decoration, food, gifts and entertainment.

She suggests: “Have guests met by a beautiful red berry wreath and windows decorated with silver snowflake cut-outs, reindeers and Christmas trees using snow spray.

“At this time of year everything seems to gleam so fill your house with lots of tiny lights such as green Christmas fairy lights.

“Fairy lights play an essential part and can be draped from beams, twisted round staircases and hung around door frames for a winter sparkle.
Rustic rattan reindeers nestled in a corner and wrapped with fairy lights look stunning and magical,

A business case to win the cash through the Tax Increment Financing scheme will be put to the Scottish Government’s Scottish Futures Trust team by the deadline of August 19.

The council has been working on a bid for the last 18 months. It hopes it will see funding made available to get massive projects including the upgrading of the M9, A9 and A801 Avon Gorge road links and development at the Falkirk Gateway, Grangemouth Docks, Earls Gate, Gilston and Helix sites started.

Approval allows councils to borrow cash from The Public Works Loan Board to deliver essential infrastructure like roads, lighting and utilities which have to be in place before building can start. Once completed and the sites are occupied, the rates the council receives from its new tenants is used to repay the money.

The idea has been used elsewhere and, in the current economic climate, is seen as an important regeneration tool. The TIF idea is already understood to have cross-party support in principle.

Councillor Craig Martin, leader of Falkirk Council, claims it is an opportunity the council cannot afford to miss.

March, April and May were the busiest in Heathrow and Edinburgh airports’ history, according to BAA’s latest figures.
Heathrow Airport handled 5.9 million passengers last month, while Edinburgh Airport handled 826,000.
Traffic at BAA’s six airports increased by 9.2% on last May to 9.3 million passengers, although the airport operator said the figures were skewed by last year’s figures that were affected by volcanic ash and industrial action.
Edinburgh screensavers can be downloaded at Edinburgh castle Screensavers