Four things you should know this morning

IT’S never too early to learn something new like how much weigh did a food addicted dog loose and where is the garden you can only visit once a year?

Pizza addicted dog scoops pet fit club award

A dog that used to feast on pizzas and roast dinners has been crowned Scotland’s pet slimmer of the year after shedding a third of her body weight.

Bullmastiff Kayla weighed more than 61kg (9st 6lb) and faced health problems at the start of the annual PDSA Pet Fit Club competition in June before losing 17kg.

The seven-year-old’s owner Agnes Higgins took responsibility for the weight problems as she used to cook enough for two portions at every meal - one for her and one for Kayla.

She said the dog would regularly eat Sunday roasts, pizza and bowls of cornflakes for breakfast.

What did the owners have to say?

Can you have a healthy Christmas dinner?

The festive season poses a great risk of overindulgence for many Scots. Keep yourself healthy during the festive season with advice from nutritionist and consultant Natasha Alonzi on typical Christmas Day courses.

STARTER

Smoked salmon is a popular choice across Scotland’s Christmas Day dinner tables thanks to its widely-known reputation as a source of Omega 3 fatty acid. However, the food has been found to have nitrates and nitrites within it, of which some can be carcinogenic. Farmed salmon can also be a source of carcinogenic Polychlorinated Biphenols (PCBs), with organic or wild-farmed salmon recommended.

What about the other courses?

Art Deco traveller shines light on Scots buildings

An arts writer has released a new travel guide, exploring Art Deco buildings across the UK.

Genista Davidson’s fascination with Art Deco began as a child as her ancestors were church builders.

Her father worked as an architect and as a small child she would spend her time immersed in that world - when she wasn’t playing dress up with her great grandmothers clothes from the 1920s.

It was here her love of art deco formed.

How is Scottish art deco different?

Scotland’s hidden wonders: The Garden of Cosmic Speculation

A 30-acre exploration of science, creativity, cosmology, chaos and the universe at Portrack House, Dumfries.

With its twisted landforms and curious enclaves, the garden began to develop amid its creator’s growing belief that science was a force for creativity which offered truth to both the big questions of the universe and the beauty of pattern.

While the garden preserves traditional notions of pleasure through sight and smell, new tools and artificial materials help to create a landscape that is challenging, mind expanding and simply impressive in its ambition to become a little evolving universe all of its own.

Portrack House, by result, is a very modern paradise.

When can you visit?