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Belated congratulations to Dundee based producer Bob Last, French director Sylvain Chomet and the huge team of animators behind the charmingly nostalgic film The Illusionist, which has been nominated for an Oscar.

It's up against the might of Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon, the former beating the film to a Golden Globe. But fingers crossed for a little bit of Scottish nostalgia in Hollywood on February 27th.

Founder's passing

And sad news from the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, whose founder John Mason died earlier this week.

An Ayrshire lawyer, with Orcadian roots, and a passion for traditional Scottish music, he not only created a world renowned orchestra but helped raise the profile of Scottish fiddle music.

Easy to see its popularity in the thick of Celtic Connections, but more of a challenge 30 years ago, when he and like minded musicians across the country first started out.

Condolences to his family, and his extended family of the fiddle orchestra.

I'm sure there will be a tribute concert at some stage - and no shortage of material, given the hundreds of tunes he composed or arranged over the years.