Neil McIntosh Editor of The Scotsman

Dear reader,

First of all, if this is the first email you've had from me, I'd like to extend a warm welcome to The Scotsman.

A large number of new subscribers joined The Scotsman after last weekend, when we had a brilliant response to our Calcutta Cup coverage. It's great to have you on board.

Whether you are a long-term reader or newly signed-up, these are exciting times, and we're constantly looking to improve. In this, we would appreciate your help: we're running an anonymous survey about what we could do better. And, you could win a £100 Amazon voucher.

Scotland v Wales clash

One thing I hope to bring you more of is Scottish sporting success. But we should probably stop crowing about that tense win over England at Murrayfield last weekend, and switch our focus to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff tomorrow, where Scotland meet Wales in the Six Nations.

Graham Bean, our rugby editor, will be there, of course, and his preview today takes a forensic look at the much-changed team Gregor Townsend has picked for the game. We'll have more detail in tomorrow's Saturday Scotsman - in print and online.

We're also currently offering 30% new annual subscriptions with the code SIXNTS30 - join us today. 

Will Scotland scrap all Covid restrictions?

To more serious matters: will Scotland follow England in scrapping all Covid restrictions? The move in England feels like an extraordinary, and rapid, turnaround of events.

Remember how concerned we all were about Omicron only two months ago, and the possibility of another full lockdown over Christmas and New Year? But Boris Johnson seems determined to make the change, with even free lateral flow tests being phased out by the summer.

While there may be pressure on the Scottish Government to follow suit, our health correspondent Elsa Maishman writes today it seems more likely Covid restrictions in Scotland will be extended for a further six months. At least schoolchildren will not have to wear masks in the classroom after the mid-term break.

Cost of living and ferry fiascos

Elsewhere in the news, the cost of living remains hugely important, and something we'll continue to devote a lot of time to - it appears three-quarters of Scottish households will get a £150 boost to help out, no matter how their finances are.

Meanwhile Alastair Dalton, our transport correspondent, continues to keep an eye on the ongoing Scottish ferry fiasco (cables appear to be the latest problem).

Finally: in tomorrow's Saturday Scotsman, don't miss our usual bumper package of news, opinion, sport and the Saturday Magazine, which includes an interview with actor Jamie Sives, chef Chris Charalambous serving up delicious roast beef with all the trimmings, and Rose Murray Brown's recommendation for the perfect pink fizz for Valentine's Day (don't forget - it's Monday).

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Best wishes,

Neil McIntosh

Editor, The Scotsman