BY now the shock news that Donald Trump will, in less than 90 days, become the president of the United States of America should just about have sunk in although if you're anything like me you will still be in utter disbelief how a man who has publicly spoken about women, religion, immigrants, his fellow countryman and the world in general in such appalling terms has been elected by the people as their Commander in Chief.

What's even more unbelievable is that Mr Trump will be given full access to the country's nuclear codes which seems utterly terrifying considering he’s a man who in seventy years on this planet has still to master the art of using a humble hairbrush.

I don't live in America obviously but what is clear from this election result is that the racial, religious and equality tension in the US is clearly dividing a nation and I'm not convinced given his track record that Donald Trump is capable of healing these wounds.

Only time will tell of course and I'm sure the world will watch with great interest over the next few months but it's times like this that I feel truly blessed to have been born and raised in Scotland especially when events like this come along.

Sunday marks the start of Scottish Interfaith Week and this year's theme looks at religion in the media.

Established by Interfaith Scotland in 2004, Scottish Interfaith Week provides an opportunity for individuals, local interfaith groups and faith communities across the country to celebrate Scotland's religious diversity and to plan events that bring local people together to promote dialogue, understanding and cooperation between Scotland's diverse religious communities.

I had the pleasure of hosting the launch of this great campaign last month which was attended by pupils and teachers from schools all across Scotland.

We were also lucky enough to have representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths in attendance on the day to talk about their experiences and thoughts on how their particular faith was portrayed in the media which was a complete eye opener on every level and just incredible to listen to first hand.

We know the media plays an increasingly important role in people's lives, whether through newspapers, TV, radio or social media and many people are influenced by what they read, see and hear.

Media reporting can have a powerful effect on people of different faiths, both positive and negative and I love that this year's Scottish Interfaith Week theme gives each and everyone of us the opportunity to share the positive stories of faith and interfaith work and challenge some of the negative reporting and stereotypes about people of different faiths in the media.

I am a religious person who is completely faith lead and, of course, I often challenge my own religion on some of the man made laws that have no place in modern society but mainly I simply believe in love.

We all have one shot at this life and if you can find love in family, god, man or woman, what does it matter as long as you live your life treating others as you'd like to be treated yourself, striving to be good and to never purposely hurt one another.

We should above all respect each other's beliefs because life's too short and too precious to be wasted away with hate, ignorance and intolerance.

Why not use this week to learn and understand what makes Scotland such a beautifully diverse country. For more information log onto http://www.interfaithscotland.org

My lovely friend Ashley is marrying her soulmate Stef in February 2017 and I'm extremely honoured to be a bridesmaid on the big day.

Before all of that loveliness though is the little matter of her hen do this weekend.

Now Ashley has chosen myself and her dear friend Louisa to organise her last weekend of freedom, so to speak ,and I, for one, wanted to go the whole hog and organise a big group of hunky Chippendales jumping out of a giant cake but was sadly reined in on that chat.

We have however organised a beautiful weekend away with a few surprises thrown in (yes start panicking now Ashley) which I'm sure you’ll love. Remember that scene in Bridesmaids when Annie has had one too many sherries due to her fear of flying and bursts into first class? Well in her famous last words “are you ready to paaaaaaaaaarty?”