As a seasoned hack it’s hard to bite back cynicism when you see the same old story rolling around again.

So welcome to the brand new, thrilling Union Terrace Gardens – take three.

Well, three at least as far as I can recall. No doubt there have been many plans for this green space in the heart of the city.

They all have one thing in common. Not a single one has happened. As far as I’m concerned it is a crying shame Peacock Visual Art’s plans for the gardens were strangled at birth.

Had they gone ahead, we would be admiring fabulous arty things while quaffing coffee on the terrace in the sunshine and singing the praises of how it had all breathed new life into the gardens.

It would have done so much more besides, kickstarting Aberdeen’s own cultural quarter with its neighbours His Majesty’s and the Art Gallery.

Instead that was all kicked into the long grass in favour of the City Garden project which turned into one of the most divisive issues of the day, with a slew of options and a referendum on the whole shebang.

The people spoke, they said yes, the new council came and said in its infinite wisdom – if that’s the right word – no.

Which left us where we were at the start. A tired void space decent folk tended to avoid for fear of drunks and addicts. It was the worst of all possible worlds.

Now we have the design firm behind London’s Olympic Park drafted in to plan a £17 million facelift for the gardens.

I am tempted to say I’ll believe it when I see it, but to be honest I really do want to see it.

In any other place, having gardens like these in the heart of your city would be a major asset, a thing to cherish.

So we can only hope what emerges now truly is a plan which makes the most of Union Terrace Gardens.

Please, this time, can we turn it back into what it was and should be – a place people use and enjoy.

Paralympians are brilliant

Any smugness I have about my running exploits has just been blown out of the water.

Sure, I have a half marathon coming up and, yes, that’s a bit of a challenge. But it pales into insignificance when you watch the Rio Paralympics.

I moan about tired legs or not feeling like running. Then I see the barriers other people refuse to accept as they strive for excellence and realise I have nothing to moan about. They are all heroes.

Drivers need to learn the law

Well thank goodness they’ve sorted out the confusing road markings at the Craibstone roundabout.

Now could someone sort out the confusion in Aberdeen drivers’ heads as to how roundabouts actually work?

As a daily traverser of the Garthdee and Bridge of Dee roundabouts, it’s clear a lot of people have no clue at all.

Lane discipline is an optional extra and in the Granite City the safe time to enter a roundabout is when you get fed up waiting in a queue.