The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE

Or not, as the case might be; the shock resignation of Professor Alan Alexander as Chairman of Scottish Water over a difference in strategy does not mean that a new dynamic Chairman will materialise and wave a magic wand over Scotland’s antiquated water system, or if it does, then why has the Executive been hiding this paragon?

Scottish reservoir The waters are muddy, to say the least of it; in 1994, a Referendum carried out by Strathclyde Region during the bad old Tory days, showed that Strathclyde Region was overwhelmingly opposed to the privatisation of water. Turnout was 71.5% and the percentage opposed was 97%. This was at a time when water privatisation was at its height in England and Wales with people allegedly not flushing toilets or taking baths due to the costs as the private water companies creamed off vast profits for their shareholders. Such was the perception, anyway. However, I for one did not wish to see such a basic essential handed over to the private sector; electricity and gas had already gone, as had telephones and railways, but water was too much.

Three water companies were set up, all publicly owned, West of Scotland, East of Scotland and North of Scotland Water; after a while, it was decided to have only one water company for Scotland, so Scottish Water was set up in 2002, with expected efficiencies as duplication of staff would be avoided. All this was very reasonable, and they claim that they are doing the job for £3 million a week less. And this very month, the Chief Executive of Scottish Water, Jon Hargreaves, was awarded the title of Scottish Public Sector Leader of 2005, as well as being runner up in the Scottish Director of the Year.

What seems to be the problem is that the plan for 2006-2010 to improve Scotland’s water quality is not acceptable to the Scottish Executive or to the Water Industry Regulator; originally Scottish Water wanted to spend £3.3 billion in this period, but this meant that water charges had to rise faster than inflation, and the Water Regulator vetoed that. The revised figure was £2.15 billion, and I think was set by the Regulator, and while this was more acceptable, the Executive did not believe the Scottish Water reworking of the plan, so Professor Alexander’s resignation looks more like the Kirkcaldy heist, as he was caught between a rock and a hard place.

That is my reading of the situation, and while I hold no particular brief for Professor Alexander, as I think he is one of Labour’s quangomen, I cannot think that any company can undo years of neglect by cutting back on capital spending, or improve services with less staff. Maybe some of the money that could have been spent on water has gone to buy out the Skye Bridge company, a Tory mess, and the Inverness Airport privatisation, Labour’s own foray. This expenditure, of course, makes them look like the good guys, and there will be an election next year.

PUBLIC INQUIRY OR NOT?

The current brouhaha over the Shirley MacKie case will not go away; from an adamant “No!” to a Public Inquiry from the Justice Minister, Cathie Jamieson, we have progressed to a: “Maybe the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee 1 can have a look at this”. This has been damned with faint praise by the Convener of that Committee, who does not think that they would have the time or the expertise to get to the bottom of the affair.

As a bit of background as to what constitutes a Public Inquiry: Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell announced in June 2003 that Lord Fraser of Carmyllie had been appointed to conduct an inquiry into the management of the Holyrood Parliament building project which was then two and a half years behind schedule with costs running approximately ten times more than the original estimate of £40m. In introducing the Inquiry, the First Minister said: "People in Scotland rightly expect answers to all of their questions about the way in which the cost to the public purse has escalated, and the decisions and actions which have contributed towards the position in which we now find ourselves.

“While the investigation will not be a full public inquiry with the legal powers to compel witnesses to attend, Mr McConnell said that Lord Fraser would be prepared to "name and shame" anyone who failed to co-operate.”

Well, we know the fiasco that turned out to be; nobody was guilty, and nobody went to gaol. Lord Fraser named but did not shame, and was unable to see filmed footage of interviews about the project as he had no legal powers so to do. I am sure that we knew what the Inquiry cost, but a search of the site does not reveal that. Two things in common with both issues; both occurred before the setting up of the Scottish Parliament (all the relevant decisions on the Parliament were taken before anyone was elected) and the Shirley McKie case stemmed from the murder of Marion Ross in 1996. The other factor is that the Scottish Executive steadfastly refused a Public Inquiry, any inquiry at all in the first instance.

Back to the Shirley McKie case; this is a more serious issue than the Parliament, as it goes to the heart of justice. It started with the attendance of Shirley McKie at the scene of the murder of Marion Ross; Shirley McKie’s fingerprints were identified in the house, although she declared she was never in the house. She was subsequently charged with perjury, but found Not Guilty; an Inquiry by a group set up by the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland and reporting in August 2000 found that there had been misidentification of the fingerprint and also a cover up of that error, and alleged criminality. This report was never made public, four members of the fingerprint unit were suspended, but never charged or tried. They also wish an Inquiry, to clear their names.

Lockerbie This is all very sketchy, as there is a lot of comment, meetings, statements etc, in a saga lasting nine years. At the “end” of it all, the Scottish Executive decided that they did not want to face Shirley McKie in Court, and agreed to pay £750,000 (three quarters of a million of our money) to make her go away. She took the money, but still wants her name cleared.

Last weekend, a report in Scotland on Sunday said that the FBI had put pressure on various fingerprint experts, as any slurs cast upon the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) could have affected the trial of the Lockerbie bombers as evidence for the trial had been provided by the SCRO; whether this has any real basis in fact is not known at this time. What we do know is that in a book written by David Rollo, of the Scots Independent newspaper, he was dubious about the identification of the man who bought clothes in Sliema, Malta; this part of the investigation was carried out by the SCRO. David Rollo, who has written extensively on the Lockerbie bombing, travelled to Malta and visited the shop. This is reported in “Lockerbie – Miscarriage of Justice” by David Rollo, published by the Scots Independent (Newspapers) Ltd in September 2004.

It would seem that the establishment do not wish matters to be clarified, but the reputation of the Scottish criminal justice system demands otherwise.

SNP VICTORIOUS IN GLASGOW BY-ELECTION

FIRST SNP BY-ELECTION SUCCESS IN GLASGOW IN 8 YEARS

After the disappointment of Dunfermline and West Fife, it was some consolation that we took a Council seat from Labour in Glasgow last week; Billy McAllister became the latest Scottish National Party Councillor following a stunning victory in the local by-election in Milton, Glasgow.

The SNP candidate came from second place and 20 percentage points behind Labour in 2003 to win with a swing to the party of 15 percent.

Billy McAllister The victory is the party’s first in a by-election in Glasgow in the eight years since 1998, and is the latest in a series of impressive SNP victories at local level across Scotland. Since the 2005 General Election, when the SNP also gained seats, the SNP has now won 6 new seats in council by-elections, more than all the other parties put together.

SNP Holyrood Leader and Glasgow MSP Nicola Sturgeon said after the result:

"Winning here despite a strong Labour campaign is a brilliant achievement for Billy, his campaign team and the party. Most of all it’s a great day for the people of Milton who have elected a local councillor who will fight tirelessly for their interests in Glasgow City Council. What we’ve seen in Glasgow tonight is that the SNP can fight and win seats from Labour here in the Central Belt of Scotland.

"At the Scottish Parliament elections next year voters across the country will be faced with a simple choice between the SNP and Labour. They will have to decide whether to vote for an SNP Scottish Executive led by Alex Salmond with a vision of taking Scotland forward to Independence, or more of the same from a failing Labour-LibDem Executive under Jack McConnell.

“The clear evidence from tonight shows that when given this straight choice voters will decide to place their trust in the SNP.”

Councillor Billy McAllister said:

“I’d like to thank the people of Milton for placing their trust in me; I’ll continue to work hard for all the people in this area and ensure that the complacent Labour party will no longer take them for granted.

“This victory demonstrates that when the SNP face Labour head to head we can and will win, and so this is a fantastic boost as we build to victory in next year’s Scottish elections.”

Full Result

PARTY	Vote	%	% Change

SNP	773	49.6	+17.1
Labour	623	40.0	-12.6
SSP	93	5.9	-4.7
LibDem	44	2.8	-1.4
Con	29	1.6	-

TREATY OF UNION

Although the Treaty of Union came into force on 1st May 1707, most of the measures leading to it were carried through in 1706. The discussions in London were between 16 April and 23 July in that year and the debate in the Scottish Parliament began on 30 October and lasted, incredibly, until 16 January 1707.

Paul Scott The Saltire Society will shortly publish a new book by Paul Henderson Scott, The Union of 1707: Why and How, which tells this astonishing story, largely in the words of people involved at the time.

Few events in our history have had more far-reaching and long-lasting consequences; but also few have been so misrepresented and misunderstood. Paul Scott, who has studied the event for many years, concentrates on the clear facts as they appear in the records of the time. They are very different from the ideas which generally prevail, the consequence of centuries of propaganda.

Paul Scott is giving a lecture on the same subject in the Royal Museum, Chamber Street, Edinburgh at 6.30 p.m. on Tuesday 14th March (Tickets for the Museum £4 and £3 concessions. Entrance to Lecture Theatre at rear of building).

The book will be launched in the National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 18 April at 7 p.m., with a conversation between Paul Scott and Harry Reid, the former editor of The Herald. Admission is free, but tickets should be reserved in advance by telephoning 0131 623 3845.

Paul Scott is available for interviews at Tel. 0131 225 1038

ISBN: 0 85411 096 6 Provisional Publication Date: March 2006

The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street,Edinburgh, EH1 1TF

FOOT IN THE MOUTH NOTES

Euphemisms of our time: Notice in supermarket: “If the alarm sounds please contact a member of staff for assistance.”

Literal translation: “You’re caught – you thieving b-----d!”

Saw a book on the shelves entitled “I can make you thin.”

I misread it at first as “I can make you think” – a much more difficult task.

A Labour MP in Glasgow has said that Labour supporters should not vote Labour on the second ballot for the Scottish Parliament elections, as this vote would be wasted.

A lot of people have noticed that voting for them on the first ballot is also wasted.

The Regional Selective Assistance scheme was designed to help create jobs in Scotland by giving them grants to set up operations; HSBC (Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Corporation) was recently awarded £1 million by the Scottish Executive to set up an investment operation in Edinburgh.

HSBC is the third largest bank in the world, and makes a profit of £1 million per hour; obviously they have the know how and now we know how.

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP

Click here to read SNP MSP Linda Fabiani's working diary.

SYNOPSIS

Not a great deal this week, as the Scottish Parliament has been in recess; all this means is that SNP MSPs get peace to get more work done – and the Liberal/Labour establishment slip out a few dissimulations when the press is on holiday.

Friday 17th February 2006

Enterprise Minister in the Labour led coalition and Liberal Democrat leader in Scotland, Nicol Stephen has ruled out completely any chance for the Borders railway to be extended beyond Tweedbank in a letter to SNP MSP Christine Grahame. Ms Grahame had written to Mr Stephen last month asking him to consider extending the line to revitalise more of the region in light of yet further job losses in textiles. She said: “The economic benefits of bringing this line to the Borders have been largely won despite ongoing hostility from the Liberal’s coalition partners in the Labour Party.

“If Liberals truly understand the economic benefits which the railway could bring in terms of delivering the line to Galashiels then I cannot understand why they would not want to extend that benefit to the rest of the Borders and extend beyond Tweedbank.

"This decision ensures Hawick and the rest of the southern Borders will continue to suffer further economic decline with little hope of turning that around.

“A railway line brings with it jobs, housing and investment. The logical aiming point for this proposal would be to ensure we can extend the line and with it the benefits to as much of the Borders as possible. Instead we see a short term political fudge by Ministers unable to grasp the wider infrastructure needs of the Borders which would lift the region off its knees and into prosperity and opportunity.”

Friday, February 17th 2006

Responding to the news that Scottish Gas will increase its gas and electricity tariffs by 22% from 1 March 2006, Richard Lochhead MSP, Scottish Shadow Minister for Energy, said:

"This is a devastating increase that will poleaxe domestic and business customers. Complacent Government Ministers must now accept that they have allowed energy rich Scotland to be engulfed in an energy crisis.

"The Government must explain why a nation that produces eight times the amount of gas it consumes is in the grip of such a crisis. Fuel poverty is set to escalate with 30,000 Scots plunged into fuel poverty with every 5% increase.

"Scottish Ministers must deliver an emergency statement next week in the Scottish Parliament to explain what they are going to do to protect Scots from fuel poverty and spiralling energy costs. The UK Government's energy policy is failing Scotland."

Wednesday, February 15th 2006

Mike Weir MP, SNP Spokesperson on Trade and Industry, has derided the government's defence of their decision to remove the Post Office Card Account as "utterly ludicrous".

Mike Weir Speaking in a debate in the House of Commons Mr Weir said that the removal of the account would have a disastrous effect and lead to an increase in financial exclusion.

Mr Weir said: "The government tell customers they can go to the banks, but where are these banks? In many rural areas and deprived city areas the banks have closed.

"The Post Office is the only place where benefits can be accessed. If they go there will be nothing. The government will increase financial exclusion by this ill thought out move.

"The minister's defence that it was all in the original contract is utterly ludicrous. We were not allowed to see the original contract. If they did disclose it publicly at the outset it would have deterred people from using these accounts.

"It was never made clear that this was a temporary account and cardholders have been misled by this government. They must re think their plans as a matter or urgency and remove the threat to the account."

Tuesday, February 21st

A study released today (Tuesday) by Scottish Enterprise Grampian on the impact on the North East and Scottish economy of Gordon Brown's 10% extra tax on oil and gas profits shows how "significant" its impact was says the leader of the SNP, Alex Salmond MP.

The report follows on from remarks made yesterday by Mike Tholen, the economics and commercial director of the UK Offshore Operators Association, who said that if oil prices fell, then the economic viability of Britain's oil and gas basin would be "severely challenged".

Alex Salmond Commenting Mr Salmond said:

"The findings of this study reveal that even at higher oil prices there is a significant impact from the Chancellor's tax hike.

"If oil prices were to fall that impact would be even greater. Brown's billions today will come at the expense of Scottish job's tomorrow."

North East SNP MSP and Shadow Energy Minister Richard Lochhead said:

"Labour politicians who have argued that this tax would have no impact have been left with egg on their faces by one of the Government's own agencies.

"In the short term alone, London's tax raid on the North Sea is set to blow a hole in the North East economy with anything between £150m to £800m of output being lost and that does not even include the extra £2bn in tax that is being stolen by Gordon Brown.

"Scotland is set to pay a high price for allowing the UK Government and Gordon Brown to control our oil and gas sector."

Obair Fad Beatha

An tòisich mi leis an deagh naidheachd, no an droch naidheachd? Deagh naidheachd - tha sinn air ais gu na lathaichean nuair a bha obair againn fad ar beatha. Droch naidheachd - tha sin a’ ciallachadh gum bi sinn ag obair gus am faigh sinn bàs. O uill a charaidean, into every life a little rain must fall!

pensioner Tha na pàipearan naidheachd agus an telebhisean air a bhith làn aithrisean nach eil sinn a’ sàbhaladh gu leòr, nach eil sinn à’ dèanamh planaichean sam bith son ar seann aois, nach eil òigridh gu leòr ann a chumas sinn is sinn sean; bidh an dealbh agaibh tha mi cinnteach mura bi sibh tighinn beò ann am bogsa (no ‘s dòcha ann am fear de na tuill ann an rathaidean Ìle. B’ urrainn do phoblachd bheag Balkan a bhith beò ann an cuid dhiubh!). Ach às bith dè na rabhaidhean a gheibh sinn, a rèir coltais chan eil e dèanamh diofar. Tha e a’ cur iongnadh mòr orm nach bi sinn a’ toirt barrachd feart’ do fhear a bhios air peinnsean nas motha ann am mìos na bhios a’ mhòr-chuid againn dol a dh’fhaotainn ann am bliadhna. Rinn ar Buill Pàrlamaid planaichean dhaibh fhèin agus bidh iadsan gu math cofhurtail. Tha leasan an sin dhuinne. Faigh obair far am pàigh a h-uile duine eile ar peinnsean, aig ìre agus àm a thaghas sinne.

‘S e an aon trioblaid le sin gu bheil taobh eile ann. Cò phàigheas, agus carson a dh’fheumas duine sam bith peinnsean a thoirt seachad do chuideigin eile aig aois 55 no nas òige, nuair a bhios iad fhèin dol a dh’obair gu aois 67 (agus an còrr!)? Cò shàbhaileas nuair a bhios a h-uile cothrom ann gum bi iad air am peanasachadh le cìsean, no gun trèig an companaidh àrachais a gheallaidhean?

Nam biodh barrachd cloinne ann a’ cosnadh cha bhitheamaid san staing seo - o aidh, ma bhios clann aig boireannach gu math tric caillidh i cothroman, cosnadh, peinnsean ma ghabhas i ùine dheth, agus uaireannan caillidh i a h-obair uile gu lèir. Ma dhealaicheas i bho athair a pàiste chan eil e cinnteach gum faigh i airgead bhuaithe - cuimhnichibh an CSA! Feumaidh i cùram fhaotainn don phàiste is cha bhi sin saor mura bi seanmhair no cuideigin mar sin aice. Saoil carson nach eil barrachd bhoireannach ag iarraidh clann? Fìor thòimhseachan sin, eh?

Mairead NicEacharna

Translation:
A Job for Life

Will I start with the good news, or the bad? Good news - we’re back to the days when we had a job for life. Bad news - that means that we’ll be working until we die. Oh well friends, into every life a little rain must fall!

The newspapers and television have been full of reports that we aren’t saving enough, that we’re not making plans for our old age, that there aren’t enough young people to keep us when we are old; you’ll have the picture I’m sure if you aren’t living in a box (or maybe in one of the holes in the Islay roads. A wee Balkan republic could live in one of those!) But despite what warnings we receive, apparently it isn’t making any difference. It amazes me that we don’t pay more heed to a man who will be on a bigger pension in a month than most of us will get in a year. Our MPs made plans for themselves and they’ll be very comfortable. There’s a lesson there for us. Get a job where someone else will pay our pensions at a level and a time that we choose.

The only trouble with that is that there’s another side. Who will pay, and why should anyone have to give a pension to someone else at the age of 55 or younger, when they themselves will be working until the age of 67 (and the rest!)? Who will save when there’s every chance they will be penalised by taxes, or that the insurance company will abandon its pledges?

If there were more children earning we wouldn’t be in this difficulty - oh aye, if a woman has children very frequently she will lose opportunities, earnings, pension if she takes time off, and sometimes she will lose her job altogether. If she separates from the father of her child it’s not certain that she’ll get child support from him - remember the CSA! She will need to find care for the child and that won’t be cheap unless she has a grandmother or someone like that. I wonder why more women don’t want children? That’s a real puzzler, eh?

Gordon & Carmen Wright

Second-hand, Fine & Rare Scottish Books.

Regular catalogues issued by email. To subscribe, email us at: Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com

Gordon Wright’s Scottish Photo Library

Spanning forty-five years and featuring a wide variety of illustrations in colour and black and white covering all aspects of Scottish life from Orkney to the Border country. Thousands of personality portraits.

Images for reproduction. Prints for collectors.

Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com

23 February 2005
Death of Robin Jenkins, aged 92, leading Scottish author of the 20^th century.

24 February 1303
Although outnumbered four to one, Scottish forces led by John Comyn,’The Red Comyn’, and Sir Symon Fraser defeated an English army led by Sir John Segrave at the Battle of Roslin, south-west of Edinburgh.

24 February 1716
James Radcliffe, 3^rd Earl of Derwentwater and William Gordon, Viscount Kenmuir, were beheaded in London for their part in the 1715 Jacobite rising.

24 February 2005
The Royal Bank of Scotland posted a record profit for a Scottish company of £8.1 billion, ahead of its move to a new £350 million HQ at Gogarburn.

25 February 1914
Suffragette Ethel Moorhead was hurriedly released from Calton jail, Edinburgh, after developing double pneumonia as a result of being forced feed and food getting into her lungs.

27 February 1900
British Labour Party was formed with Lossiemouth-born Ramsay MacDonald as secretary.

See Dates in History in our Features Section

SCOTTISH QUOTATIONS

I like to have quotations ready for every occasions - they give one's ideas so pat and save one the trouble of finding expression adequate to one's feeling.

Robert Burns

We continue our new Feature in this section of the Flag - Scottish Quotations - statements in prose and verse which reflect all aspects of Scottish life and outlook from the 14^th century to the present day. New quotes added every week. The quotations are not restricted to native Scots but include observations from abroad which help us, in the words of our National Bard, Robert Burns, "To see oursels as others see us!

Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham (1852-1936)

I cannot bear to see Scottish writers take their inspiration from English themes. I cannot bear to see our painters paint entirely English subjects. Have they no themes in Scotland; are there no tragedies in the slums of Glasgow, in the mining districts of Lanarkshire and in the Western Islands for men to write about; have our hills and straths lost their enchancement for painters? I say ‘No’; but I do say that we want an increase of national sentiment in order to direct the attention of our artists and painters and poets more exclusively to the consideration of national subjects.

( Speech at Bannockburn 21 June 1930)

Jean Elliot (1727-1805)

At e’en, in the gloaming, nae swankies are roaming
‘Bout stacks wi’ the lasses at bogle to play,
But ilk ane sits drearie, lamenting her dearie:
The Flowers of the Forest are a’ wede away.

Dule and wae for the order sent our lads to the Border;
The English, for ance, by guile wan the day:
The Flowers of the Forest, that foucht aye the foremost,
The prime o’ our land are cauld in the clay.

(The Flowers of the Forest)

Dr Winifred M Ewing

We must push the Parliament to campaign for more powers and we must campaign for those powers out in the country. The concept of fiscal autonomy is one that is easy to understand and one which attracts widespread support already. The control of our own resources is essential for we are the only country to have discovered oil and still to have become no better off. We also have vast supplies of the key resource of the twenty-first century – water – whilst there is a scarcity of it elsewhere, including England, and we have a huge ability to generate power by wind and other methods. Far from coming to the end of our riches, we are just coming into them.

(StopThe World – The Autobiography of Winnie Ewing 2004)

James Halliday

Finally there is surely significance in the fact that no bad men were deported – the men who were sent to Australia proved in their later lives that rebellion and criminality are two very different things. The men who died were good men, with courage, dignity and character far superior to those who set out to deceive and betray them. And for all of us who work to a political purpose, there is the lesson that these men of 1820 worked for a political objectivce and saw in political change the potential – the necessary and exclusive potential – for social and economic justice. That is how democrats go about their task,

(The 1820 Rising; The Radical War 1993)

See Scottish Quotations in our Features Section

SING A SANG AT LEAST
(compiled by Peter D Wright)

"That I for poor auld Scotland's sake
Some useful plan or book could make
Or sing a sang at least ........"

- Robert Burns

BEEN ON THE ROAD SO LONG
Alex Campbell

I’ve been on the road, so long
Been tired and broke, so long
I’ve been to the south where the winds they were warm
Travelling the road of no return, so long

And I’ve seen what was war, so long
The ruins and scars, so long
The mansions of mud, the wounds and the blood
Seen the dying of all that was good, so long

This world’s in a shroud, so long
A mushrooming cloud, so long
The lies and the greed of the leaders of men
Those cheats who would take us to war again

Yet hope lives in me, so long
For it’s love that I see, so long
The courage and strength of the young man’s smile
The faith that’s in a little child, so long

Yes I’ve travelled this road, so long
Been tired and broke, so long
I’ve been to the south where the winds they were warm
Travelling the road of no return, so long

Footnote: Something really special for the 250^th song in this feature – a great song by a byous singer – ‘Been on the Road so Long’ was composed by one of the greats of the Scottish Folk Revival Alex Campbell (1925-1987). The outstanding singer and songwriter Allan Taylor wrote in tribute –

‘Alex Campbell was the most important and influential folksinger of the folksong revival in Europe, admired, respected and loved by his fellow performers and his audiences. AN OUTRAGEOUS, HARD DRINKING, HARD TRAVELLING, HARD LIVING MAN,’

‘Hell Yeah’ as Alex himself would have said. He did indeed spend a long time on the road and away from his native land – he busked in Paris and Copenhagen with singers of the calibre of Derroll Adama and Rambling Jack Elliott. He was probably as well known, if not better kent, on the Continent as he was in Scotland. His trademark cry at concerts was ‘Hell Yeah’ and he contributed some 100 LPS for our continuing enjoyment He sang, and sang well, everything from traditional Scottish songs to the the most contemporary of material. I remember as clearly as if was yesterday seeing Alex Campbell performing for 1 ½ hours non-stop at the Aberdeen Folk Club in 1966 – what a night! What a performer!

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Tomorrow is a date to record in your diary as Saturday 25 February 2006 is a red letter day and marks the official launch of the National Theatre of Scotland, Decades of campaigning, especially over the past 20 years by Oliver Brown Award winner Paul Henderson Scott, cumulated in putting pressure on the Vicky Featherstone reconvened Scottish Parliament to ensure the funding for the National Theatre, The new company, under Director Vicky Featherstone, doesn’t have a theatre building of its own but instead will work with the best of Scottish theatre to bring world class theatre to the whole of Scotland. The opening launch does that with ten locations all over from Shetland to Dumfries and Stornoway to Edinburgh.Ten top directors, ten surprising locations and ten new pieces of theatre, all on the subject of HOME. You can tap your feet to 100 fiddlers on a car ferry in Lerwick Harbour, be entertained in an abandoned tenement block in Aberdeen or have a ‘1950s dancehall experience’ in the MacManus Galleries in Dundee. Visit www.nationaltheatrescotland.com for full details of all ten venues and other information on OUR National theatre,

The Arts, including theatre, has long depended on ‘Angels’, which in the case of the new National Theatre came in the form of two years funding (£7.5 million) from the. Scottish Executive – for once public money well spent! And angels inspire this week’s recipe in the shape of a delicious Angel Cake.

Angel Cake

Ingredients: 100 g (4 oz) plain flour; 175 g (6 oz) caster sugar; 5-6, about 175 ml (6 fl oz) egg whites; ½ teaspoon cream of tartar; ½ teaspoon vanilla or almond essence; lemon curd

To decorate Glace Icing; crystallised lemon slices

Method: This quantity makes one 18 cm (7 inch) cake. Sift the flour and sugar together 3 or 4 times. Beat the egg whites until foaming; add the cream of tartar and whisk until stiff but not dry. Sift the flour and sugar on to the whisked egg whites carefully, about 2 tablespoonfuls at a time, then fold in the flavouring essence, Turn the mixture into an un-greased 18 cm (7 inch) cake tin. Bake in a preheated moderate oven (160 deg C, 325 deg F, Gas mark 3) for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Remove from the oven and invert on to a wire tray. Leave until quite cold before turning out of the tin. This is a sweet cake and it is best to choose a sharp filling for contrast. Slice the cake across in three, or down into eight. Spread the slices with lemon curd and reassemble the cake. Spread the top with Lemon Glace Icing (see below) and decorate with crystallised lemon slices.

Lemon Glace Icing

Ingredients: 100 g (4 oz) icing sugar; strained lemon juice to mix; vanilla essence

Method: Sift the icing sugar into a small bowl. Gradually stir in lemon juice, a spoonful at a time, to give a spreading consistency. Add a few drops of vanilla essence. Use at once as it sets quickly. Sufficient for an 18 cm (7 inch) cake.

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

A KIST O FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots Tung

By Peter & Marilyn Wright
(Note: All words underlined in this section are RealAudio links)

blellum: silly talkative person
clishmaclaver: gossip ; long discourse
lee-lang: livelong
nyaff: contemptible person ; trifle
poke: bag
widdershins: anticlockwise ; backwards

Ye'll get yir heid in yir hauns an yir lugs ti pley wi: You will get a humiliating rebuke

Tweed said to Till',
"What gars ye rin sae still ?"
Till said to Tweed,
"Though ye rin wi speed,
An I rin slaw,
Whar ye droun ae man,
I droun twa."

"Border Rivers" - Anonymous

COMPLETE POEMS

Daughter of a Perthshire Jacobite, Carolina Oliphant married William Nairne and called herself ‘Mrs Bogan of Bogan’ to write her songs, many of which are still widely popular today, including ‘Caller Herrin’, ‘Will ye no come back again?’ and ‘The Auld Hoose’.

The Laird o’ Cockpen
by Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne

Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne

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The laird o’ Cockpen, he’s proud an’ he’s great,
His mind is ta’en up wi’ things o’ the State;
He wanted a wife his braw house to keep,
But favour wi’ wooin’ was fashous to seek.

Down by the dyke-side a lady did dwell,
At his table head he thought she’d look well,
McClish’s ae daughter o’ Claverse-ha’ Lee,
A penniless lass wi’ a lang pedigree.

His wig was weel pouther’d, and as gude as new;
His waistcoat was white, his coat it was blue;
He put on a ring, a sword and cock’d hat,
And wha could refuse the laid wi’ a’ that?

He took the grey mare, and rade cannily,
An’ rapped at the yett o’ Claverse-ha’ Lee;
‘Gae tell Mistress Jean to come speedily ben,
She’s wanted to speak to the laird o’ Cockpen.'

Mistress Jean was makin’ the elder-flower wine.
‘An’ what brings the laird at sic a like time?’
She put aff her apron, and on her silk gown,
Her mutch wi’ red ribbons, and gaed awa’ down.

An’ when she cam ben she bowed fu’ low,
An’ what was his errand he soon let her know;
Amazed was the laird when the lady said ‘Na,’
And wi’ a laigh curtsie she turned awa’.

Dumfounder’d he was, nae sigh did he gie,
He mounted his mare — he rade cannily;
And aften he thought, as he gaed thro’ the glen,
She’s daft to refuse the laird o’ Cockpen.

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