The Scots Independent Newspaper Online

Wi Not?

Among the skyscrapers of midtown Manhattan, just a few minutes walk from the Empire State Building and one block from the bedlam of Times Square, you can find the relative calm of Bryant Park. An oasis of greenery amidst a jungle of concrete, glass and steel, it offers a place to sit, think, work, play, or simply spend a few moments sheltered from the maelstrom of New York City life.

As an Edinburgher, I grew up knowing I was spoiled to live in a city with so many fine public spaces. In the dreich misery of a Scottish winter it's easy to overlook the charms of Holyrood Park, Princes Street Gardens and The Meadows. Come summer and the Festivals, though, you begin to appreciate again how fortunate we are to have parks of such quality in the capital.

But Bryant Park has something setting it apart from anything Edinburgh has to offer. It's not the coffee bars, the pristine public toilets, the constant litter patrols or the flowers and trees. It's not even the chess boards or the boules. What puts Bryant Park in a class of its own is that thanks to a partnership with Google, it became one of the first public spaces anywhere in the world to offer free public wireless internet access.

Wireless internet or Wi-Fi, as the name suggests, allows people to connect their laptops or hand-held computers to the internet wherever they can pick up a suitable signal. All that's needed to provide a coverage 'hotspot' is a broadband connection and a wireless router to broadcast the signal in radio form. It therefore allows lots of people to share an internet connection, and more and more are springing up as individuals and businesses begin to realise the benefits they can offer.

At the moment, coverage relies on businesses and individuals deciding to open up their own connections as a free public good, or on commercial providers which charge handsomely for the privilege. Coffee shops and bars all over Edinburgh are starting to install their own hotspots as they see a cheap and easy way to attract customers who want to be able to access the internet while they are out. So far, students, tourists and telecommuters who start to feel the walls closing in on them at home have been the first to take advantage.

Edinburgh Castle But the next wave is already on its way. With people now using the internet to make cheap or even free telephone calls, mobile phone manufacturers are on the verge of launching models which will allow you to access the web and make calls using Wi-Fi rather than conventional mobile phone networks. As such, free Wi-Fi threatens to undermine the business strategies of telecoms companies, who have suddenly sat up to take notice.

Cities which have tried to copy Philadelphia by building and operating their own city-wide wireless networks have found themselves opposed in court by the telecoms companies, determined to keep users tied to their own expensive subscription services. But while there's a legitimate argument to say that the state shouldn't be spending public money to compete against the private sector, that's not to say that the public authorities have no role to play in helping to roll out coverage.

Providing free Wi-Fi in Princes Street Gardens or George Square wouldn't only allow many more people the opportunities to access the same kind of information and services as the better connected. It would also give a new lease of life to our public spaces, as places where we can unwind or escape the shackles of an office desk for a few hours. If our local authorities were to take the lead, it wouldn't take long before Scots would be able to take Wi-Fi and its benefits for granted in our city centres, in much the same way as we now do street lighting and drainage.

Lib Dems Unveil Tax Plans - £850 to Tax a Mondeo

In the melee over the last week or so surrounding alleged al-Qaeda plots to blow up US-bound airliners over the Atlantic, you may have missed the Liberal Democrats launching their tax plans for the next election. In a document entitled 'Fairer, Simpler, Greener', a perversion of the English language if ever there was one, they set out how they planned to give away £20bn of your money with one hand before trying to reclaim it again with the other.

money In a nutshell, they plan to scrap the 10% starting rate of income tax and reduce the basic rate from 22% to 20%, increasing personal allowances to £7,185. The 40% rate would remain, but instead would only apply from £50,000. National Insurance payments of 11% would apply between £7,185, and £50,000, whereupon a 1% rate would apply for earnings beyond this level.

So, what would this mean for the average man in the street living with their hard-working family on the doorstep in their local community? Well, scrapping the 10% rate of income tax and increasing the threshold means that everyone becomes at least £215 richer. However, as a low earner, that’s your lot, since the real rewards are reserved for much higher earners. Consequently, someone earning at the old higher-rate tax threshold will be around £800 better off, while anyone earning £50,000 or over will now find themselves £3,500 to the good.

So everyone's a winner then? Well no, actually. The Lib Dems are proposing that these changes should be 'revenue neutral', which means that other taxes are planned to bring in roughly the same amount as these changes would cost. This would see £3bn taken from the airline industry and passed on in higher costs to the consumer, presumably to price poorer people out of air travel. It seems that Menzies Campbell will go to any lengths to avoid having to sit next to some of the riff-raff that they let on the Edinburgh-Heathrow shuttle these days...

They also propose to increase the scope of capital gains tax, cutting the threshold from £8,800 to £1,000 and abolishing taper reliefs. Removing these reliefs would at a stroke remove the incentive to hang onto an asset for any length of time before selling it, which can be either a good or a bad thing depending how you look at it. However, given that the tax raises only £3.8bn at present, Lib Dem assumptions that this will raise an additional £6.2bn seem heroic to say the least of it.

However, it is when people come to tax their vehicles that they will feel the biggest sting. The Lib Dems proposed changes to Vehicle Excise Duty will see the cost of taxing a Ford Mondeo rising to a staggering £850 each year, meaning that ordinary families will be priced out of running even modest family cars. This is a tax increase which is out of all proportion to the environmental impact of these vehicles, and is one which will hit a lot of people very hard indeed.

Ford Mondeo But the biggest cop-out is on council tax. Already, the bottom fifth of earners pay 28% of their income in indirect taxes, including council taxes, compared to just 15% in the top fifth. Yet in spite of this, the party has elected to await the outcome of a review which they hope will tackle the ‘ability to pay’ issues, choosing to ignore the fact that for so long as council tax is linked to property values, it can never be related to a household’s ability to pay.

However, a potential pratfall remains. Despite claiming that these are 'environmental taxes', Lib Dem arithmetic depends on drivers and air passengers not changing their behaviour and simply stumping up instead. But if drivers do opt for slightly lower emission cars and people start to travel by rail instead of flying, all of a sudden there will be a multi-billion pound black hole in their plans.

I've never really seen the point of governments taxing some low paid workers if it’s only to hand some or all of it straight back to the same people as a tax credit or welfare payment. If reducing the tax burden means letting the lowest paid keep more of what they earn for themselves and makes work more attractive than benefits, then I'm all for it. However, the way the Lib Dems are proposing to do it, handing back a bigger portion to the highest rather than the lowest earners, means that 'Ming the Merciless' is in danger of becoming Robin Hood in reverse.

Lib Dem voters tend to pride themselves on having a social conscience and in having more 'sensible' and 'mature' policies than all the other nasty yah-boo sucks parties. I wonder how comfortable they will feel knowing that their chosen party wants to be responsible for what would be the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich since the days of Margaret Thatcher?

18 August 1966
The Tay Bridge was opened by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Linking Fife and Dundee, the 7,356 feet bridge on double piers cost £6,500,000.

19 August 1808
Birth of James Nasmyth, engineer and inventor of the steam hammer and steam pile-driver, in Edinburgh.

20 August 1897
Ronald Ross, first Scot to win a Nobel prize (1902), dissected an anopheles mosquito and discovered the link with malaria.

22 August 1582
Ruthven Raid in which Protestant supporters captured James VI, King of Scots, while he was out hunting and held him captive until June 1583.

23 August 93
Death of Julius Agricola, Roman Governor of Britain, outside Rome. In 84 he defeated the Caledonians, under Calgacus, at the Battle of Mons Graupius.

23 August 1775
King George III proclaimed existence of open rebellion in American colonies. Scots fought on both sides.

23 August 2005
Historian and author David R Ross completed his walk from Robroyston, in the footsteps of Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland, to London, to mark the 700^th anniversary of his judicial murder at Smithfield by King Edward I of England. A symbolic funeral was held in St Bartholomews attended by 300 people (over 900 unsuccessfully applied to attend the event). Speakers were Dr Fiona Watson, David R Ross and Alex Salmond MP.

23 August 2005
Labour MSP for Glasgow Cathcart, Mike Watson, Lord Watson of Invergowrie, pleaded not guilty to wilful fire-raising charges when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court. The case was adjourned for seven days.

24 August 1994
Yvonne Murray won the 10,000 metres Gold Medal for Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada.

“What motivated me was that I wanted to hear the Scottish anthem, I wanted to see the Scottish flag flying, and I wanted to be up there on the rostrum. When it happened, it was the most special moment of my career so far.”

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 13^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"

Anonymous (American)

A Scot is a man who keeps the Sabbath – and every other doggone thing he can lay his hands on!

(American Folk Saying)

John Masters (1914-1983)

‘Join a Highland regiment, me boy. The kilt is an unrivalled garment for fornication and diarrhoea.’

(Bugle and a Tiger, a personal adventure 1956)

Queen Victoria (1837-1901)

We were always in the habit of conversing with the Highlanders… The Prince highly appreciated the good-breeding, simplicity, and intelligence which make it so pleasant, and even instructive to talk to them.

Christian (Kirstie) Watt, ‘Piper’s Kitta’ (1833-1923)

As a subjugated Scot I could sympathise, for a handful of greedy blockhead peers should never have had the power to vote to sell an independent minded nation for English gold.

(The Christian Watt Papers – David Fraser 1988)

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

CALLER HERRIN'
Caroline Oliphant, Lady Nairne

Newhaven Fisherwomen

Chorus:
Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?
They're bonnie fish and halesome farin';
Wha'll buy my caller herrin',
New drawn frae the Forth?

When ye were sleepin' on your pillows,
Dream'd ye aught o' our puir fellows,
Darkling as they fac'd the billows,
A' to fill the woven willows?
Buy my caller herrin',
New drawn frae the Forth.

Wha'll buy my caller herrin'?
They're no brought here without brave darin';
Buy my caller herrin',
Haul'd through wind and rain.

WhaIl buy my caller herrin'?
Oh, ye may ca' them vulgar farin'
Wives and mithers, maist despairin',
Ca' them lives o' men.

When the creel o' herrin' passes,
Ladies-clad in silks and laces,
Gather in their braw pelisses,
Cast their heads and screw their faces,

Caller herrin's no got lightlie:
Ye can trip the spring fu' tightlie;
Spite o' tauntin', flauntin', flingin',
Gow had set you a' a-singing

Neebour wives, now tent my tellin';
When the bonnie fish ye're sellin',
At ae word be in yere dealin' -
Truth will stand when a' thin's failin',

Footnote: Caroline Oliphant (1766-1845) of Gask was born into a staunch Jacobite family – her father and grand-father were out in the ’45 and this strongly influenced her songs. As it was deemed inappropriate for a woman of her social standing to publish poems and songs, she wrote under the pseudonym of Mrs Brogan of Brogan. Like Robert Burns and James Hogg, she collected old tunes and songs and modified or put her own words to them. She died on 26 October 1845 having already given permission for her work to be published as ‘Lays from Strathearn’, which was done by her sister in 1846.

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our features section

A BURNS COLLECTION

For your next Burns Supper
Compiled by Peter D Wright

It is never to early to plan ahead for your next, or indeed first, Burns Supper, and the intention of this new feature is to give you a ready accessible collection of the National Bard’s material for the 25^th of January each year. Over the next few months we will give you a variety of items by Robert Burns, which should prove useful to you.

Interest in the life and work of Robert Burns has never faltered and, indeed, as we now approach the 250^th anniversary of his birth in 2009, this should grow apace. He holds a special place in the hearts of his countrymen and his appeal spans the continents. A genius, he spoke for his people and captured their hopes and fears, their joys and sorrows, in poetry and song. The Flag collection will reflect this.

WEEK ONE

We begin with two graces for ‘Before’ and ‘After’ your meal and also the grace made famous world-wide by Robert Burns – ‘The Selkirk Grace’. Prior to its use by our National Bard it was known as ‘The Covenanter’s Grace’.

A GRACE BEFORE DINNER

O Thou, who kindly dost provide
   For every creature’s want!
We bless Thee, God of Nature wide,
   For all Thy goodness lent:
And, if it please Thee, Heav’nly Guide,
   May never worse be sent;
But, whether granted, or deny’d,
   Lord, bless us with content! – Amen.

GRACE AFTER DINNER

O Thou, in whom we live and move,
   Who mad’st the sea and shore;
Thy goodness constantly we prove,
   And, grateful, would adore.

And if it please Thee, Pow’r above,
   Still grant us, with such store,
The friend we trust, the fair we love,
   And we desire no more.

THE SELKIRK GRACE

Some hae meat, and canna eat,
   And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat and we can eat,
   And sae the Lord be thanket.

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

Dunfermline Abbey

This week and next we will look at commemorations being held to mark the important role in Scottish history played by two of the greatest ever Scots – Robert I, King of Scots, and Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland.

It is encouraging that such events are being held as our education system has ill-served Scots as far as their history is concerned. A sound grounding in our own history is surely something every young, and not so young, Scot deserves. The historian and author Chris Brown hit the nail on the head –

‘Scotland is the only country in Europe where there is absolutely no legal requirement for schoolchildren to be taught the history of their country. The fact that there is no adequate history textbook for Scottish schools compounds the problem, but in any case the teachers, mostly the product of Scottish education themselves, have little or no grasp of their country’s history: the problem is circular. Sadly, neither the Scottish government nor Scottish education authorities seem to have any interest in doing anything very practical toward improving the situation, so Scottish schoolchildren will continue to be denied proper access to the history of their country.’

(William Wallace – The True Story of Braveheart: Tempus Publishing Ltd £17.99 2005)

The circle must be broken and Scottish bairns properly taught their own history. It is far too important a subject to be left to chance, as that way misunderstanding arises and facts give way to myth. This is one aspect of Scottish life which will take time to turn around but, hopefully, an SNP controlled Scottish Executive from 2007 will start the wheel turning and ensure that future generations of Scots know their own country’s history.

Meantime we can encourage interest in Scottish history by supporting the various commemoration events. Dunfermline, the ancient capital of Scotland, this weekend plays host to The King Robert the Bruce Festival Weekend (18-20 August 2006) which celebrates the 700^th anniversary of the crowning of Robert I. He was crowned by the Countess of Buchan on 25 March 1306 at Scone and went on to free Scotland from English domination. Good King Robert is buried in Dunfermline Abbey and his grave is well-worth a visit. History will come to life in Dunfermline as the life of Scotland’s greatest warrior King will be portrayed in plays performed in the grounds of Dunfermline Abbey on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 August with shows at 6.30pm; 7,30pm and 8.30pm. Booking is essential – telephone 01383 73226 and tickets cost – Adults £6; Bairns and Concessions £3. The Festival weekend also includes a Medieval Encampment in Pittencrieff Park on Saturday 19 August with re-enactment groups including Carrick 800.

Sir William Wallace commemorations commence tonight in Aberdeen at 7.30pm when wreath-laying and speeches will take place at the Wallace Statue, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen, followed by an Awthegither. Tomorrow (Saturday 19 August 2006) the Stonehaven Wallace Day Rally will be held for the 26^th successive year commencing at 2pm. The March and Rally will be followed by a Folk Night in the Stonehaven Town Hall featuring Scotland’s finest folk duo Gaberlunzie. Next week we will look at two further commemorations of Scotland’s National Hero at Elderslie (26 August) and Aberdeen (27 August).

Just as we should all really know our country’s ‘real’ history, it is advisable to know just what is in our food. One certain way is to grow and make your own – such as jams and chutneys. This week we go for a chutney recipe – Green Tomato Chutney – a rare treat with any meat and acts as a reminder on a cold winter day of summertime!

Green Tomato Chutney

Ingredients: 2 lbs green tomatoes, chopped roughly; ½ lb cooking apples, peeled, cored and chopped; ½ lb red onions, peeled and chopped; 4 oz raisins; 1 tbsp salt; 1 tbsp pickling spice; ½ pint good malt vinegar; ½ lb Demerara sugar

Method: Tie the pickling spice in a muslin bag. Mix all the ingredients, except the sugar, together and put into a large pan. Add half the vinegar and the pickling spice, and simmer for around 30 minutes or until the mixture is thick. Add the remaining sugar and vinegar, and simmer again for approximately 45 minutes, or until the mixture has thickened again. Remove the muslin bag containing spice, and allow the mixture to cool slightly, then spoon into prepared jars, seal and label.

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)

bane: bone
cowp: capsize; tilt; tumble; upset; rubbish dump
kittlin: kitten
kyte: abdomen; stomach
sned: chop off; prune; castrate
snell: cold; biting, of wind; sharp

Cowp the cran: Be ruined

In Poosie Nancy's held the splore,
To drink their orra duddies:
Wi' quaffing and laughing
They ranted and they sang;
Wi' jumping an' thumping
The vera girdle rang.

frae "The Jolly Beggars" - Robert Burns

COMPLETE POEMS

Rashie Coat
Traditional

Click here to listen to this in Real Audio read by Marilyn P Wright

This is the Scottish version of Cinderella.

Rashie Coat was a king’s daughter, and her father wanted her to be married; but she didna like the man. Her father said she had to tak him; and she didna ken what to do. Sae she gaed awa’ to the hen-wife to speer what she should do. And the hen-wife said: ‘Say ye winna tak him unless they gie ye a coat o’ the beaten gowd.’ Weel, they ga’e her a coat o’ the beaten gowd; but she didna want to tak him for a’ that. Sae she gaed to the hen-wife again, and the hen-wife said: ‘Say ye winna tak him unless they gie ye a coat made o’ the feathers o’ a’ the birds o’ the air.’ Sae the king sent a man wi’ a great heap o’ corn; and the man cried to a’ the birds o’ the air: ‘Ilka bird tak up a pea and put down a feather; ilka bird tak up a pea and put down a feather.’ Sae ilka bird took up a pea and put down a feather and they took a’ the feathers and made a coat o’ them, and ga’e it to Rashiecoat; but she didna want to tak him for a’ that. Weel, she gaed to the hen-wife again, and speered what she should do; and the hen-wife said: ‘Say ye winna tak him unless they gie ye a coat o’ rashes and a pair o’ slippers.’ Weel, they ga’e her a coat o’ rashes and a pair o’ slippers; but she didna want to tak him for a’ that. Sae she gaed to the hen-wife again, and the hen-wife said she couldna help her ony mair.

Weel, she left her father’s hoose, and gaed far, and far, and farer nor I can tell; and she cam to a king’s hoose, and she gaed in till’t. And they speered at her what she was seeking, and she said she was seeking service; and they ga’e her service and set her into the kitchen to wash the dishes, and tak oot the aise, and a’ that. And whan the Sabbath-day cam, they a’ gaed to the kirk, and left her at hame to cook the dinner. And there was a fairy cam to her, and telt her to put on her coat o’ the beaten gowd, and gang to the kirk. And she said she couldna gang, for she had to cook the dinner; and the fairy telt her to gang, and she would cook the dinner for her. And she said

'Aw peat gar anither peat burn,
Ae spit gar anither spit turn,
Ae pat gar anither pat play,
Let Rashie-coat gang to the kirk the day.’

Sae Rashie—coat put on her coat o’ the beaten gowd, and gaed awa’ to the kirk. And the king’s son fell in love wi’ her; but she cam hame afore the kirk scaled, and he couldna find oot wha she was. And whan she cam hame she faund the dinner cookit, and naebody kent she had been oot.

Weel, the niest Sabbath-day, the fairy cam again, and telt her to put on the coat o’ feathers o’ a’ the birds o’ the air, an’ gang to the kirk, and she would cook the dinner for her. Weel, she put on the coat o’ feathers, and gaed to the kirk. And she cam oot afore it scaled; and when the king’s son saw her gaun oot, he gaed oot too; but he couldna find oot wha she was. And she got hame, and took aff the coat o’ feathers, and faund the dinner cookit, and naebody kent she had been oot.

And the niest Sabbath-day, the fairy cam till her again, and telt her to put on the coat o’ rashes and the pair o’ slippers, and gang to the kirk again. Aweel, she did it a’; and this time the king’s son sat near the door, and when he saw Rashie-coat slippin’ oot afore the kirk scaled, he slippit oot too and grippit her. And she got awa’ frae him, and ran hame; but she lost ane o’ her slippers, and he took it up. And he gared cry through a’ the country, that onybody that could get the slipper on, he would marry them. Sae a’ the leddies o’ the court tried to get the slipper on, and it wadna fit nane o’ them. And the auld hen-wife cam and fush her dochter to try and get it on, and she nippit her fit, and clippit her fit, and got it on that way. Sae the king’s son was gaun to marry her. And he was takin’ her awa’ to marry her, ridin’ on a horse, an’ her ahint him; and they cam to a wood, and there was a bird sittin on a tree, and as they gaed by, the bird said:

‘Nippit fit and clippit fit
Ahint the king’s son rides
But bonny fit and pretty fit
Ahint the caudron hides.’

And when the king’s son heard this, he flang aff the hen-wife’s dochter, and cam hame again, and lookit ahint the caudron, and there he faund Rashie-coat greetin’ for her slipper. And he tried her fit wi’ the slipper, and it gaed on fine. Sae he married her.

AND THEY LIVED HAPPY AND HAPPY,
AND NEVER DRANK OOT O’ A DRY CAPPY.

See Scots Language in our Features Section
for other poems, stories, songs, sayings, jokes and words in the Scots language

SCOT WIT

Enjoy a Scottish Joke every week and listen to it as well

Think of the Neighbours!

It was Sunday morning, and Sandy - considering the operation to be of necessity and mercy - was hammering away at his upturned barrow. Time had passed more quickly than he realised and to his dismay he was suddenly confronted by the Minister on his return from the morning service.

Before Sandy could explain himself the Minister opened the attack :

"Man, Sandy" he said severely " that's a terrible clatter to be making. Dae ye no ken by this time it's wrang fir ti carry on like that on the Sabbath Day. Ye suid yaise screws!"

Click here to listen to this joke

Read and listen to Jokes in our Scot Wit section

AND AS WE CONTINUE...

If you read our first issue of The Flag in the Wind you will know that this is a weekly Internet commentary on the Scottish political scene; if you desire further erudition click on Archives.

SOME OF OUR FEATURE SECTIONS....

About Us
Our mission is to fight for an Independent Scotland and to promote its history, heritage and culture. Learn all about us here.
The Scots Language
A great introduction to the Scots Language, produced by Peter and Marilyn Wright, and added to each week both in text and RealAudio. Enjoy listening to words, poems and stories told in a real Scots accent!
Scottish Quotations
A variety of quotations in prose and verse reflecting all aspects of Scottish life and outlook.
The Rebels Ceilidh Songbook
An excellent introduction to traditional songs from Scotland.
Sing A Sang At Least
Our collection of Scottish songs. A new song is added to the collection each week.
Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs
Enjoy our collections of recipes and our comments on them.
Notable Dates in History
Each week we add three new notable dates in history building this into an historic timeline for Scottish history.
Features
Lots more stories, recipes, historical articles and even whole books are added here on a regular basis.
The Oliver Brown Award
An annual award given to an outstanding Scot(s) each year. Also included picture galleries from the annual lunch.

THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY

The Scots Independent Newspaper is independent of the Scottish National Party, but we support the Party in its drive for Independence; while space precludes us commenting on all the issues raised by the 27 MSPs, 5 MPS and 2 MEPs, also the Party Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the SNP Website.

THE FLAG IN THE WIND

The above was the title of a book written in the early Fifties by John MacDonald MacCormick, one of the founder members of the Scottish National Party in 1934. The sub-title was "The Story of the National Movement in Scotland". His comment in the book said "It is perhaps in the symbols which men use that their deepest sentiments are most readily expressed. Flags as well as straws show which way the wind is blowing". A fuller account appears under Features.

WE WOULD WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK

The Flag in the Wind would welcome your feedback on what you think of this weekly service. Happy to receive any comments or suggestions. Simply email webmaster@scotsindependent.org.

The Working Life of Linda Fabiani MSP