See Dates in History in our Features Section
 

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 1^st 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"    

Marjory Kennedy-Fraser (1857-1930)

Folk-song has come into its own of late years. The University of Edinburgh has set its mark on the place assigned to such racial lore by conferring on me the honorary degree of Doctor of Music [1928].

(A Life of Song 1929)

Elaine C Smith

Too often the contribution of Scots women to their country has been written out of the history books. Those who died or were imprisoned in Scotland to win women the vote barely get a mention – all that seems to matter was the history of men and what they did. As a young girl I had to constantly ask “Where were the women when all the heroic stuff was going on? Were they even alive?” I never got an answer.

(December 2006)

Sylvia Nora Townsend Warner (1893-1978)

However often I did it (I have not done it often enough) I could never lose the excitement of seeing SCOTLAND declaimed on the road-sign, and the little white line, no wider than a hair-ribbon, painted across the road. It is an astonishing frontier, for, as Valentine [Ackland] said, it is not only the frontier between England and Scotland but the frontier between England and a province of France.

(Letter to Marchette Clune 9 October 1953)

Mary (Molly) Weir (1910-2004)

When I was a wee girl [in Glasgow] if you said that something looked ‘hand-made’ it was the greatest insult you could hurl at the disparaged article. To be exactly the same as everyone else was the look that was coveted, and great was the anguish suffered by children whose mothers had to make do and mend from anything which came to hand.

(Shoes Were For Sunday 1970)

RAGLAN ROAD
Patrick Kavanagh

On Raglan Road on an autumn day I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, yet I passed along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf at the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in November we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of the deep ravine where can be seen the worth of passion's pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts and I not making hay -
Oh I loved too much and by such by such is happiness thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind I gave her the secret sign that's known
To the artists who have known the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint without stint for I gave her poems to say.
With her own name there and her own dark hair like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet I see hger walking now
Away from me so hurriedly my reason must allow
That I had loved not as I should a creature made of clay -
When the angel woos the clay he'd lose his wings at the dawn of day.
 

Footnote:  Robin Watson reminded me of this haunting Irish song when he sang it at the traditional Gaberlunzie Yule concert in the Milnathort Town hall at the close of 2006. Sometimes attributed as traditional, it was in fact composed by the great Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh (1904-1967) for Luke Kelly of The Dubliners. Both men admired each other’s talents but didn’t like one another! Fortunately Luke Kelly not only sang and recorded the song but inspired many other singers to follow his example. He is probably best remembered for ‘Raglan Road’ and his long poem ‘The Great Hunger’ which was adapted for the stage in 1983 and premiered in the Abbey theatre, Dublin. In 200 the Irish Times surveyed ‘the nation’s favourite poems’ and his fellow-countrymen voted ten of Patrick Kavanagh’s poems into the top fifty .He married late in life to Katherine Barry Malone in April 1967 and sadly died later that year on St Andrew’s Day.

See the SING A SANG AT LEAST in our Features section
 

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

As we near the 25^th of the month and celebration of the birth-date of our National Bard, Robert Burns, a reminder that during 2006 the Flag, over 15 weeks, gave a list of suggestions for inclusion in the programme of a Burns Supper. In case you missed the feature we repeat it in the run-up to the great day.

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 reflects this.

• Week One - A GRACE BEFORE DINNER, GRACE AFTER DINNER, THE SELKIRK GRACE

• Week Two - TO A HAGGIS, BILL O FARE

• Week Three - RANTIN' ROVIN' ROBIN, THE HENPECKED HUSBAND

• Week Four - A RED, RED ROSE, TO A MOUSE

• Week Five - AE FOND KISS, HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER

• Week Six - A MAN'S A MAN, ADDRESS TI THE TOOTHACHE

• Week Seven - YE BANKS AND BRAES , OF A' THE AIRTS (I LOVE MY JEAN)

• Week Eight - TAM O SHANTER

• Week Nine - WILLIE BREW’D A PECK O’ MAUT, TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY

• Week Ten - GREEN GROW THE RASHES, SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION

• Week Eleven - SWEET AFTON, CA' THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES

• Week Twelve - HEY, CA' THRO', YOU'RE WELCOME, WILLIE STEWART

• Week Thirteen - YE JACOBITES BY NAME, TO A LOUSE

• Week Fourteen - THE SLAVE'S LAMENT, AULD LANG SYNE

• Week Fifteen - FAREWELL (LINES TO JOHN KENNEDY), BRUCE'S ADDRESS AT BANNOCKBURN (SCOTS WHA HAE)

In the days of Robert Burns, he would have been used to being referred to as Scotch or as a Scotchman. Nowadays the term only seems to apply to WHISKY or this week’s recipe – Scotch Perkins

Scotch Perkins

Ingredients:  2tsp cinnamon; 2tsp mixed spice; 3oz lard; 1 tbsp treacle; 1tbsp syrup; 4oz plain flour; 4oz medium oatmeal; 1tsp bicarbonate of soda; a pinch of salt; 2oz caster sugar; 1tsp ground ginger

Method:  Pre-heat oven to 180 deg C/350 deg F/ gas Mark 4. Brush baking sheet with oil. Melt the lard, treacle, and syrup together. With a fork stir all the dry ingredients together. Add the melted mixture and mix well. Roll into balls with your hands and set them on the baking tray, allowing for a little spread. Flatten them a little with the back of a fork. Bake for 20 minutes. The biscuits crispen as they cool. Makes approximately 15. 

fettle: strength ; state of mind
flittin: house removal
forder: thrive ; promote
mither-leid: native tongue
rejyce: rejoyce ; triumph
 
In grand fettle: In excellent condition / spirits

Scotch Education
I tellt ye
I tellt ye.
Scotch Optimism
Through a glass Darkly.
Scotch Pessimism
Nae Gless.
 
frae "Scotched" - Alexander Scott

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