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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November
1926)
"Promoting all that is best in Scottish
Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland."
Content of the Flag in the Wind Web Site is the copyright of the Scots
Independent Newspaper.
[
Issue 355 - 23rd March 2007] |
Compiled by Peter D Wright |
Lots of great information to
read and enjoy under our
Features Section:
Scots
Language | Scottish Food |
Dates in History |
Scot Wit and lots more
DATES IN
HISTORY
 23
March 1948
Jackie Paterson, Glasgow, lost his world flyweight title to Ireland’s Rinty
Monaghan in Belfast. Paterson was knocked out in the 7th round.
24 March 1424
The Scottish Parliament meeting in Perth ordered quarterly wappinschaws,
military musters, in the burghs.
24 March 2006
An appeal by former Labour MSP Mike Watson, Lord Watson of Invergowrie,
against his 16-month sentence for fire-raising was rejected by judges at the
Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh.
25 March 1597
A huge crowd witnessed the execution of Margaret Clerk or Bain, Lumphanan,
as a witch in Aberdeen. It was claimed that she had been taught ‘The Black
Art’ by her sister who had previously been executed as a witch in Edinburgh.
25 March 1776
Death of Adam Dickson, minister of Dunse, Berwickshire, noted writer on
agriculture, as a result of a fall from his horse.
25 March 1807
The slave trade in Britain was abolished. Scots were involved on both sides
of the heated argument.
 25 March 1982
The former deputy leader of the British Labour Party, Roy Jenkins, took the
traditional Conservative seat at Glasgow Hillhead for the SDP in a
sensational by-election victory.
26 March 2006
A ban on smoking in almost all public places in Scotland, including public
houses and restaurants, came into force.
27 March 2006
Aberdeen Journals, publisher of The Press and Journal and Aberdeen Evening
Express, was purchased by Dundee publisher DC Thomson for £132 million from
the Daily Mail and General Trust.
28 March 2006
The new Royal Regiment of Scotland was formed with the amalgamation of The
Black Watch, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, The Royal Highland
Fusiliers,The King’s Own Scottish Borderers and The Highlanders.
29 March 1805
Death of Jean Elliot, poet, third daughter of Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto,
Lord Justice Clerk for Scotland. Author of the ballad ‘The Flowers of the
Forest’, which was published in 1776.
29 March 2006
Scotland’s triumphant Commonwealth Games team returned home from Australia
to an ecstatic welcome from families and fans at Glasgow Airport. The team
had set a new record of 11 gold medals at the Melbourne Games.
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 1st 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"
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In the
run-up to the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election, the subject of
Scottish Independence has been very much to the fore.
Our quotations this week come from four Scots with faith in an
Independent Scotland.
The late Hugh MacDiarmid was a founder-member of The National Party
of Scotland (1928), Alex Salmond is the current Leader of the
Scottish National Party, and Sir George Mathewson and Brian Souter
are two of Scotland’s most successful businessmen.
Sir George retired last year as Chairman of The Royal Bank of
Scotland and
Brian Souter, co-founder of the successful Stagecoach Group, has
just donated £500,000 to the Scottish National Party.
The largest donation ever received by the party. |
Hugh
MacDiarmid (born Christopher Murray Grieve) (1892-1978)
If there’s
a sword-like sang
That can cut Scotland clear
O’ a’ the warld beside
Rax me the hilt o’t here,
For
there’s nae jewel till
Frae the rest o’ earth it’s free,
Wi’ the starry separateness
I’d fain to Scotland gie….
(Separation
(To Circumjack Cencrastus) 1930)
 Sir George
Mathewson
I do not
share the fear of [Scottish] independence which is currently being
fostered by those who have most to lose by a change in the status quo
and those who see Scotland as a source of safe seats, thus guaranteeing
their role over the United Kingdom.
(Letter, The Scotsman 16 March 2007)
Alexander
(Alex) Elliot Salmond
I have
never said that Scots are better than anyone else and I never will. But
I shall not let anyone from Westminster, from Holyrood or anywhere else,
from any party, or from any newspaper, tell us that we are less capable
than any other nation.
(Speech 18
March 2007)
Brian Souter
The fears
and smears about independence are insulting to both the intelligence and
self-respect of Scots.
We are a
distinct society, an ancient European nation, who have a right to
self-determination and I believe we can become a great nation again.
(17 March
2007)
See
Scottish Quotations in our Features Section
THE BLUE
TOON SONG BOOK
A selection of popular Scottish songs compiled by Anne Fowler and
published by Peterhead branch of the Scottish National Party in
September 2000.
YE JACOBITES BY NAME
Robert Burns
Ye Jacobites by name, now give an ear, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear;
Ye Jacobites by name,
Your fautes I will proclaim,
Your docrines I maun blame - you shall hear!
What is Right, and what is Wrang, by the law, by the law?
What is Right, and what is Wrang, by the law,
What is Right, and what is Wrang,
A short sword and a lang,
A weak arm and a strang, for to draw!
What makes heroic strife, famed afar, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife?
To whet th' assassin's knife,
Or hunt a Parent's life, wi' bluidy war!
Then let your schemes alone, in the State, in the State!
Then let your schemes alone, in the State!
Then let your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun,
And leave a man undone, to his fate.
Flagnote:
Although given as traditional in The Blue Toon Songbook there is no doubt
that this popular song came from the pen of our National Bard, Robert Burns.
The song was in the repertoire of just about every singer and group during
the Scottish Folk Revival.
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
We near April Fools Day, 1 April, Hunt-the-Gowk in
Scots, when bairns of all ages try all kinds of japes
in order to be able to shout "April Fool" at their victim !
In this more sophisticated ( ! ) age the practice seems to be dying
out but it does remind us that in the past Kings and Nobles all had
their Jester or Fool. One of the most famous in Scotland was
Aberdeenshire's Jamie Fleeman, the Laird of Udny's Fool. He lived in
the eighteenth century and was well known for his pithy wit. One of
his most quoted sayings was "A'm the Laird o Udny's Feel. Faw's
feel ar ye ?"
Now Jamie Fleeman might have been a
Fool but he wasn't daft and would well know that you can sup fish with
a spoon ! For Haddock is the basis of the winter soup Cullen Skink -
we might be into Spring but a plate of Cullen Skink is a treat in the
continuing cold weather.
Ingredients: 1 smoked haddock, 6 oz chappit tatties, 1 onion, sliced, 1 oz butter, 1 pint milk, chopped parsley, salt and pepper
Method: Place haddock and onion in pan with
sufficient water to boil ( no more ). Bring to the boil and
simmer for 10 minutes. Lift out the cooked fish and remove skin and
bones. Flake the haddock and return skin and bones to pan and simmer
stock with onions for 30 minutes. Strain the stock and return to
rinsed pan and again bring to the boil. Boil milk in separate pan and
add to fish stock with the
flaked fish and salt to taste. Boil for a few minutes. Add enough
mashed potatoes to give a smooth consistency, with the pepper and a
little more salt if necessary. Sprinkle over chopped parsley and serve
very hot with triangles of dry toast. Delicious !
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)
A' isna gowd that glitters
And weel I mind ane came
And kindled in oor lyart hills
What look's like livin flame.
Tho a's no gowd that glitters
He keeps his meed o fame.
It's easier ti loe Prince Chairlie
Than Scotland - mair's the shame!....
GOLDEN AGE WREATH-LAYING
SUNDAY 25 MARCH 2007
A
wreath in memory of Alexander III, King of Scots,(1249 - 1286), and The
Golden Age of Scottish History will be laid at the Alexander III
Monument, Pettycur, Kinghorn, Fife on Sunday 25 March at 3pm.
Tribute
will also be paid to the late Douglas G Kerr, a loyal supporter of the
commemoration over many years, by local SNP Councillor George Kay,
Burntisland. Principal speaker at the event will be Falkirk
historian Ian Scott, President of the Saltire Society.
Alexander tragically died on a stormy night 720 years ago on 19 March
1286 as he returned from a meeting in Edinburgh to Kinghorn Castle.
Building on the sure foundation laid by his father, Alexander II,
Alexander The Peacable secured Scotland's frontiers and left a heritage
of peace and prosperity.
Poets and historians have looked upon his reign as The Golden Age of
Scottish history.
COMPLETE POEM
Mrs Purdie's Aipple Tart
Anon
Click here to listen
to this in Real Audio read by Marilyn Wright
The bakin' at oor village show's the
best ye've ivver seen.
Fowk come frae far an' near, frae
ilka airt.
But listen till I tell ye a' aboot
ma guid aul' freen,
An' the tale o' Mrs Purdie's aipple
tert.
Pair Mrs Purdie took it as an unco
fashious slight
That her pastry nivver seemed tae
mak' the grade.
For the judges didna even cut a
slice tae hae a bite
O' the aipple tert that Mrs Purdie
made.
It wis in an' oot the freezer wis
Mrs Purdie's pie,
Sma' wunner that ma freen wis losin'
hert.
It nivver won a mention an' the
judges passed it by.
Whit could be wrang wi' Mrs Purdie's
tert?
'I doot,' said Mrs Thomson, 'that
the judges must hae kent
Her d'oyley' (upon which the tert
wis laid).
For in ivvery flooer show roon aboot,
the plate wis evident
Wi' the aipple tert that Mrs Purdie
made.
Last spring the frost had nipped the
blossom: aipples there were nane.
Dame Nature cam' tae Mrs Purdie's
aid.
For naebody had ony fruit, an' so it
stood alane,
The aipple tert that Mrs Purdie
made.
Her aipple tert wis nae the best,
nor wis it yet the worst.
But by itssel' an' in a class apairt.
Sae the judges had nae option an'
they had tae pit it first
And gie the prize tae Mrs Purdie's
tert.
She wis a happy wumman: she wis
quite puffed up wi' pride.
Ower the triumph that pit ithers in
the shade.
He'd be mentioned in the paper,
tellin' fowk the coonty wide
O' the aipple tert that Mrs Purdie
made.
The show wis ower: she picked it up
and went tae tak' it hame.
'We'll hae this tae oor Sunday tea.'
she said.
An' she proodly gethered up the
winnin' ticket wi' her name
Aside the tert that Mrs Purdie made.
Bit then, pride aften gangs afore a
fa', o' that I'm shair.
She drapt the plate, an' crash! Awa'
it gaed.
It lay in near a hunner wee bit
pieces on the flair,
The aipple tert that Mrs Purdie
made.
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
That's The Limit
A traffic policeman insists
that he pulled over a very geriatric driver on the M8 who was causing a huge
back-log of vehicles by only driving at eight miles an hour. When the
policeman questioned him, he said he thought the signs for the M8 was the
speed that you had to drive at. While the officer was putting him
right, he noticed a little old lady sitting next to the driver looking fair
peelie-wallie.
"Are you all right?" asked
the policeman.
"A am nou." she replied.
"Nou that we're aff the M90!"
Click here to listen to this joke Read and listen to Jokes in our
Scot Wit section
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
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