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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 360 - 27th April 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
27 April
1650
A covenanting army under Alexander Strachan routed a royalist force led by
James Graham, 5th Earl and 1st Marquis of Montrose, at
Carisdale. Montrose was captured following the battle, sentenced to death by
the Scottish Parliament, and executed in Edinburgh on 21 May 1650.
 27
April 2006
Richard Lochhead held the Moray seat for the Scottish National Party with an
increased majority. The by-election for the Scottish Parliament seat was
caused by the death of Margaret Ewing who had been Westminster MP for Moray
from 1983 and MSP since 1997.
28 April
1707
The dissolution of the last Scottish Parliament, The Three Estates.
30 April
2006
Celtic’s Shaun Maloney became the first recipient of both the Premier League
Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards, presented by the
Scottish Professional Footballers’ Association. The awards were first
presented for season 1977/1978.
1 May 1650
The metrical version of the Psalms came into official use in the Church of
Scotland.
1 May 1997
Seven Conservative Cabinet ministers lost their seats as Labour swept back
into power at Westminster after 18 years, in a General Election landslide
which saw Scots-born Tony Blair become Prime Minister. Labour had 419 Mps,
Conservatives 165, Liberal Democrats 46 and the Scottish National Party 6.
 1
May 2006
Larkhall’s Graeme Dott won the World Championship Snooker title for the
first time at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, England, He defeated
England’s Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the longest ever final clash. In addition
they played the longest ever frame in the world championship as they took
one hour, 14 minutes and 8 seconds to complete the 27th frame
which Ebdon won, but was unable to stop the Scot taking the world title.
4 May 1949
Thirteen women and girls died in a fire which destroyed Grafton’s
four-storey gown store in Argyle Street, Glasgow.
4 May 2001
The Bank of Scotland and Halifax merged as HBOS in a £28 million deal,
putting the merged company in the top five UK banking groups.
4 May 2004
Westminster MPs voted by 326 votes to 104 to amend the Scotland Act to
maintain the number of the Scottish Parliament MSPs at 129.
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
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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This is the 90th week of Scottish Quotations and it now
has 392 quotations from 225 sources. This week’s quotations reflect
the continuing interest in Scotland’s constitutional position
in the run-up to the third Scottish parliament elections on 3 May
2007.
The sage advice form doyen Nationalist Dr Winifred M Ewing, Madam
Ecosse, is of particular interest, when taken in conjunction with
British Tory leader David Cameron’s admission that Scotland would be
a successful independent country. |
David
Cameron
It
would be wrong to suggest that Scotland could not be another successful,
independent country.
(On the
example of small nations like Finland and Norway – April 2007)
Sir Sean
Connery
Like a
lot of Scots abroad I look forward to coming home to an independent
Scotland. Emotionally, of course, I have never left.
(April
2007)
Dr Winifred
M Ewing
 Please,
make sure you look outside Scotland. Be open to ideas from elsewhere.
Look at the smaller countries around you. Travel to them, look and
learn. Go to Ireland or Norway, or Sweden or Denmark. See how small
countries can manage their own affairs with success and dignity.
Experience the confidence, the optimism. Soak in the self-belief. And,
of course, get to know your own country as well. Get to know it and its
past. And work hard for what you believe in politically.
(Advice to
young Scots – The Scotsman 22 February 2007)
Michael Fry
Scots
can only solve their problems once they rule themselves and take
responsibility for their actions as an independent nation.
(Sunday
Post 31 December 2006)
Irvine
Welsh
I am
not a person that is party political. And as somebody who lives outside
Scotland I don’t think it is appropriate to suggest to people who they
should vote for. But I am passionate about my country and am tired of
listening to politicians talking us down. I personally believe that Alex
Salmond is the best person to take Scotland forward.
In
particular, the arts policies he has put forward are an overdue and
welcome investment in Scotland’s wealth of artistic talent and will make
a real difference to grassroots artists.
(14 April
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.
SCHIEHALLION
Gordon Menzies
Come charge up your glasses and lets drink a toast,
To the bold Scottish heroes and the proud Scottish host,
To the battles we've won and the few that we've lost
Here's a health to the back of Schiehallion.
Chorus:
Schiehallion, Schiehallion, I hear your voice calling,
Across the Great Glen to the coast of Argyll.
The Lowlands, The Highlands, The Borders, The Islands,
I'll drink to the back of Schiehallion.
The bluebell of Scotland is hanging her head,
And the lion once rampant is lying like dead.
They grieve for their country whose courage has fled
Far awa' tae the back of Schiehallion.
God speed the day when the Scots shall awake,
The fetters of England to crack and to break.
And stand by the freedom their birthright to take
Here's a health to the back of Schiehallion.
Flagnote: A
rousing, passionate song from the pen of one of Scotland’s finest folksong
exponents. Gordon Menzies and his signing partner Robin Watson comprise
Scotland’s premier folk duo Gaberlunzie and this song is a permanent feature
in their repertoire and rightly so. ‘The back of Schiehallion’ is, of
course, Scotland.
See the
THE BLUE TOON SONG BOOK in our
Features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
 This
week we will be celebrating one of the most important days in the Celtic
calendar, the fire festival of Beltane. Beltane, named after Bel a Celtic
diety, falls on 1 May and from ancient times celebrated the coming of summer
and the fertility of the coming year. It was traditionally the day that
cattle were moved to the sheilings for summer pasture and was a time of
romance for young couples, all allied to celebration of fire.
Beltane is
still celebrated in the 21st century and the largest celebration
is held in Edinburgh where thousands will gather on Calton Hill on 30 April
to remember more ancient times. The evening begins with a procession to the
hill top by people dressed as the May Queen and the Green Man. These are
ancient God and Goddess figures representing fertility and growth. The May
Queen crowns the Green Man, and winter ends as his winter costume is taken
from him and he is revealed in spring colours. A wild dance takes place and
the Green Man and the May Queen then marry. The ancient fire element of
Beltane is represented by torchbearers carrying ‘purifying’ flames. Visit
www.beltane.org for full details of Beltane Edinburgh 2007.
In days
langsyne the smoke from Edinburgh lums gave rise to the by-name of Auld
Reekie for our capital city, and we can remember the chimneys of Edinburgh
and the fires of Beltane whilst enjoying a piece of Three Chimneys
Shortbread.
 Three
Chimneys Shortbread
Ingredients: 13oz/375g plain flour; 4oz/125g white rice flour;
13oz/375g slightly salted butter; 4oz/125g cater sugar
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 190 deg C/375 deg F/ Gas Mark 5
Cream the
butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. Work the sifted flour and
rice flour into the creamed mixture until it forms a firm paste. Knead it
lightly on a well-floured board. Roll it out until quite thin and cut
biscuits with cutter of your choice. Using a palette knife lift the biscuits
onto a well-buttered baking sheet and prick with a fork. Bake on the centre
shelf of a moderate oven, until pale and golden. Remove from oven and
sprinkle liberally with caster sugar while still warm. Lift on to wire tray
to cool and firm up. Important – store in an airtight tin.
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)
O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n Devotion!
COMPLETE POEM by
James S Adam
Read by Marilyn Wright
Click
here to listen to this in RealAudio
Whan sleety rain stots cauld aff cheek an brou,
an
wind bites neb an lugs gey snell,
ye
wish ye'd steyed at hame in cosy warmth
wi
cheerin cup tae bide an pet yersel,
but haud a wee, conseeder this advice,
there's naethin heats sae weel's
a
richt guid girn.
The doctor's trade an skill can gie nae help,
his potions, pills an bottles leave alane,
gif gloom has grupp't yer lugs tae haud ye doon,
ye
needna book thon cauld cley bed an stane,
yer therapeutic cure lies richt tae haun,
juist treat yer thrapple wi
a
richt guid girn.
Syne look aroun an see hou things hae cheenged,
the clouds hae gane, the sun's oot, skinklan bricht,
yer hairt that wis sae dow has gat a heeze,
an
wechty fuit nou jink like feather licht.
Ye
ken the answer juist the same as me -
there's naethin cheers ye like
a
richt guid girn.
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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