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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 397 - 11th January 2008] |
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
11 January
1999
Death of Naomi Mitchison,Lady Mitchison, prolific and versatile writer who
published more than 70 books, at Carradale, Argyle. She served as a
councillor on Argyle County Council and as a member of the Highlands and
Islands Development Board.
 11
January 2007
It was announced that 650 jobs were to be axed at the NCR cash-machine
factory in Dundee. The jobs blow was revealed to workers by a video message
recorded at the company’s base in Dayton, Ohio, USA. The jobs were to be
transferred to a NCR plant in Hungary, leaving only 700 employees at the
60-year-old Dundee plant which at one time employed 6,500 men and women.
12 January
1909
The Scottish Rugby Football Union cancelled an international with England,
planned for March, because the English Union had approved money in addition
to expenses for visiting New Zealand and Australian teams.
12 January
2007
In spite of heavy rain and high winds the 2007 Highland Year of Culture
commenced with an outdoor festivities in Inverness.
13 January
1842
Scotsman Dr William Brydon, the sole survivor of a 16,000 strong British
force that had left Kubul a week earlier and had been massacred in the
mountain passes by Afghan tribesmen, reached the hill fort of Jalalabad.
 15
January 1968
Twenty people died as gales swept a path of devastation across Scotland with
winds gusting up to 134 mph. Glasgow and the west of Scotland was
particularly hard hit.
15 January
1973
Death of Neil M Gunn, a major writer of the Scottish Literary Renaissance,
who in spite of his position as a civil servant he gave much support for the
fledgling National Party of Scotland and wrote for The Scots Independent.
Following the success of ‘Highland River’ in 1937 he resigned his post as an
Excise Officer to write full-time.
16 January
1941
Death of Archibald Gordon (AG) Macdonell, writer, journalist and
broadcaster, in Oxford, Best known for his controversial book ‘My Scotland’
(1937) and his gentle satire ‘England Their England’ (1933) which gained him
the James Tait Black award.
17 January
1928
Birth of Matt McGinn, noted songwriter, folksinger and entertainer, in
Calton, Glasgow. His topical songs, often of a political nature, quickly
entered the folk tradition and he was a popular figure on the folk and
concert circuit.
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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As you will have seen from the History Dates (above), this week
marks the death of three prominent Scottish writers – Neil M Gunn, A
G McDonell and Naomi Mitchison, and the birth of the byous
songwriter, folksinger and entertainer Matt McGinn. We celebrate
their contribution to Scottish Life, Letters and Culture with
quotations from all four. I had the pleasure of promoting many folk
nights in Fife with Matt McGinn as top of the bill and every one was
a great success. The legendary internationally renowned Scottish
mime artist Lindsay Kemp attended one of those nights in Glenrothes
and was so taken by Matt’s incredible performance that he insisted
on coming to the Awthegither (which always followed the official
night) so he could enjoy more of Matt’s incredible talent.
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 Neil
Miller Gunn (1891-1973)
Sea-fishing and crofting were the only two occupations of the people [of
Dunbeath], and however the rewards of their labour varied season to
season, they were never greatly dissimilar over a whole year or over ten
years. Thus in the course of centuries there had developed a communal
feeling so genuine that the folk themselves never thought about it. They
rejoiced and quarrelled, loved and fought, on a basis of equality.
(Highland
River 1937)
Archibald
Gordon (AG) Macdonell (1896-1941)
I am
now convinced that Scotsman must decide in the near future whether they
wish to be citizens of a free country or citizens of a rather stale
music-hall joke. And I am quite certain that no middle course is
possible. The English are so strong in their powers of assimilation that
sooner or later an equal partnership, assuming that such a thing had
ever existed, must become impossible. It was against these powers that
the Irish fought so long and in the end so successfully. It was against
them that the Lowlands of Scotland fought until 1707. Either we must
resume the fight where it was left off or else we must gracefully accept
assimilation. To those who agree with my arguments and conclusions I
offer my hand, to those who do not, my condolences.
(My
Scotland – Foreword – 1937)
Matt McGinn
(1928-1973)
I was
born in dear old Glasgow, in a Gallowgate tenement,
When people spoke of my bonny land I didn’t know what they meant.
But then I took: to travel, I moved far and wide,
Now when I speak of my native land I speak with loving pride
For I hae seen the Hieland’s, I hae seen the Low,
And I will brag o’ my native land wherever I may go.
(I hae Seen
the Highlands)
Naomi
Margaret Mitchison, Lady Mitchison (1897-1999)
I try
to write intelligibly for the ordinary men and women in Scotland, to
shake them out of their bad dream of respectability.
(New
Statesman 1952)
See
Scottish Quotations in our Features Section
SONGS
OF ROBERT BURNS
A collection of some of the best known songs by Scotland's greatest
songwriter and National Bard, Robert Burns (1759 - 1796)
THE DEIL'S AWA'
WI' THE EXCISEMAN
The deil cam fiddlin' thro' the town,
And danc'd awa wi' th' Exciseman,
And ilka wife cries, "Auld Mahoun,
I wish you luck o' the prize, man."
Chorus-The deil's awa, the deil's awa,
The deil's awa wi' the Exciseman,
He's danc'd awa, he's danc'd awa,
He's danc'd awa wi' the Exciseman.
We'll mak our maut, and we'll brew our drink,
We'll laugh, sing, and rejoice, man,
And mony braw thanks to the meikle black deil,
That danc'd awa wi' th' Exciseman.
The deil's awa, &c.
There's threesome reels, there's foursome reels,
There's hornpipes and strathspeys, man,
But the ae best dance ere came to the land
Was-the deil's awa wi' the Exciseman.
The deil's awa, &c.
Flagtnote: Robert Burns wrote this rollocking song for one of Collector
John Mitchell's Excise Court dinners as he confirmed in a letter to John
Leven, an Edinburgh General Supervisor, in March 1792. However John
Gibson Lockhart gave a much more romantic and overwritten version of the
song's composition. According to Lockhart our National Bard wrote the
song whilst awaiting the arrival of fellow gauger John Lewars and a
party of dragoons from Dumfries prior to the capturing of the smuggling
brig Rosamond in the Solway Firth. Sword in hand, Burns, according to
the tale, was one of the first to board the vessel. The Rosamond was to
land Robert Burns in hot water with his Excise superiors as he purchased
four carronades at the public roup of the ship and its contents. Burns
sent the carronades as a gift to the French Convention to show sympathy
with the cause but the carronades were subsequently seized by the
authorities at Dover, England, en route for France. There was nothing
illegal in Robert Burns' actions but it led to the disapproval of his
government employers.
See the SONGS OF ROBERT
BURNS 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
THE RED YO YO
Matt McGinn
Wee Ann took her Yo-Yo, tae school she did go, though
She shouldnae hae ta'en it at
a'.
It fell frae her haun' and it
rolled on the grun',
And it went through a hole in
the wa’.
Chorus
Did ye find a red Yo-Yo, red
Yo-Yo, red Yo-Yo,
Did ye find a red Yo-Yo wi a
wee yellow string?
The daring young Annie, she went tae the Janny,
A decent wee man as a rule.
It's pleasing to tell that he
rang on his bell,
And he asked every wean in the
school.
The weans left their pencils and papers and stencils
Tae knock on the doors all aroon';
And as they were rapping and
ringing and chapping,
They asked a' the folk o' the
toon.
The polis soon learned and they were concerned;
They left a' their murders
aside.
The whole of the force was
alerted of course,
And they went on the telly and
cried.
All over the country, the common and gentry
Were watching their big T.V.
screens.
Things really got gaun' some
when President Johnson
Received an appeal frae the
Queen.
The wires were tremblin' when he 'phoned the Kremlin
Tae ask aboot Annie's Yo-Yo.
But Kosygin agreed with the
greatest of speed,
‘Sio phonyo orchen strativichen,'
(whatever it means).
In Peking and Paris and a' roon' the Barras,
The people they searched high
and low,
Till finally Annie announced
that her Granny
Had bought her another Yo-Yo.
Final Chorus
And it was a red Yo-Yo, red
Yo-Yo, red Yo-Yo,
It was a red Yo-Yo wi’ a wee
yellow string.
Footnote:
We
celebrate the 80th anniversary of the birth of the byous,
songwriter, folksinger and entertainer, the late Matt McGinn with
perhaps his best known song.
See the
SING A SANG AT LEAST in our
features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
The Burning of the Clavie - Burghead
Tonight ( 11 January 2008 ) the Moray town of Burghead will celebrate
"Auld Hogmany" with an ancient fire festival -The Burning of
the Clavie. The history of Burghead goes back some 1500 years when it
was the site of an important promontary fort, one of the most
magnificent centres of Pictish power. From the fort, built in the 4th or
5th centuries, have come stone slabs carved with Pictish motifs,
including the famous Burghead bull - two examples of which are in the
local museum. The present day Burning of the Clavie in Burghead is
obviously a reminder of those far-off days. The word appears to be a
corruption of the Gaelic 'cliabh' ( pronounced clee-av ), a basket, the
fire being carried in a basket-like instrument which bears that name.
The Clavie is packed with tar soaked sticks and mixed with peat, before
being set alight and carried round the town by the "Clavie
King" and his "Clavie Crew", followed by the residents of
Burghead. It is then taken up Doorie Hill to the ramparts of the ancient
Pictish fort and allowed to burn out. The embers are supposed to be
lucky and are collected by the Clavie followers. The luck is said to
last for a year. This column cannot pass the luck of the Clavie to you
but can suggest a way to join with the good folk of Burghead in spirit!
The traditional drink, in the past, for celebrating Hogmany in Scotland
was Het Pint, of which Sir Walter Scott wrote -
'...it was uncanny and would certainly have felt it uncomfortable, not
to welcome the New Year in the midst of his family, and few
friends , with the immemorial libation of a het pint.'
The Het pint was traditionally carried through the streets at Hogmanay,
in large copper kettles, known as toddy kettles, several hours before
'the chappin o the Twal'.
Ingredients: 4 pt mild ale; 1 teasp. grated nutmeg; 4 oz sugar; 3 eggs;
1/2 pt Whisky
Method: Put the ale into a thick saucepan, then add the nutmeg, and bring
to just below boiling point. ( If it boils, the alcoholic content is
considerably lowered. ) Stir in the sugar and let it dissolve. Beat the
eggs very well, and add them gradually to the beer, stirring all the
time so that it doesn't curdle. Then add the Whisky , and heat up,
but on no account boil. Pour the liquid from the saucepan into heated
tankards, back and forth so that it becomes clear and sparkling.
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)
COMPLETE POEM
To A Mountain Daisy
by Robert Burns
Click here
to listen to this in RealAudio read by Marilyn P Wright
On turning down with the
Plough, in April, 1786.
Wee, modest crimson-tipped flow'r,
Thou's met me in an evil hour;
For I maun crush amang the stoure
Thy slender stem:
To spare thee now is past my pow'r,
Thou bonie gem.
Alas! it's no thy neibor sweet,
The bonie lark, companion meet,
Bending thee 'mang the dewy weet,
Wi' spreckl'd breast!
When upward-springing, blythe, to greet
The purpling east.
Cauld blew the bitter-biting north
Upon thy early, humble birth;
Yet cheerfully thou glinted forth
Amid the storm,
Scarce rear'd above the parent-earth
Thy tender form.
The flaunting flow'rs our gardens yield,
High shelt'ring woods and wa's maun shield;
But thou, beneath the random bield
O' clod or stane,
Adorns the histie stibble field,
Unseen, alane.
There, in thy scanty mantle clad,
Thy snawie bosom sun-ward spread,
Thou lifts thy unassuming head
In humble guise;
But now the share uptears thy bed,
And low thou lies!
Such is the fate of artless maid,
Sweet flow'ret of the rural shade!
By love's simplicity betray'd,
And guileless trust;
Till she, like thee, all soil'd, is laid
Low i' the dust.
Such is the fate of simple bard,
On life's rough ocean luckless starr'd!
Unskilful he to note the card
Of prudent lore,
Till billows rage, and gales blow hard,
And whelm him o'er!
Such fate to suffering worth is giv'n,
Who long with wants and woes has striv'n,
By human pride or cunning driv'n
To mis'ry's brink;
Till wrench'd of ev'ry stay but Heav'n,
He, ruin'd, sink!
Ev'n thou who mourn'st the Daisy's fate,
That fate is thine-no distant date;
Stern Ruin's plough-share drives elate,
Full on thy bloom,
Till crush'd beneath the furrow's weight,
Shall be thy doom!
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
The Farmer's Grievance
John was aye complaining, but
this year he was more vocal than usual as the harvest had been bad. Meeting
his Parish Minister the conversation inevitably turned to the persistent
troubles of the farmer.
"Well, John" the Minister
assured him "you may have good cause to complain, but you must never forget
that Providence looks after all things and even the birds of the air are
provided for."
"Ay"replied John "aff ma
craps."
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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