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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 408 - 28th March 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
28 March
1364
David II, King of Scots, presented the burghs of Scotland with a charter
outlining their privileges.
28 March
2003
The Competition Commission approved the £216 million sale of the Herald,
Sunday Herald and Evening News by the Glasgow-based Scottish Media Group
(SMG) to the American-owned Gannett Corporation.
 28 March
2007
In his last major pronouncement as Presiding Officer of the Scottish
Parliament George Reid called for a ‘radical’ overhaul of MSPs’ expenses,
claiming the current system could tarnish the public’s perception of the
parliament.
29 March
1650
Birth of William Livingston, Third and last Viscount of Kilsyth. He opposed
the 1707 Treaty of Union, between Scotland and England, and supported the
Stewarts in the 1715 Jacobite Rising. He was attainted for high treason and
his estate forfeited to the crown. He died in exile in Holland on 12 January
1733.
29 March
1928
The House of Commons in London overwhelmingly passed the Equal Franchise
Bill, giving the vote to all women aged 21 or over.
29 March
2007
The second session of the Scottish Parliament ended with MSPs heading off on
the campaign trail. Among those not seeking re-election were Presiding
Officer George Reid, former Depute First Minister Jim Wallace, Independent
member Dennis Canavan. Conservative Lord James Douglas-Hamilton and Labour’s
Susan Deacon.
“Go
forth now from this place and into the election battle. Return to your
regions and constituencies and prepare the next chapter in Scotland’s
story. I now close the second session of the Scottish Parliament.”
- George Reid, Presiding Officer
 30 March
2007
The City of Edinburgh swimmer Kirsty Balfour won the silver medal in the
World Championship 200m breaststroke in Melbourne, Australia.
31 March
1746
Lord George Murray raised the siege of his ancestral home, Blair Castle, and
returned north with the Atholl Regiment, swelled with new recruits, leaving
the MacPhersons to guard the Badenoch approaches to Inverness from the
south.
1 April
1947
School-leaving age was raised to 15 in Britain.
2 April
2007
Richard Horton, the editor of the ‘Lancet’, was presented with the Edinburgh
Medal at the start of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.
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 week’s quotations range from the thoughts of the great 18th
century Scottish philosopher David Hume to the admission by former
Labour First Minister of Scotland Henry McLeish that Scottish
Independence is ‘a positive option’ for the constitutional future of
our beloved country of Scotland. My friend Henry McLeish has come a
long way on the constitutional path for Scotland’s future since we
used to argue in the local paper letter’s column over the proposed
Scottish Assembly in the early1970s, where he retained a staunch
Unionist stance. I have remained convinced of my Nationalist
certainties while Henry McLeish has slowly moved into a Nationalist
stance, with a small ‘n’. As Scotland’s second First Minister Henry
McLeish was prepared to fight Scotland’s corner with Westminster -
perhaps that explains why the British Labour Party gave him no
support when he had a little local difficult over his office
finances and in effect stabbed him in the back and forced his
resignation.
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William
(Billy) Connelly
There
is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.
David Hume
(1711-1776)
No
testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be
of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the
fact which it endeavours to establish.
(An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding,
published
1748)
Henry
McLeish
The
country is looking ahead and it’s important that all political parties
do too. We need an open and inclusive conversation to discuss our
future, one in which all the positive options are included – the current
devolution settlement, more powers, independence and also a form of
federalism. The key thing is these ideas are debated in terms of how
they will deliver a better quality of life for everyone who lives in
Scotland – better health, housing, economic performance and education.
The constitutional debate is vitally important for every Scot and
fundamental for the future of our nation. And of course, we should never
forget that a confident Scotland should have a bigger role on the world
stage.
(Remarks
ahead of the launch of the second phase of the Scottish Government’s
‘National Conversation’ on Scotland’s constitutional future, Sunday Post, 23
March 200*)
Alexander
(Alex) Elliot Anderson Salmond
Scotland’s renewable potential is immense – enough to meet our energy
requirements many times over.
(Opening
new £90 million biomass power station near Lockerbie 19 March 2008)
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)
SUCH A PARCEL OF ROGUES IN A NATION
Click here to listen to this
song in Real Audio
by Gaberlunzie
Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame,
Fareweel our ancient glory;
Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name,
Sae fam'd in martial story.
Now Sark rins over Solway sands,
An' Tweed rins to the ocean,
To mark where England's province stands-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
What force or guile could not subdue,
Thro' many warlike ages,
Is wrought now by a coward few,
For hireling traitor's wages.
The English stell we could disdain,
Secure in valour's station;
But English gold has been our bane-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
O would, or I had seen the day
That Treason thus could sell us,
My auld grey head had lien in clay,
Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace!
But pith and power, till my last hour,
I'll mak this declaration;
We're bought and sold for English gold-
Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
Flagnote: The Act of Union between Scotland and England came into force
on 1st May 1707. As this anti-Union song by Robert Burns points out the
Union was brought about by bribery and corruption. There was also a
military threat, as England's General Wade sat on their side of the
Border ready to invade if The Three Estates vote had gone against the
incorporating Union. I happily raise a glass to 'The cassin o the
Wanchancie Covenant!' ( see Scots Sayings
in Scots Language Feature ).
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
GALLOWA' HILLS
Traditional
Oh, I'll tak my plaidie
contented tae be,
A wee bittie kilted abune my knee,
An' I'll gie my pipes anither blaw,
An' I'll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' .
Chorus:
Oh the Gallowa' hills are covered wi broom,
Wi heather bells, in bonnie bloom.
Wi heather bells an' rivers a' ,
An' I'll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' .
For I say bonnie lass it's
will ye come wi me
Tae share your lot in a strange country
For tae share your lot when doun fa's a'
An' I'll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' .
For I'll sell my rock,
I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my granny's spinning wheel,
I will sell them a' when doun fa's a' ,
An' I'll gang oot ower the hills tae Gallowa' .
Footnote: A
very popular sing-along song during the Scottish folk Revival.
See the
SING A SANG AT LEAST in our
features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
April Fools Day, 1 April, Hunt-the-Gowk in
Scots, falls next week 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 !
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)
coronach: dirge; lament
dicht: clean; wipe; wash superficially
peenge: whine; complain; whimper
ramstam: rush headlong; headstrong person; headstrong; rash
teuch: tough
wersh: ( of food and drink ) tasteless; insipid; unpalatable
We nivver dee'd o winter yit: We'll survive
We hae nae need tae pruive anew
the honour sung in Scotland's story,
we pit nae trust in treach'rous pelf,
nor dae we seek the fause vainglory,
but ilk ane here will aye bide free
tho we be left alane a hundert -
be shair, that life itsel we'll gie,
mang slaves, we never sall be numbert.
frae 'Scrieve fae Aberbrothock Aprile
1320' - James S Adam
COMPLETE POEM
The Minister said it wald dee,
the cypress buss I
plantit
But the buss grew til a tree,
naething dauntit.
It's grown, stark and heich,
derk and straucht and
sinister,
kirkyairdie-like and dreich.
But whaur's the
Minister ?
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
Strictly Correct
A good-natured old Scots farmer
entered a tramcar one afternoon and found himself seated beside a small boy
returning from school
"An dae ye like the schuil, my
mannie?" asked the farmer.
"Ay" said the boy bashfully.
"That's graun" continued the
farmer "an I'm shair ye'll be a guid scholar. But hou dae ye staun in yir
class?"
"Saicont dux" promptly replied
the boy.
"Saicont dux! did ye say?
Weill ye deserve something for that" and he thrust sixpence into the boy's
hand.
"An hou monie's in yir class?"
continued the farmer.
"Me an a wee lassie" came the
unabashed reply.
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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