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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 418 - 6th June 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
6 June 1651
The Committee of the Estates made provision for the safety of, amongst other
things, the Scottish Regalia – The Honours of Scotland: the Crown, Sceptre
and Sword – by placing them in the custody of the Earl Marischal. Cromwell
who had occupied Edinburgh and was expected to assault Stirling had already
destroyed the English crown jewels. The Honours were locked away in
Dunnottar Castle and a garrison was established under the command of Captain
George Ogilvy of Barrass.
 6
June 1897
The Dundee barque Tay Mount foundered and sank off Cape Horn on her maiden
voyage from Liverpool, England, to San Francisco. The Tay Mount was a
16141-tonne vessel built at Port Glasgow at a cost of £12,550 for Robert
Ferguson & Company, Dundee.
6 June 1965
In
spite of protests from Presbyterians the Isle of Skye ferry sailed on a
Sunday for the first time.
6 June 2007
Edinburgh University’s Senate agreed to strip Zimbabwe president Robert
Mugabe of his honorary degree, because of his brutal regime. This followed
years of campaigning by politicians and students.
7 June 1967
The legendary Alfredo di Stefano played his last match for Real Madrid in an
exhibition game in Madrid against European Cup holders Celtic. The
outstanding player on the night was Celtic’s Jimmy Johnstone who provided
the through ball which allowed Bobby Murdoch to score the only goal of the
game.
7 June 2007
Alex Salmond demanded clarification from the Westminster government over the
fate of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi. The
First Minister of Scotland was responding to a memorandum signed by the UK
and Libya over prisoner transfers and expressed ‘concern’ to Prime Minister
Tony Blair.
 8
June 2007
Two Scottish boxers defended British titles for the first time - at
Motherwell, Barry Morrison unanimously lost the British light-welterweight
title over 12 rounds to England’s Colin Lynes whilst John Simpson retained
his featherweight belt with a 5th round KO over English
challenger Ryan Barrett at the Millenium Hotel in London’s Mayfair.
9 June 1808
Rev Robert Scott was ordained minister of Glenbuchat, Aberdeenshire. A
ballad collector, his manuscript of 68 ballads completed in 1818 was finally
published in 2007 under the title – ‘The Glenbuchat Ballads’. He was the
author in 1840 of the brief survey of Glenbuchat Parish which later appeared
in ‘The New Statistical Account of Scotland’ (1845).
11 June 2007
The Scottish Government announced a cash grant of £200,000 to the National
Theatre of Scotland to fund a tour in the USA of two award winning plays –
‘Black Watch’ and ‘Two Wolves in the Wall’.
12 June 2007
Stagecoach founder and tycoon Ann Gloag won a landmark legal ruling to ban
ramblers from entering the grounds of her historic home at Kirkfauns Castle
in Perthshire. The ruling at Perth Sheriff Court meant she was the first
private individual in Scotland to except her land from the right-to-roam
legislation.
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 cover two themes – the Scottish diet and the Irish
missionary St Columba who helped bring Christianity to Scotland from
Iona in the 6th century. We celebrate St Columba’s Day, 9
June, with a prayer by the Saint himself and with growing concerns
of obesity in Scotland a reflection of Scottish food over the past
three centuries. A report last year showed that Scotland is the
second-fattest nation in the developed world – only the United
States of America suffers higher obesity rates. Figures for 2003
revealed that 25.5% of the adult Scottish population was obese
compared with 32.2% in the US. The Scottish Government is taking the
matter seriously with worthy suggestions, especially on ‘fast foods’
but perhaps the Scotsman Political Editor, Hamish Macdonell, is
right when he suggests that the target should be the young
generation. However, if everyone took heed of the advice of the late
Dr Robert D McIntyre, Father of the modern Scottish National Party,
the problem would be resolved – ‘Forget the food fads, moderation
and a varied diet is the answer,’
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John
Chamberlayne (1668/9-1723)
The diet
of the Scots is agreeable to their estates and qualities. No people eat
better, or have greater varieties of flesh, fish, wild and tame fowl,
than the Scots nobility and gentry in their own country, where they can
furnish their tables with ten dishes cheaper than the English can
provide three of the same kinds; and of their wines, the French
themselves did not before the Union drink better, and at very easy
rates. The tradesmen, farmers and common people are not excessive
devourers of flesh, as men of the same rank are in England. Milk-meats
and oatmeal, several ways prepared, and kale and roots dressed in
several manners, is the constant diet of the poor people (for roast-meat
is seldom had but on gaudy-days); and with this kind of food they enjoy
a better state of health than their more southern neighbours, who fare
higher.
Magnae
Britanniae Notitie: Or the Present State of Great-Britain With divers
Remarks 1718)
Saint Columba,
Colum Cille (521-597)
Dear Lord
Be
Thou a bright flame before me
Be Thou a guiding star above me
Be Thou a smooth path beneath me
Be Thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today and for evermore.
Amen
(A Prayer of
St Columba)
 James
Halliday
Feeding
the rising population on a traditional diet of oatmeal, cheese and meat
was an increasing problem, as output of these items could not keep place
with the growth of numbers. One solution had been found in the humble
but remarkable potato. In 1743 the Improvers had urged their members to
increase production of this plant, which could produce a far greater
volume of food per acre than any other crop. One of the early converts
to the idea of potato-growing was the chief of Clanranald, who returned
from a visit to Ireland in 1743, enthusiastically committed to potato
growing. By 1800 potatoes provided 80 per cent or so of the diet of the
Highlanders.
(The Highland
Tragedy –
Scotland
- A Concise History
1990)
Hamish
Macdonell
If we are
what we eat, then Scots are a sickly mix of sugar, salt and alcohol… But
maybe it is time to ditch all the healthy eating initiatives for adults
– those who are going to pay any notice to them have already done so –
and instead start pouring all the resources we have into saving the next
generation. That way they could inherit something a little more
worthwhile from us than hardened arteries and an immunity to the
all-pervading smell of chip fat.
(The Scotsman
3 June 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)
YOUNG PEGGY
Young
Peggy blooms our boniest lass,
Her blush is like the morning,
The rosy dawn, the springing grass,
With early gems adorning.
Her eyes outshine the radiant beams
That gild the passing shower,
And glitter o'er the crystal streams,
And cheer each fresh'ning flower.
Her
lips, more than the cherries bright,
A richer dye has graced them;
They charm th' admiring gazer's sight,
And sweetly tempt to taste them;
Her smile is as the evening mild,
When feather'd pairs are courting,
And little lambkins wanton wild,
In playful bands disporting.
Were Fortune lovely Peggy's foe,
Such sweetness would relent her;
As blooming
spring unbends the brow
Of surly, savage Winter.
Detraction's eye
no aim can gain,
Her winning pow'rs to lessen;
And fretful Envy grins in vain
The poison'd tooth to fasten.
Ye Pow'rs of Honour, Love, and Truth,
From ev'ry ill defend her!
Inspire the highly-favour'd youth
The destinies intend her:
Still fan the sweet connubial flame
Responsive in each bosom;
And bless the dear parental name
With many a filial blossom.
Flagnote:
This song appeared in Johnson’s First Volume on 22 May 1787. It was
written in 1785 in tribute to Miss Peggy Kennedy, daughter of a landed
proprietor in Carrick, whom Burns met, when aged 17, she was visiting a
friend in Mauchline. In a letter accompanying the song Robert Burns
wrote to – ‘ as a small though grateful tribute for the honour her
acquaintance.’
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
OH DEAR ME
Mary Brooksbank
Oh, dear me, the mill's
gaen fast,
The puir wee shifters
canna get a rest.
Shiftin' bobbins, coorse
and fine,
They fairly mak' ye work
for your ten and nine.
Oh, dear me, I wish the
day was done,
Rinnin' up and doon the
Pass is no' nae fun;
Shiftin', piecin',
spinnin' warp weft and twine,
Tae feed and cled my
bairnie affen ten and nine.
Oh, dear me, the warld's
ill divided,
Them that work the
hardest are aye wi' least provided,
But I maun bide
contented, dark days or fine,
There's no much pleasure
living affen ten and nine.
Footnote : This favourite in the Folk Revival came from the poetry
collection 'Sidlaw Breezes' by former Dundee jute mill worker, the late
Mary Brooksbank. She sums up very well the working conditions in the
jute mills and I was fortunate enough to obtain a copy of her book in a
charity shop.' Jute Mill Song ' is an appropriate alternative title for
the song.
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
Hopefully the
weather will improve as the 2008 Highland Games season gets underway as
holding any event in the open-air in Scotland, at any time during the year,
is always at risk of adverse weather. Last Saturday was probably the best
day of the year but Markinch Highland Games on Sunday (1 June 2008) was
struck with heavy rain. Fortunately the Games were already underway before
the arrival of the rain and the large crowd saw the programme successfully
carried out, although the Highland Dancing had to be transferred to the
nearby Town Hall. Markinch Games stage the oldest pipe band contest in the
country and these were successfully concluded in spite of the weather with
the grade one title going to one of the newest pipe bands – the recently
formed Fife Constabulary band.
Many of the
places holding Highland Games, such as Markinch in Fife, are of course far
from the Highland Line but are popular venues for all that, as the great
turn-out on Sunday proved. The whole community gets behind their local games
regardless of where they are in Scotland. Games and sport have been held in
Scotland for over a thousand years and were originally organised to find the
best runners to provide communications over our rugged countryside. Many
Highland Games still echo this original purpose with the incorporation of a
Hill race eg The Binn Race at Burntisland Highland Games (21 July 2008).
Hopefully, unlike in 2007, Burntisland Games will not be cancelled owing to
heavy overnight rain.
Pipe Band Competitions, Solo Piping and Highland Dancing all add colour
to the modern Highland Games, along with the Heavyweight Competitions
and Track and Field events. No visit to Scotland during the Games season
would be complete without attending a Highland Gathering to enjoy the
spectacle.
Highland
Dancing is one of the major attractions at the Games and a popular dance
inspires this week’s recipe – Highland Fling. A combination with a
Scottish traditional dance and her favourite tipple must be a winner!
Highland
Fling
Ingredients:
1 oz Scotch Whisky; 1 oz Blue Curaçao; ½ oz Orange Bitters; Soda
Method:
Serve the spirits in a large goblet, topped with soda. Decorate with a
slice of starfruit and kiwi.
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)
OH Thou, wha in the heavens dost dwell!
Wha, as it pleases best thysel',
Sends ane to heaven, and ten to hell,
A' for thy glory,
And no' for ony gude or ill
They've done afore thee!
COMPLETE POEM
Rashie Coat
Click here to listen to this in Real Audio
read by Marilyn P Wright
 This
is the Scottish version of Cinderella.
Rashie Coat was a king’s
daughter, and her father wanted her to be married; but she didna like
the man. Her father said she had to tak him; and she didna ken what to
do. Sae she gaed awa’ to the hen-wife to speer what she should do.
And the hen-wife said: ‘Say ye winna tak him unless they gie ye a
coat o’ the beaten gowd.’ Weel, they ga’e her a coat o’ the
beaten gowd; but she didna want to tak him for a’ that. Sae she gaed
to the hen-wife again, and the hen-wife said: ‘Say ye winna tak him
unless they gie ye a coat made o’ the feathers o’ a’ the birds o’
the air.’ Sae the king sent a man wi’ a great heap o’
corn; and the man cried to a’ the birds o’ the air: ‘Ilka bird
tak up a pea and put down a feather; ilka bird tak up a pea and put
down a feather.’ Sae ilka bird took up a pea and put down a feather
and they took a’ the feathers and made a coat o’ them, and ga’e
it to Rashiecoat; but she didna want to tak him for a’ that. Weel,
she gaed to the hen-wife again, and speered what she should do; and
the hen-wife said: ‘Say ye winna tak him unless they gie ye a coat o’
rashes and a pair o’ slippers.’ Weel, they ga’e her a coat o’
rashes and a pair o’ slippers; but she didna want to tak him for a’
that. Sae she gaed to the hen-wife again, and the hen-wife said she
couldna help her ony mair.
Weel, she left her
father’s hoose, and gaed far, and far, and farer nor I can tell; and
she cam to a king’s hoose, and she gaed in till’t. And they
speered at her what she was seeking, and she said she was seeking
service; and they ga’e her service and set her into the kitchen to
wash the dishes, and tak oot the aise, and a’ that. And whan the
Sabbath-day cam, they a’ gaed to the kirk, and left her at hame to
cook the dinner. And there was a fairy cam to her, and telt her to put
on her coat o’ the beaten gowd, and gang to the kirk. And she said
she couldna gang, for she had to cook the dinner; and the fairy telt
her to gang, and she would cook the dinner for her. And she said
'Aw peat gar anither
peat burn,
Ae spit gar anither spit turn,
Ae pat gar anither pat play,
Let Rashie-coat gang to the kirk the day.’
Sae Rashie—coat put on her coat o’
the beaten gowd, and gaed awa’ to the kirk. And the king’s son
fell in love wi’ her; but she cam hame afore the kirk scaled, and he
couldna find oot wha she was. And whan she cam hame she faund the
dinner cookit, and naebody kent she had been oot.
Weel, the niest
Sabbath-day, the fairy cam again, and telt her to put on the coat o’
feathers o’ a’ the birds o’ the air, an’ gang to the kirk, and
she would cook the dinner for her. Weel, she put on the coat o’
feathers, and gaed to the kirk. And she cam oot afore it scaled; and
when the king’s son saw her gaun oot, he gaed oot too; but he
couldna find oot wha she was. And she got hame, and took aff the coat
o’ feathers, and faund the dinner cookit, and naebody kent she had
been oot.
And the niest
Sabbath-day, the fairy cam till her again, and telt her to put on the
coat o’ rashes and the pair o’ slippers, and gang to the kirk
again. Aweel, she did it a’; and this time the king’s son sat near
the door, and when he saw Rashie-coat slippin’ oot afore the kirk
scaled, he slippit oot too and grippit her. And she got awa’ frae
him, and ran hame; but she lost ane o’ her slippers, and he took it
up. And he gared cry through a’ the country, that onybody that could
get the slipper on, he would marry them. Sae a’ the leddies o’ the
court tried to get the slipper on, and it wadna fit nane o’ them.
And the auld hen-wife cam and fush her dochter to try and get it on,
and she nippit her fit, and clippit her fit, and got it on that way.
Sae the king’s son was gaun to marry her. And he was takin’ her
awa’ to marry her, ridin’ on a horse, an’ her ahint him; and
they cam to a wood, and there was a bird sittin on a tree, and as they
gaed by, the bird said:
‘Nippit fit and
clippit fit
Ahint the king’s son rides
But bonny fit and pretty fit
Ahint the caudron hides.’
And when the king’s
son heard this, he flang aff the hen-wife’s dochter, and cam hame
again, and lookit ahint the caudron, and there he faund Rashie-coat
greetin’ for her slipper. And he tried her fit wi’ the slipper,
and it gaed on fine. Sae he married her.
AND THEY LIVED
HAPPY AND HAPPY,
AND NEVER DRANK OOT O’ A DRY CAPPY.
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
Not Today
The class at school were being taught the
parables and, as a novelty, were allowed to act them in a series of
short sketches. When the minister paid one of his periodical visits he
asked Wattie - who happened to be in the front row - which of the
parables he liked the best.
"The Prodigal Son" was the prompt reply.
"Well" said the minister " in that case
we'll just have that acted today."
"No, sir" continued Wattie firmly "we
canna dae it the day."
"And why not, my boy?" enquired the
visitor.
"Weill" answered Wattie with a glance at
the vacant seat beside him, usually occupied by the fatted calf, " ye
see, sir, the cou's at the doctors!"
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.
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Gordon.Wright11@btopenworld.com
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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
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