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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 1^st 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"    

Andrew Carnegie (1836-1919)

No man can become rich without himself enriching others.

 

 

Sir Thomas Blane Hunter

My own belief is that with great wealth comes great responsibility.

(Scotsman 17 July 2007)

Adam Smith (1723-1790)

No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable. It is but equity, besides, that they who feed, clothe and lodge the whole body of the people, should have such a share of the produce of their labour as to be themselves well fed, clothed and lodged.

(The Wealth of Nations 1776) 
 

Our merchants and master-manufactures complain much of the effects of high wages in raising the price, and thereby lessening the sale of their goods both at home and abroad. They say nothing concerning the bad effects of high profits. They are silent with regard to the pernicious effects of their own gains. They complain only of those of other people.

(The Wealth of Nations 1776)

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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 LASS O' BALLOCHMYLE
Tune—Ettrick Banks

’TWAS even—the dewy fields were green,
  On every blade the pearls hang;
The zephyr wanton’d round the bean,
  And bore its fragrant sweets alang:
  In ev’ry glen the mavis sang,
All nature list’ning seem’d the while,
  Except where greenwood echoes rang,
Amang the braes o’ Ballochmyle.

With careless step I onward stray’d,
  My heart rejoic’d in nature’s joy,
When, musing in a lonely glade,
  A maiden fair I chanc’d to spy:
  Her look was like the morning’s eye,
Her air like nature’s vernal smile:
  Perfection whisper’d, passing by,
“Behold the lass o’ Ballochmyle!”“

Fair is the morn in flowery May,
  And sweet is night in autumn mild;
When roving thro’ the garden gay,
  Or wand’ring in the lonely wild:
  But woman, nature’s darling child!
There all her charms she does compile;
  Even there her other works are foil’d
By the bonie lass o’ Ballochmyle!

O, had she been a country maid,
  And I the happy country swain,
Tho’ shelter’d in the lowest shed
  That ever rose on Scotland’s plain!
  Thro’ weary winter’s wind and rain,
With joy, with rapture, I would toil;
  And nightly to my bosom strain
The bonie lass o’ Ballochmyle.

Then pride might climb the slipp’ry steep,
  Where frame and honours lofty shine;
And thirst of gold might tempt the deep,
  Or downward seek the Indian mine:
  Give me the cot below the pine,
To tend the flocks or till the soil;
  And ev’ry day have joys divine
With the bonie lass o’ Ballochmyle!

Flagnote:  Robert Burns composed this well-known song around July 1786.  It was inspired by Miss Wilhelmina Alexander of Ballochmyle, an estate some two miles from Mossgiel.  On 18 November 1786 Robert Burns wrote to Miss Alexander, along with a copy of the song, asking her permission to publish it in the new edition of his poems to be published in Edinburgh but she ignored his request.  In later years, however, she was exceedingly proud to exhibit both the song and letter.  Miss Alexander died in her nineties on 5 June 1845 in Kilmarnock. 

JOHNNIE SANGSTER
William Scott

O' a' the seasons o' the year 
When we maun wark the sairest,
The harvest is the only time,
And yet it is the rarest.
We rise as seen as mornin' licht,
Nae craters can be blither;
We buckle on oor finger-steels,
And follow oot the scyther.

Chorus:
For you, Johnnie, you Johnnie,
You, Johnnie Sangster,
I'll trim the gavel o' my sheaf,
For ye're the gallant bandster.

A mornin' piece to line oor cheek,
Afore that we gae forder,
Wi' cloods o' blue tobacco reek
We then set oot in order.
The sheaves are risin' thick and fast,
And Johnnie he maun bind them;
The busy group, for fear they stick,
Can scarcely look ahint them.

I'll gie ye bands that winna slip,
I'll pleat them weel and thraw them;
I'm sure they winna tine the grip,
Hooever weel ye draw them.
I'll lay my leg oot owre the sheaf,
And draw the band sae handy,
Wi' ilka strae as straucht's a rash,
And that'll be the dandy.

A dainty cowie in the byre,
For butter and for cheeses;
A grumphie feedin' in the stye
Wad keep the hoose in greases.
A bonnie ewie in the bucht
Wad help to creesh the ladle;
And we'll get ruffs o' cannie woo
Wad help to theek the cradle.

If e'er it chance to be my lot
To get a gallant bandster,
I'll gar him wear a gentle coat,
And bring him gowd in handfu's.
But Johnnie he can please himsel',
I wadna wish him blinkit;
Sae, aifter he has brewed his ale,
He can sit doon and drink it.

Footnote:  According to the great folk song collector, Gavin Greig, this song was the work of William Scott who was born in Fetterangus in the Parish of Old Deer, Aberdeenshire, in 1785. Scott who began life as a herd-laddie subsequently moved to Aberdeen where he was apprenticed to a tailor. Later he worked, for a time, in London, England, and after visiting America returned to Old Deer where he spent the remainder of his life.

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

In common with many Border towns, the Royal burgh of Annan enjoys an annual Riding of the Marches when a cavalcade of horse perform an inspection of the town’s boundaries. There was extra joy in the town’s celebration last Saturday as Annan had featured widely in the Scottish media – all thanks to Scotland’s favourite sport, Football. On Thursday 3 July 2008, the local East of Scotland side Annan Athletic , founded in 1942 as part of the Dumfries and District Welfare League, took a major step forward with entry to the Scottish Football League. “Where is Galabank?” will be the question on the lips of many football fans, especially those in the current Scottish Third Division. The answer is simple as Galabank, the 3,500 capacity home of Annan Athletic and its successful social club, lies a short 15 minute walk from Annan Railway Station. En route you will pass the town’s museum, well worth a visit, the excellent chip shop, Café Royal, on the site of the building where Robert Burns wrote ‘The Deil’s Awa Wi The Exciseman’, and the Blue Bell Inn, where a splendid pint of Real ale can be enjoyed.

The demise of nearby neighbours Gretna FC , following a roller-coaster funded by English businessman Miles Brookson, led to the SFL having to fill a vacancy in the Third Division. After three rounds of voting, Annan Athletic beat off the challenge of three fellow East of Scotland sides – Spartans, Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic – and Highland League champions Cove Rangers to gain a foothold in Scottish senior football. Ahead in every round, Annan in the final vote gained 17 votes to Cove’s 12. Annan will kick-off life as a SFL side away to Clyde in the Challenge Cup on Saturday 26 July 2008 at 3pm, and Galabank will host its first-ever home Third Division league game on Saturday 9 August 2008 when Stenhousemuir, The Warriors’, will be the visitors.

Annan is the third largest town in Dumfries and Galloway, with a population of some 10,000, and now join the largest town Dumfries and second largest Stranraer in Scottish senior football. This well-run club makes an interesting addition to the towns on the SFL circuit. Apart from football Annan is well worth a visit. A Royal Burgh standing near the mouth of the River Annan where it enters The Solway, since at least the days of James V, King of Scots, has much to offer any visitor. Famous folk from Annan include the noted preacher Edward Irving, a statue to him stands in the old churchyard, and the blind poet Thomas Blacklock, whose friendship and approval helped dissuade Robert Burns from emigration. Any visit to the Borders is not complete without a slice of Scottish Border Tart along with a fly cup.

Scottish Border Tart

Ingredients:  225g (8oz) Shortcrust Pastry; 140g (5oz) Mixed Dried Fruit; 50g (2oz) Butter; 50g (2oz) Dark Soft Brown Sugar; 25g (1oz) Walnuts, chopped; 25g (1oz) Glacê Cherries, chopped; 1 Egg, beaten; 110g (4oz) Icing Sugar; 1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Method:  Pre-heat oven to 190°C: 375°F: Gas 5. Lightly grease a 7 inch round baking tin. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface and line the baking tin. Gently melt the butter and sugar together in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the dried fruit, walnuts and cherries. Stir in the beaten egg. Place the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 25 to 30 min or until the pastry is slightly browned. Allow to cool. Mix the icing sugar and lemon juice together. Spread over the top of the tart, allow to set before serving.

Serves 4

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section