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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 414 - 9th May 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
9 May 1808
Death of Robert Robertson, ‘The Blind Fiddler’, aged 87, who had fought on
the Jacobite side at Culloden, in Dundee. He was buried in The Howff,
Dundee’s city cemetery.
9 May 2007
Glasgow formally submitted its bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
11 May 1826
The titles and baronetcy, forfeited following the Jacobite Risings, was
restored to Sir Peter Threipland of Fingask. The family had been avid
Jacobites and took part in both the 1715 and 1746 Risings – Dr Stuart
Threipland was medical adviser to Prince Charles Edward Stewart and escaped
in 1746 to Rouen.
11 May 2007
The
two Scottish Green MSPs agreed to back the Scottish National Party nominee
for the position of First Minister of Scotland.
13 May 2007
Death of Joan MacKenzie, noted Gaelic singer, in Edinburgh. She was a Mod
Gold medal winner at the 1955 National Mod in Aberdeen and contributed much
to the School of Scottish Studies.
14 May 1491
A Charter under the Great Seal entitled outstanding seaman Sir Andrew Wood
of Largo –
‘to build
a castle at Largo with iron gate, on account of the great services done
and losses sustained by the said Andrew, for the services it was
confidently hoped he would yet render, and because the said Andrew had,
at great personal expenses, built certain houses and a fortalice on the
lands of Largo, by the hands of Englishmen captured by him, with the
object of resisting and expelling pirates.’
 14
May 1746
Prince Charles Edward Stewart and a group of companions reached Coradale, in
South Uist, and stayed there for three weeks, until news arrived that
Hanoverians troops were closing in on the fugitives.
14 May 1812
Death of Glenorchy-born Duncan Ban MacIntyre, Donnchadch Ban Mac an t-Saoir,
gamekeeper, Edinburgh city guard and renowned Gaelic poet. Best remembered
for his praise-poem ‘Moladh Beinn Dobhrain’ (‘Praise of Ben Doran’ – a hill
above Bridge of Orchy), he is recognised as one of the all-time great Gaelic
poets.
15 May 1942
The Clyde-built liner Queen Mary arrived at Greenock with nearly 10,000 US
troops on board.
15 May 2007
Celtic paid a record sum of £4.5 million between Scottish football clubs to
secure the services of 21-year-old international midfielder Scott Brown from
Hibernian.
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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There
was indeed as the Scottish National Party ended 50 years of Labour
domination in Scotland and went on to form a minority Scottish
Government at Holyrood with Alex Salmond as First Minister of
Scotland. The latest public opinion, System Three, shows that the
Scottish National Party continues to ride high with 45% of the
constituency vote, Labour on 31%, Conservatives 12% and Liberal
Democrats 11%. Again it seems appropriate to note the good year for
the Scottish National Party (and Scotland) with First Minister
Salmond’s comments on the past year.
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This week a
year ago we published only one quotation by Scottish National Party Leader
Alex Salmond with the suggestion that it would become historic. It was from
his victory speech after overturning a 4,000 Liberal Democrat majority to
win the Gordon seat in the Scottish Parliament by 2,000 votes – ‘There is a
wind of change blowing through Scottish politics.’
Alexander
(Alex) Elliot Anderson Salmond
Almost one
year ago we said that it was time for Scotland to move forward. The
people of Scotland agreed and they entrusted us with government. We are
repaying the trust of the people of Scotland by breathing new life into
Scottish democracy, and delivering for our great public services.
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)
I maun hae a wife,
whatso'er she be,
An' she be a woman, that's
enough for me.
Chorus :
Buy broom besoms! Wha will
buy them noo?
Fine heather ringers,
better never grew.
If that she be bonny, I
shall think her right,
If that she be ugly, where
the odds at night?
O, an' she be young, how
happy shall I be,
If that she be auld, the
sooner she will dee.
If that she be fruitfu', O
what joy is there!
If she should be barren,
less will be my care.
If she like a drappie, she
and I'll agree,
If she dinna like it,
there's the mair for me.
Be she green or grey, be
she black or fair,
Let her be a woman, I
shall seek nae mair.
Flagnote: One of the many songs, according to Ewan McColl, collected by
Robert Burns.An entertaining ditty on the course of true love!
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
McFARLANE O THE SPROTS O BURNIEBOOZIE
G Bruce Thomson
Afore that I'd be terraneezed
as I this file hae been,
I'd raither rin' frae here
tae Birse wi' peez in baith ma sheen,
I'd raither dee for want o'
breath than pine for want o' love,
And it's a' because McFarlane
merrit Sousie.
Sousie's kankert faither wi'
mine could niver gree,
And aye fan I'd gae ower that
gait he'd turn his dog at me.
So I sent ma freen McFarlane
doon to see fit he could dee,
McFarlane o' the Sprots o'
Burnieboozie.
I dinna like
McFarlane, I'm safe enough tae state,
His lug wad cast a
shadow ower a sax-fit gate.
He's soft as ony
goblin and slippery as a skate,
McFarlane o' the
Sprots o' Birnieboozie.
McFarlane spak nae wird for me
but plenty for himsel',
He reesed the lassie's baurley
scones, her kebbick and her kail.
Her faither cried oot 'Sprottie
man, ye should try yer luck yersel','
Tae McFarlane o' the Sprots o'
Burnieboozie.
Though McFarlane is the
grimmest chiel for twenty miles aroon,
Though they buy his fottygraph
tae fleg the rottens frae a toon,
He kittled up his spunk at
this and spiered gin she'd come doon
And be mistress o' the Sprots
o' Birnieboozie.
Oh, a dirl o' the teethache's
nae particularly sweet,
Bit love's the only power on
earth that iver gart me greet;
It's like kittlie chilblains
roon yer heart instead o' roon yer feet -
They were aggravated wi' the
sicht o' Sousie.
Noo freens and kind
philosophers, ye've heard what me befell;
Niver lippen tae the middle
man, bit dee yer work yersel',
Or I'll bet my hinmost sarkit
ye're a day ahint the markit
As fan I sent Jock McFarlane
roon tae Sousie.
I dinna like
McFarlane, its affa' bit it's true;
A pewter speen wis
tint in Jock McFarlane's moo.
He couldnae weel be
grimmer, sups his brose wi' the skimmer -
McFarlane o' the
Sprots o' Burnieboozie.
Footnote: This amusing Cornkister from the
pen of G Bruce Thomson was one of my late father's favourites and the
author of the song was known to his relations.
See the
SING A SANG AT LEAST in our
features section
SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS
AND CUSTOMS
May has
finally brought a spell of warm sunshine and the promise of better weather
to come and with holidays on the arising – modern Scots enjoy far more than
their forebears – we will look at a variety of Scottish visitor attractions
over the next few weeks. This week we start in the heart of the Borders with
a house, built and made famous by the great Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott
(1771-1832) – Abbotsford - which lies two miles of Melrose (a town well
worth a visit). Sir Walter bought the farm of Cartleyhole on the southern
bank of the Tweed in 1811. The building of Abbotsford took six years and was
completed in 1824. The result obviously well-pleased Sir Walter Scott as he
wrote in his journal on 7 January 1828 –
‘It is a
kind of Conundrum Castle to be sure and I have a great pleasure in it
for while it pleases a fantastic person in the stile and manner of the
architecture and decoration it has all the comforts of a commodious
habitation.’
 The
house was opened to the public in 1833, five months after the death of Sir
Walter and has been open to visitors ever since. The house contains an
impressive collection of historic relics, weapons and armour, including Rob
Roy’s gun, dirk and sword, and an extensive library containing over 9000
rare volumes. Visitors are able to see Sir Walter’s Study, Library, Drawing
Room, Entrance Hall, Armoury, Dining Room and the private Chapel which was
built in 1855, after the writer’s death. The visit extends to Sir Walter
Scott’s garden and ground and the chance to wander down to view his beloved
Tweed. Visit
www.scottsabbotsford.co.uk for full details of opening times and
charges.
The recipe
this week was a great Border’s favourite and probably enjoyed by the great
man himself –enjoy the flavour of the Borders in a heaped plate of
Rumblethumps.
Rumblethumps
Ingredients:
1 lb potatoes; 1 lb white cabbage, spring cabbage or kale; 1 medium onion,
finely chopped; 3 oz butter; a little single cream; 2 oz mature cheddar
cheese; chopped fresh chives; black pepper and salt to taste
Method:
Slice the potatoes thickly and boil in a little salted water. Once cooked,
drain and mash. Slice the cabbage and boil gently in slated water, do not
over cook! Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed pan and cook the onions. Once
soft through, add a little cream, season to taste and heat together. Place
the mixture in an oven safe dish and cover with grated cheddar and place
under a hot grill or oven to brown. Serves 4.
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)
The ploomen hae lowsed an the day's darg is ower,
An hame comes the hauflin as hungry as fower;
Weel wabbit is he, but he's young an he's cheery
An, ance he has suppit, forgets that he's weary.
The yett swings ahint him, he's oot again roamin,
An walks doon the glen in the quate o the gloamin.
COMPLETE POEM
SHY GEORDIE
by Helen
B Cruikshank
Helen B Cruikshank ( 1886-1975 ) was
born near Montrose in the North-east and educated there. She
worked as a Civil servant and spent most of her life in Edinburgh.
As Secretary of Scottish PEN she befriended many of the poets of
the Scottish Literary Revival, offering particular support to Hugh
MacDiarmid and his family when times were hard for them in the
Nineteen-Thirties.
Up the Noran Water
In by Inglismaddy
Annie's got a bairnie
That hasna got a daddy.
Some say it's Tammas's,
An' some say it's Chay's ;
An' naebody expec'it,
Wi' Annie's quiet ways.
Up the Noran water
The bonny little mannie
Is dangled an' cuddled close
By Inglismaddy's Annie.
Wha the bairnie's daddy is
The lassie never says ;
But some think it's Tammas's,
An' some think it's Chay's.
Up the Noran Water
The country folk are kind ;
An' wha the bairnie's daddy is
They dinna muckle mind.
But oh ! the bairn at Annie's breist,
The love in Annie's e'e -
They mak' me wish wi' a' my micht
The lucky lad was me !
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
A Famous Name
The local Message Boy in a
Scottish Border town was on his rounds and one of the newer residents had,
on this particular occasion, opened the door to receive the household
supplies. Anxious to put the boy at his ease on seeing a comparatively new
face he asked him his name.
"Walter Scott, sir" came
the firm reply.
"Indeed, indeed" said
the newcomer "That is very interesting. Yours is a very well known name
in these parts."
"Weill, sir" answered
the boy proudly "It suid be. A hae been deliverin messages here fir
about thrie yeir!"
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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