Final Bill for Parliament Building

The Scottish Parliament's Presiding Officer (roughly equivalent to Speaker) tried to draw a line under the troubled building project for the Scottish Parliament this week by announcing the final, final cost of £414 million. Surprisingly, for a project where costs escalated throughout its life, this was some £16 million less than the previous estimate. When the site at Holyrood in Edinburgh was selected 1998, the cost was given as £50 million and a completion date of 2001. The members of the Scottish Parliament eventually moved into the building (with tradesmen still working on unfinished elements) in September 2004. Since its completion, it has picked up a number of architectural design awards, hit a number of snags (like a structural beam in the debating chamber swinging down) and has received mixed reviews from the general public.

World's Biggest Wave Farm for Orkney

The Scottish Executive has announced financial support for what is being described as the world's biggest wave energy farm on Orkney. The £13 million financial package will add four more Pelamis devices (made by Leith-based company Ocean Power Delivery) and allow a number of other marine energy devices to be tested. Nicol Stephen, the Scottish Executive Deputy First Minister claimed that Scotland has the potential to generate a quarter of all the marine energy produced in Europe - news reports didn't explain how that had been calculated, however. Scottish Power is planning the installation in Orkney which is said to be able to generate enough electricity for 2,000 homes. The Pelamis system, which uses large tubular segments to harness the waves, has also been installed off the northern coast of Portugal but the Orkney site will be even larger. Unlike the situation with many wind farms on land, there have been no protests about wave farms as they are not so visible, being largely submerged under water.

Short List for East Coast Rail Franchise

Transport company GNER won the franchise to operate the east coast mainline train service between London and Edinburgh in March 2005 and should have continued in that role for ten years. But a combination of a dip in passenger numbers and financial problems in GNER and its parent company Sea Containers has meant that it cannot meet the terms of its franchise. Instead of paying compensation for this, it has surrendered the franchise and now the Department of Transport in London has announced that bids by Arriva Trains, First Rail, National Express Group and a joint venture between Stagecoach and Richard Branson's rail company have been shortlisted. The winning company must keep existing services, including the regular half-hourly service between London and Leeds. The successful operator is also expected to put in a "smart ticketing" system across the franchise area.

Biggest Ever Modern Art Sponsorship

The Bank of Scotland is providing sponsorship of £400,000 so that the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh can stage two major exhibitions of modern art over the next two years. Work by Andy Warhol will be shown in, "A Celebration of Life... and Death". This will be the biggest display of his work ever staged in Scotland. It will present a broad range of his iconic work in painting, sculpture, film and photography, including his world-famous silk screen portraits of celebrities like Liz Taylor, Jackie Kennedy, Dolly Parton and Judy Garland. It will run from August to October this year. Warhol's German contemporary Joseph Beuys has had a long association with Scotland, which began when Scots arts impresario Richard Demarco first brought him to Edinburgh in 1970. The exhibition of his work will form be the second part of the sponsorship deal and will be at the RSA from November 2008 to January 2009.

Culture Clash

Edinburgh and Glasgow are supposed to be working more closely together for their mutual benefit and for the good of Scotland. But that doesn't stop Scotland's two largest cities having a sparring match when it comes to where government agencies should be located. The Scottish Executive has a policy of trying to relocate some of its departments and support agencies away from the Capital, so that more of the country can benefit from the jobs they create. Scottish Natural Heritage, for example, was moved (much against its will and with major staff resignations and redundancies) from Edinburgh to Inverness. It has already been announced that the Arts Council and Scottish Screen are to merge to form a new arts agency, "Creative Scotland". Glasgow is one of the locations being considered for relocation, but the leader of Edinburgh City Council said this week that it would be an "act of political vandalism" to move the present arts council away from the Capital. A decision will not be made by the Scottish Executive until after the parliamentary elections in May. A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said he did not want to "enter into an unseemly argument," - but Glasgow had a large artistic community and a better claim...

Edinburgh and Glasgow Join Forces

While the previous item highlighted the competition between Edinburgh and Glasgow when it comes to dispersing jobs from one to the other, it is a different matter when the departments involved are located in London. The Glasgow-Edinburgh collaboration director (yes, such a post has existed since last July) is making a pitch on behalf of both cities for a share of 20,000 government civil service posts being moved out of the UK capital. In 2004, a review of all government departments reported that £2 billion could be saved each year by moving 20,000 posts out of London and cutting a further 7,000 jobs through "efficiency measures". The report highlighted four Scottish locations - Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and East Kilbride - as possible sites for dispersal of posts.

Office Rental Costs in Edinburgh and Glasgow

For the first time for 15 years, the rents for prime office space in Glasgow is equal to that in Edinburgh. In the last year rentals in Edinburgh have barely moved, but those in Glasgow soared by 17.5%, thus catching up with Edinburgh's annual cost of £291 a square metre. The growth of the financial services sector in Glasgow has contributed to this, but a more readily available pool of labour and lower housing costs are also encouraging companies to locate in Glasgow. Developers are responding to the demand - and the good return on new builds, with construction projects blossoming once again in the city centre.

Shop Around the Clock

The owners of the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre in Glasgow are planning to double the size of the retail area to over a million square feet. They are aiming to replace the present multi-storey car park with shops and restaurants and create a new car park over the existing open-air bus station across Killermont Street, with covered walkways between the two buildings. Links to the subway and main railway station at Queen Street are also being considered. The aim is also to encourage shops to remain open as late as midnight throughout the year, instead of just in the run-up to Christmas. This week the owners of the centre launched a consultation exercise to gauge public opinion before a planning application is lodged in a few months from now. Glasgow's other major shopping mall at St Enoch Square is being enlarged by a third. City centre retailers are still doing well, but face a challenge from out of town centres such as Braehead and the soon to open Silverburn development in Pollok - that will add another million square feet of retail space to the city.

Parking Tickets Worth £6.6 Million Written Off

Due to an error in the wording of the parking tickets issued up until June last year, it has been established that all such fines were technically "illegal" as they did not specify the date of issue and the date of the offence. In places such as Edinburgh, that is always the same as when the tickets are attached to the windscreen. In London, however, tickets can be sent out by post by officials studying CCTV evidence at a later date, so including the dates is mandatory. As a result, Edinburgh City Council has had to write off £6.6 million in unpaid fines - in some cases by those who use underhand techniques to dodge such fines. That will include one Edinburgh motorist who has bragged that he has run up £80,000 in unpaid fines. Technically, those who have "admitted their guilt" and paid up may be able to claim back their £30 fine. Edinburgh City Council may quietly make a refund to those who bother to make a claim. But they may threaten to challenge the repayment in court, which would put most folk off. If the council lost such a case in court, however, they would be forced to pay all those fines back - creating a huge deficit in their budget. Other councils across Scotland are in a similar situation - so far only Edinburgh has owned up (under the Freedom of Information Act) to writing off unpaid fines.

Falkirk Wheel Turns Round More Visitors

Figures published this week show that last year the Falkirk Wheel had the largest rise in visitor numbers of any British tourist attraction. The wheel transfers boats between the Union canal and the Forth and Clyde canal, using a unique boat lift. The impressive device (plus trips along the canal and a large visitor centre) saw a an increase of 48% in the number paying it a visit. The total number of visitors was 437,388, up from 296,000 in 2005. Scotland's leading attraction in 2005 was once again Edinburgh Castle, with 1,213,907 visitors, a rise of 2% on 2005. The largest drop in visitor numbers was recorded by the National Museum of Flight, where attendance dropped by 31%. But the year before had seen the opening of the Concorde Experience, displaying the former supersonic airliner. The attraction with the smallest number of callers was the National Museum of Costume, based at Shambellie House at New Abbey in Dumfriesshire, which recorded a drop of 18% to just 10,717 through their doors.

New Edinburgh to Dortmund Air Link

The Scottish Executive are no doubt pushing hard to conclude agreements under their Route Development Fund (RDF) funding arrangements as the European Union has severely curtailed this most successful scheme which assists airlines in the start-up years of a new service. The RDF supports new air links where airlines can demonstrate the services will have a direct economic benefit to Scotland. The flights must involve regularly scheduled services and must not undermine existing flights. The latest success is a new air link between Edinburgh and Dortmund in Germany, operated by low-cost airline easyJet. The daily service will utilise 156-seater Airbus A319 aircraft

Saving 1,000 Lives

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescued 1,022 people in Scotland last year, the first time that the number had exceeded 1,000. The RNLI had its busiest ever year, with 1049 launches from lifeboat stations around the coast of Scotland. The lifeboat at Oban, Argyll, rescued 109 people, the highest tally of any single vessel in the RNLI in the UK. The volunteer crews respond 24 hours a day on every day of the year and in all weathers - including a hurricane force 12 last year. The charity is seeking to raise £10 million over the next five years so that they can continue to train crews for this life saving task.

Campaign for Crofting Brand

The Scottish Crofting Foundation has started a campaign aimed at introducing a brand for their agricultural produce. The objective is to take advantage of crofting's reputation for "natural and healthy produce". Purchasers would be able to trace exactly where the food came from and exactly who produced it. The organisation is also investigating if more jobs could be created by processing the raw produce closer to its source instead of being passed through middle men.

Conservation Charity Condemned for Promoting Shooting

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has been condemned by animal rights groups for promoting grouse shooting and deer stalking on the Mar Lodge Estate on Royal Deeside. The property was bought in 1995 and the trust has continued to maintain its long tradition of hunting there. But a new five-year management plan aims to increase income by holding annual sporting shoots and create a "model, ecologically sustainable grouse" moor for nature conservation reasons. But the League Against Cruel Sports is "outraged" by the use of public money for such activities. A spokesman for NTS said that since taking over the estate it had tried to strike a balance between Highland sports and nature conservation. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has suspended £2 million of funding for the estate because of the concerns over shooting - although the National Trust has given assurances that this finance would be "ring fenced" for conservation work only. Mar Estate is next door to the Queen's Balmoral Estate (where such field sports are not unknown). It attracts more than 120,000 visitors a year - though only a small number of these actually get involved in shooting expeditions.

New Paper for North Poles

A new 16-page full colour quarterly magazine, carrying articles in both English and Polish, was launched this week in the Highlands to cater for the growing Polish community there. It is estimated that 5,000 Poles now live in the area and the magazine publishers hope that having articles in both languages will help locals understand issues affecting the Polish community as well as assist Poles to learn English. "Gazeta z Highland" carries news, articles and information plus a section giving key phrases in both Polish and English. Highland Council already runs a bi-lingual web site aimed at the Polish community at www.polness.org.uk. Political parties are encouraging all residents from the European Union to vote in local and Scottish Parliament elections in May.

Lent Us Your Ears

The Scots Language Centre will be marking the Lent and Easter seasons with a series of readings from the Lorimer Scots New Testament. The passages from the Gospel of St Luke will be read by well known actor and broadcaster, Tom Fleming. The readings, which last for about four minutes, began on 21st February (Ash Wednesday) and will continue until Easter. So if you want to hear these texts read in broad Scots, call in at Scots Language Centre. There is also a set of CDs of the whole of St Luke's gospel in Scots available to purchase.

Gaelic Software from Microsoft

Strathclyde University has concluded a deal with computer giant Microsoft to translate the entire Window's package into Gaelic. Microsoft say that the project will benefit learners and native speakers and provide an educational tool for pupils at Gaelic schools throughout Scotland. Gaelic will be the 63rd language to be implemented as part of the Microsoft global local language programme. Strathclyde University runs Gaelic teacher training courses at its Jordanhill College.

"Nowheresville" Gets an Apology

Meteorological Office forecaster Tomasz Schafernaker is a likeable presenter of the weather forecast on BBC TV with his relaxed presentation and description of the UK's weather patterns. But he came under a cloud and was forced to apologise this week after airily waving at the Western Isles and west Highlands as "nowheresville". He said he deeply regretted his choice of words in a live broadcast and explained that on the spur of the moment he was trying to convey that few people were likely to be affected by the showers he was predicting. The Member of Parliament for the Western Isles has offered the weather presenter a visit to his constituency.

Weather in Scotland This Week

A real mixter-maxter weather pattern this week, with cloud, drizzle and brighter sunny periods, often all on the same day. Temperatures have again been mild for the time of year - Edinburgh reached 12C (54F) on Friday, though 8/10C (46/50F) was more usual. The average maximum for February in central Scotland is 6.5C (42.8F).
The picture here is of the Firth of Clyde from Finlaystone Estate in Inverclyde.

This Week's Colour Supplement

This week's large format photographs taken in Scotland to show the current season and its flora and fauna include Goldeneye (see thumbnail here) and Tufted Ducks; a serene Black Swan; sunny Snowdrops; Kilsyth, nestling below the hills in the distance; Forth and Clyde Canal at the village of Twechar. See This Week's Colour Supplement.

Mackintosh's Only Church Re-opens

The Mackintosh Church at Queen’s Cross in Glasgow is re-opening to the public on 5 March following a £1 million refurbishment programme. This unique building is one of a kind and is the only church designed by Mackintosh to be built. It was commissioned in 1896 by the Free Church of Scotland as St Matthew's Church. It is surprising that the strict "Wee Frees" allowed the sensuous styling of Mackintosh's representations both outside the church and inside. Perhaps they didn't see them that way? The growing interest in the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh gave rise in 1973 to the formation of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society. They have set up the headquarters of the Society in Queen's Cross Church. For more on this interesting building, see Places to Visit - Queen’s Cross Church.

Hunt for Jacobite Treasure

A letter, apparently written by a Jacobite in 1746, has set archaeologists off on a hunt in a new BBC2 series called "History Detectives". The letter claimed that he had buried French gold sent to Bonnie Prince Charlie to fund the Jacobite Uprising in 1745. Forensic tests on the letter suggest that it comes from the correct period and there are clues in the letter pointing to where the hoard may have been buried at Arisaig. Even if no treasure is found, the programme may shed some further light on the gold.

Observatory Loses Its Roof

Several tonnes of lead slates were removed by thieves from the roof of the City Observatory on Calton Hill in Edinburgh on Thursday night. The historic building was created in 1818 by Sir William Playfair, whose work contributed so much to Edinburgh being acclaimed as the "Athens of the North." The Astronomical Society of Edinburgh, which leases the buildings from the city, has criticised the council authorities for the lack of security measures to protect the historic landmarks on Calton Hill. Due to fears that the ceiling in the building could collapse, the Astronomical Society has had to cancel public stargazing nights at the observatory.

Next Week in Scottish History

• February 25 1412 - Bishop Henry Wardlaw established St Andrews as a "university" although it was not officially inaugurated until 4 February 1414 when a Bull of Foundation was promulgated by Pope Benedict XIII.
• February 26 1672 - Philip van der Straten, a Fleming, was granted Scots naturalisation and set up a factory in Kelso, thus starting the Border woollen industry.
• February 26 1935 - Robert Watson Watt demonstrated radar for the first time.
• February 26 1950 - Entertainer and song writer Sir Harry Lauder died.
• February 27 1545 - Battle of Ancrum Moor in which Scottish forces, led by Earl of Douglas, defeated an English army twice their size.
• February 28 1638 - Second National Covenant signed in Greyfriars Churchyard.
• February 29 1528 - Patrick Hamilton, a Protestant martyr, was burned at the stake in St Andrews.
• March 1 1682 - The Advocate's Library (known as the National Library of Scotland since 1925) opened by its founder, Sir George Mackenzie, the Lord Advocate.
• March 1 1979 - Scots voted in favour of Devolution, but failed to reach the required 40% of the population in favour of implementing it - due to 36% of the electorate not voting.
• March 2 1316 - King Robert II born in Paisley.
• March 2 1990 - The Queen officially inaugurated Glasgow's year as Cultural Capital of Europe.
• March 3 1792 - Robert Adam, architect, died.
• March 3 1847 - Alexander Graham Bell, first to patent the telephone, born Edinburgh.

Three in the Park

T in the Park is already Scotland's biggest annual rock festival and there are so many top acts wanting to perform there that the organisers have expanded the two-day weekend event to include Friday evening concerts as well. Since most of the fans will have bought tickets for the two days anyway, the Friday performances will be available for any who care to turn up then - and no doubt many will jump at the chance (even if it means taking time off work to do so). They will get to see bands including double-Brit award winners The Arctic Monkeys, Liverpool band The Coral and quirky pop icon Lily Allen. More than 170 artists will play across 11 stages on July 6/7 including homegrown favourites Snow Patrol, who will headline the Main Stage on Sunday along with the Scissor Sisters and US rockers Kings of Leon. Paisley's Paolo Nutini, Dundee band The View and The Fratellis are among the Scottish talent at this year's event. Canadian art-rockers Arcade Fire are on Saturday's line-up which also includes The Killers, Razorlight and Brit award winner James Morrison.

Dumfries Song Writer Impresses Kylie

If at first you don't succeed... 23-year-old song writer Calvin Harris from Dumfries had been sending demos to record companies for years and was on the point of giving up. But he built up a cult following through his Web site and a top producer sat up and took notice. The details were passed to mega-star Kylie Minogue who liked what he was doing and invited him to work on some tracks for a forthcoming album. Now Calvin has signed a contract with Sony BMG and his own debut single "Acceptable in the 80s" is due for release in March. After that, he is scheduled to support dance act Faithless on their UK tour. So he has given up on the idea of going back to stacking shelves in a supermarket...

Neil Gow Festival

The Annual Neil Gow Festival was established in 2004 to celebrate the life and music of Perthshire's fiddle legend. This year's festival features some of Scotland's top touring fiddlers. It runs from 16 to 18 March at Dunkeld and Birnam. For more details, see Neil Gow Festival.

Violinist Bows Out

Edwin Paling was appointed as the chief violinist of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the young age of 26 by Sir Alexander Gibson. He has held that post for 32 years During that time he has performed with the orchestra on over 4,000 occasions and made over 100 recordings. But now he is to retire from the RSNO after a final performance at the end of April. Not that he will be hanging up his bow - he is travelling to the other side of the world to become Professor of Strings at the University of Tasmania.

Scottish Culture Around the World

The main focus of the Scottish Snippets is news items, usually about Scotland but occasionally items from overseas are covered. The new "Scots Abroad" section, invites folk to write in about Scottish-related events in their part of the world. It allows publicity for them and an appreciation by others of just how much Scottish culture is perpetuated in every corner of the globe.

Jacksonville, Florida USA

Always in the last weekend in February, the Jacksonville Scottish Highland Games, Inc presents the Northeast Florida Scottish Games and Festival on 23/24 February this year. In addition to the usual athletics, pipes and drums and Scottish dancing, there is a whisky tasting (including a Dalwhinnie 15 year old and a Cragganmore 12 year old) kilted golf tournament and harp playing. For all the details, see neflgames.com.

Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results

Celtic 0 AC Milan 0 (European Champions League quarter final, first leg)
Rangers 4 Hapoel Tel-Aviv 0 (Uefa Cup, last 32, 2nd leg Rangers win 5-2 on aggregate)
Rangers 2 Falkirk 1
St Mirren 0 Motherwell 0
Ayr United 0 Raith Rovers 2

Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - 24 February 2007

Due to Scottish Cup matches, no SPL matches this weekend

Scottish Football League First Division Results - 24 February 2007

Clyde 2 Gretna 0
Hamilton 1 Dundee 0
Ross County 0 Livingston 2

Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 24 February 2007

Alloa 2 Peterhead 4
Ayr United 0 Cowdenbeath 2
Brechin City 1 Stirling Albion 2
Raith Rovers 2 Forfar 1
Stranraer 2 Greenock Morton 1

Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 24 February 2007

Stirling Albion 0 East Fife 3
Arbroath 1 Berwick Rangers 0
Dumbarton 2 East Stirling 1
Elgin 0 Queens Park 3
Stenhousemuir 2 Montrose 5

Scottish Cup, Quarter Finals - 24 February 2007

Dunfermline 2 Partick Thistle 0
Queen of the South 1 Hibernian 2
Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Celtic is scheduled for Sunday and Motherwell v St Johnstone for next Wednesday.

League Tables

With few Premier League matches this week, there has been no change in the table. Celtic are out in front with 71 points, followed by Rangers 19 points behind. Aberdeen are third in the table with 45 points. Hearts have the same number of points but Aberdeen has a game in hand. Dunfermline languish at the foot of the SPL, 9 points adrift from St Mirren

In the First Division, Gretna stumbled on Saturday. Although Gretna are ten points ahead of St Johnstone, the Perth club has played two games less and - potentially - could close to only 4 points behind the Dumfriesshire club. Queen of the South are just one point below Airdrie United at the foot of the table and have a game in hand.

In the Second Division, Greenock Morton are still at the top despite the loss on Saturday, with 7 points more than Stirling Albion. Forfar are fixed to the foot of the Second Division, 12 points behind Stranraer who had that surprise win against Greenock.

Berwick may be only 3 points ahead of Queens Park at the top of the Third Division, but they have played two less games so far this season. Elgin City is just one point behind East Stirling - maybe the Falkirk club will once again be at the foot of the table at the end of the season.

Scotland Trounced by Italy

Scotland famously lost to Italy when the Italians first joined the European international rugby tournament to make it six nations in 2000. It took Italy a few years to gain another win in the tournament. Clearly they have been improving over the years, so when Scotland face them in the competition there should never be any over-confidence, despite managing to win each match against Italy since then. But the Italians scored their first try at Murrayfield within a minute of the start, a second try two minutes later and were 21-0 up with the match only 7 minutes old. By half-time, Scotland had managed to claw back to 10-24 down and even managed to get to 17-24 twenty minutes into the second half. Then Italy went further - and further - ahead, with the match finishing with the astonishing score line of Scotland 17 Italy 37. So the Italians are in raptures, having clinched their first ever Six Nations away victory. The Scotland rugby players will have to think again - while the Scottish supporters try to forget this match.

Champions League Hopes Still Alive

Celtic's hopes of further progress in this season's European Champions League were still alive after a 0-0 result in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Italian club AC Milan. The creditable draw at home may give the Glasgow team confidence for the next leg and, as you would expect, manager Gordon Strachan was full of optimism. But Celtic's record away from home in recent European matches is not impressive.

Rangers Through to Last 16 in Uefa Cup

The Hapoel Tel-Aviv manager had some harsh words to say about Rangers in the run-up to the second leg of the Uefa Cup match against Rangers, despite his side taking a 2-1 lead in the first game. But Rangers did their talking on the field, demolishing the Israeli side 4-0, with captain Barry Ferguson scoring two of the goals. The victory was marred somewhat with a red card for Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor, for an off the ball incident. The sending off will mean that McGregor will miss at least the first leg of Rangers' next Uefa Cup matches against Spanish First Division side Osasuna.

Hi-Hi Hopes

Third Lanark - nicknamed Hi-Hi - was the first senior club to be declared bankrupt (in 1967). And unlike today, when bankrupt clubs often manage to restructure and carry on, the Third Lanark name disappeared from the Scottish League - but not from the hearts of many supporters. After 40 years, you might have thought the name would have been forgotten - but with all that affection, it is not surprising that the Third Lanark was bought and registered at Companies House two years ago by a Hi-Hi fan. Now he is hoping that the name could be used by an amateur or junior side and has put the name up for sale, hoping that it will find a "good home". The original club started as the Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers in 1872 and were among the first clubs in the Scottish League. They played at Cathkin Park, not all that far from the present national football stadium at Hampden.

Andy Murray Wins San Jose Open

Last weekend, Andy Murray retained the title he won a year ago at the SAP Tennis Open in San Jose. In 2006 he had beaten Lleyton Hewitt to gain his first ATP Tour title. This time, he eventually got the measure of 6ft 10in tall Croat Ivo Karlovic. Murray lost the first set and was struggling in the second, but stormed back to win that one 6-4 and the final set in a tie-break finish. The Croat has a fierce first serve, and made 26 aces and won 84% of the points on his first serve. On his way to the final, the Croat had dropped his serve only once. But Murray was able to deal with Karlovic's second serve and struck the ball well throughout the match. Another good result in his next tournament at the Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis could see him improving further on his current ATP ranking of 13th.

And Jamie Murray Wins Too

Andy Murray's older brother Jamie made it a family double at San Jose by winning the doubles title with American Eric Butorac. It was the first time that the pair had won a title on the main ATP tour. The win will help Jamie in his aim to be selected to play doubles for Great Britain in the Davis Cup tie against Holland in April.

The "Magazine" section includes songs/poems of Scotland, Scottish humour and brief descriptions of Scottish Culture items added recently to the Rampant Scotland Website - with a link to the page where you can find the full feature, if you find the subject of interest to you.

Scottish Castles Photo Library

Balhousie Castle, Perth
Balhousie Castle is in Perth, not far from the river Tay, beside the North Inch. The land here was granted to John Eviot in 1422 by the Duke of Albany. It was later sold to the Mercers and then the Hays - whose association with Balhousie lasted to the latter half of the 20th century. In 1962 Balhousie Castle became the regimental headquarters of the Black Watch and its regimental museum. The museum does an excellent job of showing the story of the regiment from its founding in 1739, through all the major conflicts in which the Black Watch participated - right up to the present day, when it was merged in 2006 (with the other Scottish regiments) into the Royal Regiment of Scotland, becoming a battalion in that unit. For an illustrated feature on this fine castle, see Castle Photo Library - Balhousie Castle.

Scottish Place Names Around the World

Vancouver, British Columbia
Following further research and feedback, the article on place names in Vancouver, British Columbia, has been revised and expanded. Of the names of the 359 cities, communities and neighbourhoods that have been identified to date in Greater Vancouver, 79 (22.0%) can be found as place names in Scotland or are based on Scottish family names or Scottish words. Of course, some of these names are used in other parts of the British Isles as well, but 42 of them (11.7%) appear to have a unique connection with Scotland, whether directly or indirectly. For all the background, see Scottish Place Names -Vancouver.

Scottish Poetry and Song

James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, (1770-1835) said that this was his favourite humorous song. He was forced "all too frequently" by the ladies to sing against his will and this was the one he often chose - no doubt with a twinkle in his eye!

The Women Folk

O sarely may I rue the day
   I fancied first the womenkind;
For aye sinsyne I ne'er can hae
   Ae quiet thought or peace o' mind!
They hae plagued my heart, an' pleased my e'e,
   An' teased an' flatter'd me at will,
But aye, for a' their witchery,
   The pawky things I lo'e them still.

Chorus
O, the women folk! O, the women folk!
   But they hae been the wreck o' me;
O, weary fa' the women folk,
   For they winna let a body be!

I hae thought an' thought, but darena tell,
   I've studied them wi' a' my skill,
I've lo'ed them better than mysel,
   I've tried again to like them ill.
Wha sairest strives, will sairest rue,
   To comprehend what nae man can;
When he has done what man can do,
   He'll end at last where he began.

Chorus

That they hae gentle forms an' meet,
   A man wi' half a look may see;
An' gracefu' airs, an' faces sweet,
   An' waving curls aboon the bree;
An' smiles as soft as the young rose-bud,
   An' e'en sae pauky, bright, an' rare,
Wad lure the laverock frae the clud —
   But, laddie, seek to ken nae mair!

Chorus

Even but this night, nae farther gane,
   The date is neither lost nor lang,
I tak ye witness ilka ane,
   How fell they fought, and fairly dang.
Their point they've carried right or wrang,
   Without a reason, rhyme, or law,
An' forced a man to sing a sang,
   That ne'er could sing a verse ava.

Chorus

Meaning of unusual words:
pawky / pauky = shrewd, artful, cunning (but also wanton!)
fa' = become
bree = brow
laverock = lark
clud = cloud
ilka ane = every one
fell = energetically, valiantly
dang = drive

Scottish Humour

Red Card?
A young manager in the Environment and Rural Affairs Department of the Scottish Executive in Edinburgh arrived at Rory's farm in Wester Ross and loftily announced that he had come to inspect the buildings and fields to make sure that Rory's claims for European Union subsidies were justified. "That's fine," said Rory, "But dinna go into that field over there." The manager sniffed and replied "I am authorised to go anywhere on your land. Look, here is my card giving me authority to do so." Rory shrugged and watched as the young official headed for the field. A few minutes later, there were loud cries for help and Rory looked into the field to see a bull charging after the official - and gaining. "Help - what should I do?" cried the man as he ran as fast as he could in his city shoes across the muddy field - with the bull gaining on him. Rory shoved his hands in his pockets and shouted back "Show him your card."

Lachlan's Laws - # 13
That great Highland philosopher, Lachlan McLachlan, propounded a number of irrefutable laws of life, the universe and everything. Here is another example: "When women see the first strand of grey hair they think they are going to dye..."

Not Tactful - 1
Effie looked up at her husband and said "You're not yourself today.....I noticed the improvement immediately."

Not Tactful - 2
Donald was being accused by his wife of not listening and snapped back "I'm ready to listen...are you ready to think?"