The Rampant Scotland Newsletter - your weekly insight into what has been happening in Scotland, snipped from the Scottish media, for Scots in Scotland and abroad, bringing you news, events plus a Scottish magazine section. Printed with 100% recycled electrons.Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in the Archive> and the Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here>.
The Scottish Snippets Newsletter in its original format began in April 1997 and continued in an unbroken series for 591 issues. Although no longer produced in that format there is now a regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site and also "Scottie's Diary" on an intermittent basis, To receive this, kust send an e-mail to Scottie with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.
Current Affairs
The bright flowers illustrated here are of Godetia at Glendoick Garden Centre in Perthshire.
Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
Entertainment
Scots Abroad
Sport
In the First Division, Dundee and Hamilton are tied at the top on both points and goal difference, with Greenock Morton third but also with maximum points. In the Second Division, newly promoted Queen's Park are just ahead of Raith Rovers on goal difference. In the Third Division, East Fife's goal difference pits them just ahead of Stirling Albion and Stenhousemuir. Magazine Section
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Nationalists Poll Boost - And Disappointment
First Minister Alex Salmond will have been pleased with an opinion poll published this week that showed that, as he heads towards his first 100 days in office, his government enjoys a 40% approval rating with only 12% (presumably die-hard supporters of opposition parties) saying that they are dissatisfied. Bearing in mind that the Scottish Executive is a minority government, with opposition parties only too keen to obstruct and trip them up, the voters see them achieving a great deal in a short space of time. If there was another election tomorrow, the same poll suggests that the Scottish National Party (SNP) would get the backing of 48% of voters making them "first choice" - up from 33% in the election in May and the highest the party has ever achieved. Understandably, a spokesman for the SNP said the figures were "sensational". Even so, the SNP's prime objective is to withdraw Scotland from the United Kingdom. On that, the poll of over 1,000 people suggests that support is decreasing, with 31% in favour, (down from 51% earlier this year), and 49% are now against the idea. True, the percentage who say they are "unsure" has swelled from 14% in January to 20% now. So the First Minister will be hoping that the "discussion paper" which is to be published shortly on independence, will allow him to put forward his arguments and persuade the "don't knows" to come off the fence.
Airport Heroes Thanked by First Minister
Around 500 members of the public and from the emergency, health and civic services, who helped out during the attack on 30 June on Glasgow Airport, attended a reception in Kelvingrove Museum in Glasgow this week. First Minister Alex Salmond thanked them and said that the country was in their debt. Some of the first people who tackled the blazing jeep, and stopped the two men driving it from doing any further damage, were among the guests at Kelvingrove. These included baggage handler John Smeaton, who helped to tackle the suspects from the jeep. He gave a graphic account to the TV cameras afterwards, including his now famous phrase "banjoed", when he referred to when one of the suspects was being tackled. Others invited to the reception included policemen, firemen, ambulance crews, airport staff and doctors and nurses who were involved in the aftermath. The First Minister commented that "As a nation we united and illustrated an absolute determination to prevent the attack from disrupting daily life in this country." He added that the people whose instinctive reaction was to help and not hold back, said everything about their sense of responsibility.
NHS24 Diagnosis
When family doctors across the country negotiated new contracts that relieved them of responsibility for medical cover in evenings, at night and at weekends, a new telephone help line called NHS24 was set up to cover the gap. Short for "National Health Service 24", the organisation is staffed by nurses and other trained professionals who can offer initial help and advice. They also decide whether a caller needs an on-call doctor or whether to call an ambulance if the problem is a serious one. The organisation has come in for a lot of criticism due to long delays in patients getting through, long hours before nurses rang back where callers could not get immediate advice, and wrong diagnosis. The medical helpline's latest report claims, however, that they are meeting their targets and that more people are making use of the service. NHS24 claims that the growing number of calls is an indication that the public are increasingly confident in the service - but since there is no alternative, apart from travelling in person to the accident and emergency units at some distant hospital, that may not be the case. Almost 1.5 million people used the service last year, 8% more than the previous year. It has a somewhat low target of answering 90% of calls within 30 seconds and achieved 97.4%. And 94% of calls classified as urgent were given medical advice within 20 minutes. The percentages achieved showed a drop, compared with last year, but it was being claimed that this was due to the growth in calls - and presumably a lack of staff to cope, particularly at peak times.
Could Do Better
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) proudly announced some months ago that 35,000 school pupils (out of 155.893 candidates) had signed up for a new online system to allow them to obtain their year-end Higher and Standard Grade results on the web a day earlier than by post. But after thousands of pupils failed to get through on Monday, the exam body admitted that "lessons must be learned." Initially, the SQA claimed that the problems were down to pupils forgetting passwords. They loftily said that even technologically literate youngsters can lose or forget their passwords and that 3,000 had requested replacements by e-mail. But gradually the extent of the servers not being able to cope and students spending many frustrating hours trying to log on became clearer, the SQA admitted that they could have done better. That was reinforced when it was revealed that an important Web link was directing pupils to an invalid page because letters to candidates recorded the address as "http" instead of the secure server address beginning "https". The SQA did say that on Monday 24,000 pupils managed - eventually - to get through and get their results. That meant that the remaining 11,000 had not succeeded - and had to wait till the postman delivered their certificates on Tuesday or even later, due to delays arising from industrial action by postal workers.
Leading Edinburgh Hotel Sold
When rival railway companies built their plush hotels at their termini at opposite ends of Edinburgh's Princes Street a hundred years ago, they little realised that their establishments would continue to be regarded as the premier accommodation in the Capital in the 21st century. But times change and so do names and ownership. The North British Hotel, which opened beside Waverley station in 1902, is now The Balmoral Hotel (despite being 100 miles away from the Queen's Deeside residence) and is now part of the Rocco Forte Hotels group. Meanwhile, the Caledonian Hotel, at the other end of Edinburgh's main thoroughfare, has more or less retained its name as the Caledonian Hilton, but has changed hands again this week. The new owners of the favourite Edinburgh hotel of Sean Connery and a host of other personalities, is a consortium of Israeli investors, backed by the HBOS banking group. The 251-room Caley (as it is popularly known locally) was put up for sale last October. Although Hilton Hotels Corporation will continue to run the hotel under a long-term contract, the new owners are planning a £15 million investment to restore it to its former glory.
Midair Safety Scare
Passengers travelling on a Zoom airlines Boeing 767 aircraft from Ottawa to Glasgow this week had a midair safety scare when a warning light told the pilot that he might have a problem in the hydraulic system. Bad weather and night-time restrictions meant that the aircraft could not land at Halifax or Montreal and had to divert to Toronto. The plane eventually landed safely and the 200 passengers were taken to hotels. The same plane left later for Glasgow and landed at 3am - 18 hours late and delaying the Glasgow to Vancouver service by 17 hours.
Millionaire City
The latest edition of "UK Millionaires Map" shows that Glasgow and its suburbs are home to more millionaires than any other city in Scotland, including Edinburgh. There are 11,288 millionaires in Scotland's largest city, while the Capital can only boast 9,738. The survey calculated the number of millionaires according to postcode and took into account property, income and shares. London topped the rich list, with Glasgow coming 7th in the UK and Edinburgh 12th.
Recognition for Italian Restaurant
La Parmigiana in Glasgow has long enjoyed a high reputation when it comes to fine dining and authentic Italian cuisine. It's where many Italians choose to eat and the family-owned restaurant has been a landmark for nearly 30 years. It is in the Michelin and Good Food Guide, as well as a hitlist recommendation in The List Eating and Drinking Guide 2007/08. And La Parmigiana was voted gold by diners of toptable.com. It's latest accolade is to be short listed as a candidate as Restaurant of the Year in the Scottish Licenced Trade News Awards 2007 - the leading recognition and reward event of its type in Scotland. Of course, for those of us who have enjoyed this restaurant over many years, it comes as no surprise! See thereview at Great Places to Eat in Scotland - La Parmigiana.
Mudbath Leads to Cancellation of Show
Extremely heavy rain last Saturday night led to the cancellation of the Turriff Agricultural Show, as the ground became waterlogged and turned into a "mudbath". The first day of the event had gone ahead without any sheep, cattle or goats due to restrictions which followed the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Surrey in the south of England. One of the visitors on Saturday was First Minister Alex Salmond who stressed rural Scotland was "open for business" despite the scare. Thanks to rapid action by all concerned, it is looking as though the outbreak of the disease is being confined to just a few farms.
Solway Communities Share Windfarm Payments
When utility companies obtain planning permission for creating a windfarm, property owners often benefit from a big cash windfall as they obtain revenue for the use of their land by the massive turbines. Local communities sometimes benefit too - and that encourages them to support the developments in the first place. You might have thought that windfarms being built out to sea would not involve such payments, but it seems that energy firm E.ON has pledged £500,000 to be paid over the next ten years to local communities along the Solway coastline in Dumfries and Galloway near the Robin Rigg offshore wind farm. Local people will be consulted about how the money should be spent in their area.
Health Benefits of Porridge
Our ancestors ate porridge because oats grew well in the land and climate we have in Scotland - and there wasn't much else around. These days, more and more people are eating porridge, believing that it has nutritional and health-giving properties. Now the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has endorsed that humble bowl of porridge. A TV viewer had challenged a commercial for Quaker Oats that it contained "soluble fibre called beta glucan which naturally helps to remove cholesterol from the body". The cereal company had to submit its scientific support for their assertion - and the ASA has reported that their own nutrition experts backed the claims and rejected the complaint. Porridge has often been dismissed as the food of the poor (which it was, for many centuries) but it has enjoyed a recent surge in popularity - though the purists still argue about how it should be "properly" cooked and served.
Gretna Retains "Wedding Capital" Title
Figures published by the Registrar General show that 15% of all weddings in Scotland last year were performed in the village of Gretna, just inside Scotland and a few miles from the English border. A total of 4,434 weddings were registered in the Dumfries and Galloway town over the 12-month period. Of all the ceremonies performed there, 86% did not involve a resident of Scotland - it's the romantic couples from around the world (and from England) who still flock to Gretna. The picture here shows the Old Smithy where couples used to be married by the blacksmith at his anvil.
Calls to End "Paddy's Market"
For 200 years, an open air market in the east end of Glasgow has sold second-hand clothes and other items. It was established mainly by Irish stallholders and was named "Paddy's market". At one time there were 1,500 traders in the area. Redevelopment of the city over the years meant that its location has been moved around over the centuries, but it settled in Shipbank Lane in 1935. But in recent years criminal elements have pervaded the area and police now want it closed down, saying that it is a hub of serious crime, particularly counterfeited items. There will be many in Glasgow who will resist the move, however, believing that the traditional Paddy's Market still provides a useful purpose and is a tourist attraction.
4.5 Litres of Whisky in One Bottle
Ardbeg distillery on Islay has announced the sale of 1,000 bottles of whisky with a difference. Each one weighs 6.5kg (14lb), is 52cm (20.5in) high, and will be priced at £350. Ardbeg Mór 10-year-old is 57.3% cask strength and is claimed to be the largest bottles of single malt on sale anywhere in the world. Normal size (a mere 0.7 litres) bottles of Ardbeg 10-year-old have been on sale for many years. The picture here shows the two sizes of bottle.
36th World Flounder Tramping Competition
The small fishing village of Palnackie (in what was once Kirkcudbrightshire, but is now part of Dumfries and Galloway) is hosting one of the lesser known "world championships" this Saturday, as hundreds of competitors roll up their trousers and paddle through the mud of Urr Water estuary in an effort to catch a slippery flat flounder by standing on it. There are prizes for the heaviest fish, the largest total catch and even one for the smallest flounder caught. Traditional 3-pronged spears called "leisters" are no longer allowed. Readers may be tempted to question the description of the event as a "world championship" but let's face it, the so-called World Series of baseball is confined to teams from North America...
"Local Hero" Village Devastated
Pennan, the Banffshire beauty spot that featured in the movie "Local Hero," was devastated by mudslips that inundated a number of the houses and turned the sea red with mud. The whole village, which is situated on a narrow strip of land between high cliffs and the sea, had to be evacuated. Several homes and the village hall were severely damaged and many other properties were affected to some extent. The mudslip followed a period of heavy rain in the north-east. Although a number of residents were allowed back into their homes by the end of the week, many home-owners may not be able to return for some months while repairs are carried out.
Photograph courtesy of the Scotavia> © Web site.
Weather in Scotland This Week
Another unsettled week, with cloud, showers and rain. Some of the rain was heavy and prolonged, with Thursday the best day for sunshine. Temperatures reached around 19/21C (66/70F) that day - otherwise the thermometer reached a maximum of around 16/17C (61/63F). On Tuesday, however, Stornoway only managed to climb to 12C (54F). The outlook is "continuing changeable" with cloud, sun and showers.
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 the large flower heads of Teasel; a field of the purple flowers of Borage and a close-up of the "Star Flowers"; a second brood of Swallow chicks being fed (see thumbnail here); striking variety of Scabious or "Pincushion" flower; Rosebuds in the rose garden at Kinross House; red and the white flowers of Lavatera, the tree mallow.
See This Week's Colour Supplement.
Cathedral Issues Guidebook
Research suggest that the site of St Machar's Cathedral in Aberdeen has been a site of worship since the 6th century. St. Machar is said to have been a companion of St. Columba on his journey to Iona. Legend says that he was told to establish a church where a river bends like a crozier - and the river Don does just that below where the building now stands. From 1131, when a Norman-style cathedral was built, St Machar's was used for Roman Catholic worship and was the seat of the Bishop of Aberdeen. It is located to the north of the city centre, in the former burgh of Old Aberdeen. Technically, St Machar's is no longer a cathedral but rather a high kirk, as it has not been the seat of a bishop since the Reformation in the 16th century. Little remains of the original Norman building - a bishop demolished it in the late 14th century to create a grander edifice. The Cathedral is a fine example of a fortified kirk, with twin towers built in the fashion of fourteenth-century tower houses. Their walls have the strength to hold spiral staircases to the upper floors. The spires which presently crown the towers were added in the 15th century. A new guidebook has now been produced which chronicles the long and sometimes turbulent history of one of Aberdeen's oldest buildings. It is obtainable from the Cathedral shop - see www.stmachar.com.
Picture via Wikipedia.
Rabbie's Hip Flask Auction
An 18th century hip flask, which once belonged to poet Robert Burns, is to be auctioned in Edinburgh later this month. No doubt it was well used when it was owned by Scotland's hard drinking national poet. He gave it to a Captain Rutherford at Hunthill, near Jedbirgh, in the Scottish Borders, when the poet was on his first tour of Scotland collecting songs and poems. Subsequent generations of Rutherford descendants, who continued to live in the same house, retained the flask for sentimental reasons. But the house was sold recently and the flask was bought at that time.
Next Week in Scottish History
Wet Start to Edinburgh Festival
The annual cavalcade along Edinburgh's Princes Street, to mark the start of the biggest arts festival in the world, was watched by a crowd of 50,000 last Sunday. The entire cast of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo - and many of the acts from around the world who are taking part - joined parade. It also marked the start of the "Fringe" which this year will have 2,000 shows in 250 venues. More than 18,500 performers will have participated in the festival events by the close on 27 August. The month also sees book, film, television and politics events, in addition to the Edinburgh International Festival.
Wired Kirkcaldy
The small Fife town of Kirkcaldy is launching a new radio station which is aiming to promote local music and news. Wired KDY is being run by young volunteers at Project Scotland, an organisation that inspires young people to come forward to help a wide range of activities in non-profit organisations across Scotland. They are also introducing "Totally Wired" - a new independent record label.
Film Festival Grabbing More Limelight
The annual Edinburgh Film Festival has been running successfully for over 60 years, but sometimes it seems overshadowed by being staged at the same time as the main Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe Festival and other events that cluster around August in Scotland's Capital. So next year the 62nd Edinburgh Film Festival will run instead from June 18 to 29. The change of date will also mean that it is not competing with rival events such as Venice and Toronto, so it is hoped that it will be able to attract more of Hollywood's biggest stars. Ensuring that it is "the only show in town" during June, should also secure much more media attention for the event itself and the films being premiered. The change in the timing of the Film Festival has been approved by its patron, Sir Sean Connery seen here - picture via Wikipedia.
Music in the Park
Aberdeen's popular "Music in the Park" open air concerts take place in the city's fine parks during August. They feature pipe and brass bands - and a ceilidh band to add even more variety. The concerts take place each Sunday in Hazlehead and Duthie Parks. It can only be hoped that the weather is kind for them.
Scottish Culture Around the World
The main focus of the Scottish Snippets is news items, usually about Scotland. But the "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.
2008 World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship
Bridgeport, West Virginia will be the site of the 2008 Scottish Heavy Athletics World Highland Games Championship. This event, the annual championship for professionals, is sanctioned by the International Highland Games Federation. The 2008 championship will be held in Bridgeport in May 2008, in conjunction with the Scottish Festival and Celtic Gathering. The Festival has grown rapidly over its first five years and its success has made it possible to host the next World Highland Games Heavy Events Championship. See also Heavy Events Championship Web site.
South Australian Pipes and Drums
In 2003, the Pipes and Drums of the Adelaide Universities Regiment were invited to participate for the second year running in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. This great honour caused delight amongst its members and supporters and they set about fundraising to allow them to go. Then the Australian Army refused them permission to participate! The reasons for the refusal were never quite clear, but the band resigned en masse, with their Pipe Major, Warrant Officer Class One Phil Wyld (pictured here). They had to raise even more cash to replace uniforms and instruments, but achieved the impossible and performed at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2003. The band are going strong and have recently launched a new CD, with extracts available on-line at South Australian Pipes and Drums CD. I personally liked the mix of instruments and the lively arrangements and soon had the volume turned up high and my feet tapping uncontrollably - always a good sign!
Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results
FK Zeta 0 Rangers 1 (Champions League 2nd Round Qualifier)
Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 0
Heart of Midlothian 0 Hibernian 1Clydesdale Bank Premierleague Results - 11 August 2007
Falkirk 1 Celtic 4
Hibernian 4 Gretna 2
Motherwell 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
Rangers 2 St Mirren 0
Aberdeen v Heart of Midlothian will be played on Sunday and Kilmarnock v Dundee United on Monday evening.In-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Results - 11 August 2007
Clyde 0 Hamilton 2
Dundee 2 Queen of South 1
Dunfermline 0 Greenock Morton 1
Partick Thistle 3 Livingston 0
St Johnstone 2 Stirling Albion 2In-Bru Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 11 August 2007
Alloa 0 Airdrie United 6
Ayr United 2 Queens Park 3
Brechin City 2 Peterhead 2
Cowdenbeath 2 Ross County 2
Raith Rovers 3 Berwick Rangers 1In-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 11 August 2007
Albion Rovers 3 Stranraer 2
Arbroath 2 East Fife 3
East Stirling 3 Dumbarton 2
Elgin 0 Montrose 2
Forfar 0 Stenhousemuir 1Scottish League Cup - First Round
Berwick Rangers 3 Stenhousemuir 1
Brechin City 0 Stirling Albion 1
Clyde 0 Raith Rovers 3
Cowdenbeath 2 Dumbarton 0
Dundee 2 Greenock Morton 0
Forfar 0 Peterhead 1
Hamilton 2 East Stirling 1
Livingston 5 Ayr United 0
Queens Park 2 Alloa 1
Ross County 3 Elgin 1
Arbroath 4 Albion Rovers 2
East Fife 1 Queen of the South 0
Partick Thistle 2 Airdrie United 1
Stranraer 1 Montrose 2League Tables
Rangers are top of the Scottish Premier League on goal difference, with Hibernian and Motherwell following, also with maximum points. Hibs were trailing 2-0 to new boys Gretna at one stage on Saturday, but recovered, to leave Gretna at the foot of the SPL. Celtic are trailing with 4 points after only managing a draw at Kilmarnock last Sunday.
Scotland v Ireland Rugby International
In their warm-up match for the World Cup, Scotland achieved a convincing 31-21 victory over Ireland at Murrayfield on Saturday. Scotland scored a try after just three minutes and centre Andy Henderson went over for a hat-trick of tries by the end. The match looked tied up at half time with the Scots in a commanding 19-6 lead and then moving further ahead. But the Scots sat back a bit and Ireland fought back bravely in the rest of the second half, scoring two tries. Then, seven minutes from full time, Andy Henderson went over for his third try, sealing the win for Scotland.
Rangers Ease Through to Next Round
DaMarcus Beasley scored his first goal for Rangers as the Ibrox side made sure of a place in the third qualifying round of the European Champions League with a 1-0 win in Montenegro over FK Zeta. That gave Rangers an aggregate of 3-0. Rangers will now face Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade). The winners of these qualifying matches go on to the lucrative group stages, playing in a mini league to decide on further progress.
Record Transfer Fee
Historically, Scotland has a poor reputation for producing international standard goalkeepers - English football commentators used to deride their sometimes poor performance. Not any more. 24-year-old Craig Gordon has just been transferred for a record-breaking fee of potentially £9 million to English Premier League side Sunderland. There had been competition from other clubs to capture the goallie, but it was the "Black Cats" who play at the "Stadium of Light" who made the highest offer. Gordon reckons that the fans at Sunderland are fanatical, "similar to what we have at Hearts."
St Andrews Links Trust Breaks Records
The main golf courses around the home of golf are administered on behalf of the community by the St Andrews Links Trust. This week, that body reported its annual results for last year which showed that the five 18-hole courses had the highest-ever number of rounds played on them - 219,000. Hosting last year's Open Golf Championship as well, meant that the trust almost doubled its surplus to just over £2 million. All surplus income generated by the Links Trust is directed back into maintaining and developing the courses and facilities.
Lucky Escape for Scots Racing Driver
Dario Franchitti (born in Bathgate in West Lothian in 1973) agreed that he had been "a very lucky guy" after a spectacular crash at the IndyCar Series challenge at Michigan last Sunday. His car soared into the air, turned over and landed upside down on top of another car. But he walked away from the seven-car pile-up, though he was taken to hospital for a check-up. He remarked afterwards: "When I opened my eyes and was 30 feet in the air I said to myself, 'This isn't good!' " Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500 in May this year and is currently in 1st place in the IndyCar Series with three wins so far this season.
Picture via Wikipedia.