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 style, there is now this regular update on the new and updated pages on the Rampant Scotland site including "Scottie's Photo Diary From Scotland" and Tam's Tall Tales.
To receive a text version of this newsletter as a reminder to look at these Web pages when they are published, just send an e-mail to Scottie@RampantScotland.com with "Subscribe Newsletter" in the subject line.
Rampant Scotland's 20th Birthday
The Rampant Scotland Web site went online for the first time in January 1996. That was in the days of maximum transmission speeds of 28kb instead of the current high speed broadband available today. The site focused on links to Web sites related to Scotland and all things Scottish at a time when search engines like Google were not available. Over the years the site has created over 7,000 pages of its own content. As transmission speeds have become faster, more and larger graphics have been a feature of the site's Web pages. You can read more about the site and about "Scottie" the editor at Biography.
Scottie's Photo Diary - Festive Season
December turned out to be the wettest in Scotland since records began in 1910 - we had 333.1mm in the month. That not only caused flooding in some parts of the country but also reduced the opportunity to take photographs - though I sometimes take pictures while sheltering under a large golf umbrella.. Even so, there are always dry spells so I got some pictures of the Christmas lights in Edinburgh and paid a visit to Loch Lomond Shores and its "Sealife" aquarium. See: Scottie's Photo Diary
Memory Lane - First Flights
There are two new items in the "First Flights" section of memory Lane. Norman Croll, now in Canada, writes about his first flight - to Kathmandu in Nepal and Nicholas Keegan's entry is about Vikings, Viscounts and Vanguards. See: Memory Lane - First Flights
Scottish & Manx Lighthouses
When I was asked if I would like to review a new book with the title "Scottish & Manx Lighthouses" I immediately said "yes"! I am glad I did so as it is a great book with marvellous photography and interesting and entertaining text. My enthusiastic review is online at Scottish & Manx Lighthouses
5th Duke of Buccleuch's Statue
I have been aware of the imposing statue of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch in Parliament Square beside St Giles Cathedral for a long time but only recently looked at the numerous bronze reliefs placed in two rows below the statue. They illustrate episodes in the Scott family history and scenes from the Duke 's own life. The graphic here shows Sir Walter, 4th Lord Rankilburn and Murthockston at the Bttle of Hamildon Hill. Since I am a member of Clan Scott Scotland I have added a couple of pages of photos of these to the Photo Galleries on the their Web site. You may find these (and other pages on the site) of interest. And if your surname is Scott or you have an ancestor with that surname you can always join Clan Scott Scotland via the Membership page. For the 5th Duke of Buccleuch graphics, see: 5th Duke of Buccleuch's Statue
Next Newsletter
The next newsletter is scheduled for 30 January and will be mainly current news items from Tam O'Ranter.
Of course, if you have any Scottish memories which you would like to contribute to "Memory Lane" please send them in!
Yours aye
Scottie
Previous editions of this Newsletter are available in an Archive. The Index to the other pages of the Rampant Scotland site is available here.
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