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.
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Current Affairs
Alex Salmond Elected First Minister
The leader of the Scottish National Party will head the first minority administration since devolution, after being elected as First Minister on Wednesday. Alex Salmond was voted into office by 49 votes to 46, supported by his own party and by the two Green Scottish Members of Parliament (MSP). The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives abstained in the vote. The new First Minister told the MSPs "I believe Scotland is ready for change, ready for reform," and that "We're a small nation, but we've got a big future." He appealed for support "policy by policy" from the other parties. Jack McConnell, the previous First Minister, responded that he would not oppose for its own sake but even so, he "would be proud to lead the largest opposition party the Scottish Parliament has ever had."
Photograph courtesy of the Scottish Parliament © Web site.
New Cabinet Elected
The new First Minister immediately announced his new Cabinet, reducing the number of departments from nine to six and the number of Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers from 18 to 16. John Swinney, as Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth has a huge portfolio, covering the economy, the Scottish Budget, local government, cities and communities planning, business and industry, energy, tourism, transport and climate change. Some commentators have dubbed him "Minister for Everything". Nicola Sturgeon, who has led the party in the Scottish Parliament for the last few years (Alex Salmond was - and still is - a member of the UK parliament in London) is the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing as well as Deputy First Minister.
Presiding Officer Elected
All the political parties consider that they might need all the votes they can get over the life of this Parliament, so there was a reluctance to put forward one of their number as Presiding Officer (roughly, the Speaker). In the end, the Conservative leadership saw some political capital out of one of their number taking the prestigious post and so Alex Fergusson, the MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale put his name forward. His only challenger was Margo MacDonald, an independent MSP. However, Mr Fergusson won by 108 votes to 20. Apparently, the MSPs were following the lead of their constituents and in the secret ballot for Presiding Officer and his two deputies, some MSPs couldn't complete the simple ballot paper correctly, so there were four "spoilt papers". Mr Fergusson was educated at Eton (a top English school with astronomical fees) and worked as an agricultural consultant and then a sheep farmer in his own right until his election as an MSP in 1999. In the recent election, he did well to increase his slender majority from 2003 and is well respected amongst the MSPs in Edinburgh. He faces a tough task shepherding the MSPs over the next four years.
Photograph courtesy of the Scottish Parliament Web site.
Tidal Energy From Scottish Power
The utility company Scottish Power has teamed up with a Norwegian tidal energy company to create a new organisation to test an "underwater windmill" off the shores of Britain, providing renewable energy from tidal power. In 2003, Norwegian company Hammerfest Stroem built the world's first tidal turbine to supply power to the Norwegian commercial electricity grid. The company claims that Britain is the most attractive place in Europe for tidal energy, not just because of locations, but also support structures from government. It is planned to have a prototype turbine installed in Scottish waters during 2009.
Lithuanian Tycoon in Edinburgh Property Deal
Vladimir Romanov, the Lithuanian banking tycoon who already owns Heart of Midlothian Football Club in Edinburgh, has bought two buildings in the heart of the Capital. 42 St Andrew Square used to be the HQ of the Royal Bank of Scotland until it moved to a plush new building in Gogarburn, in the outskirts of the city. The deal includes an adjoining building on West Register Street, creating a total floor area of over 85,000 square feet. It was not clear what Romanov intends to do with the buildings - a 5-star hotel or offices have been speculated. The Lithuanian billionaire owns Ukio Bankas, the country's oldest private bank. He is opening a branch of this bank in Edinburgh in July. The severe symmetrical modern building at No. 42 was created in 1942 and dominates the southeastern corner of St Andrew Square. It is completely outclassed by the Royal Bank's branch office a few doors away at 36 St Andrew Square. That was originally built in 1774 as a Palladian town house for Sir Laurence Dundas (who amassed his fortune supplying the Duke of Cumberland's army during the Jacobite Uprising of 1745/46). The Royal Bank acquired that building in 1825 as its HQ. The banking hall has a magnificent blue painted dome complete with gold star-shaped sunken panels - which are represented on all the Royal Bank's banknotes.
Photograph courtesy of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Worst Commuter Road in Britain
A study published this week says that the M8 motorway between Edinburgh and Glasgow is the "worst commuter road in Britain." The sections going through Glasgow experience greater congestion than roads around Birmingham and Manchester in England. Vehicles passing through junction 16 of the motorway at Cowcaddens in Glasgow have an 85% chance of being stuck in a queue and coming to a halt between 7.30am and 8.30am in the morning and 5pm and 6pm in the evening. Some argue that the only answer is "road pricing" to force those who then couldn't afford to travel at the rush hour to use public transport or to commute at non peak times. Others point to the long delays caused by countless enquiries into the construction of the M74 extension through the south of Glasgow, which would reduce the volume of traffic on the M8.
Seven Day Closure for Forth Rail Bridge
All train services across the busy Forth Rail Bridge will be cancelled from Monday 23 July to Sunday, 29 July, so that Network Rail can carry out track replacement work. Buses will be laid on to take commuters travelling from Fife to Edinburgh, but many travellers are likely to travel by private car, resulting in major delays on the Forth Road Bridge, which is already carrying too much traffic.
Sun Shines on Retail Sales
The Scottish Retail Consortium has reported that like-for-like sales in Scotland in April rose by 4.6%, compared to last year, and by 6.7% when new outlets are taken into account. The good weather in April boosted the sale of food (the best growth since the end of 2003) and also summer clothing, footwear and garden products. Once again, the increase in retail sales in Scotland outshone the growth in the rest of the UK.
Whisky Giant Sold to Indian Billionaire
Scottish whisky distiller Whyte & Mackay has been taken over by Indian spirits giant United Brewers, headed by billionaire Vijay Mallya. The companies say the purchase will help expand the market for Whyte & Mackay's brands in emerging economies such as India. It will also add Scotch whisky to the United Brewers brand, the only "missing link" in its portfolio. The new owner dismissed any suggestion that any of the Whyte & Mackay whisky could be produced in India. He stressed "Scotch whisky can only be made in Scotland." Whyte & Mackay's own brand has 3% of the UK whisky market and the company also owns the Dalmore and Jura brands as well as Vladivar vodka and Glayva liqueur. After the sale had been announced, the outgoing Whyte & Mackay owner and chief executive announced that he was to pay all 600 employees the equivalent of three month's salary from his own pocket. The £26 million bonus was a "thank-you" to the staff for helping to transform the company's fortunes since 2005.
Spanish Armada Invades Glasgow
Tens of thousands of Spanish football supporters invaded Glasgow this week to see their teams play in the final of the Uefa Cup. Fans of Espanyol from Barcelona in Catalonia, northern Spain, were accompanied by Sevilla supporters from the south of the country. Glasgow had laid on a great welcome, with the parts of the Merchant City closed to traffic and local bars and restaurants festooned with Spanish and club flags. Even the sun shone on Tuesday, the day before the match, with fans congregating in George Square in the centre of the city. Many had bought "See you Jimmy" hats (tartan tammies, with red hair attached) and kilts (made from material that looked like tea towels). Even the local evening paper had pages printed in Spanish. The heavy rain on the day of the match didn't dampen the spirits of the crowds and the two teams produced a classy brand of "the beautiful game", far removed from the more physical variety served up by Scottish clubs. The match ended with two goals apiece and had to be decided by a nerve-wracking "penalty shoot-out" in which Sevilla (who won the competition last year) came through as 3-1 winners to take the trophy.
New Barcelona to Edinburgh Flights
Low-cost airline Clickair has announced that it is to start a daily air service between Edinburgh and Barcelona from 1 August this year. A one-way ticket will cost from 20 Euros (£14) including taxes. Although Clickair is a budget airline, the service is to be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft fitted with soft-leather Recaro seats.
Bridge Traffic Increases 50%
The tolls on the bridge from the mainland to the Isle of Skye were scrapped nearly two and a half years ago and, not surprisingly, the volume of traffic on the bridge has soared. In the days when the island was served by ferries between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin, there used to be severe congestion, which restricted social and economic development of the island. When the bridge was completed in 1995, traffic immediately increased by 20%. Even so, by 2004, the bridge carried only around 770,000 vehicles (compared to 24 million on the Forth Road Bridge in the more heavily populated Lowlands of Scotland). After a long campaign in the area, tolls were removed from the Skye bridge at the end of December 2004. Since then, road traffic has increased by 50%. While some of that traffic is due to an increase in the number of visitors to the island, the removal of the toll has also meant that local people can cross to and from the island to employment, without incurring a daily toll charge.
Picture of Skye Bridge above via Wikipedia.
Coffee Giving Capital Its Buzz?
Edinburgh used to have a reputation for being more laid-back and relaxed than bustling Glasgow. But in recent years, the Capital seems to have picked up a lot more pace. Now it has been suggested that the reason is not just striving for economic growth, but the buzz is due to the fact that the city has more Starbuck coffee shops than any other part of the UK, outside of London and that the faster pace is due to a caffeine overload.
Clean Coal Technology for Power Stations
There are two coal-fired power stations in Scotland and they are one of the largest sources of CO2 emissions in the country. This week, Scottish Power unveiled plans to convert them to "clean coal technology" at a cost of £1.5 billion. The project will cut carbon dioxide emissions at Longannet and Cockenzie (pictured here) power stations by 20% and it would be the biggest clean coal project in Europe. It would involve the installation of giant new turbines and low-emission boilers at the power stations. They will then burn coal at ultra-high temperatures and pressures. Scottish Power are also looking at the feasibility of burying the remaining CO2 output in the old Longannet coal mine.
Popular Scottish Accent
Its amazing how research often proves the blindingly obvious.... A survey of people's reactions to various regional accents has found that Scottish and southern Irish voices are considered to be the most attractive. Birmingham accents came at the foot of the league table of 35 regional and ethnic voices. English spoken with a German accent was also voted unattractive. What was described as "Queen's English" used to carry a lot of prestige, but is now only viewed positively by those living in the south-east of England. The Scots and those in the north of England, on the other hand found the "Queen's English" (sometimes known as "BBC English") unattractive.
Fair Isle Turns to Fairtrade
Handmade Fair Isle knitwear has been made in its distinctive designs and bright colours for 400 years. Sold all over the world, these days it is facing increased competition from cheap, foreign, machine-made imitations, using similar designs. It can take up to 100 hours of skilled knitting to create the real thing and so they cannot compete on price - even though they have quality and authenticity in spades. Now the network of women in the Fair Isle (located in the far north of Scotland, between Shetland and Orkney Isles) has linked up under the Fairtrade ethical shopping label and the genuine article is being promoted in the US, with a tour of 15 cities across America to raise its profile. In the Fairtrade model, goods ranging from coffee, bananas and tea to spices and wine are produced by disadvantaged producers to agreed environmental and labour standards and the producer gets a fair price. The Fair Isle garments range in price from around £20 for a pair of gloves to more than £300 for a sweater.
Picture via Wikipedia.
Abn Uni Mega Ritng Comp
No, the spell checker hasn't failed completely. But that heading is the sort of writing that Aberdeen University will accept in a competition aimed at secondary school pupils (aged 11 to 18). The "What's The Story" contest wants to attract as many entrants as possible, so they can write in any language of their choosing. While the university might prefer English or Doric (the dialect of the north-east of Scotland), the text writing used by youngsters on their mobile phones will do just as well. While some educationalists support the concept, others are not so sure. They believe that standard writing skills are bad enough already and that it will serve to legitimise a form of communication that will not be accepted in an adult working environment. But the freedom seems to have struck a chord with many pupils - entries have already been received in rhyming slang, Doric, Geordie (the dialect of north-east England), German, French and even Mongolian, as well as in text abbreviations.
New Seabird Reserve
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is to open a new nature reserve which provides a nesting place for over 150,000 gannets, guillemots and puffins. The cliffs of Troup Head on the Aberdeenshire coast are home to the only mainland gannet colony. As recently as 1988, there were only four gannet nests there - now there are over 1,500. A four kilometre stretch of coastline between Fraserburgh and MacDuff has already been designated as a "Special Protection Area" and a "Site of Special Scientific Interest." It was bought by RSPB Scotland two years ago. Pictures from the cliffs and the nesting birds are being transmitted by webcam to the Macduff Marine Aquarium and guided boat trips will begin in June. The reserve has views across the Moray Firth, where whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals can often be seen.
Photograph of gannet above courtesy of the Scotavia © Web site.
Nettle Soup Anyone?
A culinary and craft festival at the Scottish Crannog Centre in Perthshire last weekend offered visitors the chance to sample bowls of nettle soup and bread baked in ovens of a style used in the Iron Age. A textile artist was also on hand to demonstrate how Iron Age people used nettle fragments to spin garments and make string. Soap and shampoo made from nettles were available to wash up afterwards. The festival was inspired by a discovery of nettle fragments in a nearby 2,600-year-old crannog (wooden houses built over water and reached by a narrow bridge). Iron Age people also used nettles (rich in vitamin C) to make tea and also for medicinal purposes.
Weather in Scotland This Week
It has been yet another week of changeable weather patterns, with showers (blustery at times) as well as spells of sunshine. On a couple of nights, temperatures in Highland glens fell to below freezing point and during the day maximum daytime temperatures have been around 12/13C (54/55F). Although there were a few showers on Friday, parts of central Scotland did manage to reach 15/16C (59/61F).
The illustration is of the flower on a chestnut tree.
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 Great Crested Grebe (see thumbnail), performing its courtship dance; Coots feeding their Chicks; Mallard shepherding her brood of eleven ducklings; Uefa Cup Banners, George Square, Glasgow; Cameronian Regiment War Memorial in the grounds of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. See This Week's Colour Supplement.
Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
Rome's Lost Legion
Kevin Macdonald, the director of the Oscar-winning movie "The Last King of Scotland," is hoping to make a film about another Scottish-related subject - "The Eagle Of The Ninth". As a young man he had read a 1954 novel about a young Roman who sets out to discover the truth about 4,000 elite Roman troops who marched into the Highlands to conquer the Pictish tribes - and vanished. The book sold over a million copies and was made into a BBC TV drama in 1977. Now Macdonald, who was enthralled by the story as a child, is on the verge of realising his ambition to turn it into a big screen movie. He hopes to start filming in Scotland next year, with the screenplay by the co-author of "The Last King of Scotland" - that was a fictional memoir of a Scottish doctor employed by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, based on impressions of actual events. There was a real Roman IX Legion which distinguished itself in Spain and was part of Julius Caesar's army that invaded Britain in 55BC. When the Romans later returned, they subdued the country as far as central Scotland. But around 120AD they constructed Hadrian's Wall, roughly on what is now the English/Scottish border, to keep out the "barbarians" to the north. It is shortly after this that the Ninth Legion disappears from Roman history - sparking the idea that they had been sent to Scotland, where they were slaughtered.
Wanted - Paranormal Investigators
A specialist company is undertaking a "ghost hunt" in Aberdeen's Tolbooth Museum on 28 July. Paranormal Tours uses experienced investigators but is looking for volunteers to stay overnight in the museum to help to operate the equipment used to measure changes in frequency, temperature, detect motion and record "electronic voice phenomena" - in other words, ghostly noises. Ghosthunters are invited to bring their own digital cameras and night vision equipment and will be given training in the equipment used for conducting experiments. Participants will pay £99 to take part. The Tolbooth is one of Aberdeen's oldest surviving buildings and is a well preserved example of a Scottish jail, dating back to the 17th century. A paranormal investigation last year claimed to record "hotspots" and "coldspots", unexplained tapping noises and whispers, strange smells and light anomalies recorded on film.
Next Week in Scottish History
Entertainment
Antiques Road Show Heads North
The long-running BBC TV programme "Antiques Road Show" in which members of the public bring along items to be identified and valued by a panel of experts, is coming to the Castle of Mey, near Thurso. The castle was the Scottish home of the late Queen Mother. The show regularly attracts around 2,000 visitors and usually turns up interesting and valuable items - often to the complete surprise of the owners.
All That Jazz
The line-up for Glasgow's 21st International Jazz Festival was announced this week. Running from June 22 to July 1, the programme includes stars such as Birmingham-born Rollins,while American guitar legend Pat Metheny and pianist Brad Mehldau will also be performing. Special events will celebrate the work of black musicians as part of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain.
Scottish Rock Stars in Dundee
The series of big-name acts performing in the Caird Hall in Dundee continued this week with a sell-out audience at the venue to see Scottish stars Travis. The indie rock band are touring in support of their new album, "The Boy With No Name" which was released earlier this month. The album is named after the lead singer Fran Healey's son, whom Healy and his partner were unable to name until four weeks after his birth.
"Snake in the Grass" for the "Theatre in the Hills"
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, nestling in the Perthshire hills by the river Tummel, produces six plays each year for its summer season. Included in this season's offerings by the 18-strong company is a play by Alan Ayckbourne, which is receiving its Scottish premiere. "Snake in the Grass" is billed as a thriller, but ranges from bantering comedy to murder and sibling rivalry. "The Flouers o' Edinburgh" on the other hand, takes place in Edinburgh in 1763. It is a raucous, classic comedy about 1707, the Scottish Enlightenment and the battle between the Scots and English tongues! When Lord Stanebyres' son returns from the "Grand Tour" of Europe and declares "I am British, father. The terms ‘Scotch’ and ‘English’ became obsolete with the Union" his Lordship is not well pleased! The play marks the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union.
Scots Abroad
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.
Camp Fuji Highland Games
There was quite a mixture of cultures in Japan last Sunday when U.S.marines and sailors at Camp Fuji in Japan held their Scottish Highland Games event. Within sight of snow-capped Mount Fuji, bagpipes played and the servicemen contested the traditional "heavy" sports of throwing the 35-pound hammer, tossing the caber and heaving a 42-pound mace-like object over a bar, which went to 17 feet above their heads. There was a relay race with the contestants in kilts (the report had "kilt" in inverted commas, so the mind boggles...)
Picture of Mount Fuji via Wikipedia.
Sport
Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results
Rangers 0 Kilmarnock 1
Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - 19 May 2007
Dundee United 0 Motherwell 0
Dunfermline 0 Falkirk 3
St Mirren 0 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1
Aberdeen v Rangers, Hibernian v Celtic and Kilmarnock v Hearts will be played on Sunday - the last games of the SPL season.League Tables
Kilmarnock's defeat of Rangers last Sunday was the first time that the Ayrshire club had won at Ibrox since October 2000. It was also the first time that Rangers had lost a domestic game since Walter Smith took over. It made no difference to Rangers' second place, but did ensure that Kilmarnock will end the season in 5th place, above Hibernian. The main interest in the last games of the SPL season being played on Sunday is whether Aberdeen or Hearts will get third place - and a chance to qualify for the Uefa Cup next season.
Scotland Rise Five Places in International Football Rankings
The Scottish international football team rose through the ranking table under manager Walter Smith after the team had slumped to 86th under the previous manager Bert Vogts. In May 2006, Scotland's soccer team were in 56th place in the Fifa world rankings. This month, they have been placed 14th, their highest position since the table was established in 1993. The Scotland squad is now being managed by Alex McLeish, who must know that it will be difficult for the team to rise further in the international table. But the main task is to qualify for the finals of the Euro 2008 competition.
"Manager of the Month" Award for Strachan
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan won the Bank of Scotland SPL "Manager of the Month" award and Celtic player Shunsuke Nakamura added to his list of accolades with the SPL Player of the Year award.
India and Pakistan to Play in Glasgow
The Indian and Pakistan international cricket teams are to play a special one-day match in Glasgow on July 3, in aid of charity. The teams will play for a Friendship Cup in a the game that was initiated by the Prince of Wales to commemorate the 60th anniversary of India and Pakistan's independence. Glasgow has a large number of residents who originated from India and Pakistan so the game is likely to be well supported, especially for a charitable cause.
No French Open for Andy Murray?
Andy Murray started this year's tennis season in good style and moved up to 10th place in the international rankings after a series of good results. But he has suffered a series of injuries, missing the Monte Carlo Masters and was then knocked out in the first round of the Rome Masters. This week he had to retire from the first round of the Hamburg Masters after suffering tendon damage to his wrist. He had been playing what he described as "awesome" tennis, but now may not be fit in time for the French Open on 27 May. There does not appear to be a fracture, however, so he may be able to recover in time for Wimbledon on 25 June.
Magazine Section
