Glasgow Airport Evacuated

Just at the start of the school holidays and a larger than usual number of families at Glasgow airport on Saturday afternoon, a Jeep Cherokee was driven at speed at the main terminal building with flames coming from underneath. It crashed into the main entrance doors at 3.15pm and two men attempted to throw around petrol (with one of them with clothing on fire). They were involved in a fight with bystanders and police who moved in to arrest them. So far, there have not been any reports of any of the passengers in the terminal being injured, despite the petrol tank on the vehicle exploding and extensive fire damage to the front of the building. The airport was closed, with all flights in and out cancelled and roads in the area were also cordoned off. Passengers who attempted to go back to their cars in the adjacent car park were not allowed to move their vehicles and passengers on aircraft that had just landed before the incident are stuck on board, unable to disembark. The security focus on Saturday in Scotland was more on Edinburgh, as the Queen was performing the official opening of the Scottish Parliament there. This is the first time that Scotland has been involved on the ground in this way in an incident of this kind. So far, the authorities have not given any details of the men or their motives.
Picture sent to the BBC by Richard Grey, who was at the airport to pick up relatives, and took the picture after being evacuated.

New Prime Minister's Roots in Fife

Gordon Brown has been Chancellor of the Exchequer in Tony Blair's UK government for the last ten years, making him Britain's longest continuously serving Chancellor for over 180 years. Unlike Tony Blair (who although born and educated in Scotland scarcely acknowledged his Scottish roots) the new Prime Minister is very much a Scot - and these days is a Fifer as well. He was born in Glasgow, the son of a Church of Scotland minister but was educated in Kirkcaldy, Fife. He went on to study at Edinburgh University and it was as a student playing rugby that he was injured and lost the sight of his left eye. He went on to complete a PhD. He has been a Member of Parliament for a Fife constituency since 1983 and his personal home is there too. A potential candidate for the leadership of the Labour Party in 1994, it is rumoured that there was an agreement between Brown and Tony Blair that allowed Blair to stand unopposed. He would claim that his Chancellorship has seen the longest period of sustained economic growth in UK history (although part of this growth period started under the preceding Conservative government in 1993 - and the details in his growth figures have been challenged). In the last few years, Gordon Brown has emphasised the benefits of a United Kingdom in response to Scottish Nationalist policies aimed at an independent Scotland. In interviews this week, in the lead up to his "coronation" as UK Prime Minister, he has spoken of the "values of duty, honesty, hard work and respect for others-values" which would never leave him.

First Minister Congratulates New PM

When Alex Salmond was elected as Scottish First Minister, there was no contact at all from the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair. As Salmond jokingly told the Scottish Parliament in response to a question from the leader of the Conservatives, who had asked if he had heard from Prime Minister Blair to congratulate the SNP on their new position, Alex Salmond replied: "he doesn't phone, he doesn't write". No doubt the UK premier was disappointed with the election result, but courtesy and etiquette should have made him at least acknowledge the change of government in another part of the UK. Although Gordon Brown responded and telephoned the next day, it appears that Tony Blair studiously avoided contact right up to the end of his premiership. So there was a bit of a smile this week when Alex Salmond immediately congratulated Gordon Brown on becoming the new UK Prime Minister. The Scottish First Minister said that he looked forward to co-operating with Gordon Brown on matters of the Scottish interest and wished him well in his new task. He added in a BBC interview "Whatever our differences in the future constitution of Scotland, we've got an immediate priority to work in the Scottish interests."

Parliament Votes for Edinburgh's Tram Project

The Scottish Executive suffered its first defeat in the current Scottish Parliament when the opposition parties voted this week to go ahead with the project to bring back a tramway system in Edinburgh. Before the election in May, the Scottish National Party had said that the project would be scrapped and the finance put into other projects. But the realities of forming a minority government means that not all their plans will be approved. Even so, the Finance Secretary John Swinney, has warned that the cash being provided from central funding will not be increased and that if it runs over budget, it will be local taxpayers who will pick up the overspend. Edinburgh voters perhaps had that scenario in mind when they voted in the local government elections - the Labour Party who had advocated the tramway system lost 15 of their 30 seats and the SNP increased their seats from 1 to 12. On the other major transport project in the Capital, the Finance Secretary said that plans for a rail link to Edinburgh's airport had "had it".

Delays on Completion Dates for Transport Projects

After reviewing the plans for other road projects in Scotland, the Scottish Executive has announced that the completion date for the Aberdeen bypass will be 2012, a year later than originally estimated. Transport Secretary Stewart Stevenson described the estimates given by the previous Executive as "unrealistic". The extension of the M74 motorway in southern Glasgow should be completed by late 2011, while the rail link to Glasgow Airport will also not be operational until 2011, a year later than previous estimates. The reopening of the rail link from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders has a funding gap and the timetable is slipping. Electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow line is now a new priority. Estimated to cost £265 million, it will not be operational until 2013 at the earliest.

Libyan to Appeal Lockerbie Bombing Conviction

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was found guilty by a Scottish court for involvement in the blowing up of a Pan Am Boeing 747 over the town of Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground. Megrahi was convicted of murder in January 2001 and was sentenced to life imprisonment. He appealed unsuccessfully against the conviction in 2002 but the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which has been investigating Megrahi's case since 2003, recommended this week that a second appeal should be held. It is claimed that "new evidence" will show that Megrahi was not guilty. It will take some time before the appeal can be heard as lawyers for both prosecution and defence gear up their case.
The picture shows the memorial garden to the 270 people who lost their lives as a result of the aircraft being brought down.

Cost of Free Care for Elderly Soars

Across the UK, the National Health Service provides free medical care to all. In 2002, the Scottish Executive introduced free personal care for those over 65 who need it, in addition to nursing care. That covers help with personal hygiene, preparation of food, dealing with the consequences of being immobile, assistance where required with medication, and nursing care services. The aim was to avoid those who needed such assistance from seeing their personal savings being eaten up and in some cases having to sell their own home. Of course, the cost of these provisions has to be paid by general taxation and the amount involved has risen sharply since the scheme was introduced. The numbers now claiming benefit has passed the 50,000 mark and the annual cost has risen from £149 million in 2002/03 to £237 million in 2005/06. Free personal care was introduced despite strong objections from the UK government - in England and Wales there is no such financial assistance. One of the areas where costs have risen sharply is in grants to help people who are continuing to live in their own homes, rather than going into care homes.

UK Postal Strike

A strike by postal workers across the UK on Friday will inevitably result in mail deliveries being delayed over the next few working days. 130,000 Royal Mail workers stopped working for 24 hours in a dispute over wages and job cuts. It is the first nationwide industrial action in the postal service since 1996. Royal Mail, which used to have a monopoly of letter delivery in the UK, has been facing increasing competition as their control of the market has been eroded as a result of new legislation.

Deadliest Roads in Scotland

Experts at the Road Safety Foundation have looked at the statistics on the number of deaths and injuries on all major roads between 2000 and 2005. They then calculated the numbers of accidents per mile of road and drew up a list of the country's deadliest roads. Scotland's worst road was the A726 between the M77 motorway and Paisley, despite only being four miles long. It was the 9th most dangerous road in the whole of the UK. Scotland's second most deadly road was the A85 between Perth and Crianlarich, which saw 114 deaths or serious injuries over 54miles. Another road with a poor safety record is the A77 linking Ayr with Stranraer. The experts say that no single factor can account for the high accident rate there. Having recently travelled on that road a couple of times, I would suggest a major factor must be the large numbers of slow-moving heavy trucks travelling to and from the Northern Ireland ferries and frustrated drivers attempting to overtake on the few straight stretches where such manoeuvres are sometimes risky.

Three Warships - Going Cheap

In 1998, the Sultan of Brunei ordered three coastal frigates from the BAE shipyard at Scotstoun on the Clyde, in a contract worth £600 million. The ships were built to their specifications and were launched in 2001/2002. But the Sultan claimed that the ships did not meet contract specifications and refused to take delivery. They have been moored at the yard ever since - overlooked by the Braehead Shopping Centre in Renfrew. Eventually, the dispute was taken to arbitration at the International Court of Arbitration and BAE won the dispute. The ships have now been paid for and handed over to the Brunei equivalent of the Ministry of Defence. But they won't be setting sail for the northern Borneo state of Brunei. The Sultan still doesn't want them - and has put them up for sale. So anyone who is looking for an offshore patrol vessel (or three for that matter) with one careful owner and "low mileage" on the clock, may be able to pick up a bargain. There may be a little problem with the specification though. Not that the Sultan (reputed to be the world's richest man) had any gold plated adornments on the ships. It's just that they were designed to accommodate Bruneian sailors - with an average height of 5ft 6in. And as they were to operate in the warm waters around Borneo, they have no central heating making them useless in colder areas of the world. So Braehead shoppers will have the sleek ships opposite the shopping mall for a while longer.

School Pupils Sign Up for Online Results

After a small pilot last year, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has made available a system whereby Scottish school pupils sitting Higher and Standard Grade exams this year will be able to access their results online - rather than the traditional letter delivered by post. 25% of pupils (that's 30,000 of them) have signed up so that they can access their results on August 7. The system is particularly popular in remoter areas, where postal deliveries can often be delayed. Students have to register using their unique candidate number and other security protocols, so that they can access the SQA website once the results are available.

Collections of National Significance

Ten museums and galleries across Scotland, held by local authorities, universities and independent trusts, were recognised this week as "collections of national significance to the nation." A new Recognition Scheme will promote and invest in these collections, which are outside of the nationally run museums and galleries around the country. Funded by the Scottish Executive and managed by the Scottish Museums Council, the Recognition Scheme will help to make sure that these important collections are identified, cared for, protected and promoted to a wider audience. Included in the new scheme are such collections as the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery at Glasgow University, the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther, Surgeon's Hall Museum in Edinburgh and the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, Bo'ness. An additional £1 million of funding will be made available and the ten collections which have been recognised will bid for a share of this cash to support the sector and fund aspirations to undertake projects such as increasing accessibility and improving how they are cared for.

Graphic shows the Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther.

New Aberdeen Arts Centre?

Aberdeen City Council has given approval in principle to a major new centre for contemporary arts which would see part of Union Terrace Gardens used for the new building. The new centre would house the council's arts development and education departments. The aim is to create a "thriving cultural quarter" - with the city's Art Gallery and His Majesty's Theatre close by. An earlier proposal to rescue the ruined "Triple Kirks" building as an arts space have now been abandoned on the basis that it was not financially viable.

Scotland Highlighted in Moscow's Red Square

The Military Tattoo that takes place on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle plays to a sellout crowd every year and has spawned a number of similar events in places such as Norway, Canada, Switzerland and China. Now it is the turn of Moscow's Red Square (seen here at night) to stage an Edinburgh-inspired version called Kremlin Zoria (Kremlin reveille). In an echo of the lone piper on the battlements of Edinburgh Castle at the end of the show, a lone trumpeter will perform a similar function from a tower of the Kremlin. More than 80 performers from Scotland are taking part, including the pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland; the Scots Guards, the Highlanders and the Black Watch. Other countries such as Germany, Austria and Canada are also participating, It is hoped that the event, in four evenings in September this year, will give a boost to the rapidly growing number of tourists coming to Scotland from Russia. Last year, it is estimated that 26,000 Russians made the trip, double the number in 2003. They are particularly welcome as they spend more per head than most foreign visitors - even more than their nearest spending rivals from the US!
Picture via Wikipedia.

Two Fat Ladies Buys Buttery

The Buttery restaurant in Glasgow was established in 1865 and has survived in recent years despite being bought and sold by a series of different owners. The current owner, Ian Fleming, who also owns the Lake of Menteith Hotel near Aberfoyle, appeared to be making a success of the establishment. These days, the restaurant is in a bit of a back-water, cut off from the city centre by the Kingston Bridge across the Clyde. But last December there was a disastrous fire and the restaurant had to close. Due to a dispute with the insurers, who refused to settle the claim for repairs to fixtures and fittings, the Buttery has had to be sold. It is being taken over by another restaurant success story, the owners of "Two Fat Ladies". This sea-food restaurant at 88 Dumbarton Road is named after the Bingo call for "88". It has garnered a reputation for well-prepared sea food and shellfish - and value for money. But being on the small side, it could not cope with the number of Glaswegians who wanted to dine there. So a second restaurant was created at 118a Blythswood Street - no Bingo call for 118a, so it retains the original name. Now the Buttery has been added to the menu. It remains to be seen whether it will retain the name it has carried since 1865 - or will become the third "Two Fat Ladies".

Sea Eagle Chicks Fly to Scotland - By Plane

The Norwegian Air Force has flown 15 white-tailed sea eagle chicks to the east coast of Scotland. The aim is to restore the birds to Scotland where they were once abundant - until hunted to extinction in 1918. The eagles are Britain's largest birds with a wingspan of about eight feet when fully grown. The bird was successfully re-introduced to the west coast of Scotland in 1975 and now the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) in Scotland are trying to do the same in other parts of the country. Over the next four years, a further 20 chicks a year will be brought from Norway and released. The birds prefer coastal wetlands and estuaries with shallow waters.
Picture via Wikipedia.

Clan Maclean Gathering

700 members of the Clan Maclean from around the world gathered for a week-long gathering on Mull that finished on Tuesday of this week. The Macleans and septs of the clan such as Beatons, MacBeths, MacCormicks and MacFadyens came from far and wide, including Mexico, New Zealand and the US. The event is arranged every five years. The highlight of their gathering was a meeting in the grounds of Duart Castle. They also unveiled a cairn outside Kilninian Church to commemorate the 22nd chief of the clan, General Allan Maclean.

Sporran Legion Face Prosecution

Recent legislation by the Scottish Parliament means that those wearing fur or any part of a protected animal such as badger and otter can face prosecution if they do not have a licence for it. The new law is aimed at protecting endangered species. But it has emerged that the rules will apply to the fur on sporrans, unless they were made before 1994. So those wearing full highland dress with a sporran made of such material will have to be able to produce a licence or face a fine of up to £5,000 and six months in jail. Sales of plain sporrans or even plastic ones are likely to soar?

Weather in Scotland This Week

Last Sunday was mid-summer's day, but you would never haver thought it looking at the weather. The expressive Scots word "dreich" (dreary, dull and wearisome) springs to mind. Aberdeen had a maximum temperature of 12C (54F)on mid-summer's day and other parts of Scotland were not much better. As the week wore on, the below-average temperatures, cloud and showers continued. At least Scotland did not get the torrential rain and flooding that continued to affect the north and Midlands of England. There were a few bright sunny spells and Lossiemouth even managed a fair amount of sun that sent the thermometer "soaring" to around 18C (64F) as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen shivered in the rain and temperatures around 14/15C (57/59F). Global warming? Bah!
There were some bright spells this week - the picture of the lighthouse at the Mull of Galloway (the most southerly point in Scotland) was taken on Tuesday this week.

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 flower of a Dianthus "Little Jock" (see thumbnail); memorial garden to the victims of the Pan Am Flight 103 blown up over Lockerbie in 1988; Threave Castle in Dumfries and Galloway; a "Slender Thistle"; Comlongon Castle, a massive 14th century tower house; the National Trust for Scotland's Threave Gardens. See This Week's Colour Supplement

Dumfries House Saved for Nation

Three years ago, the Marquis of Bute announced that he was going to sell off Dumfries House in Cumnock, Ayrshire, so that he could concentrate on Mount Stuart, his family home on the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. He gave plenty of notice in order to allow the various conservation bodies time to work out the finances to save the house and its unique collections by master furniture-maker Thomas Chippendale. Negotiations with the National Trust for Scotland were unsuccessful and a national campaign was launched to raise the finance. Earlier this month, with only £7 million promised, an auction date was fixed for 12/13 July for the house and contents. But this week it was announced that Prince Charles had helped to co-ordinate a £45 million rescue package, with his Prince Charles Charities Foundation borrowing a considerable proportion of the cash, backed by his personal guarantees. Dumfries House has one of the finest collections of British furniture and contains the only fully documented works of art dating from Chippendale's illustrious Director Period. The furniture collection was built for the house and is a world class product of the Scottish Enlightenment. In due course, the property, its contents and the 2,000 acre estate will be opened to the public.

Picture of inside Dumfries House copyright Christies Auction House.

Fountain to Flow Again

When Bonnie Prince Charlie arrived at Linlithgow Palace in 1745, during the Jacobite Uprising, the fountain in the courtyard is reputed to have flowed with wine. The massive and ornate structure was built in 1538 by King James V in the shape of an ornate crown. The masterpiece of Renaissance stonemasonry, decorated with the carved figures of mythical beasts, it is the oldest fountain in Britain - by a margin of over 100 years. A few years ago the fountain was removed from the palace by Historic Scotland and conservationists set about repairing the damage and corrosion of nearly 500 years. When it returned last year, the conservation body were so confident about their restoration that they reconnected the water supply and allowed the fountain to flow at weekends throughout the summer - to the delight of visitors. The water is to flow again at weekends over July and August this year, during the peak tourist season. Hi-tech 3D laser scans are taken periodically to detect any possible erosion, either to the newly carved sections or to the original stonework.

5-Star Rating for Border Tower

Smailholm Tower is a remote 15th century landmark in the Scottish Borders. Sir Walter Scott described it as "standing stark and upright like a warden". It belonged to the Pringle family from 1408 (though it is not recorded whether they were producing high quality knitwear in those days). Being a Border stronghold, Smailholm was often attacked and damaged by the English invaders as they marched north. Despite that, it is in a good state of repair and now it has been awarded a top "five-star" rating by the tourism agency VisitScotland. There are only five other five-star attractions run by Historic Scotland - and these include such castles as Edinburgh and Stirling. See also Places to Visit - Smailholm Castle

Next Week in Scottish History

• July 1 1505 - Seal granted by Edinburgh Town Council to the Incorporation of Barbers and Surgeons to pursue their craft. The organisation is now known as the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.
• July 1 1782 - Proscription Act Repealed, thus allowing again the wearing of tartan and the carrying of weapons (banned as a result of the 1745 Uprising in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie).
• July 1 1937 - The 999 emergency telephone service came into operation for police, fire, ambulance and coastguards.
• July 1 1999 - The Queen officially opened the new Scottish Parliament in its temporary home in the Assembly Hall on The Mound, Edinburgh.
• July 2 1266 - Treaty of Perth, Norway renounces claim on the Hebrides.
• July 2 1908 - Dumfries reached a temperature of 32.8C (91F), the highest recorded in Scotland - so far.
• July 2 1971 - Erskine Bridge over the River Clyde opened.
• July 3 1728 - Architect Robert Adam born in Kirkcaldy.
• July 3 1928 - John Logie Baird transmitted first colour television.
• July 4 1892 - Lanarkshire-born James Keir Hardie became the first socialist to win a seat in the UK Parliament.
• July 5 1847 - Final run of the Edinburgh to London mail coach (trains had taken over).
• July 6 1560 - Treaty of Edinburgh between Scotland and England.
• July 6 1747 - John Paul Jones, hero of the US Navy, born Kirkbean, Dumfries.
• July 6 1875 - Institute of Bankers in Scotland formed, the first professional association of bankers in the world.
• July 6 1919 - Airship R34, constructed by Glasgow's Beardmore Engineering Co., landed Long Island, USA after the first Trans-Atlantic airship flight - from East Fortune, East Lothian. It took 108 hours.
• July 7 1548 - Treaty of Haddington, between France and Scotland, confirming the betrothal of Mary Queen of Scots and Dauphin (heir apparent) of France.
• July 7 1559 - John Knox became the first Protestant minister appointed in Edinburgh.
• July 7 1814 - First publication of Walter Scott's Waverley Novels.

Culzean Tournament

Sir Walter Scott, the author of such medieval stories as "Ivanhoe", would have applauded the National Trust for Scotland's jousting tournament at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire over this weekend. Mounted knights in armour will demonstrate their skills. Visitors may not be able to charge on a horse while wielding a lance, but thanks to the British Longbow Society, they can try their arm at archery.

Open Air Cinema for City Park?

Three film enthusiasts have put forward a plan to create a temporary open-air cinema in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park in August. The proposal, which is being considered by Glasgow City Council, would use a bank of grass for seating and a 40ft by 20ft screen at the foot of the slope. The area would be fenced off as in a music festival, with food and drink stalls at the perimeter. Entry would be from 7pm with one or two films shown on August 16-19 and 23-26.

Hebridean Celtic Festival

The popularity of the annual Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway is such that the biggest problem is not just getting a ticket, but finding accommodation in a town with a population of only 7,000! That is likely to be particularly true this year, when the lads from Leith "The Proclaimers" will be making an appearance. The festival runs from 11 to 14 July - see also www.hebceltfest.com.

Dundee Festival

The "Dundee Festival" is an umbrella title for a series of free and ticketed events incorporating the Dundee International Guitar Festival, and the Dundee Blues Bonanza. The concerts are themed "If Music be the Food of Love, then Play On" and they take place in the City of Discovery on four long weekends from June 28 to 22 July. Famed English guitarist Graham Devine is making an appearance, and there's also a larger-than-life tribute to Meat Loaf. See also www.dundeefestival.com/.

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.

Robert Burns World Federation Annual Conference

The annual conference of the Robert Burns World Federation this year is being held in Winnipeg, the weekend of August 3, 4 & 5. This is one of the rare occasions when the conference is being held outside the UK (the last was 2001, in Atlanta) and is being hosted by the Winnipeg Robert Burns Club, in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of their founding. The club was established in 1907 and is the oldest, continuously existing federated Burns Club outside the United Kingdom. In addition to the AGMs of both the Burns Federation, and the Robert Burns Association of North America (RBANA), there will be a dinner and ceilidh on Friday night, August 3, and the new Federation president will be installed at the Dinner and Dance on Saturday August 4. The annual RBANA Burns Quiz is on Saturday, for the coveted Dr Jim Connor Memorial Trophy. Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard has confirmed his attendance at the Saturday night events. There will also be a church service on Sunday morning. The Winnipeg Celtic Pipe Band will play during the service, at Knox United Church. For more details, see www.winnipegrobertburns.org.

Ohio Scottish Games

This year's Ohio Scottish Games took place in Wellington, Ohio on 23 June this year. The games have been an important event on the Ohio Scots calendar for 20 years. They have always been held at Oberlin College, in Oberlin, Ohio but this year the Games moved to the Lorain County Fairgrounds, some nine miles south of Oberlin. Taking part were Needfire, a Celtic Rock Group from Dallas, Texas. I'm told that one of their songs was chosen as the theme song of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. Next year's event will be held on June 28, 2008. The picture here is of the Michigan Scottish Pipes and Drums.

Rangers May Face Lithuanian Champions

The draw for the first rounds of the European Champions League offers the intriguing prospect of Rangers playing Lithuanian club Kaunas, a side sponsored by Vladimir Romanaov, the owner of Heart of Midlothian. Hearts, of course, failed to qualify for any of the European competitions last season. Kaunas have to win their first round match against Zeta of Montenegro before facing Rangers, who get a bye into the second round.

New Rules Could Scupper Scotland's Euro 2016 Bid

A bid by Scotland to stage the finals of Euro 2016 football tournament look as though they are gong to founder as a result of changes to the rules. Uefa, the sport's governing body, seems likely to increase the number of finalists from 16 to 24 teams from 2016. Only four Scottish grounds (Hampden, Ibrox, Celtic Park and Murrayfield) can hold over 30,000 spectators and at least nine stadia or possibly 12 of that size would be considered essential. Another disadvantage is having three of the grounds in one city - Glasgow. The Scottish First Minister has expressed his support for a bid but it looks as though a solo bid by Scotland is unlikely to succeed. Looking at the change on the bright side, increasing the number of teams in the final stages by 50% in 2016 and after will improve Scotland's chances of qualifying....

Andy Murray Pulls Out of Wimbledon

After six weeks of hard work to recover from a wrist injury incurred at the Hamburg Masters on 15 May, 20-year-old andy Murray reluctantly decided that he would have to withdraw from the Wimbledon championships in London - or risk further damage to his wrist. Wimbledon is special for most tennis players, and especially so for Andy as he does well there, particularly with the support of the home crowd.

Scotland Continue Winning Ways Against US

The Scottish polo team has built up a surprisingly good record in the annual international polo matches against the US in the Newport International Polo Series. They went into this year's match last Saturday having won two of the last three games. Things were not looking good for the Scots this year as the match progressed, however, as they were trailing 5-0 at one point. Then they came alive and reached 7-7 in the fifth chucka. They must have smelled victory and, encouraged by the Scottish fans amongst the spectators waving the Scottish flags and wearing kilts, the Scottish polo team edged to a 9-8 victory in the final chucka. That gives them a 3-1 lead over the US in the matches played over the last four years.

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.

Great Places to Eat in Scotland

Ardardan Estate Coffee Shop and Farm Shop, Cardross
Ardardan Estate is a working farm just off the main A814 road between Dumbarton and Helensburgh, 10 miles west of Glasgow. It's not often that a review of an eating establishment begins by describing the chickens in the adjacent field providing the fresh eggs being used inside. But then Ardardan Estate is a bit special that way. All the food is farm fresh and that shines through everything on offer, making everything taste so much better. Much of the success of the coffee shop is down to the amount of "home baking" on the menu. While Ardardan offers more than just a coffee or tea break, there is no doubt that the "Tray Bakes" are a big attraction, including such delights as millionaires shortbread, melting moments, almond slices, fruit loaf or fruit tart (go on - add some ice cream to that) plus a load of cream cakes and gateaux. Forget the calorie counter and just enjoy the freshly made and delicious items on offer. Of course, if you have a lot of will power, you can always "just" have a freshly baked scone with butter and jam or a toasted teacake with butter. For more on this above average coffee shop in the countryside, see Great Places to Eat - Ardardan Estate Coffee Shop.

Scottish Proverbs

The dictionary defines a "proverb" as a short saying stating a general truth or piece of advice. The Scots language is full of such pithy phrases and there are many huge collections of them, many dating back hundreds of years. Each week this section presents one or two of the best, such as:

Beggars cannae be choosers.

He has licked the butter aff my bread.

He's as welcome as water in a holed ship.

Scottish Poetry and Song

John Grieve (1781-1836) was born in Dunfermline. The son of a Reformed Presbyterian minister, Grieve became a successful merchant but had the leisure time to pursue his amateur literary career, contributing to a number of magazines, including James Hogg's "Forest Minstrel." He also assisted Hogg both financially and with encouragement. Hogg acknowledged that help in his autobiography in glowing terms and also dedicated a poem to him. Grieve was forced by illness to retire from business at the age of 37, but lived with cheerfulness and conviviality with his local friends for another 18 years. The song below is sung to a tune "Banks of the Devon."

Her Blue Rollin' E'e

My lassie is lovely, as May day adorning
    Wi' gowans an' primroses ilka green lee;
Though sweet is the violet, new blown i' the morning,
    As tender an' sweet is her blue rollin' e'e.
O, say what is whiter than snaw on the mountain?
    Or what wi' the red rose in beauty can vie?
Yes, whiter her bosom than snaw on the mountain,
    An' bonnie her face as the red rose can be.

See yon lowly cottage that stands by the wild-wood,
   Hedged round wi' the sweet briar and green willow-tree,
'Twas yonder I spent the sweet hours of my childhood,
   An' first felt the power of a love-rollin' e'e.
Though soon frae my hame an' my lassie I wander'd;
   Though lang I've been tossing on fortune's rough sea;
Aye dear was the valley where Ettrick meander'd;
   Aye dear was the blink o' her blue-rollin' e'e.

Oh! for the evening, and oh! for the hour,
   When down by yon greenwood she promised to be;
When quick as the summer-dew dries on the flower,
   A' earthly affections and wishes wad flee.
Let Art and let Nature display their proud treasures;
   Let Paradise boast o' what ance it could gie;
As high is my bliss, an' as sweet are my pleasures,
   In the heart-melting blink o' my lassie's blue e'e.

Meaning of unusual words:
gowans = daisy
ilka = every
ance = once

Scottish Humour

Banjo Players
Apparently banjo players are a constant subject of humour in music circles (which is nice for bagpipe players as it makes them feel they are not the only ones being victimised). For example, "How can you tell if there's a banjo player at the door? He can't find the key and he doesn't know when to come in."

Lachlan's Laws - # 31
That great Highland philosopher, Lachlan McLachlan, propounded a number of irrefutable laws of life, the universe and everything, usually after a "bevvy" in the Auchenshuggle Arms on a Saturday night. Here is another example: "You know when you're getting old when you wake up with that morning-after feeling, and you didn't do anything the night before."

Getting Older
Sadie was getting on in years and was sometimes a bit forgetful. She would go upstairs to do something - and when she got there, she couldn't remember what it was. One day, after a few such episodes, she said to her husband Donald "Oh my goodness, I think my mind is almost gone". Donald, who had been reading the paper, scarcely looked up but commented dryly: "I'm not surprised. You've been giving me a piece of your mind for over 60 years...."