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.
.jpg "The Scotsman Calendar")
Click on the picture to see all 12 calendar views...
In the Second Division, Raith Rovers have a one point advantage at the top over Ross County, with Queens Park slipping to third place, 2 points adrift from Ross County. Berwick and Brechin are at the other end of the table, with 5 points each.
East Fife sit at the top of the Third Division, 3 points above Stranraer and East Stirling.
Where else would you like to go in Scotland?
Current Affairs
Planners Recommend Billion Pound Golf Scheme
There are still many planning hurdles to overcome, but the £1 billion proposal by US entrepreneur Donald Trump to create a world class golf resort in the north-east of Scotland was given the green light this week by planning officials in the area. Their decision was made on the basis that the economic benefits outweigh any potential damage to the protected coastal site - a view that was condemned by environmental bodies. They claim that it ignores the Scottish Government's own conservation advisors, such as Scottish Natural Heritage. The plans for the resort on the Menie estate near Balmedie, north of Aberdeen, include two 18-hole links golf courses; a 450-room hotel, conference centre and spa; 950 holiday homes; 36 golf villas and 500 houses. The planning application has attracted more than three times as many letters of support as it has of objection - 327 to 105. It is estimated that the resort would create 1,250 long-term jobs for Aberdeenshire and create an economic benefit of over £200 million a year to the area. Scottish National Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust are dismayed at the recommendation, saying that it will have a significant impact on a very special place for wildlife. It is likely that the final decision will be made by the Scottish Government. First Minister Alex Salmond is the local Member of the Scottish Parliament. Before the last election he made clear his support for the project.
Smoking Ban Has "Improved Health"
A scientific study of heart attack admissions to nine Scottish hospitals has shown that numbers have dropped by 17% since the ban on smoking in public buildings was introduced in March 2006. The claim is that the reduction is due to the ban, but some other health experts point out that other factors have influenced the data, such as a steady decline in smoking in Scotland over many years and the increased emphasis by GPs in identifying those with high blood pressure or cholesterol - and prescribing drugs to combat these. However, although non-smokers in households where someone else was smoking continued to show high levels of second-hand smoking, adults in non-smoking households showed a significant drop on the by-products of nicotine in their blood. Another study of lung capacity and general health of staff working in bars, showed improvements within weeks of the ban being introduced, with exposure to tobacco smoke falling by 89% since then. Next month, the minimum age at which tobacco products can be sold in Scotland is being raised from 16 to 18.
Magnifique!
Around 15,000 Scottish football fans marched en masse through Paris to the Parc des Princes stadium for Wednesday's Euro 2008 qualifying match against France. The fans made a big impression, with their noisy but good-natured performance, and the Scottish team responded with a result that surprised many - especially the people of France. They were stunned when Scotland defeated the French team 1-0, with a magnificent long-range goal by James McFadden in the second half. Maybe it wasn't such a surprise though - Scotland had achieved the same result when they played France at Hampden Park earlier in the campaign. But to win away from home against one of the top footballing nations in the world, was a magnificent achievement. The result put Scotland at the top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group - and gave the whole of Scotland a tremendous boost. There are still three difficult games ahead - but the result in Paris will have given the team a renewed confidence.
Employment Hits New High
Government statistics published this week show that employment in Scotland is rising, while unemployment is falling. In the three months to July, Scottish employment showed an increase of 12,000 over the quarter, and 83,000 over the year, to stand at 2,542,000. At 76.7% of the adult population, it is the highest employment rate since records began in 1971 and exceeds the rate for the UK and almost all EU countries. On the traditional method of calculating unemployment - the numbers of people on the jobseekers' allowance - the monthly unemployment total fell to 74,300. Officials say that this unemployment rate of 2.7% remains close to the historical low. Based on the alternative "Labour Force Survey" calculation, unemployment in Scotland went down to 129,000 over the three months to July. This was 7,000 lower than the same period last year and an unemployment rate of 4.8%, down 0.2% on the previous quarter and 0.4% over the year.
Sun and Sales Increase Retail Volumes
The latest statistics on retail sales in Scotland's High Streets show that "like-for-like" sales in August were 2.6% higher than in August 2006. Total sales (which include new outlets) in August were 7.1% up on a year ago. The like-for-like value was the best since April this year, when warm weather and Easter boosted sales. Scotland’s performance in August rose above that across the UK, which saw 1.8% like-for-like growth. But the increase was largely achieved last month by heavy discounting, especially as stores attempted to clear unsold summer ranges.
New Scottish Businesses Set New Record
The number of new businesses started in Scotland in the second quarter of this year reached its highest level for the last six years. A buoyant economy north of the Border and a growing entrepreneurial culture helped boost the number of new start-ups in Scotland to more than 8,000, beating the previous record by 25%. A total of 8,365 firms were launched in the period, 32% higher than the same quarter last year. On the other hand, other data show that there has been a significant rise in the number of companies going out of business and being declared insolvent. In the second quarter of 2007, nearly 200 businesses went into liquidation, a 17.1% rise on the same period last year.
Aberdeen Bypass Route Modified
Thousands of people and organisations have provided comment on the planned route of the new by-pass around Aberdeen. As a result of that and the largest ecological survey ever undertaken for a road scheme in the UK, a number of minor changes have been made and a proposed junction at South Kirkhill has been dropped. The number of residential homes that will need to be demolished to make way for the new Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route has also fallen from 15 to 13. More public consultation will follow, until near the end of October. The by-pass is now scheduled to be completed by 2012.
Luxury Development for Paisley Centre
A construction company has unveiled plans for an area of wasteland at New Sneddon Street in Paisley, which feature building a luxury hotel, 70,000 square feet of office space and 26 luxury apartments. Plans have been submitted to Renfrewshire Council and so far the reaction has been positive. Paisley town centre has declined in recent years, with many prominent retail stores closing down, leaving premises lying empty. Competition from the Braehaed Shopping Centre, only a few miles away, has eroded turnover, so any regeneration is likely to be welcomed by the planning authorities as a positive message to other investors.
Visitor Numbers Rise and Fall
Data from the Office of National Statistics, measuring the number of visits to the UK made by overseas residents, show a dip from 3.53 million in July 2006 to 3.24 million in July this year. But tourism agencies in Scotland suggest that a growth in hotel occupancy rates, a record-breaking festival period and soaring airline passenger numbers indicate that Edinburgh may have bucked that trend. And other statistics from VisitScotland suggest that visitor numbers (including those from other parts of the UK) have actually increased in Scotland by over 5%. In Aberdeen, however, there was concern that the north-east had seen an estimated slump of 4.8% in the number of tourists in the first seven months of this year, compared with the same period last year. Indeed, numbers were down by 13.5% in July. The reason may have been the poor weather as the key target market in that part of Scotland is "discerning empty nesters" - affluent couples whose children had left home and who prefer non-commercial activities such as walking on beaches and the countryside. Indoor attractions in the area - such as distilleries offering tours - were reporting an increase in activity.
Glasgow Fort Expansion
It may be oddly named, but the Glasgow Fort shopping centre has proved to be increasingly popular since it opened in the east end of Glasgow in October 2004. Now a new planning application has been lodged with Glasgow City Council for a £25m development at the shopping mall, which will result in a 40% increase in retail space. A major coup for the centre is the decision by up-market retailer Marks and Spencers to open a major unit in the centre, which is next door to the Easterhouse housing scheme. Already providing 400,000 square feet of retail space, the expansion, if approved, will create another 175,000 square feet of shopping and restaurant facilities and an enlarged car park
Approval for Scotland's Second Largest Wind Farm
The Scottish Government has approved the plans for a wind farm at Harestanes, near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway which will have 71 turbines, making it the second largest in the country. The site is set to generate 213 megawatts of power and will be second in size only to Whitelee, near Glasgow. The development in the Forest of Ae is the first to be approved by new government ministers since coming to office in May. This latest wind farm is estimated to be able to produce enough electricity for 120,000 homes. And being in southern Scotland, it is not dependent on the proposed line of electricity pylons through the Highlands to allow it to connect to the national grid. Construction will begin in the spring of 2008 and the first turbine is due to arrive in 2010. But consent for wind farms at both Clashindarroch near Huntly in Aberdeenshire and Calliacher near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, has been refused by the Scottish Government as they were deemed to create an unacceptable visual impact.
Abbotsford Housing Plan Rejected
The Scottish Government has reversed a planning decision by Scottish Borders Council and rejected a proposal to build 79 homes within sight of Sir Walter Scott's historic home of Abbotsford. The development plan was the subject of a five-day public enquiry, with the trustees of Abbotsford describing the proposals as a "slap in the face" to anyone who cared about Scotland's heritage. Representatives of the development company insisted it was consistent with both local and national planning policy. Scottish Borders Council narrowly voted in favour of the proposals last year. But because of its proximity to Abbotsford House, the plans were taken to public inquiry and have now been rejected by the Government.
New Nature Reserves for Cairngorms
46,000 acres of the Cairngorms National Park were designated this week as "national nature reserves" (NNR) which will mean that nature conservation will be the highest priority - and will make it very difficult for developers to move in and build in those areas. The three NNRs cover an area from the River Spey to the summit of Ben Macdui. They include several Munros (mountains over 3,000ft) and Corbetts (those between 2,500ft and 3,000ft) as well as some of the UK's best hillwalking and climbing routes.
Luckenbooth - an Anthology of Edinburgh Poetry
This collection of poems about many aspects of Edinburgh has obviously been edited by someone who has fallen in love with Scotland's capital city. There are works by the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott, but there is also a focus on 20th century authors - as we would expect from the editor of the anthology, Lizzie MacGregor, who is an assistant librarian at the Scottish Poetry Library. Readers may be find some old friends, such as Ferguson's "Auld Reekie", but with a knowledgeable editor at the helm, there's plenty of new poetry too. The light-hearted "Peevers in Parliament Square", for example, is a joy. Luckenbooths were shops in Edinburgh, situated on the Royal Mile from St Giles' Cathedral down towards the Canongate. They were the city's first permanent shops that housed jewellery workers and other trades, dating from the 16th century. The "Luckenbooth" anthology of poems about Edinburgh is available via Amazon UK or www.birlinn.co.uk.
Imperial Measures
Since 1995, all goods sold by weight or volume have been required to display the metric measurements of litres or kilos. But there has been a long-running campaign in the UK to allow the continuation of the traditional imperial measures of pints, pounds and ounces. The autocrats in Brussels wanted a standard measure throughout the European Union but "metric martyrs" fought against the ruling, sometimes being taken to court when they failed to obey the new laws and regulations. But this week the European Union finally caved in and announced that imperial measures can carry on indefinitely. For most supermarkets and manufacturers, the relaxation will mean very little. But small scale producers, such as farmers' markets and stall-holders selling loose goods, can continue to price their products by the pint or pound/ounces, without the threat of prosecution.
Biofuels from Whisky
Researchers at the University of Abertay's School of Contemporary Sciences have been awarded a Carnegie Trust grant to investigate turning residues from brewing and distilling into biofuel. The Dundee-based researchers will look at new ways of turning grain used up in the distilling process into bioethanol, an environmentally-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. Most biofuels are produced from sugar cane and maize starch. But this uses up land which could be farmed for other crops and in Brazil tropical forests are being destroyed to create fields of sugar cane. Turning waste products into biofuels is a more complicated process, but could become an even more environmentally friendly alternative.
Weather in Scotland This Week
Another very changeable week, with a lot of cloud but some sunny spells and showers too - sometimes following one another in quick succession. Maximum daily temperatures at the start of the week were mainly in the range 17/19C (63/66F) though the north-west coast and the Hebrides were much cooler, ranging from 11/15C (52/59F). By Saturday, all parts of the country saw a drop in temperatures - Aberdeen and the north-esat reached only 9C (48F) and even Glasgow peaked at 14C (57F) during the day. Away from the brisk westerly winds, Edinburgh escaped the cooler weather, reaching 17C (63F) on Saturday.
The illustration is of Kinross house Gardens, with Loch Leven and its castle in the distance.
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 a Comma Butterfly (see thumbnail here) - which gets its name from the white mark on its underside; Roses growing in the garden of Kinross House; Red Road High Flats, Balornock, Glasgow; Common Hawker Dragonfly at rest on a Hydrangea flower; deep red Dahlia in the walled garden at Culzean Castle Country Park. See This Week's Colour Supplement
Historical Affairs - Topical Items from Scotland's Past
Restoration Project for "Greek" Thomson Church
The A-listed Free Church of Scotland building on St Vincent Street in Glasgow, is a prominent landmark near the centre of the city. Designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson in 1857, its giant tower and Grecian architectural features have ensured that it is one of the well-loved buildings in the city. The church underwent a partial revamp in 1999, but work had to be suspended when funding dried up. Despite being one of Glasgow's architectural gems, it has been a struggle to obtain further finance and at one stage the building was on an "at risk" register. Now Historic Scotland has announced a £350,000 grant and, together with funds from other sources, a £1.85 million project has now got underway to provide roof and structural repairs, internal replastering and other work. The building is the only one of three churches by Thomson to survive. It incorporates not only Thomson's trademark Greek influences, but also Egyptian and Roman features.
Researching John Paul Jones' Past
The man regarded as the founder of the US Navy, John Paul Jones, was born in 1747 in a small white-washed cottage at Arbigland near Kirkbean, Kircudbrightshire, on the Solway coast. He joined the fledgling American Navy and defeated a British naval force at a battle off Flamborough Head on the Yorkshire coast of England. The cottage where he was born was opened as a museum in 1993, with financial help from American supporters. Now a US team is carrying out an archaeological dig which hope to find interesting artefacts from the time when Jones lived there. Even rubbish which had been thrown out into the adjoining yard will help the archaeologists reconstruct how people lived hundreds of years ago.
Next Week in Scottish History
Entertainment
Edinburgh Castle Brightens Up
The floodlighting which has bathed Edinburgh Castle after dark was installed in the 1970s. It was based on aging sodium lamps, which gave a yellowish orange tinge to the stonework - as in the picture here. But this week Historic Scotland switched on 93 modern, energy-efficient ceramic metal halide lamps, which produce a natural white light. The new system also slashes electricity costs by 50%. The changeover of all the bulbs was done by a team of electricians in one day - quite a feat, considering that in many cases they had to abseil down the rock faces to reach the lamps. It is claimed that the new lights will also bring a lot more definition to the castle, highlighting the stonework and the architectural detail.
Black Watch Play to Tour US?
The controversial "Black Watch" play, presented by the National Theatre of Scotland, is a due to premiere in Los Angeles on 21 September for a four-week run. It then moves to New York's St Ann's Warehouse, where the opening night has already sold out. Now the British Council, which has helped Black Watch into the US market, says that there is considerable interest from theatres in other states of America such as Virginia and Ohio. The play is based on interviews with former soldiers who served in Iraq. It is told from the soldier's perspective, and what it's like to be part of the "war on terror" and coming back home.
Scots Abroad
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.
Coisir Ghaidhlig Astrailianach (The Australian Gaelic Singers)
This group celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a traditional ceilidh earlier this month in Sydney NSW. This Gaelic choir was founded in 1982 to ensure that Gaelic music had a presence in that part of the world. Since 1986, the choir has followed a policy of bringing noted Gaelic performers out to Australia. This process was not only to provide entertainment at concerts but also for vocal, music and piping workshops to enhance the skills of local performers. The choir has even reversed the migration trend by competing in Scotland at the National Mod in 1992, 2000 and 2002. They gained high marks and praise not only for the Gaelic, but also for their interpretation of the music. None of this would have been achieved without immense fund raising on the part of the choristers and their supporters. So the social interaction and the music of the Gael is alive and well in Sydney. See also www.ozcoisir.org.
Ottawa (Single Malt) Whisky Lovers Society
This tasting society meets bi-monthly for dinner and three malts and attracts an attendance of around 100 lovers of single malt whisky. In addition to enjoying the food and drink, the group raise money for charity. They also hold an annual barbecue and have a mascot - a bear called Bowmore Darkest - see graphic!
Sport
Clydesdale Bank Premierleague Results - 15 September 2007
Aberdeen 1 Motherwell 2
Celtic 5 Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0
Falkirk 1 Hibernian 1
Gretna 1 Kilmarnock 2
Heart of Midlothian 4 Rangers 2
Dundee United v St Mirren will be played on SundayIrn-Bru Scottish Football League First Division Results - 15 September 2007
Dundee 1 Dunfermline 1
Hamilton 4 Stirling Albion 0
Livingston 4 Greenock Morton 0
Queen of the South 1 Clyde 1
St Johnstone 2 Partick Thistle 1Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Second Division Results - 15 September 2007
Airdrie United 1 Peterhead 1
Alloa 2 Queens Park 0
Berwick Rangers 3 Brechin City 3
Cowdenbeath 1 Ayr United 1
Raith Rovers 0 Ross County 2
Irn-Bru Scottish Football League Third Division Results - 15 September 2007
Dumbarton 1 Stenhousemuir 2
East Stirling 2 Stranraer 3
Elgin 3 Albion Rovers 2
Forfar 1 Arbroath 3
Montrose 3 East Fife 1Scottish Rugby Premiership 1 Results - 15 September 2007
Ayr 20 Watsonians 27
Boroughmuir 44 Dundee 10
Currie 28 Stirling County 22
Edinburgh Academicals 12 Hawick 13
Glasgow Hutchesons 31 Heriots 27
Melrose 32 Glasgow Hawks 25League Tables
Hearts' win over Rangers combined with Celtic's easy win over Inverness resulted in the Hoops moving to the top of the SPL, one point ahead of Rangers. Hibernian and Motherwell are just behind them, both with 12 points. At the foot of the table, Inverness are without a single point this season and Gretna are only one point better off.
In Division 1, Hamilton are out in front with 18 points, 4 ahead of Dundee. Both Clyde and Stirling have only 4 points at the foot of the table.
In the Scottish Rugby Premiership 1, Currie and Boroughmuir lead the pack with 14 points while Edinburgh and Glasgow Hawks have only managed to earn 3 points so far this season.
Tartan Army on the March
The 15,000 Scottish fans who cheered on the Scotland team in Paris on Wednesday - and the millions who watched on TV - were enthusiastic as Scotland put up a stout defence against France at the Parc des Princes. Then James McFadden fired a long-range shot which the French keeper could only palm into the net - and the Scottish supporters went wild. That was 15 minutes into the second half and there were a tense 30 minutes while Scotland strived successfully to deny France an equaliser. The shockwaves of Scotland's 1-0 defeat of France reverberated around the world. Scotland now sit at the top of their qualifying group, with 21 points from 9 games, one point ahead of Italy and two ahead of France. Scotland's remaining games will not be easy (against Ukraine and Italy at home and against Georgia away) but to be at the top of a tough group, with only three games to play, is causing even the most cynical of Scottish supporters to think the unthinkable - that Scotland might actually qualify to go to the Euro 2008 finals next year.
Hibernian Announce Record Profit
Hibernian Football club announced this week a record annual net profit of £7.4 million for last year. Success on the pitch (Hibs won the CIS Cup, reached the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and were 6th in the SPL) brought in the crowds while sales of valuable players to Celtic and Rangers produced a net profit of £6.4 million in transfer fees. But even without the transfer profits, the club would have had a positive financial result.
Financial Problems for Royal Commonwealth Pool
Edinburgh City Council will be hoping that Glasgow is successful in its bid to stage the Commonwealth Games in 2014. Not that there has been a sudden warming in relations between the cities who have a long history of rivalry. But if Glasgow is successful, it will dig Edinburgh out of a financial problem with the refurbishment of the Royal Commonwealth Pool in the Capital. Finance for that was supposed to come from the sale of Meadowbank stadium - but that has been abandoned, after protests from residents in the catchment area of the facility. But Glasgow's bid includes a guarantee that the government would underwrite the refurbishment of the Commonwealth Pool's high diving facilities. Rising costs have produced a multi-million pound shortfall in Edinburgh's planned redevelopment of the pool. Now the only hope of getting additional government support is if Glasgow wins the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Mountain Bike World Championships Until 2012?
The highly successful UCI Mountain Bike Championships, which were held at Lochaber near Fort William from 3 to 9 September, attracted 40,000 spectators and proved to be a hit amongst the competitors too. The mountain bike World Cup has also been staged there on five previous occasions and will do so again next year. Now EventScotland, the British Cycling Federation and the International Cycling Federation (UCI) are discussing a funding package which would ensure that the World cup returns to Lochaber every year until 2012.
Super Dario Wins 2007 IndyCar Series Championship
When Dario Franchitti returns to his home town of Bathgate in West Lothian, he will be sure of a hero's welcome. The 34-year-old motor racing star clinched the 2007 IndyCar Series championship at the Chicagoland race track last Sunday. Franchitti won the famous Indy 500 race in May - and then had a spectacular crash at the Michigan Speedway last month. His family back in West Lothian are planning a party for the champion and his film star wife Ashley Judd, as soon as they are back in Scotland. And West Lothian Council plan to hold a civic reception in his honour. Franchitti honed some of his driving skills at the Knockhill racing circuit in Fife, racing go-karts as a teenager. He owns a mansion in Perthshire as well as a ranch near Nashville in the US.
Magazine Section
Tiffin is an Indian and British term for a light meal eaten during the day. The word became popular in British India. In South India the term is generally used to mean an in-between-meals snack and it is customary to be offered a "Tiffin" as a courtesy when you visit a Tamil resident. In home baking, there are a number of "Tiffin" recipes, most using broken biscuits and chocolate as the main ingredients. So although the recipe link below specifies specific ingredients and quantities - feel free to experiment! The picture shows Tiffin cut in a triangular shape, beside a scone and jam.
Other less elegant names for Tiffin are "Chocolate Concrete" or even "Cement".... See 