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 Pictorial Calendar 2016
This is the 15th successive year that the Rampant Scotland Pictorial calendar has been added to the site to allow folk around the world print their own calendar of Scottish pictures, Back in 2002 there was a choice of six graphics to choose from for each month but that became 4 after a few years. I keep thinking of making it just one picture each month but everyone has their own taste and, unlike commercial printed calendars, there is no additional cost in providing 48 instead of 12 pictures! See: Rampant Scotland Pictorial Calendar 2016
Memory Lane - Supper In The Fifties......
Here's a list of changes to the food we ate in the 1950's compared with today. In those days, Curry was a surname and a take-away was a mathematical problem...! See Memory Lane - Supper In The Fifties......
Memory Lane - Mummy-Daddy
From the age of 12 to 17 Alistair Macdonald was a member of the Boys’ Brigade in Dundee. All companies were encouraged to provide musicians for the several annual Battalion parades. Alistair became a side drummer and had to learn how to play "the Roll" with the instructor keeping time with his call of "Mummy.... Daddy..." He never quite mastered, it but even so had to participate in a parade - feeling like a dog standing on its hind legs. It doesn't do it well, but you're surprised it does it at all! See Memory Lane - Mummy-Daddy
Memory Lane - Cragburn Pavilion Gourock Dance Hall
It wasn't just Glasgow and Edinburgh where dancing was popular in years gone by. Many of the top '50's bands played at Cragburn Pavilion in Gourock hosted bands such as Joe Loss and Oscar Rabin and a summer show each year had top artists from Scotland including Tommy Morgan, Alec Finlay, Larry Marshall, and The One O-Clock Gang of TV fame. See: Memory Lane - Cragburn Pavilion Gourock Dance Hall
Scottish Castles Photo Library - Scotstarvit Tower, Fife
Although the surname "Scott" is usually associated with the Scottish Borders, there were branches of the Scotts who became established in Fife as well. Since my own family tree goes back to the Scotts Ceres in Fife, I always have an interest in that area. So when I came across new information about Scotstarvit Tower, which is not far from Ceres, I couldn't resist updating its page in the Scottish Castles Photo Library. It seems that John Scott (Lord Scotstarvit) who acquired the estate and tower came from the male line of the Scottish Border Scotts of Buccleuch. So maybe I'm a Borderer after all! See: Scottish Castles Photo Library - Scotstarvit Tower, Fife
Bookstore
In the run up to Christmas, if you are thinking of buying a Scottish-related book as a present, don't forget the collection available on Rampant Scotland! See
Selected Scottish Books on Amazon UK
Selected Scottish Books on Amazon USA
Selected Scottish Books on Amazon Canada
Next Newsletter
The next newsletter is scheduled for 19 December 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!
And Merry Christmas to everyone when it comes!
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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