Current Affairs President Bush Sends Tartan Day Message US President George Bush has sent a message to Scotland in which he tells of his admiration for the role Scots play in American life and in shaping the US. He noted their significant role in the drafting of and signing of the Declaration of Independence and their service as governors and military heroes. 10,000 pipers and drummers are expected to march through New York on 6 April to create a new world record for the largest pipe band parade. There are events planned all over North America and other parts of the world. For a list of many of these see Tartan Day Events on this site. Passports Needed to Fly to Scotland from England A number of the internal airlines including GO and Ryanair are insisting on passengers providing photographic evidence of identity (passports, photo driving licences etc) before they are allowed to fly. A number of passengers have been turned away because they did not have these. So you may now need a passport to fly to Scotland from England (or vice-versa of course)! The new rules have been introduced in response to the events of September 11. Petrol Prices Rise There were mutters this week from the organisers of the fuel protest 18 months ago about the recent rises in the price of petrol. Over the last few weeks the uncertainty in the Middle East and the control of output by the Opec countries has resulted in petrol prices jumping by about 5p to around 75p a litre. Scotland was almost brought to a standstill 18 months ago by truckers and farmers blocking oil refineries so that petrol could not reach the pumps. Due to high excise duty, petrol costs in the UK are the highest in Europe. Anglers Have Field Day An escape by 20,000 fish from a salmon farm on Orkney had hundreds of locals fishing from the pier at Kirkwall and surrounding areas in the hope of catching some of the escapees. Some were successful, catching up to half a dozen salmon. The loss of the fish, which occurred as a result of damage to mooring equipment, will cost the farm over £500,000 and there were concerns about the impact on wild salmon. Members of Parliament Lobby to Save Castle Sentries Eight out of ten of the Members of Parliament in Edinburgh and surrounding areas have given their backing to the call for the sentries at Edinburgh Castle to remain. The army argues that they are only "ornamental soldiers" as they are not part of the security for the castle. They were only in place from May to October - the main tourist season. The army say that they are a "drain on resources" and will only supply them for special occasions. But it is argued that they are appreciated by tourists and are on a par with the Household Cavalry in London, probably the most photographed soldiers in the world. Fortunately, although the sentries are being wihdrawn, the famous "One o'clock gun" (pictured here) will still be fired by army personnel. Australian Wine With Flavour of Stonehaven The Australian wine producer Bill Hardy was in the Aberdeenshire coastal town of Stonehaven this week where sales of his Stonehaven brand of wine have taken off. But he was unable to provide a full answer to why that name had been given to the vineyard. The company bought it with that name and there is a Grampian Mountain range 30 miles away and to get there you have to pass through Keith (the name of another north-east of Scotland town). But there are other associations in Australia with the name Stonehaven - there are trophies for yachting and golf called the Stonehaven Cups, named after Lord Stonehaven who was Governor General of Australia from 1925-30. Stonehaven Wine won the best winery competition at the San Francisco wine fair in 2000 and is popular in the US - as well as Aberdeenshire. Baxters' Directors in the Soup Baxters of Speyside, the successful family firm in Fochabers which makes quality soups, jams and chutneys, is to dismiss five of its eleven directors. Audrey Baxter, the chairwoman of the company, has acted on the advice of consultants who have recommended widespread changes in the firm. The aim is to create a slimmed down executive - profits last year dipped from £4.072 million to £3.162 million on increased turnover. Baxters has been in business since 1868 and Ms Baxter is the fourth generation of Baxters to lead the well-known company. Its success is due to embracing modern methods and technology while still maintaining traditional high standards of quality.It employs 900 staff, has annual sales of £40 million and sells its products in 60 markets worldwide. After the boardroom clear-out, the company announced that it was to expand by introducing new products and going on the acquisition trail. The aim is to more than double turnover over the next few years. How We Spend Our Time The Office of National Statistics has carried out a survey of 11,700 people and 6,500 households in the UK to establish, on average, how much time we spend each day on various activities. Of course, the largest amount of time was spent on sleeping but the study showed that, contrary to expectations, women manage to get 8 minutes a day longer than men sleeping - men average eight hours and 25 minutes a day. A lot of time is spent commuting to work. But people in Scotland spend least time on the journey, an average of three and half hours a week, compared to those in London and the south-east of England whose weekly average is four hours and 50 minutes. Youngsters are now spending more time in front of the PC (usually playing computer games) than watching TV. And instead of being a nation of couch potatoes, the figures show that we spend longer taking exercise than watching sport on TV. Walking, swimming and keep fit are the most popular pursuits. Age obviously has an impact on how we spend our time, with reading and listening to music becoming more popular with the older age groups. But the concept of "silver surfers" took a knock with the figures showing that the average 65+ age group spends just 3 minutes a day logged on. Of course, there may be very few people who match the statistical average. Commemorative Stamps Issued for Queen Mother The Post Office braced itself for high demand for a set of postage stamps commemorating the life of the Queen Mother which went on sale on Thursday. The set of stamps shows photographs of the Queen Mum from different periods of her life, including one as a child at Glamis Castle in Angus. The same stamps, without a black border, were originally issued to celebrate her 90th birthday in 1990. Historical Affairs Villagers Win Pictish Victory When the base of the 8th century Hilton of Cadboll Pictish cross-slab was uncovered last year in the spot in Easter Ross where it had lain for 1,200 years, local villagers argued that it should remain in the area, rather than be taken to the Museum of Scotland (where the rest of the monument is on display - see illustration). Now, after a public meeting in the village, Historic Scotland have agreed that it should remain in a protected shed near where it was discovered. A Historic Hilton Trust has been formed to promote the history of the area and preserve historical artefacts. They will also lobby to have the rest of the stone returned from Edinburgh. Play "Old Style" Golf at Leith Links In 1744, the first rules of golf were established and played at Leith Links, near Edinburgh. Now, over 250 years later, golf will again be played in the old style on the links to coincide with the British Open at The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers (better known as Muirfield) on 18th July to 21st July 2002. Five greens will be created on a temporary basis on the east side of Leith Links from 13 to 22 July 2002, with each hole approximately 150 yards each in length. Players will be able to hire traditional hickory clubs, gutta percha balls and armed with an original style score card before setting off on what is regarded as the oldest golf course in Scotland. It is believed that golf was first played on the ancient links at Leith, the shipping port of Edinburgh, where the first rules of golf were drawn up and recorded. Golf was then played at the nearby fishing port of Musselburgh, before moving to Muirfield along the east coast in 1891. Home of TV Inventor for Sale The Victorian villa in Helensburgh which was once the home of John Logie Baird, the inventor of the first television broadcasting system, has been put on the market. The five-bedroomed detached house was where Baird carried out some of his early inventive experiments - some of them nearly disastrous. He set up an early "telephone exchange" with low wires strung across the road and nearly decapitated the driver of a hansom cab which was passing by. He also tried (and failed) to launch a glider, aided by a childhood friend, Jack Buchanan, who later became a Hollywood movie star. The estate agent says there has been a great deal of interest in the house - quite apart from the historical connections, Helensburgh is a popular area with quiet leafy streets, overlooking the Firth of Clyde and a good train service to Glasgow. The sculpture of John Logie Baird shown here stands on the esplanade at Helensburgh. Entertainment Whisky Festival for Culture Capital Part of the bid for Inverness and the Highlands becoming Culture Capital of Europe, involves the setting up of a malt whisky festival. There has been a positive response to the idea from the Malt Distillers Association and the Scotch Whisky association. And, of course, Guinness UDV who sponsor events at the Highland Festival each year are also said to be keen. Previous attempts to organise a whisky festival in Speyside have proved to be unsuccessful, however. Museum of Flight Exhibition of Big Machines Tying in with the Edinburgh Science Festival, the Museum of Flight at East Fortune in East Lothian is presenting a fully interactive exhibition of "Big Machines". A 180-ton crane, Britain's biggest ever rocket, huge excavators, the world's first jet airliner, tractors, caterpillars, combine harvesters, helicopters, hot air balloons, buses, fire engines, traction engines, refuse lorries and cement mixers are just some of the Big Machines on display. And there's even the chance to take some of them for a ride. And of course the Museum's aeronautical collection of 50 aircraft is on display too, including Britain's oldest surviving aeroplane, Percy Pilcher's 'Hawk' glider of 1896 as well as modern passenger airliners and supersonic jet fighters and a Vulcan bomber which took part in the Falkland Islands conflict (illustrated here). Newspaper Becomes Work of Art The major new exhibition of the work of David Mach, one of Scotland's more controversial artists, began at the end of last month in the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) in Glasgow. A collection of his works are on display under the title of "Hell Bent". They include "sculptures" made of coat hangers, a series of heads made from matchsticks (which are surprisingly life-like) and a collection of cuddly teddy bears brandishing power tools in a most menacing fashion. That juxta-position of symbols which are regarded as soft and cozy with violent ones is continued with a large montage of garden gnomes, fighting their way through a garden armed with dangerous-looking garden tools. Many of the exhibits are quite amusing, which fits in with GOMA's aim to entertain and make the visitors smile. David Mach himself has been in the gallery for the last few weeks creating a sculpture in front of the spectators. Like many of Mach's larger scale works (he made a full-size steam train from bricks) it uses small-scale objects (in this case, 40 tonnes of the local "Herald" newspaper) piled into huge swathes and curves, with rusty motor cars mixed amongst them. Entitled "Bangers and Mash", Mach has constructed the massive sculpture with the help of his brother and a local artist. One question remains. Who will move the 120,000 newspapers when the exhibition ends?

Making Your Mark on Holyrood The team progressing the construction of the new Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood are to ask members of the public to nominate favourite phrases and quotations, some of which will end up inscribed on the walls of the finished building. The idea was first proposed by the building's designer, the late Enric Miralles. An announcement is expected soon about a competition in which Scots will be asked for their favourite words and quotes. Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott will no doubt figure in the selection but whether today's TV catch phrases such as "Gonnae no' do that?" will make it to the walls of the Parliament is debatable. But perhaps the most appropriate words for the parliament would be from Robert Burns (of course) - O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us! Scots Living Longer Predicted life expectancy in Scotland is getting longer, but is still lagging that of the rest of the United Kingdom. The director of Public Health Institute for Scotland says that this is due to a range of factors, including the legacy of the last 70 or 80 years. Adverse social circumstances, working in heavy industries, high smoking rates and poorer diet, have all contributed. In England and Wales, average life expectancy for men is now 75.1 and for women it is 80. In Scotland, the figures are 72.8 for men and 78 for women. Of course, the figures can vary across the country - men in the northern isles of Orkney live an average of 74.3 years and women 81.9 years. But the lowest figures are in the major centres of population such as Glasgow where the figures are 70.5 for men and 76.7 for women. Campbells and MacDonalds Work Together When a Campbell was appointed by the National Trust for Scotland as the man in charge of their new visitor centre at Glencoe, there was a predictable outcry from those who still blame the Campbells for the Massacre there in 1692. The Trust responded that Roddy Campbell was the "best man for the job" and that they could not exclude someone because his surname was Campbell. But now the Trust have brought some peace to the glen - by appointing a MacDonald as a senior manager at the centre. Again, the Trust maintain that she was not selected on the basis of her surname - but there must have been a few wry smiles at their HQ in Charlotte Square in Edinburgh when she won the job - on merit. The new centre is to open next Wednesday and already has run into controversy about its interpretation of the massacre. It blames the event on the regimental soldiers of King William who were given clear orders to carry out the killings. Despite living on in popular memory as the Campbells massacring the MacDonalds, only a small number of the soldiers were Campbells. Nine Foot High Tribute to Former First Minister There is no doubt that the late First Minister Donald Dewar, whose modesty became an art form, would not have approved of a statue in his memory, even one beside the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in the city he loved. But the nine-feet high bronze statue was unveiled this week by Prime Minister Tony Blair who was accompanied by many of Scotland's leading politicians. The statue, which is an excellent likeness of the man, crumpled suit and all, was created by Scots artist Kenny Mackay whose workshop is in Mr Dewar's former Glasgow Anniesland constituency. The plinth bears the words "There shall be a Scottish Parliament" - the opening sentence of the Scotland Act of which Donald Dewar was the architect. As one commentator remarked: "Dewar was a monumental figure in modern politics and he has now been officially put on a pedestals." Of course, this is Glasgow. So within 48 hours a traffic cone had appeared on the top of the statue. Donald would have approved of the irreverence. Although the cone was immediately removed, it may well reappear - the authorities have given up removing the traffic cone on top of a statue to the Duke of Wellington in Exchange Square and it has now become a popular tourist attraction. Fruit - A Soft Option Researchers at Dundee University are working with health experts, food industrialists, marketers and fruit growers to see how an increase in the consumption of soft fruit could help improve the health of people living in Scotland. Although a lot of berry fruits are grown in Scotland, it is regarded as being at the luxury end of the market and avoided by those on lower incomes, the very people who could improve their diets with more fresh fruit and vegetables. An Old Kirk in a New Scotland Although the Church of Scotland commissioned journalist Harry Reid to write a book about the challenges to the church, they are getting more than they bargained for. The book says the church is failing, led by incompetent management and supported by stingy worshippers who do not contribute enough to the upkeep of the church. He suggests that church members should be required to pay a percentage of their income to the church and that ministers' manses should be sold off and replaced with more suitable accommodation. The church's chief treasurer has to deal with 20 executives who deal with their own committees which report to the General Assembly, the church's governing body, which meets once a year. Despite the criticism, the Moderator of the Church of Scotland, who commissioned the book, welcomed the comments, saying that it could act as a catalyst for reform. The book comes hard on the heels of a report by the kirk's national mission which says that with 17,000 fewer members each year, the church could cease to exist by 2050. Scotland at the Smithsonian The Scottish Executive has agreed to invest £250,000 in staging a two-week cultural festival, showcasing the best of Scotland, at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington next summer. Entitled, rather unimaginatively, "Scotland at the Smithsonian", it will run from June 29 next year, taking in the July 4 Independence Day celebrations. The Folklife Festival has been staged by the Smithsonian each year since 1965. It draws crowds of around a million with millions more aware of the event via the media. A team of researchers from the institute was in Scotland during the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow in January and visited the Globe Inn, the 392-year-old haunt of Robert Burns. Historical Affairs Airship Factory Takes Off Again The giant R34 airship was built at a site near Inchinnan in Renfrewshire before it made the first ever Transatlantic flight by a lighter-than-air craft in 1919. Later, an art deco building, the India Tyre Factory was created on the site. This is now regarded as one of the most important art deco buildings in the UK. The tyre factory closed down 20 years ago and the building has been derelict ever since. Now, Graham Technology, an IT firm, has spent £7 million to convert it for use as their HQ. While the art deco frontage has been retained, a number of additions have been made which pay homage to its airship past. The futuristic extension at the rear is modelled on an airship gondola. Original features inside the building include an elegant staircase modelled on the entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamen and rich turquoise tiles reminiscent of opulent Roman palaces. The illustration shows the modern extension with an aerofoil projecting at roof level. Tribute to New Zealanders Last weekend, a plaque was unveiled to commemorate New Zealand Airmen who served in Scotland during the Second World War and in gratitude for those who lost their lives. The ceremony took place during the annual Aero and Auto Extravaganza at the Museum of Flight at East Fortune. A rare two-seater Spitfire Mk IX took part in the flying display along with a Pitts Special, Se5a and a classic Tiger Moth. Beltane Fire Festival Perhaps this item should appear in the "Historical Affairs" section of the Newsletter as it relates to a pagan celebration on Beltane's Day - May 1. Whether the Druids would recognise the 300 painted dancers, fire-eaters, jugglers, torch-light procession, bonfire and painted performers at the National Monument on Calton Hill (pictured here) in the centre of Edinburgh is doubtful, but thousands of spectators turn up each year to see the entertainment. This year, the Beltane Society, which organises the event, is asking spectators to make a voluntary donation. They are reluctant to impose a charge but they need £15,000 each year for security, health and safety and the clean-up operation afterwards. The Druids never had such problems. Waverley Sails On Another £4 million is to be invested in the future of the "Waverley", the world's last ocean-going paddle steamer. She will undergo a major refurbishment of parts of the hull, engines, lounge bar and upper deck. A new public address system will allow passengers to hear a running historical commentary as they sail down the Clyde. £3 million of the funding is being provided by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund; the rest has been raised by the charitable trust that operates the vessel. The Waverley was originally built in 1946 to carry 1,350 passengers on cruises to Loch Goil and Loch Long at speeds up to 18 knots (21 mph). She was sold to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in 1974 for one pound. These days, passenger numbers are restricted to 925. Even so, she carries 150,000 passengers a year Entertainment Glasg-olé - Gracias Glasgow! 52,000 fans were at Hampden Park in Glasgow to see the Champions League football final on Wednesday evening, with an estimated 400 million watching on TV across the world. Real Madrid from Spain won the match against Bayer Leverkusen from Germany by 2-1 but the Spanish side had to fight hard to retain their lead, especially in the last 20 minutes. Although there was a steady downpour during the match, Glasgow and Scotland proved to be first-class hosts to the visiting fans and the world's media who turned up for the showcase event. It will have done Scotland's chances of hosting the Euro 2008 competition no harm at all. The city had been decked out in flags during the weeks leading up to the final and George Square in the centre of the city was closed to traffic to allow fans to congregate there both before and after the match. Catering facilities at Hampden were geared to accepting Euro currency - both Spain and Germany use the new notes and coins - and many city bars were licenced to stay open for extended hours. Spanish restaurants in Glasgow were overflowing and Glasgow airport had a busy night with charter flights departing regularly with tired but enthusiastic fans. Proclaimers Reclaim Leith Craig and Charlie Reid, better known as The Proclaimers, have had a new lease of life since returning to the recording studio two years ago after a six-and-a-half year gap. They capped their current success by topping the pre-match entertainment at the European Cup Final at Hampden this week - and then gave a free performance at a shopping centre in Leith. The twins were at the Ocean Terminal to unveil a plaque which recalled that their 1988 album "Sunshine On Leith" had sold 2.5 million copies around the world. Born in Leith but brought up in Fife, Leith is certainly the adopted home of the Reid twins. Protecting Penguins Edinburgh Zoo has had a successful Gentoo penguin breeding season this year after covering the penguin enclosure with fishing wire to ward off marauding seagulls. Last year, eggs and chicks were snatched from their nests but these year the defences have allowed 15 chicks to hatch and survive. Malt and Music in Islay Two well-known Scottish talents - making malt and making music - will be celebrated on the Isle of Islay from May 24 to June 3 in Fèis Ile - Islay Festival of Malt & Music 2002. The festival has run annually on Islay for more than 15 years, and for the third year it combines with the Islay Whisky Festival. Concerts and ceilidhs feature popular local musicians, distillery tours and whisky tastings are on throughout the Festival, culminating in a carnival-type event, The Feis Count Down, on Port Ellen Green. The festival also features dances, fetes, craft fairs, concerts, church services, a piping recital and puppet shows. For those wanting outdoor events, fishing, golf and bowling competitions are on the programmes for all ages as well as walks through the Islay Estate and surrounding countryside, a street parade complete with floats and a car treasure hunt. For more information visit www.islaywhiskyfestival.com.

June 2002

Current Affairs Queen Addresses Parliament The Queen, who performed the opening ceremony of the new Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh in July 1999, became the first Head of State to address the Parliament while it was in session. The Queen recalled that the then First Minister, Donald Dewar, recognised that Scotland was never going to build a new political culture overnight. She went on: "After what might be considered a parliamentary adjournment of almost three hundred years, that process will inevitably take time. In an age which tends to instant judgements, this is something we would all do well to remember. What cannot be denied is the volume of work which has been completed in the past three years, and the spirit of participation which has been encouraged along the way. In the number of Bills introduced, in the work of the Committees, and in the introduction of new practice and procedure, you are in the process of moulding an institution which is both in tune with the twenty-first century and true to principles laid down for it: of accessibility, accountability, equality of opportunity, and the sharing of power between executive, Parliament and people." The Queen continued: "I value the distinctive contribution that Scotland is making to strengthen the bonds that link the nations and regions of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and Europe." Spring Was a Little Earlier This Year - Official A scientific study of the flowering times of 350 British plants over the last 47 years has found that, on average, flowering has started four and a half days earlier in the last 10 years compared with the previous 40 years. In 16% of the species studied, flowering time was 15 days earlier and the white dead nettle's earliest time of blooming has moved from March 18 to January 23, a difference of 55 days. Climatologists say that the changes are completely consistent with other climate change statistics. Gardening Scotland 2002 A three-day gardening event took place at the Ingliston show ground near Edinburgh on Friday May 31 to Sunday June 2. Gardening Scotland 2002 is not a flower show in the conventional sense as all the displays are by commercial growers who are as keen on selling their products as showing the best of their blooms. Certainly, home owners who are keen to buy more plants for their garden are spoilt for choice, though by the time the entry fee of £13 is paid, it is unlikely that they will have got a bargain. Coming hard on the heels of the high class Chelsea Flower Show in London, which has been getting massive coverage on BBC TV, this is a very different exhibition. The illustration shows Harry Potter weaving his magic amongst one of the displays. New Funding Package for Gaelic Additional funding of £800,000 has been allocated by the Scottish Executive to encourage the increased use of Gaelic. Community groups will be able to apply for funding to support Gaelic initiatives covering training, community facilities, language learning, local history and cultural and heritage events. Feeling Blue About Saltire Colour Two years ago, campaigners from the Saltire Society failed to persuade the Scottish Parliament to legislate on the shade of blue in the national flag (the Saltire - a white cross of St Andrew on a blue background). The politicians argued, firstly, that it was a "reserved" matter and had to be dealt with at Westminster. Then it was suggested that "any shade of blue would do." But now the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the arbiter of all heraldic matters in Scotland, has decided that the colour is not a reserved matter and should be decided by the Scottish Parliament. As a result, a new petition is to be lodged. It is argued that azure or sky blue is the correct colour but flag makers, in the absence of any guidance, produce a motley range of different hues. Darker colours were introduced some time ago when dark blue dyes were cheaper than light blue. Success of Bank Clerk on a Swan 34-year-old bank clerk Angela Anderson burst onto Scottish TV screens a few months ago, astride a flying swan and singing the praises of the Bank of Scotland's savings accounts, to the music of "Angel" and "Somethin' Stupid." The advert was certainly eye-catching and got people talking - usually to comment on the unusual but banal presentation. Most people thought Angela "couldn't sing for toffee" - but the bank claims that in the following three months they doubled the expected number of new cheque accounts from 5,000 to 10,000. Angela has temporarily given up her job as a customer service officer at her branch in Glasgow and has been touring the country as the bank's "brand icon." But the banking union thinks she has been paid too little for her performances - a real actress would have been paid far more. Billion Pounds for School Building Programme In the week in which schools across the country closed for the summer holidays, Education Minister Cathy Jamieson announced a £1.15 billion package to build new schools with the latest facilities and revamp old ones. The cash will fund around 300 school building projects across Scotland, in addition to the 79 schools already being rebuilt or refurbished by Public Private Partnerships. This more than doubles the previously planned investment in school buildings. The Scottish Executive is also making £26.7 million available for immediate school repairs. Population centres such as Glasgow (£2.784m) and Edinburgh (£1.745m) will benefit most, but every council in Scotland will benefit from the School Building Improvement Fund. Aliens Boldly Go to Bonnybridge Figures published on June 24 (the anniversary of the sighting of mysterious disc-shaped objects over the Cascade mountains in the US which led to the term "flying saucer" being used for the first time) show that Scotland has the highest concentration of UFO sightings on the planet. About 300 sightings are made each year - 0.004 UFOs for every square kilometer of Scotland, higher than anywhere else. Although there are 2,000 sightings in the US, that's only 0.0002 sightings per square kilometer. The most popular spot for visiting aliens is Bonnybridge, 30 miles west of Edinburgh. A local council member has suggested that the town should be twinned with Roswell in New Mexico, the centre of US UFO activity. Historical Affairs Forth Wonder of the World It used to be that painting the 112-year-old Forth Rail Bridge was a never-ending task - as soon as the painters got to one end, they went back to the beginning and started again. Railtrack, the company currently responsible for maintaining the bridge, decided that using modern paints would allow them to cut back on the constant maintenance. But the company they hired to do the job ran well behind schedule and were sacked at the end of 1999. It has taken Railtrack over two years to appoint a new contractor - construction giant Balfour Beatty. Using paints developed for the North Sea oil rigs, which are expected to last for 20 years, it will take several years and 10,000 litres of paint to cover the 589,743 square feet of surface which makes up this distinctive bridge. Controversial Plans for John Muir Birthplace Officials of the John Muir Trust in Dunbar have unveiled more details of their plans to preserve the building in the High Street of Dunbar in East Lothian in which John Muir, one of the founders of conservation in the US, was born in 1838. The proposals have aroused a lot of controversy on both sides of the Atlantic, with critics describing the internal development as "cultural vandalism". The Trust maintains that the few remaining original features to survive (the house was completely gutted and modernised in 1970) such as shutters, some fireplaces and the roof trusses, will be retained. The exterior will be restored to its 1840s appearance, removing the cheap 20th century facade. Although John Muir is revered amongst conservationists in North America, he was largely forgotten in the land of his birth until recent years, following the setting up of the John Muir Trust. Plans to buy the house where he was born were announced two years ago and funding is now in place. It is hoped to create a top tourist attraction which retains a sense of the original house and which increases awareness of his achievements. Work on the project is expected to get underway next month and the house is expected to open next spring. Oyez, Oyez, Oyez Kilwinning in Ayrshire, the only town in Scotland with an official town crier, is to host Britain's Town Crier's Championship, a colourful pageant which will take place over the weekend of June 14-16. The event attracts entrants from all over the world. The current world champion is Mike Wood, a 6ft 5in ex-commando who is the official town crier of Hollywood, California. The competition will have a Scottish element with each contestant performing a "Clansman's call", from a clan chief to his community. "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez," which means "hark and listen," was the opening call from town criers all over the country to summon people to hear the latest announcements, before the days of newspapers, radio and TV. Bonnie Prince Charlie Planned a Second Uprising Ever the optimist, letters written by Bonnie Prince Charlie reveal that after the catastrophic defeat of the Jacobites at Culloden in 1746, he was trying to organise another invasion. 16 letters, which surfaced at an auction in France earlier this year, were written to the French King Louis XV between November 1746 and January 1748. The French king, however, distanced himself from the Young Pretender. Prince Charlie had argued that as the government in London were annihilating both their supporters and those who had taken part in the Jacobite Uprising, high levels of discontent in Scotland would result in strong support. But he said he needed money, supplies and a handful of regular troops. Later, in October 1748, France recognised the legitimacy of the Hanoverian succession in Britain and repudiated the Stuart claim. Charles died in Rome on 31 January 1788, in the arms of his daughter by Clementina Wilkinshaw, his mistress, whom he first met in Glasgow on the retreat from the invasion of England. Entertainment Falkirk Wheel The £75 million Millennium Link Project, which reopens the Forth and Clyde and the Union Canals, now has its final link operational - and it is an engineering marvel. The Falkirk Wheel replaces a series of locks, which once connected the canal systems, with a 115 feet high rotating boat lift. This takes canal boats from one canal to the next in a few minutes. There are huge metal cogs which slowly rotate, taking two sections of the canal - and two canal boats - from one level to another. Visitors can experience the world's first and only rotating boatlift by boarding one of the canal boat trips which sail along the Union Canal towards Edinburgh. And now that this link is in place, it is possible for the first time since 1963 to sail across central Scotland from Glasgow to Edinburgh. See also www.falkirk-wheel.com. Greenock Wins at Cannes Paul Laverty won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival last weekend for his drama about life in Greenock in the Ken Loach directed movie "Sweet Sixteen." There had been hopes that Martin Compston, the 17-year-old star of the film, might have won the best actor award for his gritty role as a youngster from a children's home who invents various money-making schemes to allow him to move away with his mother to start a new life. Compston's relaxed style had endeared him to the media at Cannes - he described how he had applied for the part "as a laugh." Floramondi - the Seventh World Flower Show The World Association of Flower Arrangers flower show is being held in Glasgow at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. The largest show of its kind in the world, there are hundreds of intricate floral art displays as well as trade stands, talks and demonstrations. Even in the world of flowers, however, there is controversy about the judging, with many of the awards going to exhibits made up more of driftwood or artefacts than flowers. The number of floral displays is staggering and it is difficult to see everything. Biggest Book Festival A record number of 550 authors will be appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival which runs from 10th to 27th August. Big names include Harold Pinter, Alan Bennett, Doris Lessing, Seamus Heaney, Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh, Faye Weldon, Terry Pratchett, Lady Anonia Fraser and Germaine Greer. The former UK Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd, will also be there. Many of the events at the Festival, which is held in a series of marquees in Charlotte Square, are already sold out. The organisers claim that this year's festival with 650 events and 550 authors is now "the biggest, most popular and the most dynamic celebration of the written word in the world". 120,000 people are expected to attend the festival. Royal Highland Flower Show The Royal Highland Show is sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland. Which may explain why the Flower Show, sponsored by the rival Bank of Scotland, is tucked away in a corner. But regular visitors know to beat a path there to see the colourful and fragrant horticultural flower and plant exhibits from leading specialists from the UK and abroad. And unlike the Scottish Flower Show, which took place at Ingliston a few weeks ago, this exhibition is under canvas - allowing plenty of light in for taking photos! Here is one of Alstomeria (Peruvian Lily).

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