quote:

---

Lang may yer lum reek wi' ither fowks coal!

---

Husband's grandmother, a very proper lady indeed used to say this, but only the first part. She was sent out here in her teens from Edinburgh for her health's sake. As she lived to 98, it seemed to have done the trick for her.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I have an Edinburgh friend who says the same thing and I have often wondered if it really constitutes an incitement to a criminal act.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
Ally Bain. Phil Cunningham. Jackie Bird. All the traditional ingredients were there.

It is has become a family tradition on Hogmanay to sing along to Kenneth McKellar. Generous soul that I am, I thought I would share it with you all - and especially with mine host WW.

Happy New Year!
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Did you sing along to this one? N.B. NSFW!

I love Kenneth McKellar. I admire his versatility from opera to Scottish kitsch.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I regret to say that was the one that sprang to my mind. Never did that on The White Heather Club .

I have to say the Embra fireworks were extraordinarily pretty -this year's speciality was a barrage of rockets which produced variously coloured spangles, so that the whole sky was like a meadow of flowers.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
I am not even clicking on that link, because I know exactly what it will be, and I disapprove!

I say this with shame because I managed inadvertently to introduce that song to some very innocent and GLE American friends. "We are an earthy people," I muttered in mortified excuse.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
That song is a classic of its genre.

How could you inadvertently introduce it? Inquiring minds and all the rest.

[ 01. January 2015, 20:25: Message edited by: North East Quine ]
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
Um. Well. You see, m'lud, it was like this ...

... I knew it was rude. But I only knew the first verse. So I didn't know it went on. To be so very very rude. Um.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
One reason I like the Kenneth McKellar version is that it doesn't have the "Inverness" first verse, which seemed to be the version all the Scouts knew. If you were a Girl Guide from Inverness, it got old very quickly.
 

---

Posted by Arethosemyfeet (# 17047) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Did you sing along to this one? N.B. NSFW!

I love Kenneth McKellar. I admire his versatility from opera to Scottish kitsch.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:
... As she lived to 98, it seemed to have done the trick for her.

---

Two of my great-aunts (my grandmother's eldest sisters) emigrated from Orkney to Australia in (I presume) the first quarter of the twentieth century, and both lived to their late 90s (one 96, one 99 IIRC).

Must be something in the air ...
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
I love the way that it's only the first day of 2015, and already we've hit the gutter!

---

We may be lying in the gutter, but we're gazing at the stars!
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I hadn't thought about it, but you're right! 160 years! Did you know that it wasn't till civil registration that there was statistical proof of higher literacy rates in Scotland than England? (Based on the percentage of brides and grooms who could sign the marriage registers) Admittedly, it also confirmed that Banffshire had the highest rate of illegitimacy in Britain - questions were asked if there was a correlation between teaching girls to write and their having babies outwith marriage.

You're not the only one to get confused between Banchory and Banchory Devenick, but they're quite a distance apart. As Aberdeen expands, B-D is getting close to being part of greater Aberdeen.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Did you sing along to this one? N.B. NSFW!

I love Kenneth McKellar. I admire his versatility from opera to Scottish kitsch.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
... it didn't do to go digging into one's Scots ancestry, because you were likely to run into a bandit of some kind ...

---

I've got sheep-stealers on one side and a pirate on the other, and I suspect that if I dug far enough into my Orkney ancestry there'd be a Viking* or two ...

* As I'm rather vertically challenged, D. refers to this imagined ancestor as "Sigurd the Short".
 

---

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
(Forgive me, Grandad's family were the Bannantynes)

This was the bakery his dad and uncle ran together, and I am sure this is where he learned to make shortbread.)
 

---

Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
(Forgive me, Grandad's family were the Bannantynes)

This was the bakery his dad and uncle ran together, and I am sure this is where he learned to make shortbread.)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by basso:
... it didn't do to go digging into one's Scots ancestry, because you were likely to run into a bandit of some kind ...

---

I've got sheep-stealers on one side and a pirate on the other, and I suspect that if I dug far enough into my Orkney ancestry there'd be a Viking* or two ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by QLib:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
(Forgive me, Grandad's family were the Bannantynes)

This was the bakery his dad and uncle ran together, and I am sure this is where he learned to make shortbread.)

---

So you could be related to this guy.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Pardon me, but he looks like he has an ice cream stick shoved somewhere uncomfortable.

---

i think the word you're looking for is "dour". Not that I'm stereotyping or anything I actually think he cultivates that image.
 

---

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 
Oh, so that's dour...
 

---

Posted by Kelly Alves (# 2522) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:


Plus one of my great uncles was an axe murderer.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Plus one of my great uncles was an axe murderer.

---

What did he murder the axe with?
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Plus one of my great uncles was an axe murderer.

---

What did he murder the axe with?

---

The Hammer! remember NEQ is descended from that tool too

[ 02. January 2015, 21:05: Message edited by: Sioni Sais ]
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cottontail:
... a fair chance also of shipwrecked Spanish sailors from the Armada ...

---

It's quite possible I've got some of them too - I'm dark-haired and dark-eyed. Orcadians tend to be fair-ish with blue eyes, but there are a few families in Orkney who are dark-featured and said to be descended from Armada wreckees.

Having said that, I'm only a quarter Orcadian (my paternal grandmother) - my other grandparents came from Caithness, Greenock and Ayrshire, so I probably have a right old mixture ...
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Plus one of my great uncles was an axe murderer.

---

What did he murder the axe with?

---

Well, it was more of a hatchet than an axe. Ypres. Machine gun jammed and he defended himself against oncoming Germans with his trench hatchet. He was "mentioned in dispatches" which says he killed three with his hatchet. Regimental history says five. The newspapers back home claimed he killed nine (!)

He got the DCM and a fortnight's furlough.

When I was a kid, the local museum had his medals and newspaper clippings on display, but I gather these are no longer considered suitable - they're very jingoistic and full of references to "burly Huns."
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cottontail:
... a fair chance also of shipwrecked Spanish sailors from the Armada ...

---

It's quite possible I've got some of them too - I'm dark-haired and dark-eyed. Orcadians tend to be fair-ish with blue eyes, but there are a few families in Orkney who are dark-featured and said to be descended from Armada wreckees.

Having said that, I'm only a quarter Orcadian (my paternal grandmother) - my other grandparents came from Caithness, Greenock and Ayrshire, so I probably have a right old mixture ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Well, it was more of a hatchet than an axe. Ypres. Machine gun jammed and he defended himself against oncoming Germans with his trench hatchet. He was "mentioned in dispatches" which says he killed three with his hatchet. Regimental history says five. The newspapers back home claimed he killed nine (!)

He got the DCM and a fortnight's furlough.

---

Gaw. Damn. Maybe I was him in a previous incarnation.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
The Regimental Bunny?
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Ha! The museum does seem to be trying to turn him into a fluffy bunny. They've got a WW1 exhibition on at the moment. He's included, but no mention of the DCM, or what he did to gain it! I think they're going for a fluffier version of the war - Christmas truce, swapping chocolate, that kind of thing. Definitely no mention of killing Germans.
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
[When I was a kid, the local museum had his medals and newspaper clippings on display, but I gather these are no longer considered suitable - they're very jingoistic and full of references to "burly Huns."

---

Which is a way of rewriting history to suit modern sensibilities. All they needed to have done was put in a little placard saying that the statements reflected attitudes current at the time. That would have been far more educative.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Indeed. It's interesting that what made him a hero in 1915 appears to make him an embarrassment in 2015.

I've just reread the obituary which appeared in his regimental news, and it says he killed them with an axe. Every other account says "hatchet."
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
Well done for starting this thread off, Piglet.
As you may have seen from the UK(ish) thread I was around when Wodders closed all the old ones and invited new ones to start, but wasn't sure if I should, or what to call it.

Everyone seems to be going back to work tomorrow. Our schools don't go back until the 8th, however, so my Christmas holidays are having to last a bit longer to look after the eldest Kipperlet.

So, along with her cousins (and my sisters) we're off to see the Singing Kettle as part of their FINAL TOUR tomorrow
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
All together now... Spout, handle, lid of metal ....
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
My sister's kids loved the Singing Kettle when they were little - I can't believe they're "retiring" - I assume that's why it's their final show.

As my dad would say, back to old clothes and porridge tomorrow. I'll pass on the porridge, and as I mentioned it to him on the phone today, apparently so would he - I didn't realise he disliked it almost as much as I did!
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
It seems to be the day of bizarre headlines relating to Scotland.

First, a cracker from the Press and Journal: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/447373/undefined-headline-544/

And another from Auntie Beebee:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-30681476

AG
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 


Love the spacehopper story! Only in Dundee ...?
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
What an eejit.
 

---

Posted by Porridge (# 15405) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
It seems to be the day of bizarre headlines relating to Scotland.

First, a cracker from the Press and Journal: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/business/farming/447373/undefined-headline-544/

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Porridge:
... What that guy is holding up looks like a rutabaga to me ...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
In Scotland (especially the more northerly parts thereof) it's a neep (corruption of "turnip" I suppose).

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dafyd:
Swedes are the result of cross-breeding turnips with cabbages sometime in the distant past.

---

Explains IKEA.

Please carry on.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Ages ago, I did a search through the Victorian Aberdeen Journals for stories about giant turnips and was surprised how many there were.

Out of curiosity (the things that you do when you're supposed to be writing up your thesis) I searched "Prime Minister" and discovered that there were more stories about turnips than Prime Ministers in the Aberdeen Journal between 1850 and 1901.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Originally posted by North East Quine.

quote:

---

Out of curiosity (the things that you do when you're supposed to be writing up your thesis) I searched "Prime Minister" and discovered that there were more stories about turnips than Prime Ministers in the Aberdeen Journal between 1850 and 1901.

---

Of course. Turnips are important!

I've been scanning some old farm account books recently, and the advertising sections at the front are packed full of photographs of swedes* piled up like cannon balls, with a muddy rustic in the distance emphasising how big swedes look if someone stands a long way behind them. Most amusing.

AG

*English books, see.

{edited for top of page sense making}

[ 06. January 2015, 09:24: Message edited by: Sandemaniac ]
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Never underestimate the importance of the root vegetable in Northern climes. Go to a Weimar in October, and you can experience the annual Onion Festival.

As for Potato Festivals, Canada is positively awash. Also in those parts Carrot Fest claims to be 'the world's greatest carrot festival' - I'm not sure how many other contenders for the crown there are.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm all in favour of celebrating the usefulness of such things: without carrots, onions and potatoes my veggie soup would be, at best, jolly boring.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I just saw the forecast that it would be very cold and not sunny and very wet.
Is that really happening ?
I just remember as school in Blairgowrie that it was cold and wet and dark as i went to school.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'm afraid "cold, wet and dark" is more-or-less the default situation for January.

Never mind - the days are lengthening ...
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Bit blowy here....

You all OK?
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
All still standing in the lee of Blackford Hill (which was clocking 90 mph last night).
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Lost half a pane of glass from the greenhouse, but I'm quite relieved it was only one - I heard the sound of breaking glass in the night and expected much worse.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
My new flat makes a really wonderful collection of noises in the high winds. A whistle around the corner by the bathroom like a train. A roar past the bedroom window. A rattling in the roof above the kitchen.

The glass on the door/window onto the balcony wobbles noticably. And, at times the whole building seemed to vibrate. A rather exciting night, though not conducive to sleeping well.

There's a large stand of pine trees on the hill across a burn from the flat. A few trees in that are only standing to the extent that they're resting on neighbours.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
An online acquaintance in Lewis has lost a hundred-odd slates, though it sounds as though it could have been a whole lot worse.

Surprised that Orkney's highest recorded gust was only 80-something, unless the wind came from Hoy, there's bog all to stop it!

AG
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Just seen plans for a service to mark the centenary of Mary Slessor's death, to be held in Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen (close to her birthplace) on Tuesday, led by a Nigerian church choir.
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 

quote:

---

posted by Sandemaniac:
Surprised that Orkney's highest recorded gust was only 80-something, unless the wind came from Hoy, there's bog all to stop it!

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sandemaniac:
... Orkney's highest recorded gust was only 80-something ...

---

quote:

---

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - Blaenwern

---

Heretick! If she doesn't sing it to Cwm Rhondda she deserves to have her foundations rocked ...
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Here in Stirling I was woken at 5am with the wind howling. Then I realised that all the local wheelie bins were dancing a ceilidh in our back court. No damage though, and luckily our bin day is Thursday so at least there weren't a week's worth of nappies all over the place, which there would have been if it had been a day earlier.
 

---

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
added the tunes, which included:

quote:

---

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer - Blaenwern

---

---

I don't think I'd even be able to sing it to anything other than Cwm Rhondda, let alone want to.

[ 09. January 2015, 22:02: Message edited by: Dafyd ]
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
As D. pointed out when I told him, it would be impossible anyway - you'd run out of words as they've got different metres.

In fairness to my friend, she replied to the effect that she had typed it at 5:30 a.m. and suffered an early-morning brain-fart ...
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Another wet and windy morning - and too dark as yet to make out if there has been any overnight damages. I think one of our bins is over.

We're promised an easing of the wind as the day goes on - to be replaced by snow, so that's something to look forward to.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
There is nothing to stop the wind between my house and Ireland. The house rattled all night, the bin was over this morning, the power has been on and off, and the garden is sporting its occasional rivulet, which it saves for occasions such as this. It is trying its hand at sleet now.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
We have snow. Most of it is melting as soon as it touches the ground, but the lawn is mottled white.

I've only been outside once, to pick up the rubbish that spilled out from our overturned wheelie bin.

I ended up sleeping on the settee from 5am on because there was what sounded like a shed door banging somewhere. Each bang was followed, two or three seconds later, by a rattle. Bang, pause, rattle, longer pause, bang, pause, rattle, longer pause...

Perhaps this will be the day I finish decluttering my study?
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Another lovely day here marred only by the cold donated by a neighbour - I am a typically male lousy patient!
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Earlier today I looked out of the front window and saw brilliant blue sky and a couple of little, fluffy clouds. It can't have been more than 10 minutes later, I looked out of the same window to see the sky completely white and horizontal snow dancing around in the wind!! I took a walk into town today, it wasn't too bad - snow not settling, and although it was cold it wasn't chest-tighteningly cold. We'll see what tonight brings...
 

---

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
My Dad is in the North and has no power. He does, however, have a gas heater and a gas stove, coal fire and mobile 'phone which are all functioning perfectly. I really shouldn't worry about a man who raised three children miles from any sensible amenities.

Hope you're all managing fine in your wee parts of the world.

Cattyish, loving the sounds the wind makes.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
The wind has dropped, thank goodness. But it's gloomier now than when I got up, so I expect stuff will start falling from the sky at some point. On the record of the past day or so, it could be rain, sleet, snow or any combination.
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Pissing with rain here, and deeply unpleasant.
We're due a re-run of the wind tomorrow. Deep joy.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Ooops!

Glad I didn't have to try to fish it out... funnily enough, in as far as I know Dundee, I know the road - spent a week in a B&B on it in 2000!

AG
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
That picture about what happened is very sad about it. I do hope in Dundee that it gets better fine.
(I was born there and my family all lived there. Grandparents lived there or ever.)
Later my mothers grandparents came to our home Blairgowrie to live at us as they get very elderly.
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
My sister's kids loved the Singing Kettle when they were little - I can't believe they're "retiring" - I assume that's why it's their final show.

---

Artie and Cilla, the originators of the Singing Kettle, actually retired a year or so back. It continued with some newer members and the other original musician, but rather than keep that name going, they've now decided (or perhaps Artie & Cilla have asked them) go under the new name of Fun Box , but essentially doing the same thing
 

---

Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 
On the 3rd April (good Friday) I'll be in Aberdeen for the day, anyone got any recommendations for a good Friday service? Also i could be around at lunch time for a meet up. If there is enough interest in a shipmeet I'll start a thread.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I think I'll be free, and if I am, I'd be interested in a service and / or lunch.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
We got shown again on the TV a last night and it did seem still awful. How does it feel and be in Scotland ?
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
It was a perfect January day here today, daisymay, cold, clear, crisp. There is ice in shaded places, but the roads and pavements are clear and safe.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
Snow has come to the south at last! Everything cancelled, unexpected day indoors.
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
Are you all ok and not entirely snowed in? Nenlet2 plans a weekend in Edinburgh.
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
Edinburgh is snowless. We haven't had any since Wednesday and that was nothing to write home about. The week ahead is forecast to be cold but bright.
 

---

Posted by Nenya (# 16427) on :
 
That's good to hear - although it's a beautiful city and I'm sure it looks spectacular in the snow. Nenlet2 has been going to the Fringe for years but this weekend is going with a friend who hasn't been before so it's even more exciting!
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
It's snowing here, but melting into slush when it lands on the ground.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Firenze:
Edinburgh is snowless ...

---

Good. Long may that continue!
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
This weekend a bunch of us made our way up to Moray and had a fantastic weekend at Burgie House playing giant Cluedo amongst other things. I shan't be stepping on any scales for a few days at any rate - we really do seem to have a collective talent for overcatering.

Callanish and I were in charge of the Entertainments for the second year running, although someone else sorted out some walks each day. Last year we had them all attempting to assassinate each other but this year there was only one murder victim. Now, what shall we make them all do next year...?
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
That really sounds like fun, TTP - I've heard of "murder mystery" weekends, but I think it'd be just as good fun basing it on Cluedo.

I wonder if that old set's still in my dad's house?
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
It was a lot of fun - all our 'characters' really got into the swing of things, which definitely helped. If anything, I was slightly surprised that the game itself finished so quickly - we had several challenges that we didn't get around to using. Still, that leaves us some ammunition for planning next year's escapades.

So if anyone needs a giant Cluedo set (minus character cards because they all kept them and board because we couldn't steal the carpet) they should get in touch - we're happy to lend out!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
If it weren't for the fact that Cluedo is probably copyrighted, you could be on to a nice little earner there ...
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
www.facebook.com/fjonadcosta

See if you can get in this and see my pictures of my family who have both MacLean on them. It was while we were with another person getting on another one.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I have now many pictures, not all about the men, some with me. Do you lot like looking there to se them ?

Have you lot been to Iona and Mull ? I always enjoy going there - I camp up a bit and get down on the water across.
 

---

Posted by jrw (# 18045) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:

I love Kenneth McKellar. I admire his versatility from opera to Scottish kitsch.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
According to this article in the Scotsman it was about a blind man, in Secret Policeman's Ball.

---

Fascinating. Thanks for the link.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
We are just back from viewing The Great Tapestry of Scotland in its entirety at Stirling Castle (I think the Great Hall there is one of the few places where it can be shown in its entirety in the one room, as it is so vast). My goodness, it is wonderful! Well worth a viewing if it comes anywhere near you (although I think the site is a bit vague and not that up to date with locations). Shame the food at the Castle cafe was a bit disappointing, but you can't have everything
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I'm not in Scotland but there is a Scottish Kirk in London that I will be at this evening. It is a lovely one !
 

---

Posted by Derf (# 2093) on :
 
Jack we saw the tapestry the other week when parents were visiting - it was great to see it in a bit less busy a setting than when it was in the Parliament! It's fab, but I am irrationally irritated by their claim that it's the longest in the world, when it's made up of so many separate panels that aren't joined up. There's probably an official definition that allows that, but it seems all wrong.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
When it was in Aberdeen it was split between three rooms in the Art Gallery. I wonder if there's any long term plan for it to stop touring and get a permanent home, at which point it might be sewn together?

Aberdeen Art Gallery is closing for two years for refurbishment. I really, really hope the end result is worth it. Part of the refurbishment is the enlargement of the cafe and shop areas, which doesn't seem that important to me.

Added to the nightmare which is the proposed development by Marischal College ( ) , and the award of the Plook on the Plinth award for bad architecture, Aberdeen isn't doing too well at the moment.
 

---

Posted by Derf (# 2093) on :
 
They're looking at a permanent home in the Borders for it, although it seems to be generating some controversy (why would you spend money on that rather than a new school or whatever) - the tapestry take on it is here. No idea if they'd sew it together though.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Changing the subject, tonight it is snowing in Stirling and settling. I hope it has gone by morning (although judging by the temperature today I'm not going to hold my breath. Brrrr) as I have to drive the Elf Lass to nursery which happens to be in beautiful countryside but involves driving down a scary windy country road. Eek.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Eek indeed - drive carefully.

We had blowing snow for most of the afternoon today (although it only amounted to a few inches) and now we've got blowing rain, which at least might clear some of the snow ...
 

---

Posted by Derf (# 2093) on :
 
Still snowing here - the sczlet went to nursery all dressed up for snowman building! Drive safely Jack.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Perfect spring day here. The water butt has a skim of ice, but I'm looking out at a clear blue sky, and a bright day.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I'm heading south tomorrow, so I hope there won't be any transport delays. (wibble)
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
I hope you get there safely, NEQ. Surely the trains will be okay. Have a great time.

I live close to sea level in the warmer west, so although we had a few flurries of snow yesterday, nothing is lying.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I'm very excited. I am under strict instructions to shut up, and remain anonymous. Proud mothers are, apparently, embarrassing. Although despairing mothers posting on the "Help! I've got a teenager" thread are also embarrassing, so my embarrassing mother credentials are pretty solid.

The least the North East Loon can win tomorrow is £500, plus good publicity!

[ 03. March 2015, 10:43: Message edited by: North East Quine ]
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Well, it turns out Stirling looks lovely when it's covered in 2" of snow, but the roads are less lovely - the main roads were pretty clear, but the side roads were varying levels of hairy this morning! It seems to be melting now, so it looks less lovely covered in 2" of slush, I'm now just a bit worried about it freezing overnight as that will turn the place (or at least our road) into a skidpan.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
The pavements here were covered in Patches of Treachery™ this morning, turning me into Hobbling Piglet ...

PS Well done, North East Loon!

[ 05. March 2015, 14:12: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Congratulations to North East Loon! Were you an embarassment or did you manage to control yourself NEQ?
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Thanks, Sarasa! I think I just squeaked in as "acceptable." It was an excellent day.

It's been a busy week, as I stayed down south to take part in the March of Women in Glasgow on Sat, which involved dressing in a long white dress, suffragette sash, hat, rosette and white gloves and marching from Glasgow Women's Library to Glasgow Green. Great fun!

Then today I was back in my suffragette frock for an International Women's Day event which included a Nigerian Gospel choir singing songs in the languages Mary Slessor spoke when she was in Nigeria. It was brilliant!
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fjonadc/4685887973/

I can not get this just one picture, but you can also click o the right and left of it - and it shows much of Scotland and Blairgowrie where I lived.
I also have where my parents and there parents were put down and i would like to do that for me and my married one who is dead. But they have changed the people in charge and I do not know how the contact the others.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
The loon on TV.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Congratulations to him. Well done.

It was good to be able to see the clip. Too often news clips etc can't be seen down here. Thanks.
 

---

Posted by Stercus Tauri (# 16668) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
The loon on TV.

---

Brilliant! They did a great job of making the station as eerie as it was in the book. Hope we'll be there for the next completely illegible book signing.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Well done, North East Loon!
 

---

Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
Wonderful! I must search out a copy whilst in England after Easter. Is he at Waterstones?
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Looks like it
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Just to say I'm really jealous. Hope you have clear skies on Friday morning. Wish I was there.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
What is he weather getting OK ? How will it get fine !
I always love to camp in Scotland in various places to get to. I always enjoy when it is lovely blue sky and warm and dry as I camp.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
There's been a lovely clear blue sky here, daisymay, but it's not warm!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
My sister and niece have just come back from a few days in Orkney, and judging by their photographs, they had absolutely gorgeous weather.

**stifles Green-eyed Monster**

Don't know about heat - you can't really tell from the pictures, but it was certainly sunny and bright.
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
I think it was up to 20 or 21 degrees (Celsius) - much warmer and nicer than what we East Anglian folk had, shivering under grey skies ...

Mind you, it's lovely this morning.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
I think it was up to 20 or 21 degrees (Celsius) ...

---

In Orkney in April? Really???
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Don't you just mean "In Orkney? Really??"? The time of year is irrelevant in expresisng surprise at those temperatures.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I see on the BBC News this morning that Google StreetView has gone on the water, with views from Loch Ness included. The seem to have found a great day to take the pictures, from the bit I've looked at.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Oh, and a link thingy
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
This is a very intriguing article about a scientific "victim" of Nessie. It poses all sorts of questions, not least about the ways in which scientific institutions find it hard to cope with heterodox views.

Or perhaps he was just unpleasant to his colleagues and management were delighted to find an excuse for sacking him?

[ 21. April 2015, 06:40: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Oh My!

I am heading off on a group camping trip tomorrow afternoon. There's heavy snow early on Saturday morning forecast by the BBC. Good thing it's a heavy canvas tent and will be full of nice warm bodies.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Exactly where will you camp ? I also hope it will be OK as you are there.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Because I hate camping with a passion normally reserved for axe-murderers, I find it hard to summon up sympathy, but ...

Seriously though - I hope you don't get snow, and enjoy yourselves.


 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Good news for most of those camping in August; all the midgies will be heading for the midgie-fest in Dumfries.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Because I hate ....axe-murderers.

---

Oy! My great uncle was an axe-murderer! Some axe-murderers are perfectly nice people from respectable families!
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
So - how many axes did he murder? And did he do it nicely? We ought to know.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Machine gun jammed at Ypres. Hacked advancing Germans to death with trench hatchet. Distinguished Conduct Medal.

How many? When he was mentioned in dispatches, it said he hacked three to death. Regimental history said five. Local newspaper said nine.....
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
You're really rather chuffed with the family axe murderer, aren't you?

I suppose I do dine out occasionally on the rellie with the horse, mask, pistol, and frilly shirt (no, not Adam Ant!)...

AG
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Yup, always handy to remind my husband of my family's capabilities!

He got through the war unscathed, unlike his wife who died in childbirth in 1916 or his sister, my great grandmother, who died of Spanish flu in 1918.

Do tell more about your masked ancestor!
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
What? This one? No, not Solomon Joel Cohen, Dick Turpin!

Sadly I can't prove a direct link (and, as far as I am aware, he had no recorded children), but the same surname crops up on both sides of the family in the same village that he was born in.

AG
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I understand there may be some very distant link in my wider family to this bloke.

He grew up in Stromness - no wonder he turned into a bad egg ...

A Kirkwallian Has Spoken.

PS Thanks for the Adam and the Ants video, Sandemaniac - that was a nice little blast from the past!

[ 25. April 2015, 01:40: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I have just been in the Scottish kirk in London at 1pm. It is a lovely one!
And on Sunday I should be able to go at 6.30pm to it.
It's beautiful and also very really nice people!
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisymay:
I have just been in the Scottish kirk in London at 1pm. It is a lovely one!
And on Sunday I should be able to go at 6.30pm to it.
It's beautiful and also very really nice people!

---

I hope you have a great time there, Daisymay.
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Sorry folks, I forgot to report back after the camping weekend. Fortunately the weather was fairly kind, some rain on Friday night and snow showers on the Saturday then a little bit of hail as we took the tents down. The camp set up can be seen here and was nice and cosy for 13 of us.

Sad news yesterday about the Royal Station in Ballater, fortunately no-one was hurt and hopefully there will be a rebuild.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
You had rain and snow showers while you were camping and you think the weather was "fairly kind"?
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Don't forget the hail.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Though, the last time I camped I finished off with three broken tent poles. Though, with some liberal application of gaffer tape on one of the poles the tent stayed up and we stayed dry.
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
You had rain and snow showers while you were camping and you think the weather was "fairly kind"?

---

Oh yes, the weather was glorious on Friday afternoon, rainy only after we were mostly fed and overnight. Saturday morning was bright and fairly warm, I'm not sure what the weather did for the folks who headed for Balmoral but the walk around Loch Muick was mostly sunny with 4-5 short snow showers over the course of 3-4 hours and the evening was clear but a bit chilly (this is where a canvas tent with candle chandelier comes into its own, warms up in no time with 21 tealights going above a dozen warm bodies). Then Sunday was bright while we ate our overnight oats but the grey clouds rolled in so we decided to get the tents down and managed one before the hail started. Hail's not as bad as rain; it bounces off!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Sorry, TTP, but you can still keep it. This little piglet likes her Creature Comforts.
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
Fair enough, Piglet, I was wearing thermals, jammies and wrapped in two sleeping bags and a silk liner on that second night - nice and toasty but not for everyone!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I'll admit I'm the victim of a Really Duff Camping Experience. When I was about 10 or 11 I went to a Girl Guide camp and I was allocated the space next to the tent-flap. It rained, and I woke up in a freezing, wet sleeping-bag, which has rather coloured my view of camping.

I like sleeping in places with walls ...
 

---

Posted by Kittyville (# 16106) on :
 
Same here, Piglet, except that in my case a fellow guide deliberately left the edge of my groundsheet outside the tent and when a deluge ensued in the night, I got soaked. I figure she did me a favour in the long run, though. I'm also a big fan of creature comforts. Even glamping (is that a word outside Australia?) would be a stretch for me.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Yes, glamping is a word outside Australia.

Though you haven't lived until waking up snug and warm inside a sleeping bag aware from the air on your face that it's chilly. Then getting out of the warm sleeping bag and opening the tent to find the river almost frozen solid. Which happened to a friend and me in Glen Coe one year. At which point with all the water on the site frozen we did make use of the local cafe for breakfast. Hot breakfast.
 

---

Posted by Kittyville (# 16106) on :
 
Yeah, no, Alan - I think I'll live vicariously though you on that one!
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Maybe just join us in the Cafe & Craft Shop?
 

---

Posted by Kittyville (# 16106) on :
 
Sounds like a plan!
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I have fond memories of the Cally Rally, which is a Scout / Guide weekend camp held annually in late October. It was always freezing, but brilliant. Activities included rafting and canoeing on the Caledonian canal, both guaranteed to make you both cold and soaking wet.

Then there was the Saturday night disco, when cold Scouts and Guides did their very best to warm each other up....

Happy days!
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:

Then there was the Saturday night disco, when cold Scouts and Guides did their very best to warm each other up....

Happy days!

---

Ah, when those in the know realised how appropriate the old designations were - "The boy scouts, and the girl guides".
 

---

Posted by Wesley J (# 6075) on :
 

 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
We, 3 children, are going to the north of London to camp on Monday (the school is out for then).
There is a place close to it to for children to play and also we get to eat there.
I hope it is dry and warm! It takes us a while to go up on the train.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Daisy may, we camped a lot when family were younger. I do hope it stays warm and dry for you.

We once spent a night in car with two young children, a toddler in nappies and a large, wet German Shepherd, on edge of a ford which was impassible due to heavy rain. We had spent some hours in winter dark packing up our large tent and all belongings. We had been camped next to a river and State Emergency Services told us to get out as there had been an enormous amount of rain upstream. Every time I checked river level as we packed after a week's stay, it was higher.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
And now is it dry to camp either up the north or near Mull ? Maybe I should go later... when it might be dry then.
I had a good time with the children camping north of London, dry and warm and lovely places for them to play.
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
The Isle of Mull is one of the wettest places in Britain, with three times the rainfall of London. The driest month is May but even that has rain on an average of 50% of the days. August is one of the wettest, with rain possible on about three days out of four.

Of course you may be lucky; and of course it doesn't necessarily rain for the whole day - indeed weather in that part of the world can change very quickly.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I have now organized to go up on the train to go to Inverness and train up to Dingwall where I will camp. i will go on Wednesday at night on the train. I hope that it is not always wet while I am there. I have been camping there a long time ago.
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
FWIW it's rather damp in the Western Isles at the moment....
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by kingsfold:
FWIW it's rather damp in the Western Isles at the moment....

---

Hasn't that sentence got three words too many?
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
i.e. "The Western Isles"??
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Glorious sunshine today in North East Scotland.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by kingsfold:
FWIW it's rather damp in the Western Isles at the moment....

---

Hasn't that sentence got three words too many?

---

quote:

---

"It very quickly became 'the Scottish play' for us, " Fassbender says. "But the worst luck we had was the weather. That was terrible."
Justin Kurzel, who made his directing debut in 2011, adds that there was "a supernatural element to filming in Skye in January."

---

Yeah. 'Luck'.

linky
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
It was lovely in Dingwall and I took my sister to walk by the water and up the place to walk up high there and seeing the shops. It was lovely there. And it was not very wet as we camped, and dry yesterday with blue sky !
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Great to hear you had good weather and a good time at Dingwall.

On filming on Skye and considering it unlucky to get rain every day ... A bit of research and they could have not only anticipated that but come back celebrating their good luck at having a few minutes when it wasn't raining.
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 
My husband and I spent a few hours on Skye in the summer of 1967. Not a drop of rain fell. I didn't realize that we were lucky.

Moo
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
In the summer the rain stays away. It gives the midges a chance to swarm and eat people.
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
Just look at poor MacPhail in "The Vital Spark": go to Chapter XV. As Para Handy says, "The Congo's no' to be compared wi' the West o' Scotland when ye come to insects".

By the way, my wife calls a certain sort of Scottish cake a "flies' graveyard".

[ 09. June 2015, 12:27: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
... my wife calls a certain sort of Scottish cake a "flies' graveyard".

---

Quite right - or flies' cemetery - two layers of pastry with raisins in between. D. calls it "fly pie".

Re: holidays in the west of Scotland - when I was about 10 we spent a fortnight touring round the west coast with a caravan (including trips to Skye and Stornoway) and we only had half an hour of rain the whole time we were away.

Not that anyone believed us when we got back ...

[ 09. June 2015, 14:16: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
In the summer the rain stays away. It gives the midges a chance to swarm and eat people.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Moo:
... "pursued by a posse of midges" ...

---

Presumably not quite as scary as Shakespeare's Exit, pursued by a bear.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
... my wife calls a certain sort of Scottish cake a "flies' graveyard".

---

Quite right - or flies' cemetery - two layers of pastry with raisins in between. D. calls it "fly pie"...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Piglet:
Re: holidays in the west of Scotland - when I was about 10 we spent a fortnight touring round the west coast with a caravan (including trips to Skye and Stornoway) and we only had half an hour of rain the whole time we were away.

Not that anyone believed us when we got back ...

---

quote:

---

posted by Jengie Jon:
The English pack sun screen, the Scots pack midge repellant

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jack the Lass:
Solas Festival is starting today ...

---

So is the St. Magnus Festival in Orkney - the one time of year I feel just a peedie bit homesick.

As it coincides with our Patronal Festival at the Cathedral here, there's no mission of me getting to it any time soon.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I volunteered to provide a star-shaped cookie cutter for today's Junior church. Realised this morning that the cookie cutter I had remembered as being star shaped was in fact snowflake shaped.

Given today's weather, snowflake shaped was appropriate.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
In anticipation of passing that way on Wednesday, I've just checked the whisky stocks. We still have about 1/4 of a bottle of Deanston (very nice if you like it smooth), and have never got round to opening the bottle of Tobermory. I think it's six years since we bought either...

AG
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
Is it ok if I drop in a bit from that other thread? I've been staying in the UK since last May, and I'm looking for an excuse to go to Scotland somewhere in the next couple of months (I've never been there). I'm sure that you'll be able to come up with something!
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
We have lots of amazing places to visit! What are you interested in? History? scenery? literature? food? drink? sea shores? city life? castles? galleries? large cathedrals? small churches? gardens? pandas? - we have them all. Oh, and rain. If you like rain, you'll love Scotland!
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

quote:

---

North East Quine: We have lots of amazing places to visit! What are you interested in? History? scenery? literature? food? drink? sea shores? city life? castles? galleries? large cathedrals? small churches? gardens? pandas? - we have them all. Oh, and rain. If you like rain, you'll love Scotland!

---

Everything! (Except the rain ) Add some live music in there and it's perfect for me!

What I'm thinking about is spending a longish weekend (so I guess it would be confined to the Glasgow–Edinburgh region?) If it could be combined with meeting some Shipmates it would be wonderful.


PS pandas?
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
Edinburgh Zoo has 2 Pandas

The Edinburgh International Festival (and Fringe) takes place in August, therefore the price of accomodation goes up (and availability goes down) and the town population pretty much doubles in size (or so it would seem).

And there are usually plenty of us able to get to most major places for a meet. Come to think of it, I don't think there has been one outside of Edinburgh for a while.

PS - all are welcome in this thread. you don't have to be Scottish or in Scotland to join in

[ 01. July 2015, 14:40: Message edited by: Wet Kipper ]
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

quote:

---

Wet Kipper: PS - all are welcome in this thread. you don't have to be Scottish or in Scotland to join in

---

Thank you, I thought: if Piglet can stick her snout into many of these threads, so can I

quote:

---

Wet Kipper: The Edinburgh International Festival (and Fringe) takes place in August, therefore the price of accomodation goes up (and availability goes down) and the town population pretty much doubles in size (or so it would seem).

---

August would be difficult for me anyway, since I'll be out of the country for most of the month. I was personally thinking of September (not that I'd want to set the dates for your Shipmeets )
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
If you're the guest of honour, you get to set the date !
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Glasgow and Edinburgh are both very accessible.
 

---

Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 

quote:

---

posted by Wed Kipper:
If you're the guest of honour, you get to set the date !

---

As the kipper says: you tell us when you'll be around, and suggest dates/times that work for you, and we'll all scramble as best we can to get to you. (and yes, central belt is usually good as it's accessible to most of us).
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
The others will correct me if I'm wrong, but I think a number of the more recent Scotmeets have been entirely because someone has been visiting Scotland at the time and fancied meeting up with Shippies.

Both Edinburgh and Glasgow are great places (I personally prefer Glasgow, as that's where I lived for several years, but Edinburgh is also a fine place to visit), although (as with any major city) they're both reflective of and entirely different to the wider country, IMO. So a chance at some point to see the countryside would definitely be worth taking. But hey, nobody's restricting you to just the one visit
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Also, kingsfold, it's been far too long! Let's try and make a meet where we can both attend, rather than just one or the other of us!
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Also Inverness is a really very nice one to be in ! It is quite high up.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
LeRoc, I was mad enough to go to Edinburgh for the day to meet orfeo when he was over, so it is possible. (Overnight bus up on Friday night, overnight bus back down on Saturday night)
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeRoc:
... if Piglet can stick her snout into many of these threads, so can I ...

---

I may live on the other side of the Big Pond, but my British and Scottish credentials are impeccable: I was born in Inverness, lived in Orkney until I married, then in Northern Ireland for 15 years after that.

Oh yes, and my Better Half is English, but I don't hold that against him (except when they beat us at rugby) ...

I think the last Scottish meet was with me: I had a lovely lunch with North East Quine, Cottontail and Wet Kipper in Edinburgh.
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
Alright, if we're talking in September, the weekends that still seem ok to me, are the weekend of the 12th and the weekend of the 19th, with a slight preference for the second option.

I think I can get to Glasgow relatively easily. Like Curiosity killed ... said, by bus, or (if I buy the tickets in advance) by train.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I know this may sound a bit daft, but you may find EasyJet flights that are a lot cheaper than the train. I just looked them up, and you could get from Luton to Glasgow and back on the 4th and 5th of September for about £80*, which is probably a good bit cheaper than the train, unless you've got some sort of rail-card.

Just a thought.

* depending on what time of day you're travelling
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
September is one of the best times to visit Scotland. Midges beginning to die off, fair chance of an Indian summer ...

I'm around for both these weekends you suggest, though I'll be kind of jetlagged on 12th, and panicking about sermons on 19th. But don't let that put you off.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've just realised that I was looking up those flights while LeRoc was writing his post, and they're for the wrong weekend.


 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
Thank you Piglet, I had thought about that but to be honest, I don't like flying much for various reasons (which is very illogical in my profession). If there is a reasonable way to avoid it, I'd very much prefer to take it.

I had a quick look at train prices, and if I buy beforehand, a single from Milton Keynes to Glasgow will cost £49. And of course, one big advantage is that it is much easier to travel from/to the train station (both in MK and in Glasgow) than to an airport, in terms of time, hassle and money.

And there is definitely something to be said for gliding through the British landscape on a train, while enjoying a beverage of my choice. I'd like that very much.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
You need to book those advance train tickets 3 months ahead to get the really cheap deals. I have tickets from London to York in August for £13.60 each way, which is cheaper than flying or petrol, but I was checking daily waiting for that tranche to be released. I have paid under £20 for train tickets to Glasgow.

I was dithering about coming up for orfeo's meet until really late, which was why the coach. Again cheaper tickets are available earlier. Megabus runs a sleeper bus, with proper beds, to Glasgow and Edinburgh at about the same price as those train tickets. Leaves Victoria at about 10:30pm.

It may also be cheaper to travel to and from Glasgow via London. It's usually much cheaper for me to travel oop north to meet my daughter than her come south to meet me.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Thunder, lightening and torrential rain here. Flooding in Aberdeen. The North East Man's easiest route home from work is currently impassable.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
And his fourth easiest route is also now closed, which will push more traffic onto the route I think he will take...
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
And he's home. Left early and got through before his main route was closed.
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Glad he's home. Aberdeen looks to have been pretty bad.

(BTW I was expecting he'd be a North East Loon )
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Our son is the North East Loon.

(*cough - speaking of whom *cough* second book *cough* )
 

---

Posted by BroJames (# 9636) on :
 
Well done him
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Congratulations to your son, NEQ. Well done.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Somebody posted pictures of partially-submerged cars in Aberdeen and I thought of you, NEQ. Glad to hear NE Man got home safely, and well done NE Loon!
 

---

Posted by To The Pain (# 12235) on :
 
It's times like these I'm very glad to live on a hill and have very deep foundations! There were streams of water flowing along every downhill road as I walked home last night and you're right, Piglet, some of the scenes from low-lying areas were pretty dramatic.

I wonder if planning a BBQ for Thursday night is going to prove wise?
 

---

Posted by Stercus Tauri (# 16668) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Our son is the North East Loon.

(*cough - speaking of whom *cough* second book *cough* )

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by To The Pain:
I wonder if planning a BBQ for Thursday night is going to prove wise?

---

There will be at least six major shifts in the weather before then ... who knows?
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Snow is forecast for most of the mountains right up the eastern coast of Australia, as far as Queensland. Coldest season for thirty years. I don't think I would be planning a BBQ.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Crikey - things are getting serious when it's too cold for an Australian to light the barbie*.

Must be the global warming ...

* A friend here used to do roast beef on the barbecue on Boxing Day, temperatures in minus numbers notwithstanding; the barbecue was in a sort of shelter not unlike a car-port.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I have been on holiday for the last week. There is this big orange hot thing in the sky and it isn't going away. Day after day, only one type of weather, sunny. And only one type of sky, blue and cloudless.

Oh, for a grey day, intermittent showers, the patter of summer hailstones. How lovely the soft soughing sound of the word dreich. What fantasies are conjured up by the word drookit.

A fellow Scot said to me, wistfully, it is 17 degrees in Edinburgh today, and we both sighed and imagined the bliss of being in Edinburgh.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
We've got a very dreich day here - please help yourself ...
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
If I could I would Piglet. I am not designed to cope with high temperatures!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Me neither, NEQ. The top end of my comfort zone is about 20°C, which is expected to be well exceeded here tomorrow.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Home! To grey skies and cool breezes.
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
I was at a barbeque with some Scottish friends yesterday. It was lovely, and I finally know what Irn Bru is. What I don't understand is why anyone would want to drink it
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've never been a huge fan of Irn Bru, although I drank it occasionally as a kid. Some people swear by it as a hangover cure ...
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
The Irn Bru adverts are better than the drink itself.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Made in Scotland ... from GIRRRRRRDERRRRRS!

Showing my age a bit there ...
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
I am a mere Sassenach. I enjoy Irn Bru, especially with fish and chips.

But I cannot distinguish it from Tizer - a statement which my (Scottish) wife finds totally unbelievable.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
Ah - brings back memories of our Irn Bru bake-off from about 3 years ago. NEQ and I had a go at some cupcakes, which didn't actually taste of Irn Bru in the end and weren't in the least bit orange. They were just incredibly sweet.

Personally, I can't abide the stuff. It is like drinking liquid bubblegum. But once you have swallowed down a few mouthfuls, you get past the first shock and somehow have to keep going!
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
I am a big fan of a wee Bru or too, and had a seismic moment just today
I inadvertently picked up a can of Sugar Free* Irn Bru, and was nearly finished before I realised it wasn't the real stuff.
They must have changed the recipe. (it used to be a pale imitation IMHO) I may change my "full fat" ways. My dentist will be pleased (or maybe not, if it means less w*rk for her)


* used to be "Diet" Irn-Bru, which didn't sell well until someone had the brilliant realisation that "Free" and "Sugar" are 2 of the most tempting words to many Scots.

[ 21. July 2015, 21:00: Message edited by: Wet Kipper ]
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I've been to the Scottish kirk today in London at 1pm. It is always really excellent. It also has on Sunday.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
We've clear skies down here in the south - for what is probably the first time this summer. So I'm off outside with my fold down chair and my blanket to watch me some meteors.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Hope you find them, Cottontail - although it was a nice, clear day I reckon it'll have clouded over by the time they're happening over here.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
I did indeed find them, and they were very lovely.

I also saw four different satellites scooting about - at least, I assume that is what they were. They were going far too fast to be aeroplanes (several of which I also saw), and all seemed to be heading in the same direction.
 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
One was probably ISS, the International Space Station. When these discussions come up I wonder where I could go to get dark skies - it's not easy round here.
 

---

Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 
If you know the times that the ISS is visible from the UK then it's easier to know when that's what your seeing. It always travels the same approximate West> East path, and is usually the brightest one you'll see.
As you said, other satellites are easy to recognise as being such, as they don't blink, and seem to go quite fast in a straight line - but they can be from any direction

I was out for about 90 minutes last night - I saw a few meteors and about a dozen different satellites. I also got some pictures of ISS
pictures of ISS - using 30 second long exposures.

in this one you can also see the track of a plane in the lower section of the photo
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
That's interesting - thanks, Wet Kipper. The first one I saw was about the right time, but there were others thereafter, all but one travelling west-east. I had dismissed the one that shot off in a south-easterly direction as a very high-up plane, so it is nice to know that was a satellite too.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
Today we went to Crown Court, Scottish, again at 1pm today. It is very good to be there.

They had bible and sinning one.

www.crowncourtchurch.org.uk

We had tea and sweet things to eat after it !


[Link corrected - WW]

[ 13. August 2015, 14:13: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisymay:
They had bible and sinning one.

---

 

---

Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Version of the Lord's Prayer? "Forgive us our sins", not "Forgive us our trespasses" or "Forgive us our debts"?
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I have made a mistake - it is "singing" and always it is really excellent to sing !
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisymay:
I have made a mistake - it is "singing" and always it is really excellent to sing !

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lothlorien:

quote:

---

Originally posted by daisymay:
I have made a mistake - it is "singing" and always it is really excellent to sing !

---

Definitely, singing is good.

---

I'd say sinning can be fun, too!


 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Welease Woderwick:
... I'd say sinning can be fun, too!

---

As D. is fond of pointing out, where did we get the expression "as miserable as sin"? Sin doesn't have to be miserable ...
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
We were there on Sunday evening and I also went also to day at 1pm. It's always very lovely, at Crown Court, in Covent Garden.

They also told me it was also Mystery Worship a while ago. I have managed to see it - on 2437 in the church places.

I do like visiting it. It's not one I belong to it. I just manage to visit it an it takes a while to get there.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Le Roc, are you still up for a Scottish meet in September?
 

---

Posted by cattyish (# 7829) on :
 
Is anyone around Skye or Kyle of Lochalsh? Mr C and I are looking at taking a cottage for a few days at the end of September/ beginning of October around there.

Cattyish, hoping for fine weather for running.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I will be going to the Scottish kirk this evening in London. It is a long way from me and it is lovely and excellent.
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
Hooray for the Tweeddale Railway, opening today!

(Lucky you, we're still waiting for the Ebbw Vale to Newport line to reopen although the line is all there; it's just waiting for re-signalling and has been for ten years!)
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I have just been to the Scottish church this evening. It is always very good. It's a long way from me where I am. It's lovely there.
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

quote:

---

North East Quine: Le Roc, are you still up for a Scottish meet in September?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Hooray for the Tweeddale Railway, opening today!

---

Went on it the day after it opened, the day before the Queen (had to check it was safe for her ). Then, the next day, we stood at Newtongrange station to see the Queen arrive by steam train and unveil a plaque.

What a superb railway! I can recommend taking a trip from Waverley to the far end (Tweedbank), then walking along the cycle path and alongside the river into the town of Melrose to enjoy the beautiful town and the ancient abbey.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeRoc:
Hm, I'd still like to go to Scotland for a weekend. I just found out that Milton Keynes has direct services to Edinburgh too, that seems rather interesting.

November and December are already getting quite full (I'll be out of the UK for most of these months). One possibility might still be 25/26 October. Like I said before, I'd like to walk through the city a bit, visit a few museums, churches ... and I'd love it if it would be possible to meet some Shipmates for dinner and/or beer in the evening.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gracious rebel:
Just back from a whistlestop tour that took in Edinburgh, Perth, Aberdeen, Inverness, John O Groats, ...

---

You got as far as John O'Groats and didn't go to Orkney???

Next time, eh?
 

---

Posted by Dafyd (# 5549) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeRoc:
Like I said before, I'd like to walk through the city a bit, visit a few museums, churches ... and I'd love it if it would be possible to meet some Shipmates for dinner and/or beer in the evening.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
You must have barely stopped moving.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
You must have barely stopped moving.

---

You need to keep moving in Scotland. To avoid freezing up, going rusty in the rain, or to keep clear of the midges. (I can say this as my [Scottish] wife rarely reads this site!)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
Gracious rebel, what did you see in Aberdeen?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
Take a big bucket. It rains.

---

Thanks for the advice. I will try to remember.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
But don't bother with an umbrella, because it mostly rains sideways.

AG
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Often from several different directions at the same time.
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 
But you still have daylight in November?
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
For at least an hour or two ...
 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
If you aren't in shade for three months (what's that place?).
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by LeRoc:
I'm very sorry, my life is a bit complex sometimes, and this doesn't always make it easy to plan ahead.

I'm in the UK, and I always wanted to go to Scotland some day, so I should do it now. I booked a train ticket and a hotel in Edinburgh, arriving Saturday 7 November around noon, and leaving Sunday 8 at the end of the afternoon.

I plan to walk around a bit, see if I can visit interesting churches, museums ... If there are Shipmates who have time for a meal or a drink, I'd like that a lot.

---

I think we might be around that weekend. We wouldn't be able to do anything during the evening as we have an under-2, but during the day might be possible.
 

---

Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
Who's up for an Irn Bru pilgrimage?
Anyone tried any of these?
 

---

Posted by Cathscats (# 17827) on :
 
Iran Bru sorbet is actually very refreshing!
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Once again, the ban on haggis in the US is in the news. This time the suggestion is to change the recipe to get around the ban. BBC News.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I was in the butchers two weeks ago, and the man ahead of me in the queue was ordering sheep's hearts and pigs' teeth. I couldn't work out what sort of meal could be cooked using heart and teeth, so I asked. Turned out he was a science teacher getting supplies for a biology class.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I see on the news that you've got weather there, even giving them names now. It must be getting bad, I hear that Abigail has been upgraded to normal Hebridean weather. Hang in tight.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Now they've started naming our storms, we all know what Scotland will be calling the next one (beginning with B). Sadly the Met Office rules out ever officially naming a storm "Bawbag".
 

---

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
I was just wondering if Abigail is to be followed by Barbiegail, Carriegail etc all the way to Zoegail.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Either that, or they'll add 'ina' to all the male storm names? So next up would be Barneyina.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
Some years ago, a cyclone here was given a very unusual name which I have now forgotten. I remember thinking that perhaps the person responsible for naming had consulted a book of baby names. Now there are many sites for such things. It would be easy to consult such a site and move through the alphabet that way.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
We were very lucky regarding Abigail - I think we may have got the last ferry from Orkney before it hit (and actually had a very decent crossing). The waves coming in on the coast as we drove south through Sutherland were pretty impressive, and by the time we stopped in Inverness for petrol (as you do) the heavens had opened.

Unfortunately they did that opening thing while D. was obeying the "bong" from the hire car telling him to check the tyre pressure, and he got absolutely drookled.

And the chuffing thing's still bonging ...

[ 14. November 2015, 23:46: Message edited by: Piglet ]
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I refuse to comment on the grounds that if I do it will only get me in trouble.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Isn't "in trouble" your default setting?

The bong is now Not Our Problem; the hire car has gone back (complete with bong).

We had a lovely couple of days with my family in Edinburgh, in particular meeting my new great-nephew, who is 3 months old and completely off the scale on the cute-o-meter.
 

---

Posted by daisymay (# 1480) on :
 
I am going this afternoon at 1 at the Scottish church, kirk, which is in London. My parents belong to it as he come to do work. It is an excellent one.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I see there's a warning of snow this weekend. Although, the amount seems uncertain.

quote:

---

The Met Office said up to 4cm (1in) of snow could fall at lower levels and to 10cm (3in) above 150m (492ft)

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Alan Cresswell:
Although, the amount seems uncertain.

quote:

---

The Met Office said up to 4cm (1in) of snow could fall at lower levels and to 10cm (3in) above 150m (492ft)

---

Are those conversions by the Met Office or BBC? Whoever it is needs to be clearer. Is it 4cm (1.57in) or 1in (2.54cm) of snow? The higher ground values are equally confusing, 10cm is 3.94 inches.

---

I presume they rounded the inches down after conversion.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
We've had about an inch. It's very pretty.

Our neighbour's cat, thwarted by frozen ground and snow from crapping in our veg patch, has realised that the large plant pot on our front door step which is sheltered from snow and remained unfrozen, can be used as a substitute toilet.
 

---

Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :
 
We had Kirkin' of the Tartans this morning at my parish in St. Louis, Missouri. I wore my full Highland drag, including my woven-in-the-Shetlands-200-year-ago Edmondston plaid, and thought of you.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
I've no idea what Kirkin' of the Tartans is.
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Can you tell us more about it, Rossweisse? It's not something I've come across in Scotland, but it sounds interesting.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
I can't help thinking that a Shetland-knitted plaid probably redefines "warm"!

AG
 

---

Posted by Jengie jon (# 273) on :
 
I am sorry but it's Scot-American or Scots Diaspora tradition and not something practiced in Scotland.

Jengie
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
They used to have a "Kirking of the Council" ceremony in St. Magnus Cathedral, which was attended by the newly-elected members of the Kirkwall Town Council (and later of Orkney Islands Council). I don't know if they still do it or not.

Nothing to do with tartan though (unless you count the uniforms of the Kirkwall City Pipe Band).
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Aberdeen has a "Kirking of the Council." Some of our cooncilors are sorely in need of a good kirking.
 

---

Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

quote:

---

North East Quine: Some of our cooncilors are sorely in need of a good kirking.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jengie jon:
I am sorry but it's Scot-American or Scots Diaspora tradition and not something practiced in Scotland.

Jengie

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rossweisse:
My apologies, Alan, for annoying you. I didn't think I'd written that much; I did - mistakenly, obviously - think that the Kirkin' was a Scots ceremony.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
One of my gt gt gt grandfathers was a Henderson, but he disappeared as soon as my gt gt gt granny found out she was pregnant. So I don't know anything about him or my further back Henderson ancestry.

---

I have a Henderson ancestor too, who did exactly the same thing.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
A quick Google led me to this other bit of history that shows the origin is indeed Scots! There are also a few little bits on Youtube.com for those interested.

[Your friendly neighbourhood Host who had a bit of time on his hands this morning.]
 

---

Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :
 
I'm glad to know that I did not inadvertently annoy. Thank you.

My Henderson ancestors were married and stayed put as far back as we can trace them. So were the MacLeod, MacPherson, MacGregor, Edmondston and... I forget the other clan... ancestral units.

I enjoy the skirling of the pipes, but not indoors.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I agree, pipes should always be outside, preferably about 5 miles distant!
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
On a few occasions I have been inside a building with a pipe band (3-4 pipers plus drums). It is a rousing sound.
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
Previous remark deleted - but I really am not a lover of the pipes.

[ 25. November 2015, 05:56: Message edited by: Welease Woderwick ]
 

---

Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cottontail:

quote:

---

Originally posted by North East Quine:
One of my gt gt gt grandfathers was a Henderson, but he disappeared as soon as my gt gt gt granny found out she was pregnant. So I don't know anything about him or my further back Henderson ancestry.

---

I have a Henderson ancestor too, who did exactly the same thing.

---

He wasn't called William by any chance? A blacksmith to trade?
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
Something tells me that Wodders would not be impressed by Douglas Adams' ideal lover, the legendary Dagenham Girl Pipers...

AG
 

---

Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 
My father always said to watch out for men wearing skirts, as they played the bagpipes - you can guess the age of that. He, I and Dlet in turn all attended what used be a Presbyterian school, now Uniting Church, which gives you some idea of how much he disliked them. They do have their place, that being rehearsals on cold misty mornings, on the main oval, being heard a few hundred metres away on the local station.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
You're heathens the lot of you. Where would the British Empire have been without Devils in Skirts?
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
You beat me to it, Alan - that's exactly what I was thinking.

We sang in the choir at St. Magnus Cathedral on Remembrance Sunday, and there was, as is right and proper, a lament played by a piper. Unfortunately he was only a couple of feet south-west of my left ear ...

I don't mind bagpipes outdoors, especially if they're playing Scotland the Brave or Highland Cathedral.

[tangent]
D. was once asked by a bride in Northern Ireland if he'd accompany a piper at her wedding. She said, "you probably won't know the piece - it's called Highland Cathedral". "Know it?" he replied, "I used to be the organist of it".
[/tangent OFF]
 

---

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :
 
I think my next Carry On... DVD purchase will have to be the Khyber one - it is a classic.
 

---

Posted by ArachnidinElmet (# 17346) on :
 
There's a very good piper who stands on the causeway on Lindisfarne. That's pretty much as outdoors as you can get.

I like a good piper, but the guy in the centre of Leeds last week was not it. He was 'playing' Scotland the Brave and missing the top note by a good tone and a half with every single attempt.
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
There's a kirk at the end of my road which is quite popular for weddings. A couple of months ago I walked past it as they were all waiting for the guests and bridal party to arrive, and the piper who was already in situ outside started playing the theme to "Star Wars". It made me smile, although I did partly wish that he'd played the Death March.
 

---

Posted by Rossweisse (# 2349) on :
 
Piglet, are you in Orkney?
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I grew up in Orkney, and my dad still lives there. We were there on holiday a couple of weeks ago, and as we usually do when we're there, sang with the Cathedral choir on the Sunday.


 

---

Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 
I guess this is where the rest of the UK thanks Scotland for producing Andy Murray, who has played a huge part in winning the Davis Cup for Britain, for the first time since 1936.

OK, it wasn't a one-man show, but it helps when you have a player with an 8-0 record in singles and a 3-0 record in doubles.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Absolutely - well done the whole team! And, appropriately enough, on the eve of St. Andrew's Day.

Happy haggis-hunting, one and all!
 

---

Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Unfortunately the haggis-hunting link I posted to my facebook page earlier today turned out to be 2 years old (from the last year they did it) and I think it's not actually happening
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
I certainly couldn't find any mention of it on "The Scotsman's" website.
 

---

Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 
That will make the second year of no haggis!
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
That being the case, we'll just have to make our own.

I've done this recipe, and with a bit of tweaking (IIRC I doubled the amount of the spices, as it was a bit bland) and the judicious addition of some cooking whisky it's really rather nice. As it's made in a loaf-tin, you can fool the more squeamish of your friends into thinking it's a meat-loaf, but if you fork it up on a serving-platter and serve it with clapshot, you'd hardly know it wasn't the real thing.
 

---

Posted by Alan Cresswell (# 31) on :
 
Since the heart, lungs and suet are omitted from that recipe, it's little wonder it's bland. There's a lot of flavour in those ingredients. AIUI, it's only the lungs that are classed as 'inedible' by the USDA, there should be no reason why you couldn't include the heart and suet into the recipe, reducing the need to boost the spice content to compensate.
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
There is a reason - despite my almost completely unalloyed Scottishness, I'd be a bit nervous about handling anything more extreme than liver myself.

I'm happy to eat the real thing, but for making it myself, liver is about the limit of my offal bravery.
 

---

Posted by Sandemaniac (# 12829) on :
 
There I was thinking that piglet was offally brave...

AG
 

---

Posted by Baptist Trainfan (# 15128) on :
 
(Groan).

The haggis we had last night had as its ingredients: Oatmeal, Stock, Pork Lungs, Beef Suet, Bacon(Pork, Salt, Potassium Nitrate (E252), Sodium Nitrite (E250), Pork Liver, Lamb Heart, Pork Heart, Onions, Salt, Pepper, Spices. It was excellent although slightly different to the MacSween's we've had in the past.

The best haggis I've ever had came from the butcher in Eyemouth, their own make. It was much darker than usual in colour.

[ 01. December 2015, 15:43: Message edited by: Baptist Trainfan ]
 

---

Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
A butcher friend of ours in Belfast used to make seriously good haggis; he even used to win haggis-making competitions, leading to some deeply disgruntled Scotsmen.

He said that his recipe didn't use offal (how exactly he defined "offal" I don't know); the haggis was made in a large (about 8" diameter) sausage-shape (a bit like whole mortadella sausage) and he would cut chunks from it. His preferred method of cooking was in the microwave ( ) but it actually worked very well.
 

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Posted by Lothlorien (# 4927) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Jack the Lass:
Unfortunately the haggis-hunting link I posted to my facebook page earlier today turned out to be 2 years old (from the last year they did it) and I think it's not actually happening

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I received an email from the people responsible for haggis hunting. First email in several years so hardly spam.

They say the site collapsed and would cost a sizable amount to get back up. They also say it has been hard to find a sponsor.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
Couldn't they get Macsween's?
 

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Posted by Surfing Madness (# 11087) on :
 
The shutting of the Forth Road Bridge will cause fun and a chaos. Hope noone on here is too badly effected.
 

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Posted by Wet Kipper (# 1654) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Cottontail:
Who's up for an Irn Bru pilgrimage?
Anyone tried any of these?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Surfing Madness:
The shutting of the Forth Road Bridge will cause fun and a chaos. Hope noone on here is too badly effected.

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Not directly affected, but the traffic in Stirling and surrounding area was much worse than usual today, as the diversion to the Kincardine and Clacks bridges involves getting onto the M876 which is fairly near here. It took me ages to get to and from nursery this evening after work - though I was thinking while I was stuck at a roundabout in Bannockburn of an alternative route to nursery, but then went home that way and the traffic was even worse so I'll probably just stick with what I do normally. My colleague (who lives in Clacks) had more trouble, I think it's going to be a bit of a nightmare for her.

In other news, it's blowing an absolute hoolie out there!
 

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Posted by Cottontail (# 12234) on :
 
I've got to get to Dunfermline tomorrow. Means braving the nightmare roadworks at Hamilton. There is no good route.

This is after getting stuck in the snow-related snarl-up outside Edinburgh yesterday. A 90 minute journey took 6 hours.

Blawin' a hoolie here too tonight.
 

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Posted by kingsfold (# 1726) on :
 
Very, very windy here, and wet.

You OK cottontail? It looks like your neck of the woods is bearing the brunt of this.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I hear you're on to Hurricane Desmond now - look after yourselves, and batten down the hatches.


 

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Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
We're battening down for Gertrude!

Our nearest river has burst its banks quite spectacularly and we really need it to stop now.
 

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Posted by Jack the Lass (# 3415) on :
 
Here's hoping Gertrude is observing Dry January. The photos you're putting on facebook are pretty eek-inducing.
 

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Posted by Uncle Pete (# 10422) on :
 
This thread is so, so...2015! Catch up after the bad weather, if Scotland still exists then...
 

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Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
Our village hall is being prepared in case anyone has to be evacuated from their homes overnight.
 

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Posted by Piglet (# 11803) on :
 
I've just realised that this thread is becoming somewhat out of date (thanks Uncle Pete!), so I'll close this one and start a new one.
 

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