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Wednesday 26 September 2007

Tour Roslin Castle Scotland


Tour Roslin Castle, Midlothian, Scotland.

Monday 24 September 2007

Loch Tay Scotland


Late this afternoon at Loch Tay, Perthshire, Scotland.

Visit Iona Village Scotland


Visit Iona Village Scotland, on an Ancestry Tour of Scotland. Best Scottish Tours, Best Scottish Food, Best Scottish Hotels, Small Group Tours of Scotland.

Sunday 23 September 2007

Enjoy This Scottish Blog


Enjoy this Scottish Blog, and stay a wee while.

Thursday 20 September 2007

Scottish Blessing


Where beats the heart so kindly as beneath the tartan plaid.

Best Scottish Tours of Glamis


Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland.


Glamis Village Square.


Glamis Village, thatched cottage.


Glamis Village, Mercat Coss.

Scottish Seabird Centre


Wildlife and sea birds visitor centre in North Berwick, Scotland.

Best Scottish Humor Thrifty Scotsman


Raining today in Scotland, the perfect time for a shower.

Monday 17 September 2007

Best Scottish Tours of Inverness


Best Scottish Tours of Inverness. A sunny, but very cold Monday in Inverness, Scotland.

Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is now Scotland's youngest city, a vibrantly growing community and the main destination for all tourists who seek their Highland roots or that more elusive creature, Nessie. Inverness's history, however, belies its peaceful present. Founded by Scotland's monarchs as a strategic outpost on a wild frontier, the royal burgh on the Ness has been caught up time and again in the struggles that mark Highland and British history. Over the centuries rebels against Lowland rule, the forces of Robert Bruce, followers of the Lord of the Isles, the English soldiers of Cromwell's army, and Jacobites have swaggered through its streets. Here, too, have come some of the great figures in Scotland's story - from Columba, Mary Queen of Scots, the Marquis of Montrose, and Prince Charles Edward Stuart to Johnson and Boswell. Through the troubles the merchants and burgesses struggled to make their town a pleasant, well ordered community where commerce could flourish and the visitor would be welcome. Inverness: A History.

Sunday 16 September 2007

Best Scottish Humor Half Scotch


"Glad to meet you Jock, I'm half Scotch myself; the other half of me being beer."

Saturday 15 September 2007

Best Scottish Broth


Best Scottish Broth - Scotch Broth.

This soup is so nourishing and filling that it is a meal in itself. It has always been popular with Scottish crofters and farming families.

One (450 g) neck of mutton.
Four pints (2.25 litres) of cold water.
Two ounces (50 g) of pearl barley, washed.
Two ounces (50 g) of dried peas, soaked overnight.
Two carrots.
Two leeks.
One small turnip.
One onion.
One stick of celery.
Salt and pepper.
Half a small cabbage, shredded.
A sprig of parsley.

Put the meat into a large saucepan. Cover with cold water. Add the salt, pearl barley, and peas. Bring to the boil. Skim off any scum that rises to the surface. Dice the carrots, leeks, turnip, onion and celery, and add to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, cover, and simmer for two and half hours. Add the shredded cabbage and cook for a further twenty minutes. Adjust the seasoning. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Serves 6-8. Scottish Cooking.

Best Scottish Ancestry Tours of Doune


Best Scottish Ancestry Tours of Doune, Scotland.

Friday 14 September 2007

Scottish Rainbow


A bright day in the Scottish Trossachs, with a rainbows growing and fading.

Wednesday 12 September 2007

Best Scottish Tours of Oban


A dull, but dry day, in Oban, Scotland. Oban is located in the Firth of Lorn and is often known as the Gateway to the Isles. Oban photographs.

Tuesday 11 September 2007

Best Scottish Songs Awa' Tae Bide Awa'

We're No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa'

Chorus:
For we're no' awa' tae bide awa',
For we're no' awa tae le'e ye,
For we're no' awa' tae bide awa',
We'll aye come back an' see ye.

As I gaed doon by Wilsontoon
I met auld Johnnie Scobbie,
Says I to him will ye hae a hauf,
Says he, "Man! That's my hobby."

Chorus:

So we had a hauf an' anither hauf,
And then we had anither,
When he got fou' he shouted
"Hoo!
It's Carnwath Mill for ever."

Chorus:

We wandered doon the street again
We cleekit unco cheery,
When John got hame his wife cried shame,
I see you're enjoyin' your hobby.

Chorus:

Of a' the friens that ere I kenned,
There's nane like Johnnie Scobbie,
His hert is leal, he's true as steel,
An' a hauf is aye his hobby.

Chorus:

So whenever friendly friens may meet,
Wherever Scots foregather,
We'll raise our gless, we'll shout
Hurroo,
It's Carnwath Mill for ever.

Chorus:

Meaning of unusual words:
tae bide awa' = to stay away.
aye = always.
gaed = went.
hauf = a measure of alcohol.
fou' = drunk.
cleekit = walk arm in arm.
unco = extremely.
kenned = knew.
leal = loyal.

Scottish Sheep and Sheepdogs


Scottish Sheep and Sheepdogs on the road this afternoon in Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland.

Best Scottish Humour


Scottish Tour Guide, " Here, you get a most unusual view of Ben Lomond."
Tour Guest, " Goodness me, I thought Ben Lomond was a mountain ! "

Monday 10 September 2007

Best Scottish Pictish Tours


Best Scottish Pictish Tours. Spent this morning in Aberlemno, Angus, Scotland. The Aberlemno Church stone, shown above, stands just in front of the church, in the small churchyard. It is an excellent Class 2 stone, bearing a Celtic cross on the west face, decorated with interlace and flanked by entwined beasts.


There are three other stones on the old Brechin to Forfar road, just East of Aberlemno Church. The south face of one of the Aberlemno Stones has a hunting scene and Pictish symbols.

Best Scottish Humour


"Well, it might look like Scottish whisky, but it has a definite Scottie dog taste ! "

Saturday 8 September 2007

Best Scottish Tours Pitlochry Games


Spent this afternoon at the Pitlochry Highland Games. Although the weather was overcast and there was only sporadic periods of sunshine, it was a wonderful event with many Pipe Bands, Solo Piping, Scottish Highland Dancing, Heavy Events, Track events, and Cycling. Pitlochry Games Photos.

Friday 7 September 2007

Best Scottish Milk


Scottish Milk.
Two eggs.
A half pint of milk.
Two ounces of caster sugar.
Four tablespoons of Scotch whisky.
A little grated nutmeg.

Separate the yolks of the eggs from the whites. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until thick. Add the milk and whisky and whisk well. Whisk the egg whites until stiff but not dry and fold into the drink. Sprinkle with a little grated nutmeg. Serves 4.

Best Scottish Food.

Wednesday 5 September 2007

Scottish Presbyterians


Scottish Presbyterians and the Act of Union 1707. Set against the background of post-revolution Scottish ecclesiastical politics, the book addresses the hitherto largely neglected religious dimension to the debates on Anglo-Scottish Union. Focusing predominately upon the period between April 1706 and January 1707, the book examines the attitudes and reactions of Presbyterians to the treaty and challenges many of the widely held assumptions about the role of the church and other groups during the debate. The focal point of the Kirk's response was the Commission of the General Assembly. Through the extensive use of church records and other primary sources the work of the commission in pursuit of church security through its debates, committees and addresses, is discussed at length. The book also examines the church and groups like the Cameronians and Hebronites in relation to the parliamentary debate, the pursuit of alternatives to incorporation, popular protest, addressing and armed resistance. Scottish Presbyterians and the Act of Union 1707.

Scottish Ghost Stories


Scottish Ghost Stories. This is a collection of ghost stories based on a mixture of local history and folklore. The stories are from past and present. Some, such as The Hauntings of Glamis Castle or The Tale of Major Weir are well known, while others are less familiar, such as The Deil of Littledean. Scottish Ghost Stories.

Scottish Witchcraft


Scottish Witchcraft and Magick, the Craft of the Picts. Scottish Witchcraft and Magick: The Craft of the Picts.

Scottish Treasures


Scottish Treasures. Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Scotland. Founded in 1850, the National Gallery of Scotland is situated in the heart of the captial city of Edinburgh. Its world-class collection embraces art from the early Renaissance to the end of the 19th century. This publication illustrates 50 great paintings from the Gallery's collection, including works by major European masters such as Veronese, El Greco, Hals, Watteau, Constable and Delacroix, as well as fine examples of the Scottish School such as Raeburn's magnificent portrait of MacDonell of Glengarry. Scottish Treasures: Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Scotland.

Scottish Gold and Silver Work


Scottish Gold and Silver Work. The work of Scottish craftsmen from the earliest Celtic gold and silver work through to the burgh craftsmen of the 1700s and early 1800s is described. Scottish Gold and Silver Work (The Little Books Series).

Scottish Stained Glass


Scottish Stained Glass. The history of stained glass in Scotland. Topics covered include: Scotland's medieval stained glass; Celtic visions and arts and crafts; and war damage. Scottish Stained Glass: Making the Colours Sing (Discovering Historic Scotland): Making the Colours Sing (Discovering Historic Scotland).

Scottish Coins


Scottish Coins, a History of Small Change in Scotland. This is the intriguing story of how ordinary money was used by ordinary people in Scotland. Placks, bawbees, hardheads and bodles, this absorbing history covers not only coin development and production but also gives an account of how such monies were used, abused, spent, discarded and counterfeited by the Scottish population. Scottish Coins: A History of Small Change in Scotland (Scottish Artefacts).

Scottish Ceramics


Scottish Ceramics. Over 630 photographs that showcase items that can now be rightfully attributed to the prolific Scottish potteries. Descriptive chapters include brief histories of the most important potteries and a discussion of the wares. Scottish Ceramics.

Scottish Silver Flatware


Scottish Silver Flatware. Ian Pickford takes a wide ranging look at flatware patterns and, at the same time, discusses in detail flatware makers, stylistic developments, quality, repairs, fakes, forgeries and alterations as well as the marking of flatware. A large part of the book is devoted, in reference form, to the patterns themselves. Silver flatware is highly collectable and this is the standard work of reference. Silver Flatware: English, Irish and Scottish, 1660-1980.

Scottish Birds


Scottish Birds, Culture and tradition. A unique book exploring the wealth of tradition, history and lore about birds in Scotland. Dr Hull describes Scottish Birds as a distillation of a lifetime of looking at birds all over the world and being dissatisfied with what I found in books. The first part of the book tells the story of birds and man in Scotland since the Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago. Dr Hull then lists the 195 species of birds that commonly occur in Scotland. Each has an individual entry, giving scientific, Gaelic and Scottish names and a brief history, along with curious facts and anecdotes from a vast range of records, folktales, statistical accounts and eye-witness reports. Scottish Birds: Culture and Tradition.

Scottish Heather


Scottish Heather. The purple glow of heather clad hillsides in summer time is one of Scotland's most typical and beautiful sights. No wonder heather has become a well loved national symbol. But heather has not just been part of the landscape. The place of heather in Scottish life has always been important in a variety of ways, ranging from the ordinary to the spectacular, heather besoms swept floors, hardy Highlanders slept on piled heathers and the clan Macdonald rallied in battle to the heather-bound staff. There is also the immemorial secret of heather ale, and the unforgettable taste of heather honey. And why should white heather be seen as lucky? This delightful little book brings you all the secrets of Scottish heather. The Scottish Heather.

Scottish Heather Photographs.

Scottish Pottery


Scottish Pottery. Although Scottish pottery may be traced back over many centuries, it was not until the mid eighteenth century that it became an important element in the national economy. Since the mid twentieth century there has been considerable study of the Scottish pottery industry, revealing the diversification of production and showing that exports and innovation were more significant than previously thought. Scottish pottery is widely recognised as having its own distinctive characters and in this book many examples are illustrated in colour. Scottish Pottery (Shire Album).

Scottish Houses and Gardens


Scottish Houses and Gardens. An unrivalled collection of Scotland's finest houses in their final golden age, before the destructive forces of the twentieth century swept so many away and emptied others of their contents. Here are the famous palaces and castles, from Holyroodhouse and Glamis to Inverary and Culzean, recorded in photographs of timeless authority. Here also, are the fragile ensembles of 18th century houses: Arniston, Newhailes, Drum, shown with their gardens, plasterwork, tapestries, furniture and paintings. Most breathtaking of all is Hamilton palace and its incomparable collections photographed months before the house was demolished and its treasures scattered. Scottish Houses and Gardens: From the Archives of "Country Life" (Country Life): From the Archives of "Country Life" (Country Life).