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Newsletter for 21st December 2018

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  • Newsletter for 21st December 2018

    For the latest news from Scotland see our ScotNews feed at:
    https://electricscotland.com/scotnews.htm

    Electric Scotland News


    Wishing you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    As usual we have activated our special Christmas page at:
    https://electricscotland.com/index98.htm

    ---------

    The National Trust for Scotland’s internationally-renowned Threave Garden and Estate has gained an inspiring new feature thanks to the generosity of American donors. The Garden of Contemplation will be formally dedicated on Saturday, December 22, to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

    The new space has been thoughtfully and carefully designed to provide a peaceful setting that evokes contemplation and reflection. It combines clever use of hard landscaping, planting, and sculptural features and was created as a result of the generous support of donors from The National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA, based in Boston, Massachusetts, and one of its Trustees, Victoria Cummock.

    Victoria was inspired to support the project out of a love of Scotland that emerged from the most tragic of circumstances. Her husband John was one of the victims of the Lockerbie plane crash. For Victoria, the project represents an expression of gratitude for the extraordinary humanitarian efforts of thousands of Scottish citizens following the terrorist bombing.

    Victoria will be joined by representatives of the local area, Lockerbie families, and the National Trust for Scotland to dedicate the garden.

    The National Trust for Scotland’s Chairman, Sir Moir Lockhead OBE said:

    “Love is the strongest emotion of all, and the bond that Victoria has formed with Scotland in the aftermath of the most difficult of times is both moving and inspirational.
    
    “This new garden provides the space to take time out of the endlessly busy present to meditate on past events, appreciate the natural environment of the present and practise mindfulness while wishing for a peaceful future. The ties between Scotland and the USA are unbreakable and we are enormously grateful to Victoria and our other friends in America for their profound generosity.”

    -------

    Here is the video introduction to this newsletter...

    Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
    Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines. I might also add that in newspapers such as the Guardian, Scotsman, Courier, etc. you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish.

    Two portions of Christmas cake enough to put you over the drink-driving limit
    A new report has suggested that drivers need to think about what they eat as much as what they drink to avoid falling foul of the law.

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/cars/car-ca...2e3269c0b28ef/

    This extraordinary week has changed nothing. It’s still May’s deal or no deal
    The prospect of no deal looms larger than ever

    Read more at:
    https://capx.co/this-extraordinary-w...eal-or-no-deal

    Supreme Court shows how the Union can work
    TODAY'S JUDGEMENT by the Supreme Court on the Scottish Government's Legal Continuity Bill is fascinating.

    Read more at:
    http://www.thinkscotland.org/thinkbu...ead_full=13768

    Sir Paul McCartney puts on incredible three-hour set in Glasgow
    The Beatles legend shows no sign of slowing down

    Read more and view some clips at:
    https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/tva...eshen-up-tour/

    The Road To CANZUK Free Trade
    CANZUK International’s independent researcher, George Colvin-Slee, examines why the Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement (CER) between Australia and New Zealand is the ideal agreement for Canada and the UK to join and accomplish CANZUK free trade.

    Read more at:
    https://www.canzukinternational.com/2018/12/trade.html

    CANZUK Countries Ranked Best In The World
    U.S. News & World Report, an American media corporation based in Washington D.C., has revealed its 2018 rankings for the world’s best countries, positioning Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom within the top 13.

    Read more at:
    https://www.canzukinternational.com/...-in-world.html

    Australia appoints military leader as next governor general
    Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that David Hurley, former Australian Defence Force chief and current governor of the state of New South Wales, has been appointed to the office.

    Read more at:
    https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-au...-idUKKBN1OF00K

    Chinese county pays price for vanity-project binge
    Rucheng is not alone - hundreds of other indebted counties in China are in the same boat. In a recent financial stability report, the central bank said that much of China’s hidden debt risk is held at lower-tier levels, meaning prefectures and counties like Rucheng.

    Read more at:
    https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-ch...-idUKKBN1OE0RK

    UK will 'flourish and prosper' if it walks away from the EU without a deal
    In an interview with The Telegraph, the Foreign Secretary says that while a no-deal Brexit would cause disruption, the country has faced much bigger challenges in its history.

    Read more at:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...-without-deal/

    The Scottish Samurai of Asian whisky distilling to be honoured
    He was the Scotsman who helped modernise Japan and whose story inspired a pioneering fusion of Scotch and Japanese whisky.

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/business/co...ured-1-4844653

    See also
    https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/20.../#.XBvUQFVKiQM

    4,500-year-old stone circle discovered for first time
    The Recumbent Stone Circle has been recorded on a farm in Aberdeenshire, in the parish of Leochel-Cushnie.

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/4...time-1-4845198

    Why Millennials are poorer than other generations
    The stats are clear - most Millennials are not frittering away money on avocado toast

    Read more at:
    https://capx.co/why-millennials-are-...r-generations/

    The Scot who created the vision of English childhood
    Author John Simmons discovers why Kenneth Grahame’s book, The Wind in the Willows, continues to fascinate children of all ages, despite being over 100 years old

    Read more at:
    https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/c...hood-1-4845994

    Scotland's first rye whisky in 100 years produced at Arbroath distillery
    Arbikie's Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky is available in an initial batch of 998 bottles priced at £250 each.

    Read more at:
    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...iness-46618914

    Bombardier delivers Global 7500 jet
    Canada’s Bombardier Inc will deliver its first Global 7500 corporate jet on Thursday, premiering a full-sized bed and optional en-suite shower

    Read more at:
    https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ae...KCN1OJ0HB?il=0

    Now That’s What I Call Brexit
    Brexit Central's Greatest Hits in 2018

    Read more at:
    https://brexitcentral.com/now-thats-...est-hits-2018/

    Labour’s Brexit trilemma
    The least bad outcome?

    Read more at:
    http://sceptical.scot/2018/12/labour...t-bad-outcome/

    Vintage Scotch whiskies found to be fake
    More than a third of vintage Scotch whiskies tested at a specialist laboratory this year have been found to be fake, BBC Scotland has learned.

    Read more at:
    https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotl...und-to-be-fake

    Electric Canadian

    The Canadian Horticulturist
    Added volume 7, published by the Fruit Growers Association of Ontario.

    You can read this at: https://www.electriccanadian.com/tra...culturirst.htm

    Canadian Archive Reports
    Added the 1887 report.

    You can read this at: https://www.electriccanadian.com/mak...er_douglas.htm

    The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs
    The Canadian Annual Review of Public Affairs for 1904 which you can read at:
    https://www.electriccanadian.com/his...nual/index.htm

    Canadian Fisherman
    You can read volume 2 at: https://www.electriccanadian.com/lif...rman/index.htm

    The Canadian Nurse
    A Quarterly Journal for the Nursing Profession in Canada is featured this week which you can read at:
    https://www.electriccanadian.com/tra...adiannurse.htm

    Canadian Medical Review
    I've added the first volume printed in 1895 for you to read at:
    https://www.electriccanadian.com/tra...icalreview.htm

    Canadian Railway and Marine World
    A publication covering this market which you can read at:
    https://www.electriccanadian.com/tra...ntransport.htm

    WMP 1895 - RCMP 1995
    An old video of 100 years of the NWMP to become the RCMP and this is in mp4 format and can be viewed at:https://www.electriccanadian.com/for...5-RCMP1995.mp4

    A trip from Brussels, to Calgary and onto Vancouver.
    Added a series of 8 videos in mp4 format which came from the Public Archives and you can view these at:
    https://www.electriccanadian.com/lif...eos/canada.htm

    Electric Scotland

    Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
    Got in the January 2019 section 2 which you can read at: https://electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm

    Some Chap Books from the Paisley Repository
    Found 3 books of Chap Books which contain some interesting stories. Have added them to the foot of our page on William Harvey.

    You can read these at: https://electricscotland.com/history...ey_william.htm

    Archaeological Essays
    By Sir James Y. Simpson in two volumes (1872) edited by John Stuart, LL.D., Secretary of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland which I've added to the foot of his page at:
    https://electricscotland.com/history...pson_james.htm

    Clan Buchanan Society International
    Got in the The Clan Buchanan Banner newsletter for January 2019 which you can read at:
    https://electricscotland.com/familyt...anan/index.htm

    Battle of the Somme
    Major WWI battle celebrating the 100th anniversary which you can read at:
    https://electricscotland.com/history...me_2016_UK.pdf

    Portraits of the High Officers and Professors of The University of Edinburgh
    At its Tercentenary Festival Drawn and Etched by William Hole A.R.S.A. (1884) (pdf)

    You can read this at: https://electricscotland.com/history...fEdinburgh.pdf

    Clan Boyd
    Got some information in on Clan Boyd from Mike Boyd the clan historian which you can read at:
    https://electricscotland.com/webclans/atoc/boyd2.html

    The Life of the Rev. John MacDonald, A.M.
    Late Missionary Minister from the Free Church of Scotland at Calcutta including selections from his Diary and Letters by the Rev. W. K. Tweedie (second edition) (1849) (pdf)

    You can read this at: https://electricscotland.com/bible/l...nmacdonald.pdf

    A video history of Scotland
    These BBC videos keep disappearing from YouTube so I've now found them on the Internet Archive and have now downloaded them so they won't be lost again.

    You can view this at: https://www.electricscotland.com/his...ryscotland.htm

    Nicola Auchnie performs live at the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship Celebration at Blair Castle
    A YouTube video which you can watch at:
    http://www.electricscotland.org/show...t-Blair-Castle

    The Story

    From time to time I get sent in wee snippets of information on something Scottish or about a Scottish family so here are a couple of such snippets for you to read here...

    This is from the Canadian Weather Trivia Calendar of 2002.

    "Feb. 13, 1870: After heavy snowfall and rain at Low Point, N.S., a wall of snow struck a house and carried it and its six occupants downhill. At the shore, the occupants were spilled out and the building was carried out on the ice. The husband and children escaped unharmed, a baby remained in the cradle sound asleep, but the wife suffered bruising and burning when she fell against the stove."

    Where do you get babies like that? The house was the little home of Donald MacEachern of Creignish, Inverness County. It was just south of where Floyd MacDonald lives today. The wife was Elizabeth Murphy of Port Hood (her injuries were not serious). The dog and cat were killed by shock. Some of that family were still living in 1922, but not in Creignish!. See: MacDougall's "History of Inverness County".

    The following is quoted from Drummer on Foot:

    Isabel Nigh'n Dhughaill (Isabel # 89, daughter of Dougald MacFarlane) and Maireread, wife of Ewen Cameron (Margaret Gillis, # 49), were first neighbors, while both lived, and experienced the hardships of pioneer life in raising large families. I may here quote again from an article quoted before, just to give us an idea of life then:

    "No, the work of women in those days was no maiden's play. Let me cite only one instance to prove this. There were no automobiles, no carriages of any kind, no horses, no roads or paths, nothing better than blazes on trees to guide the traveller (sic) through the dense forest. On a certain occasion Margaret and a neighbor of hers, Mrs. Angus McPherson, better known as Ishabel Nigh'n Dhugaill, another estimable woman, finding their homes needed something more than milk to help down the good potatoes, proceeded to the harbor, a distance at least ten miles, guided by the indespensable (sic) "blaze" through the woods and by the winding course of the river. Early in the evening they returned home, each with a half-barrel of good fat herring, in a sack on her shoulders. Think of this ease loving sports of to-day. Think of it, all you who have been brought up upon the level plains, transformed from the forest by them, and are yet dissatisfied notwithstanding all your travelling facilities and other modern conveniences; all of you who through a spirit of unrest, born of a desire for greater things, for wealth or gaiety or some similar craving, that the mind never sees satisfied, seek other lands and forsake the land of your birth and the cradle of your faith."

    Margaret immigrated to at Achadh an Tobhair in 1801.

    And that's it for this week and hope you all have a Merry Christmas and don't forget that too much Christmas cake or Plum pudding might put you over the driving limit!!! <grin>

    Alastair

  • #2
    Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Alastair, with thanks for all your hard work keeping us informed and entertained.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

      Thanks for that Rick... and of course I enjoy doing what I do so it makes life good for me as well <grin>

      Alastair

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

        A performance for Christmas............a few years old but still good to watch/listen to

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

          Gordon...As I sang in the chorus at my university in Munich, I was singing as well as possible, along with these great singers. Thanks for posting this. I do miss the fun in singing!! My voice is NOT the same though...anymore. Glad to know you are still there. Joan

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

            Hi Joan, yes I'm still alive and kicking... here is one to refresh your language knowledge from your time in Germany

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

              Gordon...Danke Schoen, although I really only use the shortest words in German!! I was at U. of Maryland, Munich Branch, for American students. (We were overseas with our fathers being in the military.) Again, danke, & Auf zeidershene (?) Joan

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Newsletter for 21st December 2018

                Wiedersehen!

                Comment

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