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Newsletter October 1st 2010

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  • Newsletter October 1st 2010

    CONTENTS
    --------
    Electric Scotland News
    Electric Scotland Community
    The Flag in the Wind
    Book of Scottish Story
    The Kingdom of Fife
    Glasgow
    Scottish Loch Scenery
    Geikie's Etchings
    Town Council Seals of Scotland
    Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
    History of the Town of Greenock
    Robert Chambers - Songs of Scotland
    The Heather in Lore, Lyric and Lay
    History of Moffat
    Notes and Reminscences of Partick
    Travel article
    The Complete Scotland
    Robert Burns Lives!
    History of the Gipsies (New Book)
    The Long Glen (New Book)
    Robert Wallace, M.P., and James Chalmers (New Complete Book)
    Lays of the Covenanters (New Book)
    New Books in pdf format
    Poems by John Henderson


    Electric Scotland News
    ----------------------
    Well the start of this week had me in Toronto on Wednesday evening through to Sunday morning attending the International convention of the Knights Templar. I don't have any pictures but I did put up a wee account at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nt_toronto.htm

    -----

    When I got back most of my spare time has been trying to get quotes on a new furnace and that process will continue until Wednesday of next week when I'll get the last of my quotes. One thing I have found out is that having no credit history means that I will have to pay cash for it as I am not eligable for payment terms.

    I'm not sure I agree with this requirement for a credit history as to me if you don't have any history that means you haven't needed to borrow any money which should be a good thing?

    I think I might need to bow to the pressure and get a credit card. I remember when I purchased my Dell notebook I couldn't order it in Canada as I didn't have a Canadian credit card. I could order it from the US using my debit card but they wouldn't ship it to Canada so had to get it sent to the office and Steve had to post it on to me.

    One thing I have found out is that with a Sears card you can order a furnace from them and pay for it over 3 years at 0% interest. And guess what? To get a Sears card you need to have a credit card!


    ABOUT THE STORIES
    -----------------
    Some of the stories in here are just parts of a larger story so do check out the site for the full versions. You can always find the link in our "What's New" section in our site menu and at http://www.electricscotland.com/rss/whatsnew.php


    Electric Scotland Community
    ---------------------------
    The big news this week is that we have now got our Links system working which means we can now start to build this part of our community. Just to give you an overview...

    The Links system is where you can add links to other web sites through a Category system. We have three categories... Scottish Links, Members web sites and Resources. The latter two are for members only.

    There are some positive aspects of this system in that when you are a member you can add a link to any web site you want but you also get to use a good editor to place a decent description of the site. Once the link is up members can vote on the link but also add comments to it. Members that place a link can thus receive an email alert any time a new comment is added to their link.

    The Scottish Links section does not require you to be a member but then of course you won't receive any alerts when a comment is posted. In this section you can also add a second category entry for your link. We are encouraging anyone in Scotland to add there link under the most appropriate section and then also add their link to the appropriate council area where they are located. The idea I had for this is that if anyone overseas was going to Scotland to meet a Scottish company to do business they might also look at the council area to see if while they are there they might have time to visit another Scottish company that is near where they are.

    The Members web sites are split into two... personal and business. So personal is for their own web site but business is where they can put a link to the company they work for.

    And so I hope you'll want to make use of this system and between us build it into a powerful facility.

    Our community can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.org/forum.php


    THE FLAG IN THE WIND
    --------------------
    This weeks issue was compiled by Ian Goldie. He is talking about the upcoming elections in 7 months time.

    You can read his compilation at http://www.scotsindependent.org

    The Working Life of Christina McKelvie MSP diary is now back and can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/mckelvie

    The current issue is at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...vie/100930.htm


    Book of Scottish Story
    ----------------------
    We've added "John Hetherington's Dream" which can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/book...y/story131.htm

    The other stories can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/books/story/index.htm

    "Lights and Shadows of Scottish Life"

    We've also added the story "The Rainbow" which can be got towards the foot of the index page above.


    The Kingdom of Fife
    -------------------
    Its Ballads and Legends by Robert Boucher, Jun (1899)

    This week we added another two chapters which now completes this book and can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fife/


    Glasgow
    -------
    By the British Medical Association (1922)

    We've added another chapter to this book, "The Arms of the City of Glasgow". By Professor Robert Mayne and this now completes this book.

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...glasgowndx.htm


    Scottish Loch Scenery
    ---------------------
    From drawings by A F Lydon with descriptive notes by Thomas A Croal (1882)

    This week we added "Loch Etive" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs18.htm

    The other entries can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/pictures/lochs.htm


    Geikie's Etchings
    -----------------
    This week we've added more articles...



    Head of the West Bow
    Settling for Crummie



    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ikie/index.htm


    Town Council Seals of Scotland
    ------------------------------
    Historical, Legendary and Heraldic by Alexander Posteous

    Added this week...

    Nairn To North Berwick
    Oban To Old Meldrum

    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/council/


    Historical Tales of the Wars of Scotland
    ----------------------------------------
    And of the Border Raids, Forays and Conflicts by John Parker Lawson (1839). This is a new publication we're starting on which is in 3 volumes. We intend to post up 2 or 3 stories each week until complete.

    This week we've added...

    Surprise Of Edinburgh Castle - 1341
    Battle Of Nevilles Cross Durham - 1346

    You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/wars/


    History of the Town of Greenock
    -------------------------------
    By Daniel Weir (1820)

    We have now completed this book with chapter 16 and the Notes.

    These parts can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nock/index.htm


    Robert Chambers
    ---------------
    Robert Chambers is a famous author and publisher and we do carry a few of his publications on our site such as the 3 volume Domestic Annals of Scotland and his 4 volume Biographical Dictionary of Significant Scots.

    John Henderson found his 2 volume Songs of Scotland which we both agree is a fabulous resource and so we are going to add this to the site in small chuncks in pdf format for you to enjoy.

    This week we added...

    Pages 217 to 229

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm


    The Heather in Lore, Lyric and Lay
    ----------------------------------
    By Alexander Wallace (1903)

    We already have up a large page on Heather but when I discovered this book I thought it would be a good one for folk to dip into as it were.

    This week we now have up...

    Economics of the Heather
    Besoms and Scrubbing Brushes
    Uses in Dyeing
    Medicinal Virtue
    As a Forage Plant
    Bees and Heather

    On the Economics of the Heather and its Medicinal Virtue it starts...

    he old English herbals contain several references to the medicinal properties of Heather. "The tender tops and flowers, saith Dioscorides, are goode to be laide upon the bitings or stingings of any venomous beast;" and Gerarde adds, "The barke and leaves of Heath may be used for and in the same causes that Tamarisk is used."

    In Parkinson's "Theatrum Botanicum" (The Theatre of Plants), published in 1640, occurs the following: "Heath is somewhat drying and a little bitter withall, except the berryed sorts, as Clusius hath related by the taste of most of them. Galen saith it hath a digesting quality, resolving the malignity of humors, by transpiration or sweating, which a decoction of the flowers being drunke, doth perform, and thereby giveth much ease to the paines within the body, and expelleth the worms therein also; the leaves and flowers made into a decoction is good against the stings or bitings of serpents and other venomous creatures; and the same being drunke warm, saith Mathiolus, for thirty days together, morning and evening, doth absolutely breake the stone and drive it forth; the same, also, or the destilled water of the whole plant, being drunke easeth the chollicke; the said water or the juyce of the herbe dropped into the eyes helpeth the weaknesse of the sight: Clusius saith that Rondeletius at Montpelier used the oyle made of the flowers of Heath with good successe against the Wolfe in the face or any other foule or fretting and eating canker spreading over the whole face; the same also doth dissolve tumours: a bathe made by decoction of the herbe and flowers is good for them to sit in that are troubled with the stone, or with the gout, for it giveth much ease to their bath: the white berryes of the Heath, saith Clusius, are brought to the markets in Spaine and

    The rest of this chapter can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/gardening/heather13.htm

    The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/gardening/heather.htm


    History of Moffat
    -----------------
    With frequent notices of Moffatdale and Annandale by W Robertson Turnbull (1871)

    We now have up...

    Chapter I
    Sketch of the Parish—Its Rivers, Population, and Extent.—The origin of the Town —Its Trade—Supposed former site of the Town.
    Chapter II
    Its Physical aspect—Moffat at a remote period denominated a "Toune"—The Inhabitants and their Customs.—Early Charters.—Ecelesiastical Notes—Moffat Church prior to the Reformation—The Vicarlands.
    Chapter IlI
    Edward Baliol—The "Three Stan'in' Stanes."The Gallowhill
    Chapter IV
    The Frenches of Frenchland.—The Whitefurdes—Discovery of Moffat Well by Miss Whitefurde. —Dr Robert Johnstone—His Grammar School.
    Chapter V
    The Johnstones of Annandale-Viewed as Freebooters.-The "Devil's Beef Tub."-The present Representative of the Family.
    Chapter VI
    Sketch of the History of the Covenant.—Claverhouse in Annandale—His Letters from Moffat. -William Moffat —Dobb's Linn.
    Chapter VII
    The Sulphurous Spring—Various Analysts.—Visitors.

    As you can see folk with the Johnston name will enjoy Chapter V which starts...

    To speak of Moffat without introducing to the observation of the reader the family of Johnstone would almost be an impossibility. It may be objected that a general survey of that family's exploits has already been taken in works with greater and more just pretensions than the present. It must, however, be remembered that their deeds, however fully and ably' narrated, are confined to the wide sphere of the shire in which the Johnstoncs were located, without minute or particular reference to those towns within the shire, which in our opinion are worthy of observation. Such as have spoken of the Johnstones of Annandale, have in the necessary limitation of their subject failed to cite Moffat, as being in the "good old days of might," one of the numerous seats of that family's power—a power which, by the modifications necessitated by the gentle influences of Time, is used, not abused: and which is calculated to cause those in inferior positions to respect, not fear, the holder of the estates, and which draws friends, not servants, towards him. While for the sake of continuity we briefly glance at the general position which at different periods they occupied in their varied pursuits and avocations—the warrior and freebooter—we shall endeavour particularly to show their connection and association with Moffat. The insignificance which usually attends it must not in the present instance be recognised, for here, when the habit was consistent with the times, through the agency of plunder and freebooting, independent of their titles, their property, and their better deeds, they gained for themselves a "local habitation, and a name." Here, as will presently be shewn, they betook themselves to an entrenchment, if we may so call it, from its seclusiveness and the surrounding peculiarities of Nature, well adapted to screen from general observation the fruits of their nefarious acts, and which, in truth, rendered at subsequent periods many services to those who frequented it, and gave it a name.

    The rest of this chapter can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist.../chapter05.htm

    The other chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/moffat/


    Notes and Reminscences of Partick
    ---------------------------------
    By James Napier (1873)

    This is another of those books that don't have any chapters and is around 300 pages. We're splitting this book up into a logical sequence of pdf files for you to read and will be easier to download. Partick is now a suburb of Glasgow.

    We have up...

    Part 4 (Pages 75 - 95)

    This can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/partick/


    Travel Article
    --------------
    We have been getting in some wee articles from Holiday Cottages and you can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/holidayndx.htm


    The Complete Scotland
    ---------------------
    We are now onto the Central belt of Scotland with...

    Edinburgh to Stirling and Perth
    Stirling to St. Andrews direct
    Stirling to St. Andrews via Dunfermline
    St. Andrews
    Perth to Crieff and Lochearnhead
    Crieff to Dunkeld and Aberfeldy

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/travel/scotland/


    Robert Burns Lives!
    -------------------
    By Frank Shaw

    Despite her busy schedule, Dr. Rhona Brown was kind enough to accept my invitation to write about the newly established G. Ross Roy Medal which was presented for the first time this month to Dr. Ainsley McIntosh of the University of Aberdeen. It is always a joy to have Dr. Brown appear in the pages of Robert Burns Lives!, and those interested can find her previous article on Professor Roy in Chapter 61 at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm

    Dr. Brown is Lecturer in Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow where she teaches Scottish literature from the medieval period to the nineteenth century. Her monograph, Robert Fergusson and the Scottish Periodical Press, will be published by Ashgate in 2011. She is currently researching the Scottish magazines and periodicals of the pre-Blackwood's era and continues to publish on eighteenth-century literature. Welcome back, Dr. Brown! (FRS: 9.30.10)

    Presentation of the G. Ross Roy Medal for Excellence in Postgraduate Study in Scottish Literature, University of Glasgow, 9 September 2010

    You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ns_lives98.htm


    History of the Gipsies
    ----------------------
    By James Simson (1866)

    This is a book I had purchased and to my horror midway through the book I discovered that the pages had been removed. I've just discovered the complete book and so I am now resuming it to completion.

    As this was at least a couple of years ago some of you might not be aware of it but the book can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/gipsies/

    We already have up...

    Editors Preface
    Editors Introduction
    Introduction
    Chapter I - Continental Gipsies
    Chapter II - English Gipsies
    Chapter III - Scottish Gipsies, down to the year 1715


    The Long Glen
    -------------
    This is a story I found in old copies of the Celtic Magazine so I extracted it over a number of issues and now bring you the story.

    THE sketches which are to follow under this title were written a considerable while ago by a Highlander, who, during a period of convalescence from a troublesome rather than a dangerous illness in England, called up the recollections of his youth, and attempted to describe as faithfully as he could the life, customs, and history of an old glen community, just before it was inundated by the waves of modern changes. Reality is only thinly veiled by fictional characters, and the slight permeating thread of story developed itself spontaneously. As it was thought the period described was then too near, the sketches when finished were left unpublished; but some years ago portions of them, translated into Gaelic, appeared in the Northern Chronicle, and seemed to be so much appreciated that the author feels now encouraged to give the whole original manuscript, without material alterations.

    We now have up...

    Chapter I - Suicide and Superstition
    Chapter II - Gangrel Bodies
    Chapter III - Going to the Shealing
    Chapter IV - The Smearing House

    And these chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/longglenndx.htm


    Robert Wallace, M.P., and James Chalmers
    ----------------------------------------
    The Scottish Postal Reformers

    While Philatelists throughout the world are now celebrating the jubilee year of the introduction of the Adhesive Postage Stamp, it is especially fitting that Dundee, its birthplace, should take part in the celebration, and most gratifying to find that such is your intention. I consequently avail myself of this opportunity to publish some "Letters, Press Articles, and Recognitions" having reference to James Chalmers, the originator of this stamp, the perusal of which will, I am satisfied, be gratifying to you and to his countrymen in general; for you will perceive that in every land to which the use of this stamp has spread, the name of that Dundee postal reformer is now widely recognised, and ever increasingly so, as that of the man to whom this world-wide boon is owing. Scotland, moreover, possesses another name well worthy of remembrance this jubilee year of our great postal reform that of Robert Wallace, of Kelly, M.P. for Greenock, who, by years of persistent labours in and out of Parliament, gathered together the principles of, and prepared the public mind for, that scheme of reform subsequently introduced by Sir Rowland Hill; but which scheme was rightly looked upon as impracticable until saved and carried out by the invention and happy proposal of James Chalmers of the Adhesive Stamp many years before the Penny Postage Bill was brought forward.

    Permit me further to call your attention, in Part II. of this publication, to the appeal I have ventured to make to the noble Lords, the Members of Parliament, the Provosts, and other leading men connected with Scotland, for the purpose of drawing attention to the services of these Scottish postal reformers at this juncture, and to arouse some sympathetic aid in my efforts to vindicate their memory. My appeal has already borne fruit in having produced a valuable response on the part of the influential Scotchman now conducting the Liverpool Daily Post; while it would be wrong to doubt that other patriotic minds and the Scottish Press in general will yet come forward to claim the share in this work to which the land north of the Tweed is entitled. What said the most prominent of theae noble Lords some time ago when addressing the Edinburgh students? "Above all, my young friends, be Scotch" that is, "Cherish the traditions of your country; add to them if you can," a favourable opportunity for doing which now presents itself to the Scottish Press and public.

    Your Philatelic Exhibition in Dundee will do much to bring about this more extended recognition of the names and services of these benefactors in having obtained for the nation penny postage reform.

    By your kind permission the same display of Chakners' early stamps to be exhibited by me here, along with his plan and letter, the model from which the first English stamp was taken and in use to this day, will be likewise exhibited at Dundee, with the additions of his likeness from all quarters of the globe.

    You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...les/stamps.htm


    Lays of the Covenanters
    -----------------------
    By James Dodds (1880)

    This is another book we're starting in pdf format and we have the first two chapters up...

    The Death of Archibald, First Marquis of Argyle
    The Death of James Guthrie

    You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/covenanters/


    New Books in pdf format
    -----------------------
    Sometimes when working away doing research I come across the odd book that I feel should be made available on the site even though I won't take the time to ocr it in. When I find such a book I look to see if I can find a pdf version of it and if found I'll add it to the site but will usually take the time to ocr in the Preface so you get some idea of what the book is about.

    I also find I have the habit of adding a book like this but don't tell anyone I've done it and so this posting is just to make you aware of a book or two I've recently added just in case you'll find them of interest.

    Just today I added 4 volumes of books from James Fairbairn who did a lot of work on documenting Family crests. This work can be seen at http://www.electricscotland.com/heraldry/fairbairn.htm

    I also added...

    The History of the Western Highlands and Isles of Scotland
    From A.D. 1493 to 1625 with an Introductory Sketch from A.D. 85 to 1493 by Donald Gregory (1881)

    This had a lot of clan information in it and can be viewed at http://www.electricscotland.com/book..._highlands.htm


    Poems by John Henderson
    -----------------------
    John has sent in four poems this week...

    A Wee Treasure
    Swith'rin And Dith'rin
    Hedder-cleadit Hills
    The Veesit

    John mostly writes in the Dorric language but he sometimes does the odd English poem and even does the odd translation of his Dorric poems so well worth a gander.

    You can read these poems at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm


    And to finish...

    Below the Belt

    A middle-aged Glasgow chap who joined a gym in the New Year was admiring his body in the bedroom mirror. Quietly pleased with the view, he went through to the living room, stood in front of his wife in the classic muscleman pose, with one arm curled up and the other held out in front of him.

    "What does that remind you of?" he asked.

    "A teapot," she replied.


    And that's it for now and hope you all have a good weekend :-)

    Alastair

  • #2
    Re: Newsletter October 1st 2010

    Unless you keep all your money in a sock or under your mattress, your bank would be more than happy to issue you with a credit card with no hassle Alastair.

    Cheers,

    Hugh

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Newsletter October 1st 2010

      Hi Hugh.. got approved for a credit card but when having to choose which of there many cards available the one I picked needed a greater minimum limit so they've had to go back and get me approved for this extra sum which they don't think will be a problem and expect to hear back this Monday.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Newsletter October 1st 2010

        Hi Alastair,
        Your post about the credit card reminded me of when I was in Arizona when my daughter in law died some years ago. I wanted to pay for a flight from Tucson to LA and they wouldn't accept my credit card via the computer so I rang the airline who explained that I had to pay with a credit card which had an American billing address and that to pay by a foreign based credit card I had to go to the airport and pay there.
        How stupid is that? I thought the whole idea of credit cards was that you didn't have to carry money or travellers cheques with you when travelling internationally. Even the girl to whom I spoke at the airline agreed that it was stupid.

        Elda

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Newsletter October 1st 2010

          I do find it puzzling Elda as we keep being told we're a global market and yet banks just don't work like that. All the banks in Canada seemed only interested in what money I had in Canada and really weren't the least interested in any money I had outside Canada.

          It's like I also have an American PayPal account but I can't transfer any money out of it but to an American bank. So I end up transferring money to the US bank and then write a cheque to my Canadian bank.

          Comment

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