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CONTENTS
--------
Electric Scotland News
The Flag in the Wind
Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language
Scottish Poets in America
Life Jottings of an Old Edinburgh Citizen
James Ballantine
Calendar Of Documents Relating to Scotland
Northern Notes and Queries
Songs of Robert Burns
Robert Burns Lives!
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
History of Aberdeen and Banff
Between the Ochils and the Forth
Clan Ross of Canada Newsletter
Robert Burns
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
Still down with the flu. This reminds me of the last time I got the flu which was some 35 years ago and it took most of a month to recover from it. So on that time scale I should be dead before I get it again! <grin>
-----
I've often talked about my friends Nola and Harold of Toronto who between them were really responsible for me settling in Canada. I'm thus very sorry to report that Harold died last week. I was scheduled to head for the funeral when my car broke down on the 401 highway so didn't manage to get to it. I did manage to attend the private family funeral which was down my way this Monday past.
I think it was the CAA driver that recovered my car that passed on the flu to me but will never know for sure. Apparently I had a leaking water pump which was at the root of the problem. Anyway the car got me to Port Crewe and beyond so seems the problem has been fixed.
-----
I got in an email from Pete Haywood of "The Living Tradition" Magazine, Pete reminded me that we'd last communicated many years ago when he was an Almac customer and that's certaily some years ago now. He is of course the main man when it comes to Scottish Folk Music and so perhaps with this communication we might be able to bring you some information from the Folk scene in Scotland.
-----
In the last issue with me being a bit brain dead I forgot to mention that Frank Shaw had sent in a new article for his Robert Burns Lives! column so have now added details on that below.
-----
Steve is also down with the flu but being tied to the house meant that he was able to track down the problem with our Scotcards system in not sending out cards sheduled for s future date. I've now tested this out and I got the cards I'd sheduled to go out one and two days after the date they were created. So in all I am now happy to say that problem is fixed so our Postcard program should now be fully operational.
-----
We've also been working on the vbulletin system and so far we've been able to upgrade the system to the latest release. We're well progressed on getting the new Facebook App installed. Part of this upgrade needs the mobile suite installed and that is now close to being complete. Part of this upgrade process needs third party approval and that seems to be moving through the 6 stages required so nearly there.
Steve has also done an upgrade to the Arcade system and found what he thinks was a mis-configuration in the permissions. This means we're hopeful that all the games will now work as they should with none of these error messages aaying you don't have permission to play a game. However please let us know if you hit any problems and provide as much detail as possible so we can fix them.
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/whatsnew.htm and also http://www.electriccanadian.com/whatsnew.htm
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue has been Compiled by Jennifer Dunn in which she gives a blow by blow account of the workings of the Glasgow Cuncil.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language
----------------------------------------------
We've added more to this dictionary...
Scottish Language Letter O
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eson/index.htm
Scottish Poets in America
-------------------------
With Biographical and Critical Notices by John D, Ross (1889)
Now added...
Murray, William
This is a new entry for this week and can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet.../chapter15.htm
The other entries can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...rica/index.htm
Life Jottings of an Old Edinburgh Citizen
-----------------------------------------
By Sir J. H. A. MacDonald P.C., K.C.B., Lord Justice-Clerk.
Added this week...
Chapter Thirty-One
The New Buildings—A great disfigurement—View to east coast—Princes Street widenings- Trees cut down—A bailie's view of trees—An unfulfilled promise of replanting—Proposed winter garden—The present bandstand —New North Bridge- -North British and Caledonian Station Hotels
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lord Provosts—Black—M'Laren—Lawson—Chambers—Pour publishers as Lord Provosts
Chapter Thirty-Three
Manufactures—Cockburn's protest—Merchant Company's schools—Cheap education—Edinburgh newspapers—Change to daily—North British Advertiser killed—Scotsman's critical time
These chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ings/index.htm
James Ballantine
----------------
We have now completed our book "Gaberlunzies Wallet" and now have up Chapters 13 and 14 which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nine/index.htm
Calendar Of Documents Relating to Scotland
------------------------------------------
By Joseph Bain
Our thanks to John Henderson for compiling this for us. This week we've added...
Volume 3
1354 to 1358
You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...bain/index.htm
Northern Notes and Queries
--------------------------
Edited by Rev. R. W. Cornelious Hallen (1886)
We now have up the next Issue of this publication. December Quarterly Edition 1887, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hern/index.htm
Songs of Robert Burns
---------------------
We added "Bacchanalian and Social" to this book.
You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/songs/index.htm
I might add that Dr Leith Davis organised the longest reading of Burns poems in Vancouver and you can get to a video of the event at http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/l...shColumbiaHome
Robert Burns Lives!
-------------------
By Frank Shaw
Deirdre Nicholls, BA (HON) ATC MBA FRSA - Burns Bronze Statue.
One of my great joys in life is to attend various conferences or symposiums regarding Robert Burns. It doesn’t hurt if the meeting is in Scotland. So just a few weeks ago, Susan and I found ourselves one late January afternoon on a Delta flight bound for Glasgow, via Dublin, to attend the annual Burns conference at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies. The symposium was aptly called Robert Burns: Artefact.
I’ve met some very interesting people at these meetings and this event was no different. Usually those I meet are speakers, simply Burns lovers like me. This time I had the privilege of meeting a lovely lady whose work as a sculptor and artist is outstanding. I am indebted to imminent Burns scholar Dr. David Purdie for introducing us. On display at the conference was a portrait head of Robert Burns by Deirdre Nicholls, and she agreed to write the following pages explaining how this particular work came about.
I love the many statues of Burns around the world and have travelled near and far to see as many of them as possible. In my home study is a bronze bust modelled after one that resides in the cottage of the Burns Club of Atlanta. Using that same mould, I commissioned a sculptor in Texas by the name of Whisper to make my piece after he had completed one for The Heather and Thistle Society in Houston which now graces the city’s International Sculpture Garden in Hermann Park. I gave Whisper the freedom to make the bronze as if it were his own. He did! It is simply a thing of beauty.
In 2009, I inquired about a 250th official commemorative bust of the Bard celebrating his birth in Alloway in 1759 which was being offered by Stone Icons Ltd in London. The marble sculpture was designed and hand carved by noted sculptor David Cornell and was the first to be carved since 1880. Fortunately one was still available, and I was able to add it to our Burns memorabilia collection as well.
While in Scotland in July of that same year, Susan and I stopped off to visit Ellisland with grandchildren Ian and Stirling and their parents, son Scott and his wife Denise. We were thrilled to come away with a stunning Burns maquette that had been gifted to Ellisland years before by Les Byers, the farm’s caretaker. The group that oversees the property, Friends of Ellisland, was in need of money for their ploughing contest, and I was happy to be of help to them!
Currently sitting on the window ledge behind my credenza is a small bronze statue of Burns, a little less than two feet tall, staring across my desk at another one of Sir Walter Scott who is returning the favor. Other smaller statuaries I treasure are scattered about our office, including ones of Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill.
I say all this to let you know how much I prize the work of artists and sculptors. While you and I see simply a piece of stone, the sculptor sees a statue. Or, if we see a pot of hot metal, sculptors see a bronze work of art or, as in this case, a portrait head. I may not know a lot about art, but I do know what I like and I enjoy knowing that the statuaries and art we have are keeping watch over our place of work. William Penn Warren once referred to such as A Place to Come To, better still a place called home, a place of comfort, of solitude, of joy, and at times, yes, even a place of refuge and warmth. That is why certain “creature comforts” are so important to us.
In designing her portrait head of Burns, Deirdre Nicholls relied on information from various sources to gain a true perspective of the head size of Burns. She then turned to three images of Burns most of us are familiar with - the 1787 Miers silhouette, the 1795-96 portrait by Alexander Reid, and the 1787 Nasmyth portrait. As a result, the finished product is a rare piece of art that anyone, myself included, would love to have in their libraries or homes!
It is with pleasure I welcome talented sculptor Deirdre Nicholls to the pages of Robert Burns Lives! She has produced a new work on Burns using her own technique to design this modern piece of magnificent art. (FRS: 2.8.12)
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives130.htm
Other articles in this series can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
-----------------------------------
By William Walker
We now have three chunks of this book for you to read...
John Barbour
Ballad Times—The Godly Ballad
John Imlah
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...cord/index.htm
History of Aberdeen and Banff
-----------------------------
By WIlliam Watt (1900)
We're now up to Chapter IX of this book. I might add that in Chapter IX there is reference to the "Aberdeen Doctors" and we actually have a copy of a book about them at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...tors/index.htm
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...deen/index.htm
Between the Ochils and the Forth
--------------------------------
We now have up...
Introductory
General view of the district—Its early history and inhabitants.
ALONG THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
Chapter I - North Queensferry and Inverkeithing
The Forth Bridge and its vicinity—Island of Inchgarvie— North Queensferry and its peninsula—Rosyth Castle— The town of Inverkeithing—Its history and objects of interest.
Chapter II. - From Inverkeithing to Aberdour
Victory of Cromwell's army near Inverkeithing—Road to Aberdour—The Moray family and estate—Inchcolm, Donibristle, and Dalgety—Village of Aberdour—Otterstone.
Chapter III. - From Inverkeithing to Crossgates, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly
The Great North Road—House and grounds of Fordel— Village of Crossgates—The Hill of Beath—Great conventicle held there—Mess Murran ami Lochgelly,
You can read these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hils/index.htm
Clan Ross of Canada Newsletter
------------------------------
Got in the February 2012 newsletter which you can view at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ross/index.htm
Robert Burns
------------
By Sir George Douglas, Bart and W.S. Crockett. (1904) with lots of illustrations.
We thought this was an interesting wee gem and that Burns Lovers might enjoy a read and look at the many illustrations. You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/illustrations.htm
And finally...
Blown away
As the weather finally dies down, I heard about an auld fella singing a Vera Lynn song outside his corner shop the other day. A passer-by realised the pensioner was quietly singing:
"Wheelie bin meet again. Don't know where, don't know when. Wheelie bin meet again some windy day."
And that's all for now and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Alastair
--------
Electric Scotland News
The Flag in the Wind
Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language
Scottish Poets in America
Life Jottings of an Old Edinburgh Citizen
James Ballantine
Calendar Of Documents Relating to Scotland
Northern Notes and Queries
Songs of Robert Burns
Robert Burns Lives!
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
History of Aberdeen and Banff
Between the Ochils and the Forth
Clan Ross of Canada Newsletter
Robert Burns
Electric Scotland News
----------------------
Still down with the flu. This reminds me of the last time I got the flu which was some 35 years ago and it took most of a month to recover from it. So on that time scale I should be dead before I get it again! <grin>
-----
I've often talked about my friends Nola and Harold of Toronto who between them were really responsible for me settling in Canada. I'm thus very sorry to report that Harold died last week. I was scheduled to head for the funeral when my car broke down on the 401 highway so didn't manage to get to it. I did manage to attend the private family funeral which was down my way this Monday past.
I think it was the CAA driver that recovered my car that passed on the flu to me but will never know for sure. Apparently I had a leaking water pump which was at the root of the problem. Anyway the car got me to Port Crewe and beyond so seems the problem has been fixed.
-----
I got in an email from Pete Haywood of "The Living Tradition" Magazine, Pete reminded me that we'd last communicated many years ago when he was an Almac customer and that's certaily some years ago now. He is of course the main man when it comes to Scottish Folk Music and so perhaps with this communication we might be able to bring you some information from the Folk scene in Scotland.
-----
In the last issue with me being a bit brain dead I forgot to mention that Frank Shaw had sent in a new article for his Robert Burns Lives! column so have now added details on that below.
-----
Steve is also down with the flu but being tied to the house meant that he was able to track down the problem with our Scotcards system in not sending out cards sheduled for s future date. I've now tested this out and I got the cards I'd sheduled to go out one and two days after the date they were created. So in all I am now happy to say that problem is fixed so our Postcard program should now be fully operational.
-----
We've also been working on the vbulletin system and so far we've been able to upgrade the system to the latest release. We're well progressed on getting the new Facebook App installed. Part of this upgrade needs the mobile suite installed and that is now close to being complete. Part of this upgrade process needs third party approval and that seems to be moving through the 6 stages required so nearly there.
Steve has also done an upgrade to the Arcade system and found what he thinks was a mis-configuration in the permissions. This means we're hopeful that all the games will now work as they should with none of these error messages aaying you don't have permission to play a game. However please let us know if you hit any problems and provide as much detail as possible so we can fix them.
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/whatsnew.htm and also http://www.electriccanadian.com/whatsnew.htm
THE FLAG IN THE WIND
--------------------
This weeks issue has been Compiled by Jennifer Dunn in which she gives a blow by blow account of the workings of the Glasgow Cuncil.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
Jamieson's Dictionary of the Scottish Language
----------------------------------------------
We've added more to this dictionary...
Scottish Language Letter O
You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...eson/index.htm
Scottish Poets in America
-------------------------
With Biographical and Critical Notices by John D, Ross (1889)
Now added...
Murray, William
This is a new entry for this week and can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet.../chapter15.htm
The other entries can be found at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...rica/index.htm
Life Jottings of an Old Edinburgh Citizen
-----------------------------------------
By Sir J. H. A. MacDonald P.C., K.C.B., Lord Justice-Clerk.
Added this week...
Chapter Thirty-One
The New Buildings—A great disfigurement—View to east coast—Princes Street widenings- Trees cut down—A bailie's view of trees—An unfulfilled promise of replanting—Proposed winter garden—The present bandstand —New North Bridge- -North British and Caledonian Station Hotels
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lord Provosts—Black—M'Laren—Lawson—Chambers—Pour publishers as Lord Provosts
Chapter Thirty-Three
Manufactures—Cockburn's protest—Merchant Company's schools—Cheap education—Edinburgh newspapers—Change to daily—North British Advertiser killed—Scotsman's critical time
These chapters can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ings/index.htm
James Ballantine
----------------
We have now completed our book "Gaberlunzies Wallet" and now have up Chapters 13 and 14 which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...nine/index.htm
Calendar Of Documents Relating to Scotland
------------------------------------------
By Joseph Bain
Our thanks to John Henderson for compiling this for us. This week we've added...
Volume 3
1354 to 1358
You can get to this at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...bain/index.htm
Northern Notes and Queries
--------------------------
Edited by Rev. R. W. Cornelious Hallen (1886)
We now have up the next Issue of this publication. December Quarterly Edition 1887, which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hern/index.htm
Songs of Robert Burns
---------------------
We added "Bacchanalian and Social" to this book.
You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/songs/index.htm
I might add that Dr Leith Davis organised the longest reading of Burns poems in Vancouver and you can get to a video of the event at http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/l...shColumbiaHome
Robert Burns Lives!
-------------------
By Frank Shaw
Deirdre Nicholls, BA (HON) ATC MBA FRSA - Burns Bronze Statue.
One of my great joys in life is to attend various conferences or symposiums regarding Robert Burns. It doesn’t hurt if the meeting is in Scotland. So just a few weeks ago, Susan and I found ourselves one late January afternoon on a Delta flight bound for Glasgow, via Dublin, to attend the annual Burns conference at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies. The symposium was aptly called Robert Burns: Artefact.
I’ve met some very interesting people at these meetings and this event was no different. Usually those I meet are speakers, simply Burns lovers like me. This time I had the privilege of meeting a lovely lady whose work as a sculptor and artist is outstanding. I am indebted to imminent Burns scholar Dr. David Purdie for introducing us. On display at the conference was a portrait head of Robert Burns by Deirdre Nicholls, and she agreed to write the following pages explaining how this particular work came about.
I love the many statues of Burns around the world and have travelled near and far to see as many of them as possible. In my home study is a bronze bust modelled after one that resides in the cottage of the Burns Club of Atlanta. Using that same mould, I commissioned a sculptor in Texas by the name of Whisper to make my piece after he had completed one for The Heather and Thistle Society in Houston which now graces the city’s International Sculpture Garden in Hermann Park. I gave Whisper the freedom to make the bronze as if it were his own. He did! It is simply a thing of beauty.
In 2009, I inquired about a 250th official commemorative bust of the Bard celebrating his birth in Alloway in 1759 which was being offered by Stone Icons Ltd in London. The marble sculpture was designed and hand carved by noted sculptor David Cornell and was the first to be carved since 1880. Fortunately one was still available, and I was able to add it to our Burns memorabilia collection as well.
While in Scotland in July of that same year, Susan and I stopped off to visit Ellisland with grandchildren Ian and Stirling and their parents, son Scott and his wife Denise. We were thrilled to come away with a stunning Burns maquette that had been gifted to Ellisland years before by Les Byers, the farm’s caretaker. The group that oversees the property, Friends of Ellisland, was in need of money for their ploughing contest, and I was happy to be of help to them!
Currently sitting on the window ledge behind my credenza is a small bronze statue of Burns, a little less than two feet tall, staring across my desk at another one of Sir Walter Scott who is returning the favor. Other smaller statuaries I treasure are scattered about our office, including ones of Ernest Hemingway and Winston Churchill.
I say all this to let you know how much I prize the work of artists and sculptors. While you and I see simply a piece of stone, the sculptor sees a statue. Or, if we see a pot of hot metal, sculptors see a bronze work of art or, as in this case, a portrait head. I may not know a lot about art, but I do know what I like and I enjoy knowing that the statuaries and art we have are keeping watch over our place of work. William Penn Warren once referred to such as A Place to Come To, better still a place called home, a place of comfort, of solitude, of joy, and at times, yes, even a place of refuge and warmth. That is why certain “creature comforts” are so important to us.
In designing her portrait head of Burns, Deirdre Nicholls relied on information from various sources to gain a true perspective of the head size of Burns. She then turned to three images of Burns most of us are familiar with - the 1787 Miers silhouette, the 1795-96 portrait by Alexander Reid, and the 1787 Nasmyth portrait. As a result, the finished product is a rare piece of art that anyone, myself included, would love to have in their libraries or homes!
It is with pleasure I welcome talented sculptor Deirdre Nicholls to the pages of Robert Burns Lives! She has produced a new work on Burns using her own technique to design this modern piece of magnificent art. (FRS: 2.8.12)
You can read this article at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...s_lives130.htm
Other articles in this series can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...rank/burns.htm
The Bards of Bon Accord 1375 - 1860
-----------------------------------
By William Walker
We now have three chunks of this book for you to read...
John Barbour
Ballad Times—The Godly Ballad
John Imlah
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/poet...cord/index.htm
History of Aberdeen and Banff
-----------------------------
By WIlliam Watt (1900)
We're now up to Chapter IX of this book. I might add that in Chapter IX there is reference to the "Aberdeen Doctors" and we actually have a copy of a book about them at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...tors/index.htm
You can read this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...deen/index.htm
Between the Ochils and the Forth
--------------------------------
We now have up...
Introductory
General view of the district—Its early history and inhabitants.
ALONG THE GREAT NORTH ROAD
Chapter I - North Queensferry and Inverkeithing
The Forth Bridge and its vicinity—Island of Inchgarvie— North Queensferry and its peninsula—Rosyth Castle— The town of Inverkeithing—Its history and objects of interest.
Chapter II. - From Inverkeithing to Aberdour
Victory of Cromwell's army near Inverkeithing—Road to Aberdour—The Moray family and estate—Inchcolm, Donibristle, and Dalgety—Village of Aberdour—Otterstone.
Chapter III. - From Inverkeithing to Crossgates, Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly
The Great North Road—House and grounds of Fordel— Village of Crossgates—The Hill of Beath—Great conventicle held there—Mess Murran ami Lochgelly,
You can read these chapters at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...hils/index.htm
Clan Ross of Canada Newsletter
------------------------------
Got in the February 2012 newsletter which you can view at http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ross/index.htm
Robert Burns
------------
By Sir George Douglas, Bart and W.S. Crockett. (1904) with lots of illustrations.
We thought this was an interesting wee gem and that Burns Lovers might enjoy a read and look at the many illustrations. You can get to this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/burns/illustrations.htm
And finally...
Blown away
As the weather finally dies down, I heard about an auld fella singing a Vera Lynn song outside his corner shop the other day. A passer-by realised the pensioner was quietly singing:
"Wheelie bin meet again. Don't know where, don't know when. Wheelie bin meet again some windy day."
And that's all for now and hope you all enjoy your weekend.
Alastair