Tweet
CONTENTS
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
The Men of the Last Frontier
First Nations Taxation
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
The Scottish Naturalist
Thomas Dykes
Enigma Machine
Songs from John Henderson
Beauties of Dr. John Moore
Leaves from the Journal
Ardenmohr (New Book)
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
Daniel McIntyre Henderson
Lord Charles Neaves
Clan Colquhoun Newsletter
The Tartan Herald
Time Team
and finally
Electric Scotland News
We had some problems this week displaying the ScotNews feed and also our What's New feed. It would display but often you had to reload the page several times before it would display. Steve did some work on it and I tried clearing my browser cache and used two different browsers to check it. We also rebooted the server but nothing seemed to work. However last night Steve was still working on various things and when I got up this morning it was all working as it should. Not quite sure what steps he took last night to resolve the problem but hopefully it's now documented should it happen again.
-----
The Clan Colquhoun Society of North America (as well as Clan Colquhoun UK) has been officially dissolved. As one door closes, another opens. If you haven’t yet, please go to http://www.clancolquhoun.com/ and see what the Clan Colquhoun International Society has to offer. The website is one of the finest I believe I’ve ever seen for any organization.
I had material for a last newsletter which I’ve attached. This newsletter is in two parts. Some of the articles have been in the planning stage for a couple of years. Now that we’re in the midst of the Sesquicentennial of America’s Civil War, I decided to put together all of the material I’d been collecting from that time period. I also tried to write it in a form that would be understandable and interesting to international readers.
I am looking forward to contributing what I can to the Clan Colquhoun International newsletter and website. I was so pleased to hear that James Pearson is on board as our Clan Historian. James has done remarkable research for many years and published his work in The Chronicles of Clan Colquhoun. With Sir Malcolm, James, our business manager Michael, and several other people involved in working with our organization, I think you will see Clan Colquhoun emerge as one of the premiere clans represented at Scottish events all over the world in the next few years.
Sincerely,
Thomas Calhoun Hodges (Tom)
------
Scotland storms the programme at the world’s most influential film festival
Four Scottish films will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this week, helping to cement Scotland’s reputation for both quality film-making and as a great location for shooting.
Creative Scotland has contributed funding to four films which will make their debut at the prestigious event, which is often referred to as the world’s most influential film festival; Sunshine on Leith; The Railway Man; Under the Skin and Starred Up, which was shot in Belfast under Scottish director David Mackenzie. Each of the four films received £300,000 from Creative Scotland.
In order to champion Scotland’s interests as a world-class shooting location, Creative Scotland’s locations team will travel to TIFF, where they will meet with industry leaders to discuss production opportunities, funding, locations, crews and facilities. The team will offer assistance to productions seeking to film on location in Scotland.
The inclusion of four Scottish films in the TIFF programme also serves to highlight the need for a dedicated film and TV production studio facility in Scotland. The change to UK tax breaks to include high end television drama - which came into effect in April 2013 - highlights a significant opportunity for Scotland's film and television industry.
In May, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop set up a film studio delivery group to actively pursue proposals for a new film and TV production facilities in Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture said:
“The Toronto International Film Festival is hugely respected and influential, and for films premiering there, it is an opportunity to be launched on an international stage and to grab the attention of some of the key players in the industry.
“I am delighted that four Scottish films will premiere there this year and hope that we can capitalise on that success, by using it as an opportunity to promote Scotland as a world-class shooting location, not just in terms of the spectacular backdrops we have to offer but also our extensive expertise and resources.
“Scotland is already competing as a shooting location on the international stage and demand from film and television companies continues to grow apace. This month Sony and Starz are starting to film the series Outlander, which is Scotland’s biggest ever film and television inward investment and for which a dedicated television production facility is being developed.
“The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the benefit of tax reliefs to Scotland and with this in mind, the film delivery group is examining how film and television production facilities, with robust business cases, can be further developed or enhanced.”
-----
I have been immersing myself on the crisis in the Middle East this week which of course has nothing to do with Scotland as such. However, as the newsletter editor for the Grand Priory of Canada, the order does support Christians in the Holy Land. This has meant that I felt it was incumbent on myself to try to provide some background information on Syria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, etc. The next issue of the newsletter goes out later this month so I will include a link to it when it becomes available.
Electric Canadian
The Men of the Last Frontier
By Grey Owl (1932)
I have now completed this book which you can read at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...es/greyowl.htm
First Nations Taxation
It's actually quite hard to figure out the taxation issues with the First Nations and many people in Canada figure the First Nations are getting huge tax breaks that other Canadians do not enjoy and also have to pay for. I discovered some information which might answer this question and you can get to this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/history/first/taxation.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Fraser Hudghton. His main topic for this issue is looking at the Syrian crisis.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
As I mentioned above I have been working on articles on the crisis in the Middle East for the Canadian Templar newsletter which will be out towards the end of this month. I have placed a link to a BBC Documentary on the History of Syria on to our Electric Scotland Community which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/showthread.php/4121-Syria should you want to try and understand more about Syria.
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We are on Volume 11 and have now added the October 1913 issue. You can get to this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume11.htm
In these issues Part 2 is usually about book reviews and are in themselves worth a read.
There is an interesting book review on the Battle of Bannockburn by W. M. MacKemzie which is well worth the read. I couldn't find a copy of the book but if it can be found may well be worth reading.
Another one is about "A Colonial Governor in Maryland" and this time I did find a copy of the book which can be read at thttp://archive.org/download/colonial...rnor00edga.pdf
Then yet another review is about The Clan Campbell: Abstracts of Entries relating to Campbells in the Sheriff Court Books of Argyll at Inveraray. Prepared and edited by Rev. Henry Paton. Again I was able to find this book and it can be read at:
http://archive.org/download/clancamp...abst01camp.pdf
Quite often books that I have added to the site have been found by reading such reviews. I might also add that there are also review of books from other countries including America.
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
This book is by Robert Chambers who is famous for collecting old Scottish Songs.
Added another three songs...
Katie's Answer
The Lass O' Pattie's Mill
Woe's My Heart That We Should Sunder
You can get to this book at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
The Scottish Naturalist
I added Volume 6 - 1881/1882.
You can get to these volumes at: http://www.electricscotland.com/nature/naturalist.htm
Thomas Dykes
(1850, Dundonald, Ayrshire - 1916, London, England) Journalist and Author
Added a couple more articles...
Haltered and Altar’d
The Annasona
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...kes_thomas.htm
Enigma Machine
This is where we are publishing this set of puzzles created by Doug Ross which can now be found in Doctor's Surgeries, Old Folks Homes, etc.
Added Enigma Machine 30 puzzle which you can get to at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma030.htm
The other puzzles we've already published can be found at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...igma/index.htm
Songs from John Henderson
John has sent us in another song "Tak Tent Yersel" which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel510.htm
His other songs can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Beauties of Dr. John Moore
Selected from the moral, philosophical, and miscellaneous works of that esteemed author, to which are added, a new biographical and critical account of the doctor and his writings, and notes, historical, classical, and explanatory.
Added Pages 301 to 351.
The book is available at:http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...moore_john.htm
Leaves from the Journal
From our life in the Highlands from 1848 to 1861 (1868)
Here is one of the entries to read here...
Visit to the Dhu Loch, &c. 11 Sept. 1849
The morning was very fine. I heard the children repeat some poetry in German, and then at ten o’clock we set off with Lady Douro [now Duchess of Wellington] in our carriage, and drove on beyond Inch Bobbard, changing horses near Birkhall, and stopping for a moment at the Linn of Muich; here we found the ponies, which we mounted, forded the river, and were almost immediately at the hut. We stopped there only for an instant, and remounted our ponies directly; Grant, Macdonald (who led my pony the whole time, and was extremely useful and attentive), Jemmie Coutts (leading Lady Douro’s pony), Charlie Coutts, and John Brown going with us: old John Gordon leading the way. It was half-past twelve when we began ascending the hill immediately behind the house, and proceeded along over the hills, to a great height, whence the view was very fine, quite overhanging the loch, and commanding an extensive view of Glen Muich beyond on the opposite side. The road got worse and worse. It was particularly bad when we had to pass the Burn of the Glassalt, which falls into the loch, and was very full. There had been so much rain, that the burns and rivers were very full, and the ground quite soft. We rode over the Strone Hill, the wind blowing dreadfully hard when we came to the top. Albert walked almost from the first, and shot a hare and a grouse; he put up a good many of them. We walked to a little hollow immediately above the Dim Loch, and at half-past three seated ourselves there, and had some very welcome luncheon. The loch is only a mile in length, and very wild; the hills, which are very rocky and precipitous, rising perpendicularly from it.
In about half an hour we began our journey homewards. We came straight down beside the Minch, which falls in the most beautiful way over the rocks and stones in the glen. We rode down, and only had to get off to cross the Glassalt, which was an awkward ford to scramble over. The road was rough, but certainly far less soft and disagreeable than the one we came by. I rode “Loch-nagar” at first, but changed him for Colonel Cordon’s pony, as I drought he took fright at the bogs; but Colonel Gordon’s was broken-winded, and struggled very much in the soft ground, which was very disagreeable.
We were only an hour coming down to the boat. The evening was very fine, but it blew very hard on the lake and the men could not Mill, and I got so alarmed that I begged to land, and Lady Douro was of my opinion that it was much better to get out. We accordingly landed, and rode home along a sort of sheep-path on the side of the lake, which took us three-quarters of an hour. It was very rough and very narrow, for the hill rises abruptly from the lake; we had seven hundred feet above us, and I suppose one hundred feet below. However, we arrived at the hut quite safely at twenty minutes to seven, thankful to have got through all our difficulties and adventures, which are always very pleasant to look back upon.
We dined a little before eight with Lady Douro, and played two rubbers of whist with her.
Old John Gordon amused Albert by saying, in speaking of the bad road we had gone, “It’s something steep and something rough,” and “this is the only best,” meaning that it was very bad,—which was a characteristic reply.
You can read the other entries at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leaves/
Ardenmohr
Among the Hills, A Record of Scenery and Sports in the Highlands of Scotland by Samuel Abbott (1876)
A new book we're starting and here is the Preface...
This record of a sojourn in the Highlands will, it is hoped, have a certain interest to those who have not trod the heather, as well as to those who have.
Regarding the first—although many may be indifferent to field sports, still there are very few who do not appreciate the wild and varied beauties of Highland scenery, and even if caring little about the shooting of grouse or taking of salmon, most people do feel curious to learn wherein lies the charm of pursuits so eagerly sought and so expensively procured. This I have tried to explain and describe simply and without exaggeration.
To sportsmen these pages will recall much of their own pleasant experience, and perhaps excite curiosity and after-inquiry by the details of certain phenomena and events connected with the force natural of the hills which they may have carelessly overlooked or missed the chance of observing; and, I think, they can accept the personal incidents recorded as having occurred under my own experience, or, if related secondhand, to have come from those who may be trusted to have intelligently observed and accurately reported.
If my readers should derive only a tithe of the pleasure from perusing this journal that I have had in shaping it, I shall be satisfied—for to me this has been a labour of love by bringing back clearly on my mind many cherished memories.
I believe it to be a common experience that times passed in the country do leave stronger and more vivid prints on the mind than those lived in towns, however much more eventful and important these latter may have been—with myself I find this distinction of recollection to be marked and indubitable, and there are certain days lived in the country, particularly those passed in the Highlands, which will come again and again on my memory with the startling clearness of a vision, when I seem to see every heather-brae and rugged corrie on the hill-side, to look on the broken waters as they rush down the stony glen, almost to feel on my cheek the fresh breeze that waves the slender birches and to hear once more the familiar voices of friends now scattered or gone.
In conclusion—should the free conversation here and there reported only serve acceptably to vary the mere details of scenery and sport, it will have suited its purpose; and if perchance the reader finds some grave truth, although clothed in motley, so much the better. Be this as it may, no one will think of being captious or hypercritical on the careless converse of a few sportsmen.
S. A.
We have several chapters up already and these can be read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...mohr/index.htm
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
A new book we're starting which we're adding to the foot of our History of Stirlingshire page.
You can get to this book which we'll be adding to over the next few weeks at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/stirlingshire
Daniel McIntyre Henderson
A Scots poet that emigrated to America.
An interesting wee biography along with a few of his poems which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poet..._henderson.htm
Lord Charles Neaves
Added two more of his poems, The Penny of Pases and Platonic Paradoxes. You can view these at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...es_charles.htm
Clan Colquhoun Newsletter
Due to merger this is the final newsletter from the Clan Colquhoun of North America. You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ters/colquhoun
The Tartan Herald
We got in a copy of their July/August 2013 newsletter which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/tart...tter/index.htm
Time Team
This has always been one of my very favourite television programs as I love archaeology. I discovered just today that many of these episodes are now available on YouTube and I highly recommend viewing them. I have created a page to show you a selection of their digs that were based in Scotland and you can get to these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/timeteam.htm
And finally...
O'er Blessed!
Mrs. Donovan was walking down O'Connell Street in Dublin when she met up with Father Flaherty.
The Father said, 'Top o' the mornin' to ye! Aren't ye Mrs Donovan, and didn't I marry ye and yer hoosband 2 years ago?'
She replied, 'Aye, that ye did, Father.'
The Father asked, 'And be there any wee little ones yet?'
She replied, 'No, not yet, Father.'
The Father said, 'Well now, I'm going to Rome next week, and I'll light a candle for ye and yer hoosband.'
She replied, 'Oh, thank ye, Father.' They then parted ways.
Some years later they met again. The Father asked, 'Well now, Mrs. Donovan , how are ye these days?'
She replied, 'Oh, very well, Father!'
The Father asked, 'And tell me, have ye any wee ones yet?'
She replied, 'Oh yes, Father! Three sets of twins and 4 singles, 10 in all!'
The Father said, 'That's wonderful! How is yer loving hoosband doing?'
She replied, 'E's gone to Rome to blow out yer f----- candle.'
-----
For What It's Worth
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.
The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."
The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."
The third boy says, "I got you both beat.
My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
-----
And that's it for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair
Electric Scotland News
Electric Canadian
The Men of the Last Frontier
First Nations Taxation
The Flag in the Wind
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
The Scottish Naturalist
Thomas Dykes
Enigma Machine
Songs from John Henderson
Beauties of Dr. John Moore
Leaves from the Journal
Ardenmohr (New Book)
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
Daniel McIntyre Henderson
Lord Charles Neaves
Clan Colquhoun Newsletter
The Tartan Herald
Time Team
and finally
Electric Scotland News
We had some problems this week displaying the ScotNews feed and also our What's New feed. It would display but often you had to reload the page several times before it would display. Steve did some work on it and I tried clearing my browser cache and used two different browsers to check it. We also rebooted the server but nothing seemed to work. However last night Steve was still working on various things and when I got up this morning it was all working as it should. Not quite sure what steps he took last night to resolve the problem but hopefully it's now documented should it happen again.
-----
The Clan Colquhoun Society of North America (as well as Clan Colquhoun UK) has been officially dissolved. As one door closes, another opens. If you haven’t yet, please go to http://www.clancolquhoun.com/ and see what the Clan Colquhoun International Society has to offer. The website is one of the finest I believe I’ve ever seen for any organization.
I had material for a last newsletter which I’ve attached. This newsletter is in two parts. Some of the articles have been in the planning stage for a couple of years. Now that we’re in the midst of the Sesquicentennial of America’s Civil War, I decided to put together all of the material I’d been collecting from that time period. I also tried to write it in a form that would be understandable and interesting to international readers.
I am looking forward to contributing what I can to the Clan Colquhoun International newsletter and website. I was so pleased to hear that James Pearson is on board as our Clan Historian. James has done remarkable research for many years and published his work in The Chronicles of Clan Colquhoun. With Sir Malcolm, James, our business manager Michael, and several other people involved in working with our organization, I think you will see Clan Colquhoun emerge as one of the premiere clans represented at Scottish events all over the world in the next few years.
Sincerely,
Thomas Calhoun Hodges (Tom)
------
Scotland storms the programme at the world’s most influential film festival
Four Scottish films will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this week, helping to cement Scotland’s reputation for both quality film-making and as a great location for shooting.
Creative Scotland has contributed funding to four films which will make their debut at the prestigious event, which is often referred to as the world’s most influential film festival; Sunshine on Leith; The Railway Man; Under the Skin and Starred Up, which was shot in Belfast under Scottish director David Mackenzie. Each of the four films received £300,000 from Creative Scotland.
In order to champion Scotland’s interests as a world-class shooting location, Creative Scotland’s locations team will travel to TIFF, where they will meet with industry leaders to discuss production opportunities, funding, locations, crews and facilities. The team will offer assistance to productions seeking to film on location in Scotland.
The inclusion of four Scottish films in the TIFF programme also serves to highlight the need for a dedicated film and TV production studio facility in Scotland. The change to UK tax breaks to include high end television drama - which came into effect in April 2013 - highlights a significant opportunity for Scotland's film and television industry.
In May, Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop set up a film studio delivery group to actively pursue proposals for a new film and TV production facilities in Scotland.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture said:
“The Toronto International Film Festival is hugely respected and influential, and for films premiering there, it is an opportunity to be launched on an international stage and to grab the attention of some of the key players in the industry.
“I am delighted that four Scottish films will premiere there this year and hope that we can capitalise on that success, by using it as an opportunity to promote Scotland as a world-class shooting location, not just in terms of the spectacular backdrops we have to offer but also our extensive expertise and resources.
“Scotland is already competing as a shooting location on the international stage and demand from film and television companies continues to grow apace. This month Sony and Starz are starting to film the series Outlander, which is Scotland’s biggest ever film and television inward investment and for which a dedicated television production facility is being developed.
“The Scottish Government is committed to maximising the benefit of tax reliefs to Scotland and with this in mind, the film delivery group is examining how film and television production facilities, with robust business cases, can be further developed or enhanced.”
-----
I have been immersing myself on the crisis in the Middle East this week which of course has nothing to do with Scotland as such. However, as the newsletter editor for the Grand Priory of Canada, the order does support Christians in the Holy Land. This has meant that I felt it was incumbent on myself to try to provide some background information on Syria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, etc. The next issue of the newsletter goes out later this month so I will include a link to it when it becomes available.
Electric Canadian
The Men of the Last Frontier
By Grey Owl (1932)
I have now completed this book which you can read at
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...es/greyowl.htm
First Nations Taxation
It's actually quite hard to figure out the taxation issues with the First Nations and many people in Canada figure the First Nations are getting huge tax breaks that other Canadians do not enjoy and also have to pay for. I discovered some information which might answer this question and you can get to this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/history/first/taxation.htm
The Flag in the Wind
This weeks issue was compiled by Fraser Hudghton. His main topic for this issue is looking at the Syrian crisis.
You can read this issue at http://www.scotsindependent.org
As I mentioned above I have been working on articles on the crisis in the Middle East for the Canadian Templar newsletter which will be out towards the end of this month. I have placed a link to a BBC Documentary on the History of Syria on to our Electric Scotland Community which you can view at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/showthread.php/4121-Syria should you want to try and understand more about Syria.
Electric Scotland
The Scottish Historical Review
We are on Volume 11 and have now added the October 1913 issue. You can get to this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...w/volume11.htm
In these issues Part 2 is usually about book reviews and are in themselves worth a read.
There is an interesting book review on the Battle of Bannockburn by W. M. MacKemzie which is well worth the read. I couldn't find a copy of the book but if it can be found may well be worth reading.
Another one is about "A Colonial Governor in Maryland" and this time I did find a copy of the book which can be read at thttp://archive.org/download/colonial...rnor00edga.pdf
Then yet another review is about The Clan Campbell: Abstracts of Entries relating to Campbells in the Sheriff Court Books of Argyll at Inveraray. Prepared and edited by Rev. Henry Paton. Again I was able to find this book and it can be read at:
http://archive.org/download/clancamp...abst01camp.pdf
Quite often books that I have added to the site have been found by reading such reviews. I might also add that there are also review of books from other countries including America.
You can read the previous issues at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/review/
Songs Of Scotland, Prior To Burns
This book is by Robert Chambers who is famous for collecting old Scottish Songs.
Added another three songs...
Katie's Answer
The Lass O' Pattie's Mill
Woe's My Heart That We Should Sunder
You can get to this book at the foot of the page at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...ers_robert.htm
The Scottish Naturalist
I added Volume 6 - 1881/1882.
You can get to these volumes at: http://www.electricscotland.com/nature/naturalist.htm
Thomas Dykes
(1850, Dundonald, Ayrshire - 1916, London, England) Journalist and Author
Added a couple more articles...
Haltered and Altar’d
The Annasona
You can read these at http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...kes_thomas.htm
Enigma Machine
This is where we are publishing this set of puzzles created by Doug Ross which can now be found in Doctor's Surgeries, Old Folks Homes, etc.
Added Enigma Machine 30 puzzle which you can get to at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life.../enigma030.htm
The other puzzles we've already published can be found at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...igma/index.htm
Songs from John Henderson
John has sent us in another song "Tak Tent Yersel" which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel510.htm
His other songs can be read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerels.htm
Beauties of Dr. John Moore
Selected from the moral, philosophical, and miscellaneous works of that esteemed author, to which are added, a new biographical and critical account of the doctor and his writings, and notes, historical, classical, and explanatory.
Added Pages 301 to 351.
The book is available at:http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...moore_john.htm
Leaves from the Journal
From our life in the Highlands from 1848 to 1861 (1868)
Here is one of the entries to read here...
Visit to the Dhu Loch, &c. 11 Sept. 1849
The morning was very fine. I heard the children repeat some poetry in German, and then at ten o’clock we set off with Lady Douro [now Duchess of Wellington] in our carriage, and drove on beyond Inch Bobbard, changing horses near Birkhall, and stopping for a moment at the Linn of Muich; here we found the ponies, which we mounted, forded the river, and were almost immediately at the hut. We stopped there only for an instant, and remounted our ponies directly; Grant, Macdonald (who led my pony the whole time, and was extremely useful and attentive), Jemmie Coutts (leading Lady Douro’s pony), Charlie Coutts, and John Brown going with us: old John Gordon leading the way. It was half-past twelve when we began ascending the hill immediately behind the house, and proceeded along over the hills, to a great height, whence the view was very fine, quite overhanging the loch, and commanding an extensive view of Glen Muich beyond on the opposite side. The road got worse and worse. It was particularly bad when we had to pass the Burn of the Glassalt, which falls into the loch, and was very full. There had been so much rain, that the burns and rivers were very full, and the ground quite soft. We rode over the Strone Hill, the wind blowing dreadfully hard when we came to the top. Albert walked almost from the first, and shot a hare and a grouse; he put up a good many of them. We walked to a little hollow immediately above the Dim Loch, and at half-past three seated ourselves there, and had some very welcome luncheon. The loch is only a mile in length, and very wild; the hills, which are very rocky and precipitous, rising perpendicularly from it.
In about half an hour we began our journey homewards. We came straight down beside the Minch, which falls in the most beautiful way over the rocks and stones in the glen. We rode down, and only had to get off to cross the Glassalt, which was an awkward ford to scramble over. The road was rough, but certainly far less soft and disagreeable than the one we came by. I rode “Loch-nagar” at first, but changed him for Colonel Cordon’s pony, as I drought he took fright at the bogs; but Colonel Gordon’s was broken-winded, and struggled very much in the soft ground, which was very disagreeable.
We were only an hour coming down to the boat. The evening was very fine, but it blew very hard on the lake and the men could not Mill, and I got so alarmed that I begged to land, and Lady Douro was of my opinion that it was much better to get out. We accordingly landed, and rode home along a sort of sheep-path on the side of the lake, which took us three-quarters of an hour. It was very rough and very narrow, for the hill rises abruptly from the lake; we had seven hundred feet above us, and I suppose one hundred feet below. However, we arrived at the hut quite safely at twenty minutes to seven, thankful to have got through all our difficulties and adventures, which are always very pleasant to look back upon.
We dined a little before eight with Lady Douro, and played two rubbers of whist with her.
Old John Gordon amused Albert by saying, in speaking of the bad road we had gone, “It’s something steep and something rough,” and “this is the only best,” meaning that it was very bad,—which was a characteristic reply.
You can read the other entries at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/leaves/
Ardenmohr
Among the Hills, A Record of Scenery and Sports in the Highlands of Scotland by Samuel Abbott (1876)
A new book we're starting and here is the Preface...
This record of a sojourn in the Highlands will, it is hoped, have a certain interest to those who have not trod the heather, as well as to those who have.
Regarding the first—although many may be indifferent to field sports, still there are very few who do not appreciate the wild and varied beauties of Highland scenery, and even if caring little about the shooting of grouse or taking of salmon, most people do feel curious to learn wherein lies the charm of pursuits so eagerly sought and so expensively procured. This I have tried to explain and describe simply and without exaggeration.
To sportsmen these pages will recall much of their own pleasant experience, and perhaps excite curiosity and after-inquiry by the details of certain phenomena and events connected with the force natural of the hills which they may have carelessly overlooked or missed the chance of observing; and, I think, they can accept the personal incidents recorded as having occurred under my own experience, or, if related secondhand, to have come from those who may be trusted to have intelligently observed and accurately reported.
If my readers should derive only a tithe of the pleasure from perusing this journal that I have had in shaping it, I shall be satisfied—for to me this has been a labour of love by bringing back clearly on my mind many cherished memories.
I believe it to be a common experience that times passed in the country do leave stronger and more vivid prints on the mind than those lived in towns, however much more eventful and important these latter may have been—with myself I find this distinction of recollection to be marked and indubitable, and there are certain days lived in the country, particularly those passed in the Highlands, which will come again and again on my memory with the startling clearness of a vision, when I seem to see every heather-brae and rugged corrie on the hill-side, to look on the broken waters as they rush down the stony glen, almost to feel on my cheek the fresh breeze that waves the slender birches and to hear once more the familiar voices of friends now scattered or gone.
In conclusion—should the free conversation here and there reported only serve acceptably to vary the mere details of scenery and sport, it will have suited its purpose; and if perchance the reader finds some grave truth, although clothed in motley, so much the better. Be this as it may, no one will think of being captious or hypercritical on the careless converse of a few sportsmen.
S. A.
We have several chapters up already and these can be read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...mohr/index.htm
Merchant's Guide to Stirling & District
A new book we're starting which we're adding to the foot of our History of Stirlingshire page.
You can get to this book which we'll be adding to over the next few weeks at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/stirlingshire
Daniel McIntyre Henderson
A Scots poet that emigrated to America.
An interesting wee biography along with a few of his poems which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/poet..._henderson.htm
Lord Charles Neaves
Added two more of his poems, The Penny of Pases and Platonic Paradoxes. You can view these at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/hist...es_charles.htm
Clan Colquhoun Newsletter
Due to merger this is the final newsletter from the Clan Colquhoun of North America. You can read this at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/fami...ters/colquhoun
The Tartan Herald
We got in a copy of their July/August 2013 newsletter which you can read at:
http://www.electricscotland.com/tart...tter/index.htm
Time Team
This has always been one of my very favourite television programs as I love archaeology. I discovered just today that many of these episodes are now available on YouTube and I highly recommend viewing them. I have created a page to show you a selection of their digs that were based in Scotland and you can get to these at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/timeteam.htm
And finally...
O'er Blessed!
Mrs. Donovan was walking down O'Connell Street in Dublin when she met up with Father Flaherty.
The Father said, 'Top o' the mornin' to ye! Aren't ye Mrs Donovan, and didn't I marry ye and yer hoosband 2 years ago?'
She replied, 'Aye, that ye did, Father.'
The Father asked, 'And be there any wee little ones yet?'
She replied, 'No, not yet, Father.'
The Father said, 'Well now, I'm going to Rome next week, and I'll light a candle for ye and yer hoosband.'
She replied, 'Oh, thank ye, Father.' They then parted ways.
Some years later they met again. The Father asked, 'Well now, Mrs. Donovan , how are ye these days?'
She replied, 'Oh, very well, Father!'
The Father asked, 'And tell me, have ye any wee ones yet?'
She replied, 'Oh yes, Father! Three sets of twins and 4 singles, 10 in all!'
The Father said, 'That's wonderful! How is yer loving hoosband doing?'
She replied, 'E's gone to Rome to blow out yer f----- candle.'
-----
For What It's Worth
Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers.
The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50."
The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100."
The third boy says, "I got you both beat.
My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"
-----
And that's it for now and hope you all have a great weekend.
Alastair