Bugging

Despite not being a Labour supporter I have always like the three Labour First Ministers we've had, Donald Dewar, Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell, especially McLeish. How can one not like anyone who has played for East Fife.
The news that McConnell was hacked by News of The World journalists does provoke more than mild surprise though. Why bother. Back in the the old pre Devolution days Hugh MacDiarmid acidly pointed out that the trouble with Scotland was that there was no political person worth an assassination. Nowadays bugging and printing the results brings the same end result. But why bother with Jack?  I recall someone( aren't the best stories always third hand) of someone who had spoken with a former Secret Service person who was tasked with bugging ex Scottish National Union of Mineworkers chief Mick McGahey. He found this the most tedious of jobs he ever did as all he ever listened to was McGahey's wife's gossip on the phone from her Corstorphine bungalow. Corstorphine gossip, I suspect, would not furnish enough material for much, certainly not the great book which George MacKay Brown wrote about village gossip in Orkney. My memory is lapsing but think it was entitled "Greenvoe". Well worth a read.
Anyway I'm in the middle of a working period just now and the bowling season is upon us again so busier than normal but will keep the blog going as much as I can, hope no-one is bugging my talks with my teddies...

Chatelherault

Been off since my last post with a trip to Chatelherault yesterday with my mother. No, not a trip to France but to Hamilton, South Lanarkshire. The name is taken from a French Dukedom, from near Poitiers, in Western France. The dukedom was granted to the second Earl of Arran, Regent to Mary, Queen of Scots, for services to the crowns of both Scotland and France. All that remains is the hunting lodge now beautifully restored by South Lanarkshire Council. Of particular note are the wonderful ceilings. The cafe is well worth a visit too. Of some historical note, like the Tower of London's Ravens, White Cattle are kept- descended from the breed once sacred to religion of the ancient peoples of the area. Sadly the adults died but three calves continue the line. If that's not enough there are various walks through beautiful woods and the River Clyde flowing beneath. A bucolic paradise in an industrial part of Scotland. A great visit all over. 

England

A very Happy St George's Day. Although the Catholic Church removed him from its list of saints some time ago the day remains as a celebration of England and its people. I suppose in years to come the diveristy of a nation will not allow a Christian saint's day to define it, for now the significance remains. I lived "down south", as they say up here, from 1992 to 1997 and 2001 to 2002, in Oxford, Oxfordshire and Hereford. I know these places are especially agreeable but I have nothing but fond memories of my time there. So, when those of us who advocate Scottish Independence are tainted as ant-English I can only give a wry smile. After all Scottish Independence will, eventually lead to English Independence and the re-birth of that great nation. However as R S Thomas wrote Britishness is merely a mask for Englishness and many English people unwittingly do feel an equivalence. No point in moaning of this up north- what more can be expected given the numbers of people involved. The 1707 Union was never a union of equals but an incorporating one. Anyway here's to England. 

Loyalty

Not blogged for a few days despite being off work. Strange how a surfeit of time does little to provoke activity. Allso struggling to type with a sore flipper. Just finishing a book on Flora MacDonald the heroine of the aftermath of the '45 Jacobite Rising against the illegitimate Hanover regime(there's bias for you!). Although the romantic nature of the stories were enhanced, particularly by Bishop Forbes she remains a very likeable and admirable woman. However what is less known is her loyalty to the British Crown when she moved later to North America which raises the question about loyalty as she does seem, to modern eyes, a little inconsistent. However my view would be that her loyalty to Princes Charles would have been understood in terms of clan loyalty and being hospitable to those in trouble and , after settling in North America, a similar loyalty to the colonial government would ensue. Our own times owe less to such honour codes. Anyway better go as flipper getting sore again. Off also to Edinburgh for some folk music- wonder if there will be any Jacobite songs!

This is a picture of the only Scottish Cup Final held outside of Glasgow( up here clubs in our capital city are deemed "provincial"). It is from 1896 and involved Hearts and Hibs. Hibs last won the cup in 1902 in controversial circumstances involving gamesmanship, Hibs' captain Bobby Atherton feigned a Glaswegian accent and, asking the defender to"leave ra ba" allowed Paddy Callaghan's corner to be met by McGeachie's back heel into the net. Now we have the prospect of a Heats/Hibs final again. It should really be held at Murrayfield Rugby Stadium in Edinburgh but probably won't but, at any rate, the anticipation runs sky high. C'mon the Hibs.

Well, returned from the great city of Paris. Although I've been before it remains a city of great romance and appeal and I'm glad I went. Although the main sights are, of course, well worth a visit for those who plan to go I would recommend the Museum of the Middle Ages near the Sorbonne. The History of Art I once, poorly, studied made great play on the merits of the Renaissance and, no doubt, great things flowed from this. However, real life never falls into discreet sections and the art works displayed here are beautiful indeed. Its setting was the Paris house of the abbot of Cluny and , once there, my thoughts flew to its great foundation at Paisley reinforcing the long historic links between France and Scotland. Not much for a veggie to eat though across there so catching up on goodies back home!

Worth a trip

Paris may be worth a mass but certainly is worth a trip. I'm heading there tomorrow, only for three nights though. I visited once before, on my own, and enjoyed the trip visiting the main sights including Versailles and even a day trip to Chartes. Bon Voyage !
Will report on my experiences once returned. Meanwhile, Happy Easter.

Waultier De Keryngton

After Friday's visit to Dunnottar I'm thinking about Braveheart and William Wallace. There is, on the surface, much to admire about Wallace, especially his devotion to Scotland's independent status but, after his victories in taking Dundee, Forfar, Brechin and Montrose he came across the poor English defenders of Dunnottar. Despite their wretched status he , well basically incinerated them. However a local priest by the name of Waltier of Keryngton pleaded for mercy. He was ignored. Should old Softy Walter be more of a hero up here?