Hogmanay

[REALMACTAVISH]

we scots enjoy xmas but it falls well behind new year...how many people can tell me why hogmanay's so important???

[cathy]

Because you can drink Scotch Whiskey???? I don't know, where the heck is Packer71 when I need her???
Cathy

[Graeme]

Because you get paid double time if you work?

[REALMACTAVISH]

i thought you would know graeme! its someone special's birthday!

[Graeme]

i thought you would know graeme! its someone special's birthday!
[/b]

Right then, this clearly needs a bit of detective work because I don't know.

Firstly here's an article about Hogmanay.
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Scotl...ry/Hogmanay.htm (http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/Scotland-History/Hogmanay.htm)

But there's no mention of a special birthday.

So, it's not Rabbie Burns (25 January), Sean Connery is 25 August. Annie Lennox is 25 December as is the man himself. I'm seeing a pattern here but it's nothing to do with Hogmanay! William Wallace is too old to be sure as is Robert the Bruce and Bonnie Prince Charlie just caused the Scots grief.

So could it be anything to do with the 300th anniversary of the Union? Probably not as that would be more of an English celebration.

And the only famous person I can find with a birthday on Hogmanay with even the most tenuous connection with Scotland is Idi Amin so I don't suppose it's him although he fits the bill for first footing.

Which leaves me with my great grannie Jane Ann Riach born in Coull, Aberdeenshire on 1 January 1872 but it was very early in the morning and maybe the clock was wrong.

Where's my prize?

[REALMACTAVISH]

its the wee man that caused all the grief. it all started as a covert celebration of his birthday and snowballed

[cathy]

why is it Bonnie Prince Charles..................
??????????????


And as he caused so very much trouble, why give him so much homage??

[Graeme]

I don't, but I can understand why they did in the 1700s. I think I'd have a hard job accepting a German monarch even today. In fact, when you come to mention it, I do. But I'd rather not have a monarch at all. :)

[REALMACTAVISH]

charlie wasnt a very good person but he represented a lot post culloden he was glamourised and became significantly more important - not for any other reason than his alternative was so bad.

[cathy]

So in the UK, is there much of an effort to eliminate the monarchy? It seems that they have absolutely no power. But I have to admit we in the States love royalty watching!

Cathy

[REALMACTAVISH]

I THINK THE BRITS HAVE BECOME NONPLUSSED WITH THE MONARCHY-BECAUSE THEYRE SO INACTIVE. IF THEY WERE OTHERWISE THE BRITSWOULDNT BE SO BLAS'E. MY ONLY COMMENT IS THAT WHEN YOURE IN THEIR COMPANY YOURE SURPRISED HOW SMALL THEY ALL ARE. OH; AND DI WAS AN ABSOLUTE NUTCASE.

[cathy]

Well Diana might have been a nutcase, but she sure made for interesting watching. You have to admit it, the rest of them are pretty boring!!


Cathy


Glad to see you back, MacTavish

[migovie]

scots and england.?
i had a great talk with a group of young scotsmen in inverness ...and i wouldnt bother the mention of it had the same detail reoccurred thruout scotland ....i tell you those boys have patriotic blood....and i can tell you that after youve spoken a time you realise that history has not been forgotten...and never will be ...
it was put to me like this...
the young scots said
"well look at it this way...when a scotsman is arrested for drunken brawling in inverness the uk news tells the story of a scots fighting while drunk.....
when a scotsman wins the golf or any other great event hes displayed on uk news as an "englishman" and part of the monarchy without doubt..."
he then contiued to say that IF the great battle was fought again the scots would win ....IF the great battle achieved anything it was the demise of the clans.....and that was the english way....you just have to look at india , at australia , at new zealand, everywhere the english chose to govern by their proven tactics of christianity aligned with terrorism ,alongside simple murder.....the essential ingrediant was "divide and conquer".....
divide by breaking down the family of the country they wished to rule...in scotland they did this by outlawing the very backbone of the country....make the language outlawed (gaelic) make the customs illegal (chiefly attire and duties) take the power from the family and it will crumble....
as with the english conquest of india...enforce religion...enforce the english language and begin to make unacceptable the spoken home tongue ...
as they did in australia and same in new zealand where they banned the use of the maori language and punished school children that spoke maori by violent beatings.. took the lands from the maori....took the heritage ....
so scots have on the face of it "moved on" but after a lengthy sit down and talk with the confidence of freindship youll see the true scots backbone emerge .....they have NOT forgotten that battle near inverness ..and not forgiven the betrayal and persecution dealt out for decades after...the have not forgotten....
they live life happily today without any true hatred or anger...BUT it is not forgotten.....it still lays in the bloodsoaked soils of that small field ...
the absolute sorrow of that field shouted out in its absolute silence ....is enuf to make any man woman or child cry.....but they must be watered down tears to the true sorrow felt by our ancestors ...and the absolute anguish of the reality of betrayal beyond comprehension....
of a country beaten yet continually kicked for decades after the beating.....thru death warrants and dont let start on the great english warrior cumberland...how any englishman can walk around with head held high with that story in his countries past makes me sick...
BUT live and let live and we all move on....

[rhona]

You really shouldnt get me started on this--- because its so emotive ,but in the New Year of 2007---- for the first time in 300 years------ weve got a real chance of having some sort of independence in Scotland.
The Labour party under Blair has finally lost its grip on the honest working folk who see thru their spin---
theyre turning to the SNP ,lib-dems and the Greens to re-build a nation---robbed of her health, her wealth,l her land, her oil fields, her regiments, her precious sons and ultimately her integrity!
Last week the moderator of the church of Scotland handed a petition of 25 000 signatures to the government at Westminster in protest at the plans to replace the Trident nuclear missiles stored on Scots soil at a cost of ?50 BILLION ---missiles which we never ever wanted here in he first place ,knowing that each one is equal to 750 Hiroshimas! Imagine how many hospitals we could build---yet they've closed more and more vital A&E and maternity services---under the guise of "modernisation"!!! PEOPLE ARE DYING
Meanwhile our beautiful west coast is regularily used and abused by the MOD testing their uranium tipped shells with impunity--while low-flying jets rock our quiet hills in the North--
There is talk of Scotland becoming a nuclear dumping ground if Blair's govt get their way---we ve even had English sewage transported over the Border and dumped on our fields!
While its true to say that Scotland blossomed under the age of enlightenment and perhaps benefitted to some degree from the union---its clear to me that the Scots gave far more of their wealth,energy and talents to England than they ever returned to us! Some say we are the oldest occuppied country in Europe--We cant pretend that Scots werent involved in the atrocities of the slave trade, the brutal repression of native Americans and Maories----- but the bloodlust of Empire-building was always more in the anglo saxon nature than that of the nature-loving celts---I like to believe that Scottish people still try to embrace the differences in cultures rather than quash them wherever they are in the world---
We need our sons and daughters to come home for re-generation, revival of self-esteem and an end to apathy.

[REALMACTAVISH]

hope this isnt too much of a shock rhona .....but im right with you.

[rhona]

-----not shocked 007 --- just relieved that you came home in one piece to your young family and lived to fight another day for the truth---!
How do you fancy going into politics together? I can see a future for the " Real Mac" Party ! All Scots LOVE a real party!!!
If we can expose the lies of one phoney chief---theres no stopping us-eh?

[REALMACTAVISH]

COUNT ME IN CUZ. I WOULD MAKE A POOR POLITICIAN THOUGH. I HAVE INTEGRITY AND HONOUR. THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD THOUGHTS. LETS HOPE THAT OUR NEXT GENERATION HAS NO NEED FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. IVE ALREADY DICTATED THAT ALEX WILL NOT BECOME A SOLDIER; THE FIRST MALE IN MY FAMILY SINCE 1735 NOT TO BE A SOLDIER. IM GOING TO STEER HIM TOWARDS THE AMBITION I FAILED TO FULFIL; VETINARIAN. WE SHARE A LOVE OF ANIMALS.
THE RUBBER 'CHIEF' IS A SAD WEE RUNT THAT HAS TAKEN THE BATON FROM HIS WALTER MITTY FATHER AND CONTINUES THE DECIMATION OF OUR GREAT CLAN..............FOR NOW. I HAVE IDEAS SOON TO BE AIRED . HAVE YOU EVER READ TSUN TSU?
WINNING THE CASTLES IS THE LEAST WAY
WINNING THE MINDS ID THE SECOND WAY
WINNING THE HEARTS IS THE FIRST WAY.
KEEP SMILING AND LOOKING PRETTY.



COUNT ME IN CUZ. I WOULD MAKE A POOR POLITICIAN THOUGH. I HAVE INTEGRITY AND HONOUR. THANKS FOR YOUR GOOD THOUGHTS. LETS HOPE THAT OUR NEXT GENERATION HAS NO NEED FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME. IVE ALREADY DICTATED THAT ALEX WILL NOT BECOME A SOLDIER; THE FIRST MALE IN MY FAMILY SINCE 1735 NOT TO BE A SOLDIER. IM GOING TO STEER HIM TOWARDS THE AMBITION I FAILED TO FULFIL; VETINARIAN. WE SHARE A LOVE OF ANIMALS.
THE RUBBER 'CHIEF' IS A SAD WEE RUNT THAT HAS TAKEN THE BATON FROM HIS WALTER MITTY FATHER AND CONTINUES THE DECIMATION OF OUR GREAT CLAN..............FOR NOW. I HAVE IDEAS SOON TO BE AIRED . HAVE YOU EVER READ TSUN TSU?
WINNING THE CASTLES IS THE LEAST WAY
WINNING THE MINDS ID THE SECOND WAY
WINNING THE HEARTS IS THE FIRST WAY.
KEEP SMILING AND LOOKING PRETTY.

[rhona]

yup-- its true-the old gravy train to Holyrood has precious few passengers who can claim honour and integrity before they've even reached Waverley station!----- as for Westminster----a nest of vipers would look more straight !
"Winning Hearts and Minds "----these are indeed impressive and familiar words tho I never knew the name of this man before--thanks for introducing me --An old Chinese soldier and strategist I believe?
Did he also say;" if you have to fire a shot--you have lost the war? "
I dont know how you feel about John Reid's recent scare-tactics regarding independence but if I were in the forces Id want to slap him (a not-so girly, not-so pacifist slap either!) after all the cruel deceptions and incompetence theres been .

Here is another quotation about war that John probably read sitting on a toilet somewhere and thought he'd try flushing us instead!--------

"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders.That is easy.All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.It works the same in any country,"
HERMANN GOERING

[cathy]

An interesting article on Scottish Independance!


Blair?s Greatest Legacy: the End of the Union (http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=74&ItemID=11599)

[rhona]

Thanks for this Cathy---Ive got it filed for posterity! Id say this article is a brilliant analysis of the current state of affairs----but I should point out that Tommy Sheridan's affairs make Bill Clinton seem like a celibate monk! (allegedly---)
Thing is--he couldve been a real contender but his huge ego got in the way of the truth -- he effectively broke the back of the up and coming socialist movement with his stupidity and slandered his brothers and sisters for refusing to perjur themselves---
I dont much trust any shade of grey suited politicians once they get their gravy flowing--but the Greens and the nationalists seem a fairly decent colourful bunch at the moment with 2007 looking very promising!
watch this space

[cathy]

Politicians................I have little use for any of them. You can take a honest person, who wants to do what is right for the people he or she represents......send them to Washington for a year, and they lose their soul. I have turned into a cynic, and I used to trust and believe. It is a sad commentary!
Cathy

[REALMACTAVISH]

I HAVENT A LOT OF TIME FOR BILLY CONNELY BUT HE SAID 'THAN ANYONE WANTING TO BE A POLITICIAN SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY DISQUALIFY THEM FROM BECOMING ONE'.
IM WITH YOU RHONA; I HAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR THE NATIONALISTS.