Scotland Thread

[Mekong]

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[LizardKing]

Peter Boyle ( )...

 

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[The_Munchmaster]

It's Rod Stewarts birthday today (10 Jan 1945), which makes him 66.

 

Ok, I know he was born in England but his dad was Scottish and as far as Rod's concerned he's Scottish to.

 

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[The_Munchmaster]

Scottish Voice Recognition Elevator

 

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[The_Munchmaster]

Billy Connolly - Prostate Examination

 

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[LizardKing]

Tae a Samosa!

 

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[The_Munchmaster]

The Scottish salmon fishing season begins today.

 

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Saturday 15th January 2011 is an important day in Scotland’s angling calendar as the River Tay once more opens to the Salmon Angler.

 

For over 60 years the Kenmore Hotel and the village of Kenmore have hosted the traditional opening celebrations on the River Tay in Perthshire, this being the oldest celebration held within the UK for a fishing event. What started as a gathering of enthusiastic local anglers now draws anglers and spectators from all over the UK.

 

It is not just about celebrating the start of a new Salmon season, it is also a time when the angling community comes together to celebrate their previous successes and to share their hopes and concerns for the future of the fish that they seek and the future of their sport. In its own way it encompasses individual and community aspirations and interests, and reaffirms the social and economic importance that angling has within modern day society.

 

The Kenmore Salmon Opening and Closings have over the last decade raised many thousands of pounds for charity and over the last few years these events have been major contributors to 2 Perthshire based charities, the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) and Angling For Youth Development Trust (AFYD).

 

This years Opening will see anglers from all over Scotland gathering outside the Kenmore Hotel in Kenmore Village Square from 9-00 a.m. to enjoy a complimentary dram of Dewar’s Whisky and to join the procession of rods, led by the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, to view the blessing of the boat and the “first cast†on the River. Joining the throng of anglers on the day will be that world famous botanist and environmentalist, Professor David Bellamy.

 

 

[Flashermac]

Is that Lazy Phil?

 

Time for some McGonagall!

 

 

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[The_Munchmaster]

Scots government bid to overturn US haggis ban

 

A US government delegation has been invited to Scotland in a bid to overturn its 40-year ban on haggis.

 

 

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead's invitation comes two days ahead of Burns Night, when suppers are held in honour of poet Robert Burns.

 

Imported haggis was banned by the US because its food standards agency prohibits sheep lungs in food products.

 

Mr Lochhead raised the issue with the US last year but said he was still hopeful that imports would resume.

 

Traditional Scottish haggis, which is made with a sheep's heart, liver and lungs, had faced a double barrier after America's ban on offal in the wake of the BSE outbreak in 1989.

 

However, the US ban on British meat products has since been relaxed.

 

Mr Lochhead said the US was a "potentially lucrative market" that could be worth "millions" to Scottish haggis producers.

 

'Many fans'

 

He added: "We want to capitalise on the diaspora of Scots in the US and many of them would enjoy the opportunity to indulge in authentic Scottish haggis to accompany their neeps and tatties on Burns night.

 

"Scotland's produce is amongst the best in the world and I've asked US Department of Agriculture officials to come here to see for themselves the high standards we have in animal health and processing.

 

"This will help them realise that our haggis is produced to the highest standards and that it's time to allow imports to resume."

 

Edinburgh-based haggis producers, Macsween, said the impact of any decision to reverse the US ban would be enormous.

 

Director Jo Macsween added: "In our experience, American visitors love our haggis when they taste it while in Scotland and it would be lovely if they could not only be permitted to take some home with them at the end of their stay here, but purchase it in America too.

 

"Of course, we would love to do business in America as we know we have so many fans there."

 

[The_Munchmaster]

Big day in Scotland today.

 

Yes, it's that time again.

 

THE BARDS BIRTHDAY

 

"Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796) (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, Robden of Solway Firth, the Bard of Ayrshire and in Scotland as simply The Bard) was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language, although much of his writing is also in English and a "light" Scots dialect, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these his political or civil commentary is often at its most blunt."

 

Born on the 25 January 1759 so if he was still alive he'd be 252 years old.

 

There'll be a lot of haggis eaten and whisky drunk tonight, that's for sure.

 

For me however the haggis eating will have to wait until Friday but I may have a few wee drams tonight in his honour.