Scotland Thread

[The_Munchmaster]

The thriving bagpipe business of Pakistan

 

31 December 2012

 

The bagpipe business is thriving in Pakistan, with the instrument proving popular to play as well as being a successful export.

 

Not only are bagpipe and drum bands a common sight in the country, but Pakistan is now the second biggest bagpipe-producing country in the world.

 

Only Scotland creates more of the instruments for the world market.

 

Nosheen Abbas reports.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20876096

[The_Munchmaster]

Bond-style Youtube advert for Isle of Arran GP vacancy

 

Doctors at a medical practice on an island off the west coast of Scotland have produced a James-Bond style advert on Youtube to recruit a new GP.

 

The video, which lasts 1 minute 17 seconds, is set to action music and shows footage of Arran Medical Group.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuUlKwxPtXU&sns=em

 

It says the job on offer is "set on a spectacular island" and shows footage of the Royal Navy rescue aircraft, stating: "helicopter provided".

 

The Isle of Arran is in the Firth of Clyde between Ayrshire and Kintyre.

 

The island, which is 19 miles long by 10 miles wide, is one of the most southerly off Scotland's west coast.

 

Helicopter sequence

 

Arran Medical Group is based at Lamlash, about four miles south of the island's main ferry port and settlement, Brodick.

 

The recruitment video was produced by Dr David Hogg who discussed the concept with colleagues.

 

He said that once a decision had been taken to produce a video, the piece was put together and posted on Youtube in just 24 hours.

 

"The helicopter sequence was shot the previous week during a training exercise," he said."

 

All the other footage was shot the previous day and I provided the stills from images which I had previously taken on the island.

 

"Dr Hogg said he and colleagues at Arran Medical Group had noted how other island communities had successfully used social media to attract people.

 

"It can be quite difficult using a newspaper advert to get across what being a doctor in the island can involve, " he said.

 

"Video is much more effective at presenting the difficulties and challenges we face here.

 

"The medic said GPs at the practice had to be prepared for anything.

 

"If someone comes in with epilepsy, a seizure or a heart attack, then we've got to deal with it," he said.

 

Rewarding job

 

"Some people may find that is too difficult a challenge, but there is a great team here and a lot of support. It does require additional generalist skills but the job is very stimulating and rewarding."

 

Dr Hogg said previous job adverts placed in newspapers had typically generated four to five applications.

 

Since posting the video on 22 December, the practice, he said, had received "a number of very positive notes of interest".

 

Dr Hogg added: "We're looking for someone who is prepared for the challenges of working on Arran and who would enjoy living on a very strong island community."

[The_Munchmaster]

Loony Dook: Hundreds make a splash as Hogmanay clean-up continues

 

The Loony Dook in the Forth is an annual event

 

New Year's Day events have been taking place as the clean-up continues after Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party.

 

About 1,100 people dressed in a range of costumes took a dip in the cold waters of the Forth at South Queensferry for the annual Loony Dook.

 

The events taking place in Edinburgh on Tuesday included sled dog races in Holyrood Park, street theatre and a triathlon.

 

About 75,000 people had gathered in Princes Street to bring in 2013.

 

The event was hailed a success by police and by Edinburgh councillor Steve Cardownie, who described it as "truly fantastic".

 

About 1,100 people took part in the Loony Dook

 

Simple Minds, The View and Bwani Junction performed at the Concert in the Gardens on Hogmanay, and there were fireworks throughout the evening.

 

People travelled to the city from across the world for the celebrations, which are now in their 20th year.

 

After the event, work began to clear the tonnes of rubbish and remove the safety barriers, stages, scaffolding and giant screens.

 

On Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of Loony Dookers paraded through South Queensferry before taking the plunge in the Forth to raise money for charity.

 

Frances Sutton, spokeswoman for Edinburgh's Hogmanay, said: "The Loony Dookers were loving it.

 

"They marched down the street to a pipe band and took to the water, some only ankle-deep but others went under.

 

"There were people wearing wedding dresses, there was a Fred Flinstone outfit and a very small mankini. It was brilliant."

 

A Loony Dook event was also staged at North Berwick on Tuesday.

 

About 300 people took part in the New Year's Day triathlon in Edinburgh, where competitors must swim 400m at the Royal Commonwealth Pool, cycle 11 miles around Arthur's Seat and then run 3.5 miles.

 

On Tuesday evening, a huge street theatre event was taking place in the south side of the city.

[radioman]

Was it not Burns night just a wee while ago?

Thinking there might have been a round of Haggis recipe's or at least places in The Kok to enjoy a suitably poetic harlot, or three.

[The_Munchmaster]

Was it not Burns night just a wee while ago?

 

It still is here in Bonnie Wet Cold Scotland, at least for a wee while longer.

[radioman]

Ha! And there I was thinking you would be trying to emulate this in some dark back soi bar edumactin' a bunch of Bangkok's finest about the 'real art'. Ah well it seems you've settled for the real thing!

Trust it was a good one with all the pallaver.

[The_Munchmaster]

Robert the Bruce Battle of Bannockburn letter discovered

 

The document was written by Robert the Bruce of Scotland to Edward II of England

 

A copy of an unknown Robert the Bruce letter from the build-up to the Battle of Bannockburn has been discovered.

 

The letter, sent in 1310, asks English King Edward II to stop persecuting the Scots.

 

It shows Robert asserting his God-given authority as king of the Scots and addressing Edward as his equal.

 

The script, thought to have been transcribed from the original, was discovered by chance by a professor of Scottish history at Glasgow University.

 

Bruce's Scottish troops defeated the English army at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

 

The new letter was found in a document which dates from about the turn of the 16th Century and has presented historians with fresh information about a pivotal time in the wars of Scottish independence.

 

Bottom line

 

The missive reveals how Robert made an appeal for peace when faced with an English army marching into the heart of Scotland but on the understanding that Edward would recognise Scottish independence.

 

King Edward was growing increasingly unpopular with the nobles in his own court, according to historians, while Robert was slowly reclaiming power north of the border by winning the hearts and minds of the Scottish people.

 

Prof Dauvit Broun, who made the discovery at the British Library, said: "The letter reveals a couple of things. Firstly, Bruce's tone is extremely conciliatory. He seems to be offering to do anything possible to establish peace. However, he is nonetheless plainly addressing Edward as one king to another.

 

"There is no doubt that the bottom line here is that Edward should recognise Robert as king of the Scots, and the Scots as separate from the English.

 

"He added: "The writing of this letter should be seen as a bold move by Bruce who had perhaps recognised that the tables were turning and he could stand his ground in the face of an advancing English army and open negotiations with the king.

 

"The letter, translated from its original Latin, states: "To the most serene prince the lord Edward by God's grace illustrious king of England, (from) Robert by the same grace king of Scots."

 

It adds: "Our humbleness has led us, now and at other times, to beseech your highness more devoutly so that, having God and public decency in sight, you would take pains to cease from our persecution and the disturbance of the people of our kingdom in order that devastation and the spilling of a neighbour's blood may henceforth stop."

 

Battle anniversary

 

By the time of the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Bruce had taken all the strongholds except Stirling and those near the English border.

 

In the end, Bruce's move in 1310 paid off as King Edward took his army south again to Berwick where he remained until July the next year.

 

The next time he returned north, three years later, Edward was beaten at Bannockburn.

 

Preparations are under way in Scotland to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the decisive Battle of Bannockburn next year.

[BelgianBoy]

well done Scotland, thanks for the win

[sayjann]

Robert the Bruce Battle of Bannockburn letter discovered

 

The document was written by Robert the Bruce of Scotland to Edward II of England

 

A copy of an unknown Robert the Bruce letter from the build-up to the Battle of Bannockburn has been discovered.

a copy?i hear shakespeare was a good forger...

[Flashermac]

Nonsense! Scotland's heroes all wrote in Latin.