The Electric Scotland Magazine - Monthly Newsletter

Welcome to the August newsletter... been a fun month here at Electric Scotland as we got into Kids mode which you can read about below :-)

BURKE'S LANDED GENTRY
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On the 1st of August 2001, after a period of nearly 30 years, the first volume of the 19th Edition of Burke's Landed Gentry, The Kingdom in Scotland was launched at Prestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland. See video and audio of this at http://www.electricscotland.com/burkes/press/bbc010801.htm

In conjunction with the book launch was the release of the Burke's Landed Gentry Scotland web site, bringing Burke's firmly into the 21st Century. The web site holds all records from the 19th Edition, encompassing lineage's of some 650 families, which have been completely updated, as well as for hundreds of entries for leading and influential individuals from this region, totalling some 20,000 living persons, plus some 400,000 names from previous generations. The web site also hosts entries from the 18th Edition of Burke's Landed Gentry, covering England, Scotland and Wales up to 1972. All these records are now available online in a fully searchable format.

The Burke's web site brings together the family histories of the Scottish Landed Gentry and biographies of leading individuals, who have shaped the history of Scotland and who are driving Scotland forward in this new Millennium.

Work has now begun in ensuring that the site will become a central resource of histories and stories from the 650 families listed within this authoritative collection. The web site aims to carry on the tradition of Burke's Landed Gentry as one of the most outstanding and accurate works of historical reference today.

You can visit their pages on Electric Scotland at http://www.electricscotland.com/burkes/index.htm and from there get to their own web site.

KIDS PAGE
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We decided to have a real go at developing our Kids section and already we can see lots of Kids coming in and some big Kids as well. I even note one of the French TV stations has put a link to our CaberToss game and we're getting lots of visits from them :-)

The new Kids page can be seen at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids

JIGSAW GAMES
In here you will find around 90 great Jigsaw puzzles mostly of pictures of Scotland but we have also created a clan section for any pictures we get of clan lands, and a visitors section where you can email me in a picture to include in here :-) The jigsaws default to the classic shapes and 48 pieces but you can select just 6 for really young Kids or even 120 pieces for the bigger Kids. Lots more options including sending a jigsaw to someone as a postcard. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/jigsaws/index.htm

ONLINE COLOURING BOOK
We've also created an online colouring book where we give you a small selection of pictures to colour online. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/colorbook/index.htm

COLOURING BOOK
And on the subject of colouring books we've also made available some pictures that can be printed out and coloured in with crayons or colour pencils. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/colouring.htm

KRAFTS AND KOOKING FOR KIDS KORNER
We've also included a section "Krafts and Kooking for Kids Korner" where we've included some simple recipes for Kids to enjoy and some simple craft ideas. Mostly for the younger Kids but I have been told at least one adult has tried one of the recipes :-) Do send in any recipe or craft ideas for inclusion in here, the more the merrier :-) You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/kkk/index.htm

ELECTRIC SCOTLAND'S PICTURE BOOK
Every Sunday we'll also be posting a picture and story into our new "Electric Scotland Picture Book". The pictures have all been specially commissioned by us and so are unique to Electric Scotland. So do bookmark the page so you can see the new picture each Sunday :-) You can visit our Picture Book at http://www.electricscotland.com/picturebook/index.htm

HAMISH THE HAGGIS
We've also posted up our Hamish the Haggis stories and recorded them in Real Audio for you to listen to as well. You can see and listen to them at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/hamishindex.htm

BAG THE SHEEP
We've added a new game called "Bag the Sheep" where you as a wee Highlander have to catch sheep that are parachuting down from on high while avoiding the killer cows! It also has a high score table! You can play this game at http://www.electricscotland.com/games/sheep.htm

Lots more to see and if you would like to send us in a craft idea, recipe or anything else for this section we'd love to hear from you :-) So do visit our Kids Section at http://www.electricscotland.com/kids/index.htm

FAMILY WEBBOARD
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As part of our new Kids offerings I have also created a new Family WebBoard. This is intended to be a system where parents and their children can join in together. Certainly anything posted in here should be suitable for all age ranges to read. Like all our WebBoard systems we can merely provide the facility... it is really up to our visitors to decide if this is something they wish to make use of... and so I have posted some messages into most conferences to get you going but it's now over to you if you wish to make use of it :-) You can join at http://webboard.electricscotland.com/~family

HISTORICAL BOOKS
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This month we've made a start at adding three major books to the site but it will take us a number of weeks to get them up. You will at least be able to read along with us as we get each chapter up on the site. The books are...

THE SCOT IN BRITISH NORTH AMERICA
This is going to trace what the Scots did in Canada... it starts of with several chapters reviewing Scottish history and then goes onto trace their emigration to Canada and what they achieved there. This is a 4 volume set so you can see it will take some time to get it up. You can read the first eight chapters which explores the history of Scotland and the Scottish people and attempts to explain why the Scots have been so successful considering "the relatively small population and barren land". As the author says in the seventh chapter....

In the foregoing chapters an attempt has been made to glance as briefly as the nature and extent of the subject admitted, at those peculiar features, physical as well as historical, which have concurred in moulding the Scottish character. Without some acquaintance with the antecedents of a people, their surroundings and the discipline they have undergone through the ages, it is not only difficult to understand the national bent and idiosyncrasies, but also to calculate the aptitude for colonisation they are likely to display when transferred to "fresh scenes and pastures new."

You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/scot/index.htm

DICTIONARY OF EMINENT SCOTS
This is a 5 volume set which gives some background on lots of Scots that did something significant and deserve to be mentioned on the site. We would hope to put up at least one of these Scots most days for some months ahead. I have already noted that some accounts are very small while others can be quite large and comprehensive. For example the account of Robert the Bruce went to 7 chapters. I've also re-organised our Significant Scots page to list everyone in alphabetical order to make it easier to find an individual. We're adding these Scots in alphabetical order so you'll see around 30 or so new accounts on this page on letters A & B at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/significant_scots.htm

THE SCOTTISH CHIEFS
This is an historical novel about William Wallace by Jane Porter and was first printed in 1809. This is a 2 volume set so again will take some time to get up but we will try to get a chapter up most days so you can read along.

Just as a matter of interest when I purchased this the owner of the bookshop, an American, told me this was the first book on Scotland she'd ever read as a young girl in America and it was as a result of reading it that she made up her mind to live and work in Scotland. Some two weeks later some friends visited me from America and I was telling them about the book. Peggy told me that this book was also the first Scottish book she'd ever read and ever since has had a passion for Scottish history... so I'm hoping you will enjoy this one :-) Here is a wee taster for you so you can see the style of writing....

The darkness was almost impenetrable. Musing on what had passed with Monteith, and on the little likelihood of any hero appearing, who, by freeing his country, could ever claim the privilege of investigating the mystery which was now his care, Wallace rode on; till crossing the bridge of Lanark, he saw the rising moon silver the tops of the distant hills; and then his meditations embraced a gentler subject. This was the time he had promised Marion he should be returned, and he had yet five long miles to go, before he could reach the glen of Ellerslie; He thought of her being alone, of watching, with an anxious heart, the minutes of his delay. Scotland and its wrongs he now forgot, in the idea of her whose happiness was dearer to him than life. He could not achieve the deliverance of the one, but it was his bliss to preserve the peace of the other; and putting spurs to his horse, under the now bright beams of the moon he hastened through the town.

Abruptly turning an angle leading to the Mouse river, a cry of murder arrested his ear. He checked his horse and listened. The clashing of arms told him the sound had issued from an alley to the left. He alighted in an instant, and drawing his sword, threw away the scabbard; (prophetic omen!) then, leaving his horse with one of his servants, hastened, with the other three, to the spot whence the noise proceeded.

On arriving, he discovered two men in tartans, with their backs to the opposite wall, furiously assaulted by a throng of Edward's soldiers. At this sight, the Scots who accompanied Wallace were so enraged that, blowing their bugles to encourage the assailed, they joined hand to band with their gallant leader, and attacking the banditti, each man cut his opponent to the ground.

Such unexpected assistance reanimated the drooping strength of one of the two, from whom the cry had issued. He sprang from the wall with the vigour of a tiger, but at the moment received a wound in his back, which would have thrown him at the feet of his enemies, had not Wallace caught him in his left arm, and with his right cleared the way, while he cried to his men who were fighting near him "To the Glen!" As he spoke, he threw the now insensible stranger into their arms. The other man, whose voice had first attracted Wallace, at that instant sunk, covered with blood, on the pavement.

Two of the servants, obeying their master, carried their senseless burden towards the horses; but the third, being hemmed in by the furious soldiers, could not move. Wallace made a passage to his rescue, and effected it; but one base wretch, while the now wounded Scot was retreating, made a stroke which would have severed his head from his body, had not the trusty claymore" [Claymore, an ancient Scottish sword.] of Wallace struck down the pending weapon of the coward, and received his rushing body upon its point he fell with bitter imprecations, calling aloud for vengeance.

A dreadful cry was now raised by the whole band of assassins: " Murder ! treason ! Arthur Heselrigge is slain!" The uproar became general. The windows of the adjoining houses were thrown open; people armed and unarmed issued from their doors, and pressed forward to inquire the cause of the alarm. Wallace was nearly overpowered; a hundred swords flashed in the torchlight; but at the moment he expected they would be sheathed in his heart, the earth gave way under his feet, and he sunk into utter darkness.

He fell upon a quantity of gathered broom; and concluding that the weight of the thronging multitude had burst his way through the arch of a cellar, he sprung on his feet: and though he heard the curses of several wretches, who had fallen with him and fared worse, he made but one step to a half-opened door, pointed out to him by a gleam from an inner passage. The men uttered a shout, as they saw him darken the light which glimmered through it; but they were incapable of pursuit; and Wallace, aware of his danger, darting across the adjoining apartment, burst open a window, and leaped out at the foot of the Lanark hills.

The oaths of the soldiers, enraged at his escape, echoed in his ears, till distance sunk them into hoarse murmurs. He pursued his way over the craigs; through the valley, and across the river, to the cliffs which embattle the garden of Ellerslie. Springing on the projecting point of the nearest, he leaped into a thicket of honeysuckles. This was the favourite bower of his Marion! The soft perfume as it saluted his senses, seemed to breathe peace and safety; and as he emerged from its fragrant embrace, he walked with a calmer step towards the house. He approached a door which led into the garden. It was open. He beheld his beloved leaning over a couch, on which was laid the person he had rescued. Halbert was dressing his wounds.

Wallace paused for a moment, to contemplate his lovely wife in this more lovely act of charity. Her beautiful hands held a cup to the lips of the stranger; while her long hair, escaped from its band, fell in jetty ringlets, and mingled with his silver locks.

"Marion !" exclaimed the overflowing soul of her husband. She looked up at the well-known sound, and with a cry of joy, rushing forward, threw herself into his arms: her tears flowed, she sobbed, she clung to his breast. It was the first time Wallace had been from her; she had feared it would have been the last. The hour the conflict, the bleeding stranger! But now he was returned, he was safe!

"Art thou indeed here !" exclaimed she. Blood fell from his forehead upon her face and bosom: "O my Wallace !" cried she, in agony.

"Fear not, my love! all is well, since our wounded countryman is safe."

"But you bleed!" returned she. No tears now impeded her voice. Terror had checked their joyful currents; and she felt as if she expected his life-blood to issue from the wound on which she gazed.

"I hope my preserver is not hurt?" inquired the stranger.

"Oh, no!" replied Wallace, putting back the hair from his forehead; "a mere trifle!" That the action had discovered the gash to be wider than he thought, he saw in the countenance of his wife! She turned deadly pale. "Marion," said he, "to convince you how causeless your fears are, you shall cure me yourself; and with no other surgery than your girdle !"

When Lady Wallace heard his gay tone, and saw the unforced smiles on his lips, she took courage; and, remembering the deep wounds of the stranger, which she had just assisted to dress, without any alarm for his life, she began to hope that she need not now fear for the object dearest to her in existence. Rising from her husband's arms, with a languid smile she unbound the linen fillet from her waist; and Halbert having poured some balsam into the wound, she prepared to apply the bandage; but when she lifted her husband's hair from his temple that hair which had so often been the object of her admiration, as it hung in shining masses over his arching brows ! when the clotted blood met her fingers, a mist seemed to pass over her sight: she paused for a moment; but rallying her strength, as the cheerful sound of his voice conversing with his guest assured her, fear was groundless, she tied the fillet; and, stealing a soft kiss on his cheek when she had finished, she seated herself, yet trembling, by his side.

"Gallant Wallace!" continued the stranger, - agitation had prevented her hearing what had preceded this," it is Donald Earl of Mar, who owes his life to you."

You can read the first 32 or so chapters of the book at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/chiefs/

BYWAYS OF THE SCOTTISH BORDER
I have now completed this book which was certainly a most interesting read and if you enjoy poetry you'll enjoy this one. I will say it's an interesting book for those that wish to tour the Scottish Borders as it does bring history alive as you walk through this Border country. You can read it at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/borders/byways.htm

I hope you enjoy these books :-)

CLANS
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Updated the page explaining about clans, septs and families with new text from the author, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/clans_families_septs.htm

Added some information the Irish family Magenis which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/scotsirish/magenis.htm

Have added an interesting note on the Clan MacAuley that are having a meeting on the 4th August to decide on a clan chief... the position has been vacant for over 200 years. You'll find this at the foot of the clan history page at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/macaula.html

I got a picture of the Lord Lyon which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/lord_lyon.htm

Also added Heraldry and Scotland's Landed Families, an introduction supplied by Burke's Landed Gentry which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/heraldry.htm

Added a page for the family Costello which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/scotsirish/costello.htm

HISTORY
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We put up a small book about Anthony J.C. Kerr "A Man of Letters" as he was an interesting and significant contributor to the cause of Scottish Independence and a great letter writer. Through this book we get a taste of what was happening in Scotland from the early 1900's through to 1980's. You can see this book at http://www.electricscotland.com/si/features/kerr/index.htm

I have posted a picture of the Stuart King's resting place in Rome and thanks to Jim Lynch of the Scots Independent for sending it into me. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/charles/101.htm

From Burke's Landed Gentry I have added a page about "The Scots" which makes interesting reading and you can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/world/english/scots.htm

Added a page on The Earl of Loudoun Regiment of Foote, a re-enactment company showing how this regiment would have looked in the mid 1600's. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/scotreg/loudoun_foote.htm

A new section has been added about the history of Scottish Prisons and Punishment and the first chapter is available to read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kenneill/prisons.htm

Added a story about Scotland's Lost Braves. They're the forgotten descendants of Scots employed by the Hudson's Bay Trading Company. Now they are bridging the divide caused by distance, prejudice and generations of neglect. You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/lost_braves.htm

Added an account of The Scots-Irish From Ulster and The Great Philadelphia Wagon Road with thanks to Brenda E.McPherson Compton for the information. You can read this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/wagon_road.htm

Added a mini bio on William Colquhoun, a member of the legislature of Ontario, Canada which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/canada/colquhoun_william.htm

FLAG IN THE WIND
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To celebrate the 75th year of publication of the Scots Independent Newspaper they have commissioned a special music CD "Scots Independent" from premier Scots Folk Duo, Gaberlunzie. You can listen to a couple of tracks at http://www.electricscotland.com/si/features/75thcd.htm and can purchase a copy through our own shopping mall. This CD is not for general sale so you can only purchase it through ourselves or the Scots Independent Newspaper.

Added a small bio about David Stephen an Oliver Brown Award winner at http://www.electricscotland.com/si/brown/david_stephen.htm

Have added a page about Jimmie McGregor to the SI's Oliver Brown Award Winners which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/si/brown/jimmie_macgregor.htm

WEB CARDS
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As you may know we have our own WebCards section where you can send virtual postcards to friends and attach music to them if you wish. As we have not been able to configure this program to handle Netscape browsers I have brought back our old WebCards service and so now when you go to that menu you'll now see a choice of services. I have also added another rack of cards to our own service and you can see this new enhanced offering at http://www.electricscotland.com/postcard/postcards.htm

TRAVEL
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Have added an really excellent section from Pawprint Guides... 250 places to visit from Stirling to St. Andrews. You can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/tourist/pawprint/index.htm

Added A Modern Orkney Saga from Bill Marshall of James Thin Booksellers, an account of a holiday he had there with some of his friends. Should you enjoy this account do let me know as Bill tells me he can do more of these if there was sufficient interest :-) You can see his account at http://www.electricscotland.com/tourist/tours/tour20.htm

BOOK OF THE MONTH
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In celebration of our Kids section this month we offer two Scottish Children's books...

Aileen Paterson - Maisie Jumps into Japan
Glowworm Books, 1871512654 £4.99 reduced to £3.75

The latest adventures of the loveable Morningside kitty as she heads off to Japan with her daddy and finds a very different way of life from her Edinburgh home. You can order this book at http://www.jamesthin.co.uk/stocksearch/order/item?1871512654

Debi Gliori - No Matter What
Bloomsbury, 0747541108 £10.99 reduced to £7.99

A large format picture book by the well known Scottish writer and illustrator. Small fox is feeling sad and grumpy and worries that no-one loves him, so his mum sets out to show him how loved he really is. You can order this book at http://www.jamesthin.co.uk/stocksearch/order/item?0747541108

RECIPE
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Atholl Brose has been famous since 1475 when the Duke of Atholl captured his enemy the Earl of Ross by filling a well where the Earl liked to drink with this magical potion. Ross (not surprisingly) drank deeply and was taken. As to what became of the rest of the well contents... because this took place in Scotland it seems very unlikely it was wasted!

3 tbs. oatmeal, heaped
Scotch whisky to make up 4 c. (2 pt.)
about 2 c. water
2 tbs. liquid heather honey

Put oatmeal into bowl, mix with water to create thick paste.
Let stand for 1/2 hour.
In the next step, the aim is to save the liquid; not the oatmeal!
Strain liquid through fine strainer into bowl.
Press with back of spoon to extract all liquid, throw away oatmeal.
Mix liquid with honey, stir with silver spoon until well-blended.
Pour into quart bottle, fill up with Scotch whisky, cork tightly.
Always shake before using.
Serves 4 - 6.

NEW VIDEO/AUDIO PRIVATE CHAT ROOM
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Inside our Electric Scotland WebBoard we now have a link to a private Video/Audio and for that matter Text chat. When I say this is private I mean that a person needs to be invited into the room... so if you were the first one in and had arranged to meet someone else in there then when they appear you can click on their name to invite them in. I felt this would be of help to bring our members together for a personal meeting session so I hope you enjoy this new service. To use this facility you must be a member of our WebBoard, which is free, and you can join at http://webboard.electricscotland.com/~es

OTHER PAGES OF INTEREST
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- Donna Flood has been posting up some Art Lessons for us to learn from which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/art/index.htm
- Donna has also sent in a new story entitled Noodling the Salt Fork which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/noodling_saltfork.htm
- And another story entitled Science Fiction 2040 which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/sf2040.htm
- Donna also sent in an old weekly newsletter in which was a great story of An Indian Boy of Spirit which I've added to her page and you can see this at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/america/donna/boyofspirit.htm

- Lady Buchanan sent in a wee intro to herself and her poems which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/buchanan/index.htm

- Added a few more snippets to our Scottish Trivia page at http://www.electricscotland.com/scottish_trivia.htm

- Ranald sent in the poem with the famous expression Cummoangetaff which we've added to our Glasgow Street poetry page at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/literat/spoetry3.htm

- Have added some more herbs to our gardening section thanks to Terry Cochrane which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/gardening/herbs.htm

- Added a story by Graham on Ticonderoga which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/donachie/ticonderoga.htm

- Added The Life and Works of William Brebner 1783 - 1845, a pioneering prison social reformer of the separate system which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/kenneill/william_brebner.htm

- Added a new poem by Jeanette Simpson entitled "Pensive Thoughts on a Warm Summer's Evening" which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/poetry/scotland_myheart.htm

- Added an interesting article about the Scots language in connection with Nationalism and the Lallans Movement which you can read at http://www.electricscotland.com/si/features/scots/lallans.htm

- Added "This Month in Scottish History" for the month of September which you can see at http://www.electricscotland.com/history/shepherd/september.htm

- A wee plug for my next door neighbour, Linda Russell, who hand sews Highlander Shirts. She has a web page up now at http://www.russellsofscotland.com where you can see the shirts and purchase them :-)

LIFESTYLE AND LEISURE
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Just a reminder to say that our POETRY, MUSIC, BOOKS, FOOD & DRINK, GARDENING, GIFT IDEAS, HOMOUR, CLIP ART, ART LESSONS and lots more are now accessible through this page at http://www.electricscotland.com/lifestyle/index.htm

FEEDBACK WANTED!
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I'd be particularly interested in some feedback from you this month as to how you like the Kids section, the Picture Book, The Scottish Chiefs and the Orkney saga. Depending on your response we'll know whether to add more of this type of content to our site so I'd certainly appreciate hearing from you :-)

That's it for this month... hope everyone has a great September.. :-)

Alastair
http://www.electricscotland.com

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