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Land of the Mountain and the Flood - Scotland 2025

Stercus TauriStercus Tauri Shipmate
edited January 2 in All Saints
Can we begin a new year with an old song?
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Comments

  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I'm not quite sure how it maps to the current polity in Scotland. The original rogues were those who supported the Act of Union, whereas I would argue that the failing SNP are more the villains of the piece at the moment.

    I'd have preferred a less political thread title.
  • ArethosemyfeetArethosemyfeet Shipmate, Heaven Host
    Deploring naked bribery is political now? Slagging the SNP obviously is but you brought that up, not anyone else.
  • Stercus TauriStercus Tauri Shipmate
    Firenze wrote: »
    I'm not quite sure how it maps to the current polity in Scotland. The original rogues were those who supported the Act of Union, whereas I would argue that the failing SNP are more the villains of the piece at the moment.

    I'd have preferred a less political thread title.

    I was really just thinking of a very old song from long before the SNP or any other current political party; one that is good to sing. I'd be perfectly happy if someone changes the title to something less annoying - I'm not invested in it.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Oh it's a belter to sing - but it's about a subject - English domination of Scotland - that is still shall we say a sore point.

    Farewell to all our Scottish fame
    Farewell our ancient glory
    Farewell even to our Scottish name
    Sae fam'd in martial story
    Now Sark runs over the Solway sands
    And Tweed runs to the ocean
    To mark where England's province stands:
    Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    We're having a chat behind the scenes about a possible name change for this thread. In the meantime if you wish to discuss Scottish politics please take it to Purgatory or Hell depending on what sort of debate you want.

    Sarasa, All Saints Host
  • ArethosemyfeetArethosemyfeet Shipmate, Heaven Host
    May I suggest an alternative Burns line - "Great chieftain o' the puddin' race"
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    Nothing to do with the puddin’ club,one hopes…
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    The best-laid plans o' mice and men?

    (We might have had that before...)
  • Stercus TauriStercus Tauri Shipmate
    Arethosemyfeet wrote: »
    May I suggest an alternative Burns line - "Great chieftain o' the puddin' race"

    But last year was also a Year of the Haggis here. Another I had on my list was mangling another old song: A wild mountain time, but that might not work for the islanders present.
  • North East QuineNorth East Quine Purgatory Host
    Sojourner wrote: »
    Nothing to do with the puddin’ club,one hopes…

    Burns was well-known for his strenuous efforts to keep the pudding club going.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Me I like The Bonnie Broukit Bairn - ok McDairmid is writing about Earth rather than specifically Scotland, but still.
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    North East Quine wrote: »
    Sojourner wrote: »
    Nothing to do with the puddin’ club,one hopes…

    Burns was well-known for his strenuous efforts to keep the pudding club going.

    So I’m told
  • LouiseLouise Epiphanies Host
    He has his own problems with the dodgy politics but there's also another line from MacDiarmid - 'All the loose ends of Scotland'

    https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/scotland-0/
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    *All the loose ends...* might make a good thread title!
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited January 2
    After a bit of thought upstairs, and a suggestion from one of the hosts, it's now Land of the Mountain and the Flood, to keep matters of a political nature at All Saints levels.

    Scots of a certain age will possibly remember a drama series from (I think) the early 70s called Sutherland's Law; the theme tune was an overture called Land of the Mountain and the Flood by Hamish MacCunn.

    David always referred to it as "land of the fountain and the mud" ... 🙃

    Thank you.

    Piglet, AS host


  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    edited January 2
    O yes - this Sassenach remembers the TV series (well-written, and well-acted), so here's the music referred to:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-F5dmRV5Bc

    And here's a rather grainy video of a Sutherland's Law episode:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_l8ZMiQum0&list=PLasLW0PvL2pSkMn4zFlUm591z3Uj3m2-f&index=1

    Ian Cuthbertson was one of those actors who always seemed to be having a Bad Hair day...
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    Hamish MacCunn was something of a "one hit wonder" as he wrote his greatest success, "Land of the Mountain and Flood" (which I very much like) when he was 21 and his opera "Jeanie Deans" a couple of years later. He was however an eminent conductor and teacher for many years.

    Great thread title, BTW.
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Hamish MacCunn was something of a "one hit wonder" as he wrote his greatest success, "Land of the Mountain and Flood" (which I very much like) when he was 21 and his opera "Jeanie Deans" a couple of years later. He was however an eminent conductor and teacher for many years.

    Great thread title, BTW.

    Yes, it is. I wasn't too keen on the original title...
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    The takeaway is that in Scotland (and Ireland) just because something happened hundreds of years ago doesn't mean it's history.

    Speaking of neglected Scottish composers, anyone familiar with the work of Erik Chisholm? His early work was influenced by Scottish traditional music to the extent that he was nicknamed 'MacBartok'. But then he went to South Africa and wrote in a style owing much to Indian music.

    We heard a concert some years ago in Glasgow.
  • ArethosemyfeetArethosemyfeet Shipmate, Heaven Host
    Firenze wrote: »
    The takeaway is that in Scotland (and Ireland) just because something happened hundreds of years ago doesn't mean it's history.

    "There is no present or future - only the past, happening over and over again - now."
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    Born on 9 August 1757, at Glendinning, a hill farm three miles (five kilometres) east of Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the rural parish of Westerkirk, in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire.

    A great day for Scotland and the UK
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    edited January 3
    Telford wrote: »
    Born on 9 August 1757, at Glendinning, a hill farm three miles (five kilometres) east of Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the rural parish of Westerkirk, in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire.

    A great day for Scotland and the UK

    I must have missed something here - who was?
    I confess to not having come across Erik Chisholm before - must do some research ...

  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »
    Telford wrote: »
    Born on 9 August 1757, at Glendinning, a hill farm three miles (five kilometres) east of Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the rural parish of Westerkirk, in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire.

    A great day for Scotland and the UK

    I must have missed something here - who was?
    I thought perhaps it was Sir Walter Scott, who wrote “Breathes there the man,” from which the thread title derives. But no; he was born August 15, 1771, in Edinburgh.

    A little googling leads me to Thomas Telford.


  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Thanks Nick!
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    Piglet wrote: »
    Telford wrote: »
    Born on 9 August 1757, at Glendinning, a hill farm three miles (five kilometres) east of Eskdalemuir Kirk, in the rural parish of Westerkirk, in Eskdale, Dumfriesshire.

    A great day for Scotland and the UK

    I must have missed something here - who was?
    I thought perhaps it was Sir Walter Scott, who wrote “Breathes there the man,” from which the thread title derives. But no; he was born August 15, 1771, in Edinburgh.

    A little googling leads me to Thomas Telford.


    Well googled.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    Across whose aqueduct at Pontcysyllte we travelled last summer!
  • DardaDarda Shipmate
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Across whose aqueduct at Pontcysyllte we travelled last summer!

    Also seen in the Christmas Wallace & Gromit Murder Most Fowl (with a bit of artistic license!)
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    Ahem.

    Vengeance Most Fowl     - it's vital to get these cultural references correct.
    :wink:
  • DardaDarda Shipmate
    Quite right BF! My only defence is having just enjoyed a pre-lunch drink.🍺
  • Bishops FingerBishops Finger Shipmate
    You have lunch as well as a drink?
    :flushed:
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    edited January 4
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Across whose aqueduct at Pontcysyllte we travelled last summer!

    Good choice. I found that there was no point trying to steer the boat. Just go really slow and take in the views.
  • Nick TamenNick Tamen Shipmate
    So, are you a descendant of Thomas Telford, @Telford? Or just an admirer?


  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    Telford wrote: »
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Across whose aqueduct at Pontcysyllte we travelled last summer!

    Good choice. I found that there was no point trying to steer the boat. Just go really slow and take in the views.

    We were just on a trip boat from the basin, across the aqueduct, to the winding hole and back. My wife didn't fancy walking across.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    I've been across that aqueduct, an amazing feat of architecture.
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    It is indeed ... and surprisingly hard to see!
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    Oi! Take your Welsh(?) aqueduct out of the Scottish thread!

    Query: with all the Welsh on board, why is there not a Welsh thread?
  • Baptist TrainfanBaptist Trainfan Shipmate
    edited January 4
    Well, the aqueduct was engineered by a Scotsman ...

    Yes, there should be a Welsh thread (although my wife and I are Scottish and English refugees in The Land Of Rain Song).
  • TelfordTelford Shipmate
    Nick Tamen wrote: »
    So, are you a descendant of Thomas Telford, @Telford? Or just an admirer?

    Just an admirer. Tommy was not married and had no known children
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Telford wrote: »
    Baptist Trainfan wrote: »
    Across whose aqueduct at Pontcysyllte we travelled last summer!

    Good choice. I found that there was no point trying to steer the boat. Just go really slow and take in the views.

    We were just on a trip boat from the basin, across the aqueduct, to the winding hole and back. My wife didn't fancy walking across.

    We were on a hire boat from Middlewich to Llangollen and back. The highlight of our trip. My other Telford Highlight was cruising the length of the Caledonia canal

  • Foaming DraughtFoaming Draught Shipmate
    May all your groaning trenchers be full tonight! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🥃
  • Stercus TauriStercus Tauri Shipmate
    The news this evening says that the Central Belt is still taking quite a thrashing in the storm today - how is everyone coming through it? Piglet in Linlithgow appeared to be close to some of the worst.
  • LouiseLouise Epiphanies Host
    edited January 24
    It rattled the windows and knocked some stuff over in the communal garden here at my other half's place, but nothing like a repeat of the famous flying greenhouse incident of a few years back. But I haven't been back to my flat to check it yet.
  • FirenzeFirenze Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I will go out later when it's light and see what's what. There was quite a bit of wheelie bin skittles in the street. To the back I could see a neighbour's fence flapping. Something was rattling on our flat roof - hopefully just a bit of flying tree and not a chimney pot.
  • Alan Cresswell Alan Cresswell Admin, 8th Day Host
    I looked out before it got dark last night, and the only sign of the storm here was bins all over the place. As I needed to sort out the car so I have luggage space to take son back to St Andrews today I planned to get the bins back in place when I went down ... but in the few minutes it took to get myself sorted someone else had already got that done. The AA app suggests I should be able to do that drive without dodging fallen trees - the M80 is listed as closed at Denny but I'll be coming off the motorway before then (may need to deal with traffic approaching the junction though), and still wind warnings on the bridges.
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    Still large trawlers sheltering in our bay, and, I gather, all along the Moray coast.
  • Alan Cresswell Alan Cresswell Admin, 8th Day Host
    Though now I've got out, there are trees and bits of trees down everywhere. Though council seems to have done a good job of clearing them away, lots of big piles of tree parts.

    It looks like connections between Charge place Scotland chargers and servers are down. Needing to charge car, and none of them in town could authorise either my RFID or credit card.
  • DafydDafyd Hell Host
    There's still wind here in Edinburgh and a smattering of snow, but just where we are we seem all intact. The Daflings were off school and activities yesterday but Dafling minor's Saturday drama event is back on.
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Most of Linlithgow (including my work) was closed yesterday, and it certainly was a bit beyond what an Orcadian would describe as "coorse".

    The chippy over the road lost tiles from their roof and had to close, and St Pete's had to postpone our Burns supper, as the haggai were coming from there. They were taking down the scaffolding when I was out this morning, so with any luck they'll be able to open today and we can go ahead this evening.

    We also got a fair bit of rain, and the roadway is flooded right where I cross it to get to the church. It was dug up a couple of months ago and resurfaced, and now seems to flood whenever we get anything more than a light shower. I don't know what they did, but they didn't do it right.

    Lots of reports of trees down, but I suppose that's to be expected. The roofers and gardeners/tree surgeons are going to have a busy time.
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    To church in Aberdeen today. My son worships in the same building I attended when a student. Back then it was Gilcomston Park Baptist, but soon after I left they moved to Gerrard Street. Now it is a Catalyst Vineyard church. I loved the service. Not my kind of music, but so heartfelt. And it was church meeting day so we heard about all that God is doing through their 8 congregations. And they are praying for more buildings. So refreshing to hear a church pray for more buildings when the CofS seems determined to shoot itself in the foot by shedding them.

    Seems they want to hire my son to work in their finance dept and are willing to put him through accountancy training. A very positive day (and I had my lame foot given and MRI scan, but not at the church, obviously!)
  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Congratulations to the Giraffe - that sounds very promising!
  • North East QuineNorth East Quine Purgatory Host
    That does sound good, @Cathscats! We will be attending another "final service" in February as another church is sold off. Though this one , I think, should have gone a long time ago.

    Our service yesterday was excellent, in a variety of ways, and the sense of community palpable. But we are becoming such an elderly community! At 60, I was in the youngest third of the congregation, and I suspect I was in the youngest quarter.
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