SCOTTISH NEWS UPDATE
DECEMBER 1999/JANUARY 2000
Half a Million Exected at Hogmonay
The Millennium Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh will include the biggest outdoor theatre performance ever held in Britain with 4.6 tonnes of fireworks launched within four minutes. Performers will include Texas, Del Amitri, the Mavericks and the Bay City Rollers.
Also featured will be a march on December 30 from Edinburgh Castle down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Park by 1,500 pipers and drummers, led by the Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band. Around 500,000 people are expected to attend over the seven days, with 350,000 on Hogmanay itself — this in a city with a resident population of 400,000. It is expected that the event will be televised around the world.
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Shine On Glasgow
A record number of 17,000 people turned up in Glasgow's George Square to see the Christmas lights being switched on, accompanied by a fireworks display. The switch-on was made by the Lord Provost, who has just returned from a visit to Bethlehem. The city's festive season events are being marketed under the marketing slogan "Shine On Glasgow."
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World Irish Dancing Championships
More than 3,500 dancers will descend on the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow at Easter 2002, when the World Irish Dancing Championships will be held in a ten-day event in the city. This will be the first time that the event has been held outside of Ireland.
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Security Failure at Edinburgh Airport
There was some embarrassment at Edinburgh Air-
™rt ™^inspectoJs from ^ Department of Transport, operating undercover, carried explosives and weapons (including a gun and a knife) through se-
2?£ C^kS; °ulI °Qe 0ul of five inspectors was detected. British Airports Authority, who operate
£n nmal haVC launched an internal enquiry. A S.50 million expansion of the airport was completed
TndfreigM tyreaffic° ^
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Gorbals Regeneration Scheme Announced
The area of Glasgow known as Gorbals used to have a reputation for run-down housing and a poor environment. Most of the old housing has been demolished but the new housing, which tore the heart out ot the area, has never been seen as successful.
Blocks of flats (which won prestigious architectural awards at the time but which were disliked by the residents) have already been pulled down. Now the planners have announced yet another massive scheme on derelict land on either side of Old Rutherglen Road. It will create homes for 550 families and will be opposite a leisure centre costing £8.5 million (US814 million) which opens in December.
Smoking Optional
The Scottish Parliament has decided to rule out a ban on smoking in public places after determining that it was not considered justified. The government believes it should be left to pubs, restaurants and hotels to decide for themselves.
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Scots Diet Still Unhealthy
A Government survey shows that while Britons are following advice about healthy eating and consuming more fresh vegetable and fruit, Scotland is bucking the trend. Consumption of soft drinks in Scotland is 13 percent above the UK average, while green vegetables are over 30 percent below the UK norm.
Between 1997 and 1998, consumption of healthy foods actually declined in Scotland while sugar, fats,
alcohol and confectionery increased. The survey is based on the eating and spending habits of 6,000 people.
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Reconstruction of Robert the Bruce
A striking image of Robert the Bruce as he might have looked just before his death at the age of 55 has been created by a forensic scientist. He used a cast made of a skull, unearthed during excavations at Dunfermline Abbey in 1818 which is believed to have been that of the Scottish king. The reconstruction shows Bruce with a deep scar across his face and eye and a face ravaged by leprosy. It is known that Bruce suffered from dysentery and a skin illness, which may have been leprosy, although some authorities dispute this.
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39 Steps to Iron Age Temple'
Archaeologists are investigating an iron age chamber which has been discovered by a farmer inside a large mound in a field at Tankerness in Orkney. It is reached by two flights of steep, stone stairs, numbering 39 in total. Twenty feet underground is a cone-shaped chamber which has an enormous stone slab forming the floor. Archaeologists believe it was used 3,000 years ago by Iron Age people trying to make contact with the spirit world.
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Prestigious Prize for Museum of Scotland
The Museum of Scotland came second in a prestigious UK architectural award as best building by a UK architect, but was pipped at the post by the space-age NatWest Media Centre at Lords Cricket Ground. However, the judging panel was so impressed by the Museum of Scotland that for the first time in the history of the award, the Royal Incorporation of British Architects (RIBA) have decided to give a prize to the museum's architects as a close runner up.
Bill of Ethics for Scottish Parliament
A draft bill on ethics in public life has been announced in the Scottish Parliament. It will create a "Standards Commission" with the objective of eradicating "sleaze" in local government and a number of devolved organizations. The bill will introduce stringent codes of conduct and sanctions to deal with those who break the rules.
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Irn Bru — One of the Greatest Delicacies
Generations of Scots who have regarded Irn Bru, a sweet, orange-colored, fizzy soft drink, as a useful pick-me-up to counteract a hangover, will be surprised to hear that it has now become part of the prestigious Oxford Companion to Food, which covers such delicacies as caviar, quail and smoked salmon.
Irn Bru, has been marketed as "Scotland's other national drink," since 1901. Originally named "Iron Brew," it changed its name in 1947 when it was realized that it was not "brewed" and did not contain at least 0.125 grams of iron to meet advertising legislation. Other Scottish delicacies included in the 900-page tome include Dundee cake, clootie dumpling, haggis and cullen skink.
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Bank of New Scotland
A recent edition of The Toronto Sun told the story of an 80-year-old Scot who was visiting Canada and tried to exchange her Scottish pound notes into local currency at the Bank of Nova Scotia. She was told they could not be exchanged on the spot — it would take a week.
The Bank of Nova Scotia will exchange English pound notes immediately. While this may appear odd, the large number of designs of Scottish notes and the fact that they cannot normally be sold (few tourists purchase Scottish notes) means that bank staff are not familiar with them. And because the notes are usually sent back to Scotland (with associated costs) the exchange rate is often poorer too.
Two Important Dates on the Scottish Calendar
Two of the biggest celebrations on the Scottish community calendars are Hogmanay and Robbie Burns day.
Butchers, bakers and pie makers are busy filling orders for the many cultural events taking place in December and January. In order to ensure enough haggis for the many Burns suppers, throughout the month of January, organizations have had to place their order well in advance of their events.
Proper apparel for these special events is also a must, so Scottish shops are busy measuring sizes, renting and selling kilts, jackets, sashes and almost anything tartan for the occasion.
The British Butcher Shop in North Vancouver, make their haggis from a 498-year old recipe from Scotland. Owner Robert Gooderick said, "many people also stuff their holiday turkey or chicken with haggis for a unique and delicious taste." He advises ordering your haggis early for Robbie Burns celebrations.
Jim Osborne, of Torry, Aberdeen, Scotland and owner of the Scottish Shoppe in Calgary, expects all his rental kilts, jackets and full Highland outfits to be fully rented for Robbie Burns celebrations. He said, "my next busiest rental times are for weddings, as full Highland dress becomes more and more popular at these events."
ROBERT GOODERICK of the British Butcher Shop prepares for Robbie Burns Day with his special 498-year old Haggis recipe.
OWNER Francis Lockerby of John Bull Pies in Port Coquitlam displaying her delicious gourmet meat and veggie pies.