Arts
Scottish Word of the Day: Rook
Not the common bird, but an old Scots word meaning plunder. Although one of the most common uses is to indicate that you have no money left, it is unclear whether this is a general term, or whether it implies (as plunder does) that it was lost or stolen.
Falkirk’s historic town centre to get a facelift
ONE of Scotland’s most historic town centres is set to undergo a £2 million facelift.
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Aberdeen University becomes font for Scotland’s Catholic heritage
TWO priceless collections of manuscripts, books and letters from the archives of the Catholic Church are to be returned to the north-east of Scotland for the first time in more than half a century.
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Rescue deal to bring William Adam mansion back from brink Picture gallery
THE future of one of Scotland’s most important listed buildings has been secured under a rescue deal set to trigger a £12 million overhaul for the crumbling 18th-century mansion in the Lothians.
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Diamond jamboree as Bonnie Prince Charlie’s gem auctioned off Picture gallery
A YELLOW diamond brooch once owned by Bonnie Prince Charlie and a rare stone worth £3 million are among jewels going under the hammer at auction today.
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Harley-Davidson devotees rescue crumbling Scots home of legendary motorbike maker
A TINY but ’n’ ben is about to get a new – and noisy – lease of life. The cottage in Angus is the former family home of the American Scot who helped found the most iconic motorbike ever produced. Now devotees of the Harley-Davidson brand have used their own money to buy the cottage to turn it into a pilgrimage site for bikers around the world.
Hard living: A history of crofting
Crofting was the outcome of the Highland Clearances when tens of thousands of people were evicted and moved to small plots on difficult-to-cultivate land in return for an annual rent.
Croft tourism throws lifeline to struggling farms
THE chances are there will be dodgy weather, a surplus of midges and a lack of night life. But the historic network of crofts that date back more than a century are to be marketed as an “authentic” taste of Scotland.
Duke of Argyll joins Jacobite rebels to petition Queen for clemency
THE Queen is to be presented with a petition aimed at ending laws imposed by the British government on the vanquished Jacobite clans after the 1715 and 1745 risings.
One-man Fringe show promises to lift the lid on tabloid tactics
IT HAS featured gripping testimony from media figures Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks as well as celebrity actors such as Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller. Now a taste of the Leveson Inquiry is coming to Scotland.
Leith Festival back from brink with full ten-day programme
LEITH Festival has beaten off funding fears to return, against the odds, with a full ten-day programme of events this summer.
Dòchas seach dìmeas, piseach seach crìonadh – far am buin mam fearann dha na daoine
BHO ghabh croitearan Asainte sealbh air Oighreachd Loch an Inbhir a Tuath ann an 1993, tha iomairt air a bhith dol air a’ Ghaidhealtachd agus sna h-Eileanan a tha air spionnadh as ùr a thoirt do chuid de na coimhearsnachdan as iomallaiche agus as bochda ann an Alba.
Scottish quote of the day: William Wallace’s statement at his trial on 23 August, 1305
Thanks to the popular film Braveheart, it’s difficult to know what William Wallace truly said, and what Hollywood decided he said.
Island on the edge: The challenges facing Foula
David Pollock finds a memoir of life on the remote outpost of Foula highlights the present challenges to its survival
Historic Scotland rescues Perth City Hall from demolition
AN ICONIC Scottish concert venue threatened with demolition has been saved after an intervention by Historic Scotland.
4 commentsFiona McCade: Let’s talk about some meaningful dialogue
IF I could choose a super power, I know what I’d go for. No, not immense strength or invisibility – those are for beginners. My super power would be the ability to communicate with any life form.
Scottish word of the day: Biddie
As is the case with several Scots words, there are numerous descriptions (both pleasant and unsavoury) for women.
Enter our Historic Scotland photo competition
You could win £500 worth of photography vouchers, one year of Historic Scotland Membership and a unique experience on location with a Scotsman photographer.
Scottish events of the Week
Need some inspiration for how to spend your free time this week? Here we look at five events worthy of your consideration.
Rare glimpse of Raj – hidden in Edinburgh shoe box
A SHOE box full of images capturing life in India at least a century ago has been discovered in one of Scotland’s national collections.
Sacrifice: Remembering the Scots in the Russian Arctic Convoys
This week Wester Ross is holding exhibitions and events to commemorate the Scots who undertook one of the most hazardous duties of the Second World War, writes Alistair Munro
Ag ionnsachadh na h-aibisidh (agus mar a làimhsicheas tu tràlair)
Tha cuimhne agam o chionn iomadach bliadhna gun deach prògram pìlot a chlàradh air sreath ùr Gàidhlig far an cuirear eòlaichean cànain an aghaidh a chèile gus dearbhadh cò as eòlaiche air caran agus cleasan na Gàidhlig.
An sean ’s an ùr ann an cridhe na h-Eòrpa
Diombuan. Nach ann mar sin a tha aire nam meadhanan mòra. Ach a-mhàin air Latha Bealltainn am-bliadhna, ghluais na sùilean aca air falbh on iomairt “Occupy” o chionn fhada, fhada. Ach ged a chaidh làrach an ar-a-mach ann an New York a ghluasad ’s a bhriseadh ás a-chèile leis a’ phoileas, tha an tè ann am Frankfurt am Main, anns a’ Ghearmailt, fhathast a’ dol a-cheart cho làidir ’s a bha i mu shia mìosan air ais.
Boinne ann am beul na gaoithe
Dh’aithris Amnesty Eadar-Nàiseanta gu bheil feachdan Riaghaltas Shiria a’ marbhadh àireamhan mòra dhaoine agus a’ losgadh an cuirp ann am Baile Idlib.
Chariots of Fire’s Olympic secret revealed
THE extraordinary role of a French resistance fighter in bringing the award-winning film Chariots of Fire to the big screen has been revealed by the film’s producer, Lord Puttnam.
Eric Liddell: The man who put God before gold
THIRTY years after Lord Puttnam brought the story of Eric Liddell so memorably to life in Chariots of Fire, the Oscar-winning film-maker pays tribute to the Scottish athlete who put his faith before Olympic glory and in doing so became one of the greatest Olympians of them all
3 commentsScottish Fact of the Day: Scottish Saints
MOST people will be aware of St Andrew, commonly referred to as the patron saint of Scotland, but there are around 23 prominent Scottish saints - and no, St Johnstone isn’t one of them!
Scottish Fact of the Day: Loch Lomond
YOU may know it due to the song ‘The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond’, but the eponymous loch is in fact the largest expanse of fresh water in the whole of Britain.
Serial killer butler trail of death set for the big screen
HE WAS the suave butler turned serial killer who murdered five people in a string of bizarre crimes across Britain.
3 commentsCulloden’s past is present for man who makes living history
IN the Soldier’s Tale, Mike Newcomen, a living history presenter based at the Culloden visitor centre near Inverness, describes what fascinates him about the famous battle site.
Too much time on his hands, but work ticks all the boxes
IN the Clockman’s Tale, Kenneth Chapelle describes the restoration and repair work he does on the 300 clocks belonging to the National Trust for Scotland.
All Fired Up: The people behind the Beltane Festival
On Monday, thousands will throng Calton Hill in Edinburgh for the 25th Beltane Fire Festival, a rite to welcome the summer, with the May Queen and Green Man at the heart of a cast of hundreds. Here, Chitra Ramaswamy meets some of the key players as they prepare for today’s special family day
Dè a’ chànan as fheàrr ri h-ionnsachadh?
Nam faighnichte dhut dè a’ chànan a b’ fheàrr ri h-ionnsachadh, dè fhreagradh tu? B’e sin a’ cheist a chuir Intelligent Life, leas-iris an Economist, ann am pol air loidhne bho chionn ghoirid.
Boinne ann am beul na gaoithe
CHAIDH an rathad iarainn bho Inbhir Nis chun an Agaidh Mhóir a dhùnadh air sàilleabh maoim sléibhe ri a thaobh eadar an Slochd agus Drochaid Chàrr.
Tha rathaidean aig bàrr an agenda
An ath sheachdain bidh cothrom aig muinntir na dùthcha bhòtadh air son comhairlichean ùra a bhios gan riochdachadh san ath chòig bliadhna.
Beltane: A brief history
ON April 30, thousands will climb Calton Hill for this year’s Beltane Festival, a party which includes fire, drumming and dancers dressed in little more than a coat of red paint.
Dea Birkett: Museums aren’t cathedrals, so let them be family-friendly
YOU can’t control kids these days. Nowhere is safe from their sticky fingers and screechy demands.
Appeal for help to discover site of Pictish battlefield
HISTORIC Scotland is seeking the help of the public in its attempt to identify the lost site of one of the most pivotal battles in Scottish history.
Racing cert: The 400-year history of Perth racecourse
Next year Britain’s most northerly racecourse, Perth, will celebrate 400 years since its founding. Martin Hannan examines its remarkable run
Dance update for Elton’s early hits
SIR Elton John is to be given a dance overhaul as his back catalogue is revamped by an acclaimed electronic duo.
New Brave trailer released video
A new trailer for Brave, the medeval-based Scottish, has been released this week.
Scottish place names abroad: Aberdeen, Hong Kong
In our next instalment of Scottish place names abroad, we take a look at Aberdeen in southern Hong Kong and its close ties with the fishing industry, including its iconic floating village
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Mary Queen of Scots showcase revealed by National Museum of Scotland
RARE treasures linked to Mary Queen of Scots are to be brought together for the first time for the biggest ever celebration of her life and legacy.
Highland Clearances app offers tour of a dark time in Scots history Picture gallery
TWO centuries ago, it was a site of human suffering that became one of the darkest stains on Scotland’s history. Now it has been turned into a tourist attraction.
79 commentsBard takes to Festival stage
THE Capital is to play its part in a worldwide festival celebrating the life and works of Shakespeare.
1 commentBBC’s The Voice wins its latest ratings battle
BBC1’s The Voice continued its winning streak by beating Britain’s Got Talent in the ratings for a third successive week, after days of embarrassment for Simon Cowell.
French connection for development of long-abandoned Old Town site
THE major expansion of a culture quarter in Edinburgh’s Old Town has been unveiled to help transform one of the capital’s longest-standing gap sites.
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Role out the barrel as whisky expert lands acting job in The Angel’s Share
AS ONE of Scotland’s leading authorities on whisky, it is not unusual for Charles MacLean to be called upon by film makers making movies involving malt to give them the benefit of his expertise.
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Scots crime writer Shona MacLean ‘killed off’ to appeal to men
SCOTTISH crime writer Shona MacLean has been forced to change her name – to S G MacLean – to make her novels more appealing to men.
Da Vinci’s anatomy studies to go on show
PREPARATIONS are under way to stage the first display of Leonardo da Vinci’s Leoni binding – the 16th-century leather album which for more than 300 years held the most remarkable anatomical drawings ever produced.
- Bare Buff offers naked cleaning service
- Harley-Davidson devotees rescue crumbling Scots home of legendary motorbike maker
- Scottish pensions crisis: Scots born today ‘will retire at 77’
- The world is not enough: soon we’ll need three planet Earths
- Diamond jamboree as Bonnie Prince Charlie’s gem auctioned off
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Weather for Edinburgh
Wednesday 16 May 2012
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 6 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
