Best of Scotland (D)

Published on Tuesday 3 February 2009 19:33

DICKSON, MAGGIE Fishwife hanged in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh, in 1728 for hiding the body of her illegitimate child.

As the corpse was being carted off to Musselburgh for burial, knocking noises led to the coffin lid being removed and the undead Maggie was unstiffened with a dram. Since she was certified dead she couldn't be re-hanged and was let go. A local celebrity, "Half-Hangit Maggie" died in her bed 40 years later.

DOON THE WATTER In 2059 personal carbon allowances are slashed as the carbon crunch bites. Glasgow Airport becomes an aeroplane park and along the Clyde, overhead lines carry tide-turbined electricity to power the paddle-ferries.

Glasgow's holidaying masses head for the Broomielaw to board an armada of trolley-boats bound for forgotten communities like Helensburgh, Largs, and Rothesay – the "Costa Clyde". The holidayers call it going "doon the watter", and never want to go abroad again.

DORIC As a'm shair ye ken weel, loons and quines, Doric's the leid (language) fit's spak aroon the Nor-east.

In 2006, an Aberdeen hotel decided to use a Doric voice for their lift ("Gaun doun, atween fleers een an fower" etc) and Maureen Watt MSP, took her Parliamentary oath in Doric.

DUNDEE Juteopolis, City of Discovery, cakes, whale oil, Janet Keiller (and her marmalade), the Law, Tay Bridges, The People's Friend, Oor Wullie, Winston Churchill (Liberal MP for 14 years), and William McGonagall.

Once somewhat grim, the city has been transformed, and Dundee is now a world centre for teaching and research in the biosciences and the home of a digital entertainment industry.

DOUGLAS, DAVID A tree-mendous plant collector, the Scone man introduced around 240 plants to Britain.

These included garden plants such as lupin, phlox and sunflower and many forest conifers that helped transform the landscape, most notably the Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir.In Hawaii in 1834, aged 35, he fell into a pit intended to trap wild cattle. A bull was already there and Douglas died in a gory bed.