On Tuesday 4th December, Margaret, Bill, Elma and I were invited by the ferry company Smyril Line for a tour of their ship “Norrona” berthed at Leith’s Ocean terminal – home to the Royal Yacht Britannia – while around 1,000 passengers from the Faroe Islands descended on Edinburgh for a one day Christmas shopping spree. 
When boarding “Norrona” we passed groups of young Faroese who quite clearly had begun celebrating Christmas early and were full of Christmas spirit…here in Scotland we prefer to call it alcohol! Nonetheless, they were obviously intent on having a good time and apparently had wiped out the ship’s supply of local currency – cheers!
December 7th, 2007
30 November 2007
Latest news - Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure committee last night rejected the plans on the chairman’s casting vote after a tied vote. Donald’s Trump’s team are “not sure” if they will appeal. Obviously there is a mix of emotions from all those involved - surprise, disappointment and happiness. A difficult decision - the prospect of another world class golf resort in Scotland is a wonderful opportunity, balanced against the environmental concerns.
—
21 November 2007
Donald Trump’s dream of building the world’s greatest golf course on a stretch of remote and stunning coastline in the north-east of Scotland took a major step forward last night when it was granted planning approval by local councillors. 
November 21st, 2007
The dream died in the cruellest fashion at Hampden Park as Scotland’s bid to reach Euro 2008 failed as a stoppage-time header stole a 2-1 victory for Italy, despite having been played off the park by a defiant Scotland (well, sort of, but we did do really well).
However, it was an incomprehensible free kick that should never have been (or at least should have been awarded to Scotland) that led to the goal, making it all the more difficult for the passionate Hampden crowd.
Scotland against the world champions. So close, again. Well, the world cup qualifiers are coming soon, so for fans of the ‘beautiful game’ the kilts won’t be hanging on their hooks for long before we’re marching onwards again.
November 17th, 2007
The Tartan Army (the fans who follow the Scotland national football team throughout the world) provided the backing vocals for the new single by renowned Scottish rock band Runrig to raise money for the BBC’s annual Children In Need appeal.
The voices of 50,000 fans rang out across Hampden Park at half time during the Scotland v Ukraine European Soccer Championship qualifier to the emotive and internationally famous sound of “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond”. There are several videos on youtube.
You can hear a more traditional version of the song here (click on the audio links).
November 13th, 2007
Golf’s 40th Ryder Cup will be hosted in Scotland in 2014 at the Gleneagles Hotel & golf resort on the exceptional PGA Centenary Course created by Jack Nicklaus.
The first informal competition between British and American teams, a forerunner to the Ryder Cup matches, was held on The King’s Course at The Gleneagles Hotel in 1921. A strong British team that included James Braid, the course designer, won this competition.
Samuel Ryder was an Englishman from St. Albans in Hertfordshire who made his fortune selling penny seed packets. It was he who commissioned the design of the gold chalice that bears his name for the matches which were held in 1927 at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. The United States team defeated the team from Great Britain in that historic first Ryder Cup Match.
November 12th, 2007
Glasgow has won the right to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The decision of the 71 voting nations was announced on November 9, 2007 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to the delight of all those involved in preparing the bid and all in Glasgow and Scotland.
We are looking forward to some terrific developments taking place in Glasgow over the next few years, increasing and improving the sports facilities and the city infrastructure. This is a fabulous opportunity to enthuse and inspire some of our kids - a real, actual, wordwide competition, right in our back yard. I wonder how many of our kids will be thinking - I want to win a medal for Scotland!
November 12th, 2007
Next Posts
