Hogmanay in Scotland

Hogmanay: it's the one night of the year when everyone wants to be Scottish, taking part in the world-famous hedonism of the New Year celebrations, singing the centuries-old words of Robbie Burns in a rendition of Auld Lang Syne . Why is 31st December so inextricably linked with Caledonian capers and enchanted Celtic rituals?

According to the BBC, the origins of Hogmanay are a heady mix of arcane customs, Celtic revelry and pagan behaviour. The word itself probably comes from the Old French aguillanneuf, meaning the "last day of the year", harking back to a time when gifts where given and received. Because people used to go round houses guising for food, the day was also known as Cake Day.

John MacTaggart, writing in 1824, has a most intriguing explanation of the word's origins:"I think Hog-ma-nay means hug-me-now." MacTaggart proposed that the word comes from a time when kissing to greet someone was a more common greeting.

It is a great time of year to be Scottish. There are now celebrations in most towns and cities across Scotland. The party in Edinburgh draws a huge number of party goers and is well worth visiting.

Here from our Scottish Christmas card collection a picture of Edinburgh Castle from Charlotte Square at the west end of George Street.

Wishing you all the best for 2006

Yours Aye

Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com

Christmas time in Scotland

Happy Holidays

You definitely need a tree for Christmas - and the best place to find one is from the Forestry Commission.

Many of our local Christmas cards feature either town christmas trees or snow scenes in one of the many Scottish forests.

All Forestry Commission Christmas trees are grown specially to be sold during the festive season. When they are cut, they are between 6-10 years old - and two more are planted to replace each one.

The custom of putting up a decorated fir tree in your home at Christmas began in Germany in the 17th century and in turn were introduced to Britain by Prince albert.

There are three main types of Christmas trees sold in Britain:-
1. Norway spruce - regarded as the most traditional tree - a 4 foot tree contains some 150,000 needles

2. Scots and lodgepole pine which have soft foliage and hold needles well

3. Noble and Nordmann fir which hold needles the best and are probably thye most popular

Around 6 million trees are sold in Britain each year of which the Forestry Commission provides around 100,000 trees. For every tree cut they plant at least another two.

In 2004 they planted 150,000 Christmas trees. About half were Noble fir, which is the best Christmas tree for holding its needles. Growing times: Pine (5 years); Spruce (7 years); Noble Fir (10 years).

Yours aye

Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com

the home of advertising pads and promotional printing.

Snow in Fort William

Nestling under the majestic peak of Scotland's highest mountain Ben Nevis lies the popular tourist town of Fort William. Another illustration from our local christmas card series.

Fort William , the largest town within Lochaber region of the western highlands. is a major area for all round outdoor sports - skiing and mountaineering in the winter and for walking, golf and watersports in the summer.

Take in the highland culture with all its clan history. Visit the castles, distilleries and quiet country areas and enjoy the hospitality of the friendly people with a big welcome.

Yours aye

Gordon flavell
www.flavell.com

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Where is Santa

Santa would have been upset to-day if he had heard the news that DEER grazing at a notorious traffic blackspot near Blair Athol in Perthshire were being culled last night to cut down on accidents.

The decision was made after 12 dead roe and fallow deer, thought to have been struck by cars, were found on a two-mile stretch of the A9 in Perthshire over a 10-day period.

I have traveled many times along that road and at night you can see dozens of deer grazing by the road side. It is a great opportunity to get near them for photographs for our local calendars but of course you can't stop on the road.

Marksmen from the Murthly and Atholl Estate, which owns the land bordering the road, went out to shoot the deer at 11pm last night. Watch out Rudolph!!

yours aye
Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com

Golf at Gleneagles in the snow

Blue skies, crisp snow - what more could you want for a day out at Gleneagles in Perthshire. This top luxury hotel nestling between the Ochil Hills to the South and the Strathmore Hills to the North has not one but three championship golf courses.

The local Scottish Christmas card of the snow here at the starters box of the PGA Centenary course has always proved popular.

This is what the hotel has to say about the course

From the back tees, the PGA Centenary Course measures 7,088 yards, the longest inland course in Scotland. However, the tees are graded at each hole in five stages, including a challenging 6,558 yards from the white markers down to 5,072 from the red.

Fittingly, the PGA Centenary Course begins by playing southeast towards the famed glen of the eagles sweeping up the Ochil Hills to the summit of the pass below Ben Shee which joins it to Glendevon.

Putting on the two-tier second green, you are distracted by the lush panorama of the rich Perthshire straths. As you move westwards over the next few holes, the rugged Grampians come into view on the right, then distantly purple ahead, Ben Vorlich and the mountains above the Trossachs.

It is certainly a place of incredible beauty and chosen as the venue for the G8 summit of world leaders earlier this year.

In the winter watch the pheasants, ducks and partridge meander across the fields. If you are a golfer this is one place you shouldn't miss.

Yours aye

Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com

Scottish Local Christmas Cards

Over the next few weeks I am going to post some of the scenes from our local Scottish Christmas cards series. Some are photographic and some are illustrations. They have been incredibly popular this year and we have ended up with images of more and more towns .

For those of you from further afield, I will also relate some interesting facts from each of the towns that we visit. Hopefully that way you will get to know more about where we are.

Our first visit is to Paisley Abbey. Paisley is 7 miles to the west of Glasgow and is on the river Cart. The townsfolk are known as 'Buddies' and the local football team is St Mirren managed for a while by namesake but no relation Bobby Flavell.

Famous for its threadmaking by the Clark family and Coats family who were originally rivals but merged together in the late 1800's. When passing the town make time to visit the Coats Observatory. Look out also for the Paisley Pattern a teardrop shaped pattern originating probably in India which appeared mostly on shawls which were copied and produced locally.

Yours aye

Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com

Controversial Giant Pylons set for Scotlands Beauty spots

Are we going to spoil this view?

Plans are well ahead to create 600 electricity pylons between the pretty village of Beauly near Inverness in the Highlands and Denny, near Falkirk. This 130 mile cable would run through some of Scotland's finest landscape including the Cairngorms National Park. It passes over the Ochil hills and are within sight of the Wallace Monument in Stirling.

arguments have been well publicised by those who want to keep the beauty spots free from industrial pollution. There are also economic repercussions for those in the tourist industry. Visitors come to Scotland to see the breathtaking scenery and to walk amongst the hills and forests - they don't come to see Pylons.

There is also a point to be considered regarding cases of leukemia and other illnesses around electrical pylons. Is this the legacy we want to leave our children? Is this going to be the price for taking renewable energy from the Western Isles and connecting it to the National Grid? There must be a better way - surely

Scotland - The best small country in the world

Scotland's new marketing slogan - aptly named. To-day I was visiting one of my clients ASVA - the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions who are the trade association for all those wonderful Castles, Parks, Historic Buildings, museums and attractions which you can visit. We are pleased to be able to print the information in their newsletter.

On the way I took this photograph looking along the carse of Stirling towards the Trossachs an area of outstanding natural beauty which is less than half an hour car from Stirling. An ideal spot for hill walking and outdoor pursuits.

So much to see and do. Take the Dukes Pass from Aberfoyle to Callander and pass the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Ben Venue, Loch Katrine and Loch Achray on the way. Experience the Falls of Leny and make your way to the Strathyre Forest and Balquidder - the home of the legendary highlander Rob Roy MacGregor.

Yours Aye

Gordon Flavell

www.flavell.com

Thoroughbred Jumpers

Even the horses have taken to wearing their winter coats. A fine day for taking photographs but not for photographers. The Scottish Executive have scuppered a lottery funded national photographic centre at the old Royal High School in Edinburgh. This was the same School which was going to house the Scottish parliament but was going to be too expensive at £2 million pounds. We eventually spent over £400 million.

Good news for Gaelic speakers as Edinburgh City Council opts to hold a year long festival in the town. Gaels were one of the original inhabitants of Scotland as well as Ireland and the Isle of Man. This old and wonderful language was in danger of falling into disuse but has had a resurgence in recent years.

Winter Images of Scotland

The snow returned last month to Glencoe for another winter season in Scotland. This was accompanied by the cold north wind and it has meant a rush for my fleece before venturing out to capture some new images for our scottish local calendars and cards.

The cold, crisp clear mornings are always a treat in Scotland and they make a welcome change from those damp, wet days we sometimes experience at this time of year.

I will try and post some new images every week from my travels around Scotland and the North of England. Let me know if there is any where special you would like to see in my travelblog.

Yours aye

Gordon Flavell
www.flavell.com