| Product: |
Good and bad things to come from Scotland |
| Date: |
05/08/07 (204 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: far too many to mention here
Disadvantages: depends on individual tastes
I think i may be slightly biased when it comes to talking about the good and bad things to come from Scotland. Being a good Scottish lass myself I would have to say I would be one of those good things (although some may diasgree lol) but there are a great many other things that Scotland has produced that warrant a mention here!
Now you can't talk about Scotland without mentioning it's national drink...Scotch Whisky of course. My dad used to work at a whiskey distillery as a cooper, making barrels for the amber nectar, Whisky of course has an acquired taste and there are a number of different distilleries throughout the country, my dad's own favourite tipple was a dram or two of Chivas Regal of a Friday night on his way home to hand over the pay packet to my mum. (god forbid he handed it over opened already lol) I, myself have never acquired the taste for whisky, preferring instead Scotland's other national drink......
which is another amber liquid...but this time non alcoholic. Barrs Irn Bru, you will either love it or hate it, personally I love it, especially on a Sunday morning with a bacon buttie and a hangover! Best served chilled straight from the glass bottle!
One thing guaranteed to see us through the cold snowy winters of youth was a steaming bowl of hot porridge in the morning, served with milk and sugar (some prefer salt) it was a substantial meal and kept us going until lunch time easily.
Haggis is Scotland's national dish and many people are put off by what it is made with...but if they tasted it first then they may not even realise it is sheep's offal they are delighting over (I have to admit to never having tried it but have it on good faith that it is indeed delicious)
Now I can't mention Haggis without mentioning Ayr's great Rabbie Burns. Burns is regarded as our National poet, he collected folk songs from across the country, adapting or revising them as he went. His most famous song (and poem) is Auld Langs Syne which is sang famously at Hogmanay.
Hogmanay...or New Years Eve as it is known anywhere else in the world is one of Scotland's most celebrated times of year. We Scots know how to ring in the new year in style (ring in the bells) Whether it is at a Ceilidh ( scottish country dancing ) with pipers in full scottish dress (Bagpipes and kilts) or simply a house party with first foots bringing good luck (the first person to arrive after midnight) the festivities are almost always lasting throughout the next day...and many households have a special new years day dinner to rival any Christmas dinner!
Anyone who has been to Scotland will be able to tell you about the gorgeous scenery, you can be in a concrete city one minute and be surrounded by greenery from every angle the next, some of the views are breathtakingly stunning, there are hills and mountains to be climbed i.e The Cairngorms or the North West Highlands, The Munros etc, and also many places to visit throughout our beautiful country. If you are interested in walking/hiking then I would advise you try the highly recommend West Highland Way, this links Milngavie to Fort William, a distance of 95miles, from the outskirts of Scotland’s largest city to the foot of its highest mountain, following the shores of its largest freshwater loch. It passes from the lowlands, across the Highland Boundary Fault and on into the Scottish Highlands (taken from west highland way's website) I know a few people who have completed the walk for charity, it usually takes around 5-6days I think. Check out the website if you are interested in this (www.west-highland-way.co.uk) This is something I am thinking about undertaking one day...when I am fit enough for it!
The weather! Many people think Scotland is the land of infinite rain, and whilst this seems true especially at the moment we do actually get more than our share of sunshine and warm weather too, I can only too fondly remember the summers of my childhood playing in the sunshine from the minute school finished until the new term. And in the winter we were practically guaranteed at least one decent snowfall per year! Scotland is a place where it is not unusual to experience four seasons in one day! It can be stormy one minute to sun splitting street the next... the best thing about Scottish weather is it's unpredictability. Some may say this is a bad thing but I love it!
Now this has only been a taster to the many delights of Scotland I think I could write a book about it one day....and I don't think the general dooyoo audience are quite ready for that experience just now. I could easily write pages and pages about things to do, places to see, etc
Instead I will just list a few other things that have come out of our wonderful country
Sean Connery (actor)
Billy Connelly (comedian)
Travis (band)
William Wallace (legend)
Dear Frankie (film)
***Auld Lang Syne***
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
Chorus.-For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne
Summary: Scotland stripped bare!
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