Scotland Correspondent Issue 24

Explore the wonder of winter Cooking up a storm for charity Scotland’s first Christmas Rom Com p1

Ancient clan castle available to rent Glasgow’s comic book links Big year ahead for history fans

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inside this issue 10 Winter

warmers

Things to do in Scotland this winter that will warm your heart.

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24 Perfect

ambition

A chance to support

the making of Scotland’s first Christmas Rom Com movie.

30 Making

meal of it

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Celebrating the best of the country’s culinary skills at The Chester Hotel.

46 Deliciously

continental

Boom time for the world’s first liquid deli.

60 Homage

the King

to

Special screening of Outlaw King at the resting place of Robert Bruce.

68 Want

to stay in an ancient castle?

Ancestral home of Clan Gordon opens its doors for guests.

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78 Antique

hunting with Roo Irvine

Searching for silver and the clues to look for.

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86 Exciting

future for museums

Big year a head for National Museums of Scotland.

102 A

time

stitch in

The tapestry made with love depicting historic events.

110 If

walls could talk…

Drew Mulholland on the ‘theory’ of recording the past in stone.

Date 4 Your Diary 128

What’s on in Scotland and elsewhere this December.

Cover Photo

Photo by Kenny Lam/ VisitScotland The Wallace Monument with the Ochil Hills behind

118 Move over

Marvel

Glasgow’s part in pioneering the comic book. p7

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Welcome to winter

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rom roof-raising celebrations to cosy Còsagach experiences, winter offers the chance to experience a completely new, yet equally exciting, side of Scotland.

As the landscapes change and the weather cools, the atmosphere is heating up as the country prepares to celebrate some of the biggest dates on the Scottish calendar including Hogmanay and Burns Night.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Edinburgh skyline and the Pentland hills from Salisbury Crags

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Winter is also the perfect time to embark on a new outdoor adventure to enjoy Scotland’s beauty during a different season.

Among the unmissable highlights and experiences for any winter trip to Scotland is the chance to simply relax and “coorie in and embrace Còsagach”.

Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland North Link ferry departing Stromness, Orkney en-route to Scrabster on the Scottish mainland, passing the cliffs on the island of Hoy

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You don’t always have to be outdoors to appreciate Scotland’s beauty. From glamping and log cabins, to treehouses and ecocottages, there are plenty of cosy corners located in stunning surroundings that offer the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and a chance to experience some Còsagach.

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Try a cosy log cabin for the weekend or maybe enjoy a romantic weekend in a treehouse made for two or even a secluded loch-side or beach-front cottage with spectacular views of the country’s winter splendour.

How about a breathtaking view that is truly out of this world. A crisp clear night is the best time to appreciate the wonders of the cosmos.

There are plenty of spots, free from light pollution, where you can find perfect conditions to gaze at the stars, including Galloway Forest Park – the UK’s first Dark Sky Park , the Isle of Coll – a Dark Sky Island or even Dark Sky Discovery Sites such as Tomintoul and Glenlivit within the Cairngorms. Look out for planets as well as a host of twinkling stars as the sky, unlike during the summer nights, becomes properly dark.

Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland Stargazing at Clatteringshaws Loch, Galloway Forest Park

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Just because the sun goes down the fun doesn’t have to stop There are a whole host of thrilling activities to try during twilight. Feeling brave?

Take the plunge with a bungee jump in Killiecrankie, Perthshire where you will find Europe’s first and only black out bridge bungee jump. If you’re

felling less sure of heights how about enjoying a night paddle on the waters across Perthshire or hit the country’s many ski slopes.

Scotland has five ski resorts which offer the best outdoor skiing and snowboarding in the UK.

If you fancy trying a different snow sport head to Aviemore and book a sled dog safari or strap on a pair of snowshoes and join an organised guided expedition.

Winter is a great time to enjoy some of Scotland’s most popular Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland Skiing on the Glen Coe mountain range

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destinations at a quieter time of year.

The Highlands and islands was recently named Best in Travel 2019

by Lonely Planet. Take a breathtaking road trip on the North Coast 500, use the dramatic winter sun to grab the perfect picture at the beautiful

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland Up Helly Aa viking during the Torchlight Procession as part of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations

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Eilean Donan Castle, stop for a dram at one of the region’s many whisky distilleries or discover the magic and mystery of Skye.

Scotland’s Winter Festivals are a great way to experience the country’s famous hospitality. From torch light processions and winter festivals to Christmas fayres and huge

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Hogmanay celebrations there are plenty of ways to join in.

If you feel brave enough why not celebrate locals and visitors alike

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and join the Loony Dook where brave souls welcome the New Year every 1 January with a traditional dip in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland View of Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh’s Christmas Market from the Scott Monument

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Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland Eilean Donan Castle

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ooking for a few suggestions of events to check out?

How about these popular attractions guaranteed to blow away the winter blues.

Scottish Storytelling Centre Winter Festivals

Scotland’s Best Performing Arts Venue (delivers an inclusive celebration of winter traditions, across generations, cultures and societies between now and 26 Jan 2019.

Night at the Museum The Hunterian Museum in Glasgow is hosting a series of fun-packed Night at the Museum events with creative, inspirational and fun programmes, including music, talks, poetry, performances, object handling, and treasure trails. Burns Night will celebrate ‘Pie, Pop and Play; Burns on Stage’, with an innovative children and family programme. The evenings run until 26 January 2019.

Edinburgh’s Christmas 2018 Edinburgh’s spectacular array of festive entertainment is back with a Christmas Market, as well as seasonal rides, attraction and shows. This traditional and romantic market in the heart of the City of Edinburgh offers a unique shopping experience for every visitor with its fair of crafters, artists, gift shops and gastronomic surprises up until 5 January 2019.

The Ethical Christmas Fair Located at Dundee City Square, with over 45 exhibitors selling quality gifts,

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made locally, ethically and/or through Fair Trade, this is a busy and vibrant shopping event which runs until 22 December. Following an exciting year during which the city celebrated the opening of the new V&A Dundee the city is the ideal place to celebrate the festive season and the close of 2018. For visitors heading to Dundee to enjoy the Christmas market and spectacular new V&A Dundee just a half hour drive from Dundee is Glamis Castle, which will be offering the opportunity to enjoy a Christmas market in the spectacular surroundings of a castle adorned in festive decorations.

Glasgow Christmas Markets Glasgow boasts a variety of Christmas markets. The George Square Christmas Market (now until 31 December) and St. Enoch Square Christmas Market (until 23 December) offer festive gifts, delicious street food and a warm, welcoming bar.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Marking Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018 coming to a close, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay officially gets underway with the fiery finale of the popular Torchlight Procession (30 December).

The focal point of the Torchlight Procession will be 14 giant wicker sculptures, each a symbol representing the regions of Scotland.

On the big night itself (31 December), the Street Party will return bigger and better than ever with the Concert in the Gardens headlined by Franz Ferdinand. Bairns Afore will once again give children their midnight

moment early on in the evening.

There is something for everyone at this year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.

Stromness Yule Log Competition After 80 years, the Stromness Yule Log is back! Revived for Stromness 200 last year, this old tradition returns for Hogmanay 2018.

The Northenders and Soothenders will once again do battle. Split roughly along an old town boundary the teams will once again try and pull the yule log to their territory. This year, in support of the Year of Young People 2018, the event will include a Junior log pull, expanding the reincarnation of this traditional event to the towns youth.

Stirling’s Hogmanay Bring in the New Year on Stirling Castle Esplanade with live music, food and a spectacular fireworks display. Two celebrations will take place at the castle; an early familyfriendly fireworks event, which will be followed by a later Midnight Hogmanay celebration featuring live music performances and fireworks at midnight.

Fire and Light Start your New Year on the 1-2 January with a magical 3km walk around the Helix, Home of the Kelpies. The Falkirk park will be transformed into an extraordinary spectacle of fire performances, interactive light installations, breath-taking puppetry, enchanting sculptures, and animated projections depicting the zodiac signs.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland The Loony Dook on New Year’s Day in South Queensferry

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Photo by Guy Phillips

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Perfect opportunity to help promote the fun and romance of Scotland

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t may not have the $120million budget of Outlaw King but makers of Scotland’s first homegrown romantic Christmas comedy hope it will be just as popular.

For just £60,000, half of which is being raised through a public crowdfunding appeal, a dedicated group of talented actors and technicians are looking to create a first for Scottish cinema.

In 2015 a small team of emerging filmmakers and actors produced a short film that travelled the world, won festival awards, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a BAFTA Scotland Award for Performance.

That movie was just 26 minutes long but so widely acclaimed the team are looking to adapt the festive romance into a fully-fledged feature film making it Scotland’s very first Christmas Rom-Com. “When Christmas comes around every year we all sit back and watch our festive favourites old and new. Love Actually, The Holiday,

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It’s a Wonderful Life are just some examples of the Christmas RomCom, though for some reason Scotland has never made its own,” said Ryan Hendrick, the film’s writer and BAFTA nominated director.

“Perfect Strangers - for us, is “perfect” to take that mantle.”

The movie follows Jen & Rob, two strangers stranded in the Scottish Highlands on Christmas Eve during a heavy snowfall. The unlikely pair decide to team up to get home for

Christmas. An adventure across a Celtic winter wonderland ensues, resulting in comedy, romance and drama.

The initial short movie featured great acting and spectacular, breathtaking images of Scotland’s snow-covered mountains. The feature-length remake promises to be even more breathtaking in its imagery.

The new Perfect Strangers is being shot in and around Glen Coe this January on a very low budget.

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Natalie Clark

Kenny Boyle

The film’s producers, BAFTA winners David Brown and David Newman have enlisted renowned cinematographer John Rhodes, of Only Fools & Horses and Call the Midwife fame, on camera duty with a local cast of emerging talent including Natalie Clark, who has appeared in the comedy show Still Game and Love Bite, and Kenny Boyle, who starred in the original short film, along with well known faces including Doctor Who’s Caitlin Blackwood and Outlander / Emmerdale star Frazer Hines.

The filmmakers last endeavour was the critically acclaimed short film Sundown that also starred Doctor Who alumni Blackwood and Hines. It premiered at the XpoNorth festival in Inverness before travelling to Los Angeles for the Oscar qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival.

Perfect Strangers has secured more than half of the £60,000 required to produce the film, much of it from private investors, and is currently

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seeking the rest via a crowdfunding campaign on indiegogo. Some of the perks and rewards on offer range from signed scripts and set visits to the opportunity to appear in the film.

“The journey from short to feature for Perfect Strangers has been a fascinating and unexpected one,” said Ryan.

“When we set off three years ago there was just half a dozen of us with £500 for petrol and pizza but we succeeded in making this little film which was supposed to be a proof of concept for Journey Bound, another comedy we’re working on.

“We wanted to show this kind of genre could work in Scotland and we did. The film ended up doing 20 film festivals worldwide and audiences just loved it.”

Producer David Newman says that by expanding the film into a feature length movie it’s been possible to give the characters more room to

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develop and allow time to tell more of a story “The industry needs fresh vices, fresh faces and fresh vision and this film is fresh. It’s not gritty, it’s not dark and depressing. It’s something new and its positive. There is humour and it showcases talent,” said actress Natalie Clark.

Perfect Strangers is a groundbreaking movie for the Scottish film industry and the makers hope enough people with a love of Scotland who recognise there is more to the country than is portray d in historic tales, gritty crime shows and depressing dramas.

“I would love people to support Perfect Strangers simply because they want to see a Scottish romantic comedy Christmas movie made in Scotland,” said Ryan.

“We have never had a romantic Christmas movie made in Scotland.

It’s madness we don’t have one, we

Ryan Hendrick

should have one, we deserve one,” said Ryan.

For more information visit the indiegogo page : Crowdfunding Campaign

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Granite city food festival attracts global gourmets

Glynn Purnell

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star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs cooked up a storm at Scotland’s first fine dining festival – and raised an incredible £250,000 for charity in the process.

Scottish culinary talents including Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart, world-class patissier chocolatier William Curley and award-winning Mark Greenaway were among those who took part in Signature at The Chester Hotel in Aberdeen.

Diners travelled to the 12-day event from all over Scotland following a rush for a limited number of tickets for intimate gourmet dinners hosted by the seven acclaimed chefs on the bill. Other names included spice supremo Atul Kochhar – the first Indian chef to win a Michelin star – and television regular Glynn Purnell, otherwise know as The Yummy Brummie.

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For award-winning Scots chef Mark Greenaway taking part in the Granite City’s first fine dining festival turned out to be a source of food for thought.

In addition to replicating some of the most popular dishes from his Edinburgh restaurant during his stint at Signature at The Chester Hotel, Mark admitted the time in Aberdeen

Atul Kochhar

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had prompted him to reconsider plans for a more permanent move. “We did look at opening a restaurant in Aberdeen a few years ago but decided not to progress it at that time for a number of factors. I have family who live in Aberdeen and I really enjoy the city, so it will be a good opportunity to test the water again,� he said.

Martin Wishart

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“In recent years I’ve cooked at events in Singapore, Boston, Tokyo and elsewhere in the UK, but it’s great to be able to do something like this in your own back yard.”

Mark has been named as one of the top 300 chefs in the world and his most recent venue in the capital – Restaurant Mark Greenaway – has held three AA Rosettes since 2012.

It had a string of awards to its name, and frequently features in best restaurant lists. He recently closed the restaurant, but has plans to return to Edinburgh with a brand new dining concept in 2019.

Preparing afternoon tea

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His culinary journey started in 1992 and he went on to spend time in Australia – working in the kitchens of some of the country’s top eating establishments – before returning to Scotland and a career which continues to go from strength to strength.

He has appeared on popular television cookery shows including Sunday Brunch and Saturday Kitchen Live, and also had the honour of representing Scotland in BBC2’s

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Great British Menu in 2012 and again in 2013.

As an ambassador for Scotland Food and Drink, Mark is passionate about Scottish produce: he chooses to use only the very best local, seasonal produce and transforms ingredients with modern cooking techniques.

“I believe the quality of the ingredients that we have here in Scotland is second to none,” he said.

Fellow chef William Curley, the four-time winner of Britain’s Best Chocolatier title, couldn’t agree more

although he is also convinced that there is more to the magic of eating out in Scotland than its menu.

With a string of accolades to his name and two award-winning books to boot, Curley is hot property in the culinary world but it could have all turned out so differently for the docker’s son from Fife.

He freely admits he had no idea what a patissier chocolatier was – let alone that he had the ability to be one of the most talented this county has ever produced – when he enrolled at catering college.

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However, an apprenticeship at Gleneagles Hotel provided the springboard that allowed William to go on and train with some of the country’s finest chefs and hone his confectionery craft to exceptional levels.

William raised the curtain on Signature with an afternoon tea to die for – and shared the limelight with soul singer Beverley Knight who performed for guests.

“A good afternoon tea really needs to have different combinations: choux, tarts, chocolate, something fruity.

You must present a range of textures and flavour combinations, something sharp and something rich. But most of all, it’s got to look great,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that the popularity of afternoon tea is on the rise and that’s partly down to more awareness of cakes and patisserie through television shows. But it’s also down to a shift in our attitude to eating out.

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“I remember when I was growing up, going out to eat was a really big deal.

Now people are travelling for miles to eat out: the market for restaurants has evolved, and our understanding of food has expanded.

“Afternoon tea in Britain is now experiencing that same cycle that restaurants have been through.

People want to enjoy afternoon tea for celebrations with families and friends, but more and more it doesn’t have to be only for special occasions.”

William left school at the age of 15 and admits that he had no real idea of where he was going or what he wanted to do. Both his father and grandfather had been dockers, but the routes that would have allowed him to follow them into that industry no longer existed by the time his schooling was at an end.

A local college was the only real option for further education and while woodwork and metalwork were

on offer, William decided to pursue a City and Guilds in cooking. He worked part-time, and in his first job asked to work on the dessert trolley.

“When I was 15, no one had heard of patissier or chocolatier and I had no idea what those words even meant.

I thought that you went to college to become a chef and that was it. When I was 17 I was lucky enough to get an apprenticeship at Gleneagles and they asked if I wanted to go into the pastry kitchen. That’s what started me on the path to my career,” he said.

At the end of his apprenticeship, William went on to train under some of the most recognisable names in the industry, including Pierre Koffmann, Marco Pierre White and Raymond Blanc. He joined the team at The Savoy, becoming the youngest chef patissier in the iconic venue’s history.

He launched his own business over 13 years ago and in that time

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has accumulated an impressive collection of awards. He won a gold medal at The Culinary Olympics, became a member of Relais Dessert International - the most prestigious association for patissier chocolatiers – and attained the UK’s highest chef award, Master of Culinary Arts from the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts.

He’s created a unique brand of chocolate, cakes, patisserie and confectionery, both classic and innovative. From traditional British flavours like prize-winning thyme and Scottish heather honey to Japanese inspired combinations like apricot and wasabi, his creations are constantly evolving and have earned him his own concession at upmarket department store, Harrods.

Barbara Dickson Ewan McGregor

William added: “It’s always nice to return home to do events like Signature – and of course the banter in Scotland is always better. There’s so much enthusiasm and passion for the art.”

In addition to giving diners a unique opportunity to sample some exquisite food, Signature was set up to raise money for good causes.

A key attraction of the festival was a fund-raising auction, with lots including luxury hotel stays, VIP dining experiences, and original works by Scottish artists John Byrne, Iain Faulkner and Alexander Millar.

The star lot was a saltire-design guitar which was signed by more than 30 Scottish celebrities including Ewan McGregor, Barbara Dickson, David Tennant, Sir Billy Connolly, Emeli Sandi, Kevin McKidd, Sir Andy Murray and James Mcavoy. It was sold to an anonymous bidder for £20,000.

The main beneficiary of Signature was Friends of the Neo Natal Unit at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, which is currently raising money to build a hotel for parents whose children are being cared for in the unit. Half of the funds from the sale of the guitar was donated to Friendly Access – a charity which supports those living with hidden disabilities.

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Graham Wood, the inspiration behind Signature and co-owner of The Chester Hotel said: “In 2017, the first year of the Signature food festival, we raised £105,000 for the Friends of the Neo Natal Unit. To more than double this total in the event’s second year, and to be in a position to donate more than a quarter of a million pounds between both charities, is a terrific achievement.

“There will definitely be a Signature event next year; we aim to make it bigger and better. We’ve had such a great array of chefs from across Scotland and the UK. The variety and quality of chefs has been fantastic – the opportunities are endless.”

David Tennant

James McAvoy

Sir Billy Connelly

Emeli Sandi

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Mark Greenway’s Vegetable Garden Ingredients

1 banana shallot, finely diced 1 clove of garlic, crushed 60g butter 400ml milk 100ml double cream 500g fresh or frozen peas Salt 7 free range egg yolks Method

• Bring to the boil and season with salt • Blend the peas in a high speed blender • Add the milk and cream mixture • Blend until smooth • Pass through a fine sieve • Add the mixture to a large bowl

• Gently sweat the shallot and garlic in the butter

• Mix in the egg yolks

• Add the milk and cream

• Place the bowl over a pot of gently

simmering water or bain marie

• Stir the mixture continuously until it reaches 82C on a thermometer • Season again to taste • Set the mixture in 5 bowls over ice • Place the bowls in the fridge so that the custard can fully set When you are ready to serve, remove the bowls from the fridge and arrange your selection of vegetables upright on top of the pea custard.

William Curley’s Hazelnut Rochers Ingredients

For the Praline Ganache: 160ml whipping cream ½ vanilla pod split and scraped (optional) 150g Gianduja chocolate, finely chopped 80g dark (bittersweet) chocolate (70% cocoa solids), finely chopped 22g room temperature unsalted butter, cubed To finish: 500g tempered milk chocolate 250g roasted nibbed almonds 100g whole roasted hazelnuts

Method

1.Put the cream in a saucepan and scrape in the seeds from the split vanilla pod (bean). Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 30 minutes. Strain the infused cream into a clean saucepan, add the invert sugar and bring to the boil.

2. Put the chopped chocolate in a mixing bowl. Pour the boiled cream over the chocolate and mix until emulsified and a ganache consistency is formed.

3. Add the softened butter and mix

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well until fully incorporated. Leave to set at room temperature for about 1 hour.

4. Put the Praline Ganache in a piping bag fitted with a 12mm nozzle.

Pipe small bulbs of the ganache onto a silicone-lined tray. Put a whole roasted hazelnut onto each bulb of ganache. Pipe a larger bulb of ganache on top of each hazelnut and leave to set in a cool, dry area.

5. When set, roll each piped chocolate into a ball. Temper the milk chocolate and mix with roasted nibbed almonds. Coat each chocolate with the almond mixture.

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Delectable Demijohn - the world’s first liquid deli

Photos by Stewart Cunningham Inside the new Glasgow Demijohn store

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by Paul Kelbie

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or almost any adult walking into a branch of Demijohn the experience can only be described as something akin to a child’s first visit to a candy store.

Rows upon rows of artisan liqueurs, spirits, whiskies, oils and vinegars line the walls in large glass demijohns. Hand-crafted wooden shelves are adorned with delicious tasting and luxury sounding drinks of various colours and strengths.

Beautifully designed glass bottles of different styles and sizes wait patiently to be filled with the customer’s liquid of choice.

Look closely and hand-written labels advertise a wondrous variety of exotically flavoured spirits such as Bramble Whisky Liqueur, Seville Orange Gin, Rhubarb Vodka, Butterscotch Cream Liqueur, Morello Cherry Brandy liqueur (great when mixed with Prosecco) and many others.

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On adjacent racks there is a large range of non-alcoholic offerings, including lines of various infused oils, dressings and vinegars which sit alongside exotic cordials, artisan jams, chutneys, chocolates and sauces.

The team behind Demijohn and staff of the new Glasgow store toast the opening of the latest addition to the family

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The business, which was started by husband and wife team Angus and Frances Ferguson almost 15 years ago, has grown from a small delicatessen in Edinburgh to a

chain of eight outlets, including a thriving international online store, with an annual turnover in excess of ÂŁ1million.

Their latest venture, which opened in time for Christmas, is situated in Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries shopping centre to cater for the growing demand for their uniquely handcrafted, environmentally-friendly products.

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Angus Ferguson

Demijohn has built its reputation largely by word of mouth. With an ethos of encouraging customers to try before they buy the company has become renowned for the friendliness and passion of the workers who treat familiar faces as old friends and new customers as welcome guests.

It is the perfect place to source innovative and delicious gifts that can’t be easily found anywhere else and a welcome experience for consumers tired of faceless 21st century retailing.

“So often customers are looking for something different and a bit quirky for Christmas, and this is exactly what we offer,” said Angus, Managing Director of Demijohn.

“Frances and I have always loved food, travelling to different places and experiencing new tastes. The idea for Demijohn came from a wonderful experience I had while living and working in Naples, Southern Italy, in the early 1990’s.

“I used to buy wine for parties from a local cantina where we were allowed to try before buying and then have our own container filled up with our choice of wine. Frances and I thought it would be a good idea to bring the kind of experiences we found on the continent to the UK.”

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Gift packages come in all sizes

Labels are written on each bottle by hand

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Select from a wide range of products and try before you buy

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The result was the opening of the “world’s first liquid deli’ in Edinburgh’s Old Town where customers can select whatever they wanted from huge round glass bottles and have their own bottles filled again and again.

In accordance with UK laws customers must buy their first empty bottle from Demijohn, and there is a wide variety of styles and sizes to choose from, but then come back and have it refilled as many times as they want. It’s an incredibly environmentally friendly way of shopping.

“We deliberately source products from producers close to us to reduce food miles,” said Angus.

“All our producers are vetted so we can be sure they use clean, fair and sustainable methods of production.

By keeping to a relatively small number of lines we get to know our producers personally and visit them as often as possible. Big supermarkets can’t do that.

“Re-using materials and reducing our impact on the environment is central to ethos. Being able to refill our Demijohn bottles is just one of many environmentally friendly practices.”

Wherever possible the company has a policy of fitting out its shops with recycled materials. The stylish wooden shelves that support the demijohns are made from Scottish Ash rejected by the commercial timber trade.

The octaves used to decant whiskies from have been coopered down from recycled old casks and even the majority continental-style demijohn containers were once used to hold wine and olive oil.

Sustainable Portuguese cork is used to seal the bottles, wicker hampers are made from steamed willow and a water based sealant, jute bags are created in accordance with Fair Trade production techniques. Even the brown paper carrier bags are made in Britain from either recycled materials

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or Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) approved timber products.

Demijohn’s passion for its products, environmentally friendly credentials and fresh approach to personalised

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customer service has made it one of Scotland’s most inspiring business success stories.

Having started with one small store selling a small selection of products

it now provides a variety of products and a wide range of items for any and all occasions from wedding favours and anniversary presents to corporate gifts and luxury hampers.

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Frances and Angus with one of their larger handmade gifts

Shopping at Demijohn is designed to be as far removed as possible from the traditional cold financial transactions most customers experience in other shops. It is meant to be a fun experience.

“I used to love going to the cantina in Naples, talking to the staff, trying

the different wines and then selecting something to take home. Every visit was an adventure,” said Angus.

“What makes Demijohn so different, apart from our range of unique products, is that very personal touch.”

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Outlaw Kingdom of Fife

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he resting place of Robert the Bruce, which played a starring role in Netflix film Outlaw King, will once again be in the spotlight at a unique showing of the historical epic.

Dunfermline Abbey, which doubles as Westminster in the film, and the Abbey Church, which is home to The Bruce’s tomb, will play host to Outlaw King director David Mackenzie and producer Gillian Berrie at the exclusive one-off event on Wednesday, 5 December.

Filming Fife and VisitScotland, in association with Sigma Films and Fife Cultural Trust, are organising the event in which attendees will have a special tour of the Abbey and Church before a screening of Outlaw King in the nearby Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Gallery, followed by a Q&A with the director and producer.

Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland The tower of the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, which contains Robert the Bruce’s tomb

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“When location scouting for Outlaw King I felt we had to use Dunfermline Abbey, not only due to its stunning architecture but, it being the resting place of Robert the Bruce, it was fitting to have the Abbey play a part in a film which examines the important legacy of the man himself,” said David Mackenzie, Director of Outlaw King.

“I had a wonderful experience filming at the Abbey, surrounded by such fascinating history we felt a real

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Photo by Kenny Lam / VisitScotland The nave of Dunfermline Abbey which features in the Netflix film, Outlaw King

connection with Robert the Bruce.�

The event will feature both an afternoon and evening showing, with tickets available in person from any Fife Cultural Trust venue, or online at www.onfife.com It comes as VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation, launches an interactive map of Scotland featuring the filming locations of Outlaw King and historic sites connected to Robert

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the Bruce, to inspire visitors to explore the real history behind the Netflix film. (As reported in Scotland Correspondent Issue 21) (https:// issuu.com/scotlandcorrespondent/ docs/scotland_correspondent_ issue_21/10?ff=true) On the trail of the Outlaw King highlights 20 filming locations and 24 sites linked to Robert the Bruce across the country, from Annandale in Dumfries and Galloway, where the King of Scots was raised, to Claigan Coral Beach on the Isle of Skye, which portrays the Isle of Islay in the film, and of course, Dunfermline Abbey itself.

Outlaw King was released globally on Netflix, which has 130 million

paid memberships in more than 190 countries, on 9 November. Shot entirely in Scotland (according to the borders of 1320) it is said to be the largest production, budget-wise, to be made in the country to date.

The film charts the story of Robert the Bruce (played by Chris Pine), from defeated nobleman in 1304 to victorious King of Scots at the Battle of Loudoun Hill in 1307. “The dramatic landscapes of Scotland are as much of a character in Outlaw King as the King of Scots himself and are sure to entice Netflix viewers off the couch and into the country,� said Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland.

Photo David Eustace/Netflix Chris Pine as Outlaw King Robert The Bruce

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Elite retreat in spectacular Sutherland

Embo House

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et among the scenic splendour of Sutherland a luxurious Georgian mansion, which was once home to one of the country’s leading families, is now available to rent. Embo House, one of the ancestral castles of Clan Gordon, has for the first time opened its doors to the public to become a magnificent holiday home or stunning wedding venue.

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Photo by Neil Aitkenhead CC BY-SA 3.0 Dornoch

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The beautiful, 16th century grade A listed castle is situated in an idyllic position with beautiful views across the Dornoch Firth lies just five minutes from the golden sands of Dornoch beach and a short distance from Dornoch Castle, and Dornoch Cathedral - where Madonna married Guy Ritchie in 2000 - and the worldfamous Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

The original, six-room manor house, which now forms part of the west wing, was home to the Gordons of Embo for 200 years until a serious fire towards the end of the 18th century put an end to it being a Clan seat. The last of the old family to live there was Sir John Gordon,

5th baronet, who died at Embo on January 24th, 1779.

The property was acquired by Robert Hume Gordon went on to acquire the estate and rebuilt and extended the house around 1790 to create a substantial and handsome strongly influenced by the fashionable New Town houses in Edinburgh. In 1801 the Rev. Donald Sage described Embo as “the most elegant mansion I have ever witnessed”.

The house still holds the original marriage stone, once built into the house, dated 1677 and bearing the arms of Sir Robert Gordon of Embo and his new wife, Dame Jean Leslie.

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Embo House garden

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The location of Embo House is especially appealing, on the waterside and combined with its magnificent structure and period features, it truly is a beautiful setting for an intimate highland wedding.

With three public rooms all with open fires and spectacular gardens, including a delightful tree house, there is plenty of opportunity for wedding guests to mingle during the canape reception. The elegant master bedroom with free standing roll top bath also makes for a perfect honeymoon suite.

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Ashleigh said: “When I first visited Embo House I knew this was somewhere I would stay myself,” said bride-to-be Ashleigh Jedan who has booked the property for her dream wedding to fiancé Sean in 2020.

“After visiting it together we knew there and then that we wanted to get married here. We are both from the local area so it means a lot to us that we can get married in such a stunning place.

“With the original marriage stone of Sir Robert Gordon of Embo and Dame Jean Leslie still existing, it seems fitting that the property is proving popular for weddings. I think of Embo House as a fairytale wedding location and something you think you could only dream of, so we are extremely excited to be getting married there.”

Embo House, which sleeps up to 16 people, has its own bar located in the games room, making it ideal

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for hosting a private whisky tasting evening amid luxurious surroundings.

A private chef can also carry out a cooking demonstration in the property’s beautiful farmhouse style kitchen followed by a tasting menu or a five-course meal prepared and served for guests in the grand dining room which is charming and ideal for entertaining.

“This is a very special house,” said Jemima Kirkwood, social media manager for letting agents Cottages & Castles.

“Embo has a great history and offers accommodation of an exceptionally high standard while retaining its original period charm.”

There are three separate social spaces on the ground floor of the elegant mansion, including a cedarlined library with plenty of books, a drawing room with flat-screen T, and a games room complete with its own bar.

“This gives plenty of options for large families when the youngsters want to break away to play pool and others want some peace and quiet!,“ said Jemima.

Upstairs, the double bedrooms are of ample size and all have a private bathroom, which is quite unusual for a historic property. All of the bedrooms are also equipped with an I-pod dock and Bluetooth speakers.

The farmhouse style kitchen is contemporary with all mod-cons, offering a relaxed gathering point for meals, while there is a traditional dining room for formal entertaining.

The eight acres of land surrounding the house include a tree house, a beautiful herb garden, a practice pitching hole, a separate studio for painting or yoga, and a detached summer house which has mature fruit trees and plants growing inside and feels like a piece of the Mediterranean.

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The picturesque town of Dornoch is just two miles away, offering a range of shops, pubs and restaurants along with a number of events all year round, from whisky festivals and Highland Gatherings to the highly popular Hogmanay street party.

Being located on the NC500, Embo House is also a magnificent place to take a break while touring this world-renowned route discovering the break taking beauty of Scotland’s North Highlands.

Dornoch is a golfer’s delight, with the famous Royal Dornoch Championship Course and several other great links courses nearby. There is also fishing in the surrounding area on the River Carron, Cassely and further north in Brora and Helmsdale.

Photo by Paul Tomkins / VisitScotland The Cathedral At Dornoch Founded In 1224

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Antique hunting with Roo Irvine

Silver bells and hallmark tells A

s Christmas descends everything takes on a magical tinge, almost as if a silver filter colours our view.

When I think of Christmas I imagine dining tables heaving with a selection of festive delicacies served on silver dishes with silver cutlery surrounded by flickering candles amid an atmosphere of excitement and laughter.

However, beneath the illusion created by all the sparkling tinsel and flickering fairy lights not everything is as it first appears. While the fun and the festivities are genuine the silver on the dining table probably isn’t.

Indeed, it’s quite rare to find the real thing as silver-plate is usually much more common.

Over the years many eager customers have come in to my antiques shop with bags full of ‘silver’ cutlery convinced it is the real thing and has all the “marks” to prove it.

Unfortunately, on closer inspection it tends to turn out to be good old

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Photo Auckland Museum CC BY 4.0 Sheffield plate silver candlestick

Photo by Terry van Elk CC BY-SA 3.0 Huis Doorn met kerstmis

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EPNS - silver-plate to you and I! So, how can you tell if you have genuine silver in your home and is it of any value?

Sterling silver is the British term for silver that is minimum 92.5 per cent pure - hence some modern pieces will simply have .925 stamped on them. The most common way to recognise British silver is to look for tell-tale hallmarks. These are often a series of four stamped marks that

Photo Anna Booth, The Portable Antiquities Scheme/ The Trustees of the British Museum CC BY-SA 2.0 17th century silver collection

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signify the town it was made, the date letter and the maker’s mark.

The most important of all the marks is the ‘little lion’ that shows the piece is certified silver. It is not an absolute guarantee of the quality of an object or the age as wear over time can obscure the date letters and stamped marks can be faked - although that is very rare. On the whole, if you see these marks you can feel confident you have authentic piece of British silver in your hand.

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Photo by Charles J Sharp CC BY-SA 4.0 Hallmark on Queen Anne silver dish by William Spring, London 1708

At first glance it is easy to be deceived by the ‘hallmarks’ on a piece of silver plate as this deception was purely intentional. Many makers emulated silver hallmarks on EPNS items so the shapes and style of the letters were made to look like traditional silver hallmarks from a distance. This was an excellent way for people to impress their guests even if they couldn’t afford genuine quality silver.

Another cost-effective way to impress guests was to have silver collars on cutlery. Inspect your canteen of knives, forks, spoons and other items carefully and you might see the blade might say Sheffield plate or EPNS but the collar, the ring that joins the handle to the utensil, may bear a silver hallmark. It may not be quite the finest top quality but it is silver nonetheless.

Another good indicator of whether a piece is genuine old top quality silver is to take close look at the condition of the piece. Silver won’t tarnish from

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overzealous cleaning like EPNS does but it is a softer metal and dents more easily.

Even if the piece you have isn’t silver it may still has a fascinating history.

Sheffield Plate was accidentally invented in 1742 when a cutler was repairing a knife in his workshop. He discovered that molten silver stuck fast to copper.

The result was a item of a colour and quality which very closely resembled silver but was much cheaper to produce.

A century later, in the 1840’s, the process was made even cheaper when electroplate arrived. Perhaps the crudest imitation of silver it is unfortunately the most common ‘reproduction’ type of silver out there.

Chances are that all those old bags or boxes in the attic will be full of it.

But, search closely. On more than one occasion I have found genuine top quality silver items in among piles of seemingly ‘useless’ cutlery.

Just because an item is not silver doesn’t mean it has no value.

Sheffield plate and some EPNS can still command good money depending on the era, the style or the designer. Quintessentially Art Deco and Art Nouveau pieces will always have ready buyers. Liberty and WMF are strong names in design. The clout of those names or styles alone can provide value.

Other things to look out for include evidence of an item being made from foreign silver. These will often have a stamp bearing a number such as 800. This relates to its silver content of 80 per cent.

The other top tip is to always look closely at the condition of an item.

Ironically the more little dents it has the more likely it is to be genuine. On things such as a clothes brush that has a thin sliver of silver it may be chipped or broken.

If an item is not made from genuine top quality silver little spots of copper

or nickel can be seen in areas where the silver plate has been worn away due to polishing. Always a shame to see but not uncommon, especially with items of age.

Sometimes people make a mistake the other way and think that what they have is silver plate and not a genuine valuable heirloom. So it always pays to check.

The next time you are having a clearout and getting rid of some old bits of cutlery or serving platters take time to give it a once over. You may be surprised to find it is indeed made of real silver and that knowledge may just add a little more sparkle to your Christmases in future.

Sheffield silver plate oil lamp (CC0 1.0)

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Landmark year ahead for museums

Photo: National Galleries of Scotland John Knox, ‘Landscape with Tourists at Loch Katrin’, oil on canvas, 1815

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A

landmark year lies ahead for National Museums Scotland with the completion of the transformation of the National Museum of Scotland’s iconic Victorian building in Edinburgh and a diverse and world-class programme of exhibitions.  The 2019 calendar will feature the unveiling of three new permanent galleries at the National Museum plus several major exhibitions taking in 500 years of robotics, diversity

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in fashion, the fascinating world of parasites and the story of how highland traditions came to be adapted and established as enduring international symbols of Scottish identity.

The new permanent galleries are due to open in February at the National Museum of Scotland with Ancient Egypt Rediscovered, Exploring East Asia and the Art of Ceramics.

The galleries will mark the completion, on time and on budget, of the 15-year, £80 million transformation of the Museum, restoring the much-loved Victorian building, revealing more of its treasures and almost trebling visitor numbers.

“Thanks to the work over the last 15 years to transform the National Museum of Scotland it is now the most popular visitor attraction in the UK outwith London, with over 2.3 million visitors in the last calendar year,” said Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of National Museums Scotland.

“Our programme for 2019 will build on that success, with the final new permanent galleries opening on 8 February and a tremendously diverse and engaging programme of special exhibitions throughout the year.”

Photo REXShutterstock A model wearing a look from the Ashish Spring Summer 2017 collection “Bollywood Bloodbath”

Photo by Sinclair Stammers and Aidan O’Donnell Group of female mosquitoes

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Photo NMS Glass used at the banquet given in honour of George IV during his visit to Edinburgh in 1822

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The major summer exhibition, scheduled to run from 26 June to 10 November, is Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland. This will explore how, in the era of the European Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th century Scotland became the subject of international fascination.

By the end of Queen Victoria’s reign, an adaptation of the cultural traditions of the highlands had become fixed as a representation of wider Scottish identity. The exhibition will show how this romanticised ideal of Scotland was not purely invention. Cultural traditions were preserved, idealised and reshaped to suit contemporary tastes against a background of political agendas as well as economic and social change from the end of the Jacobite rebellions to the reign of Queen Victoria.

Through rich displays, which incorporate significant items on loan from private and public sources, the exhibition will present a complex and contested history through key moments such as the Ossian controversy, the foundation of Highland societies, the overturning of the ban on Highland dress, the pageantry around the 1822 royal visit to Scotland by King George IV, the Highland tourism boom, and the creation of a Romantic idyll for Queen Victoria at Balmoral.

However, before exploring the past another new exhibition, running from 18 January to 5 May, delves into the future. Developed by the Science Museum, Robots will examine 500 years of humanity’s quest to reimagine ourselves as machines.

This major exhibition will feature a unique collection of over 100 robots, from the earliest automata to those from science fiction and modern-day research labs.

Photo NMS Painting of the Laird of Grant’s Piper, William Cumming by Richard Waitt, 1714

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Looking at five different time periods, the exhibition will consider the role of humanoid robots in religious belief, the Industrial Revolution, popular culture and visions of the future.

Photo NMS Sporran clasp of brass and steel with 4 concealed pistols, probably the model for that worn by Rob Roy in the novel by Sir Walter Scott published in 1818

Photo NMS Ring style brooch said to have been presented to piper John Ban MacKenzie by Queen Victoria, 1854

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Recent developments from robotics research will also be on display, examining why roboticists are building robots that resemble people and interact in human-like ways.

Visitors will see some of the latest humanoid robots in action and find out more about what a shared future with robots might be like. The challenges of re-creating human abilities - such as walking – in mechanical form will be examined, and there will be the opportunity to interact with some of the robots on display.

Starting on 23 May, and running until 20 October, Body Beautiful: Diversity on the Catwalk is a pioneering examination of how, and to what extent, the fashion industry is championing alternative representations of beauty on the catwalk, in advertising and editorial, and behind the camera.

The first exhibition of its kind, Body Beautiful will showcase work by designers embracing inclusivity and body positivity, exploring themes including size, gender and sexuality, age, race, and disability. Visitors will see pivotal fashions from established and emerging designers, and hear from other key influencers in the industry, from models and stylists, to photographers, editors and educators.

Later in the year focus will switch from the outward appearance of the human body to the inside with Parasites: Battle for Survival.

The exhibition, which will run from 6 December 2019 to 19 April 2020, aims to explore the fight to eradicate five neglected tropical diseases and the role of research taking place in Scotland to do this.

Photo ÂŽ The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum RoboThespian

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Malaria, Guinea Worm, Sleeping Sickness, Schistosomiasis and Leishmaniasis are among those diseases described as neglected because they remain major epidemic diseases in many countries. These five are among a range of diseases which World Health Organisation is

Photo ® Plastiques Photography, courtesy of the Science Museum Cygan, a 1957 robot

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Photo NMS Netsuke of carved ivory, Zhong Kui standing with a demon, signed Japan, by Minkoku, late 18th - early 19th cent

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aiming to eradicate, some as soon as 2020.

Scottish institutions – the Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research at the University of Dundee, Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology at the University of Glasgow and Edinburgh Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution, and Edinburgh infectious Diseases at the University of Edinburgh – are at the forefront of these efforts.

Presented in partnership with these universities, the exhibition will explore the history of Scottish involvement in identifying and treating tropical disease and highlight the research currently taking place in Scotland

Other events for 2019 include Embroidered Stories: Scottish Samplers, which runs until 21 April.

It showcases an extraordinary collection of Scottish needlework from the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Photo Stewart Attwood Assistant Conservator Bethan Bryan works on the Qurna coffin

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The 70 samplers in the exhibition are on loan from American collector Leslie B Durst, a philanthropist and passionate supporter of the arts who has assembled a remarkable collection of samplers from Europe and North America. Â

Lastly, at the National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle, Conscience Matters is the result of a major research project into conscientious objectors in Britain led by the University of Edinburgh.

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Photo Stewart Attwood Assistant Conservator Bethan Bryan with figure of Buddha in carved wood lacquered in red and gold China C16

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During the Second World War, over 60,000 people registered their objections to fighting in the Second World War on grounds of conscience.

The exhibition, which runs from 8 March to 23 February 2020, will reveal the stories of the men and women who chose not to fight for religious, political or moral reasons.

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Discovery of lost tapestry reveals key moments of WW2

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Photos: Scottish War Blind

n international search has been launched to find a group of women, or their relatives, who were behind the creation of a unique hand-made record of the historic events of World War Two.

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A unique 1940s era tapestry made

by Scottish Women’s Institutes members and exhibited to raise money for servicemen blinded during the war has been uncovered after being missing for decades.

The tapestry is known to have been

crafted by women of Aberdeenshire’s Denmore Scottish Women’s Rural Institutes (SWRI) in the 1940s. It depicts various events of World War Two in intricate detail, including the ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ and a London street after yet another night of air raids in The Blitz.

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A tiny parachute depicts the infamous ‘arrival of Hess’ – in which Hitler’s deputy, Rudolph Hess, mysteriously parachuted into Scotland in 1941, giving rise to numerous enduring conspiracy theories.

The tapestry used to adorn the wall of Scottish War Blinded’s workshops in West Lothian, having been donated by the SWRI. However, during a period of construction of a new activity hub for veterans with sight loss, the Linburn Centre, the tapestry was mislaid and had long been thought lost.

After several years hidden in storage, the piece has sustained some discolouration and water damage – and on its recovery is now set to receive due care and attention to preserve it.

“We are very excited to have found this beautiful tapestry again, after believing it had gone missing during the development of the Linburn Centre,” said Rebecca Barr, Director of Scottish War Blinded.

“It is wonderful to see how the talents and efforts of the women of the Scottish Women’s Institutes, formerly the SWRI, were utilised to support blinded servicemen, and we’re honoured to now be able to preserve this unique piece of history for future generations to learn more about events during World War Two. “Some of the veterans we support today served their country during this conflict and now have aged related sight loss, we are looking forward to sharing this artwork with them and gathering their memories of the period.’

Scottish War Blinded and Scottish Women’s Institutes (SWI) are now appealing to members of the public around the country and further a field to trace the women, or their relatives, who were involved in creating the tapestry.

Research undertaken by Helen

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Smillie, Aberdeenshire SWI Vice Chairman, and Stella Adam, from Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, has revealed the panel was exhibited to WRIs across Scotland in the 1940s to raise funds for Scottish War Blinded’s original rehabilitation and training centre.

and creativity,” said Linda Retson, National Chairman of Scottish Women’s Institutes.

It was even shown to the Queen in 1946 when she visited WRIs on Deeside.

“Their involvement in this project also reflects their public-spirited attitude, seeking to use their flair and expertise to raise funds to support those whose lives were irrevocably changed by war.

The original designs were painted on linen by a Miss Leslie Smith, and then sewn by the Denmore SWRI members.

The Denmore Institute, which met around Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, closed in the mid-1950s – but Scottish War Blinded and SWI hope there may be individuals with memories of the tapestry who can make contact.

“SWRI members created a detailed and intricate work which is a lasting testament to their talents, resources

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“They used their artistic flair to tell a story, capturing many of the key points and famous episodes of World War II.

“We’re intrigued by the details that have been unravelled so far, and we look forward to learning more about this project as the preservation work gets underway.

“Our organisation has always promoted the sharing and development of handicraft skills and even in today’s digital age, we find there continues to be a desire to learn and hone craft techniques.

“Denmore Institute may no longer be around, but we have over 15,000 members in 700 Institutes across Scotland, many of whom continue to produce exceptional handicraft works, and uphold traditional skills.”

Tuula Pardoe, Costume and Textiles Conservator from the Scottish Conservation Studio, will take on the painstakingly delicate preservation job in the new year.

With over 20 years working with textiles, she says this tapestry is really unique.

“I haven’t seen anything like it before.

I’m sure I can improve its appearance and preserve it. Hopefully somebody out there will know more about its history,’ she said.

“I believe once it’s cleaned, remounted and reframed this embroidery will have a bright future ahead.”

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THE STONE TAPE THEORY;

Residual haunting and Spectral appearances.

by Drew Mulholland

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he essayist and playwright Joseph Addison commented in 1712 that the popularity of our belief in ghosts was due to being “naturally fanciful and very often disposed of that Gloominess and Melancholy of temper which is so frequent in our nation to many wild notions and visions to which others are not so liable.”

The “wild notion” of The Stone Tape Theory is intriguing, thought provoking, and seductive. So what is it, and where did the term come from?

“The Stone Tape” is the title of a 1972 BBC drama by Nigel Kneale.

A team of scientists and technicians from Ryan Electrics an R&D electronics company move into “Taskerlands” a Victorian mansion with a long history of unexplained supernatural goings on. While conducting experiments in an attempt to discover a new recording medium, unwelcome sounds are heard and apparitions seen, the building is not as deserted as hoped

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Photo by Craig Burgess The fog at Slains Castle

and the stone has begun to speak.

What could possibly go wrong?

The fundamental premise of the theory is the belief that rock can absorb emotionally charged “energy” from a traumatic event. The preferred type of rock is said to be quartz but limestone and Mica are mentioned almost as frequently.

The sound and visual representations of an event are thought to be “recorded” into the fabric of a building or location in a process analogous to a magnetic tape recording of music, spoken word, field recordings etc.

The belief further states that at a much later date, those sensitive to

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Photo by VisitScotland Slains Castle, Aberdeenshire

this “energy” can experience the “playback”, and it is this playback sequence that has long been offered as a possible explanation for apparitions, hauntings, and even “time slips”.

The mechanisms proposed for this environmental playback include invisible energy fields, the activating of the molecular architecture of crystalline quartz, energy fields from dead organisms that constitute limestone, inductive electromagnetism, resonant frequencies, and encoded iron oxide crystals.

Modern paranormal media accounts state the Stone Tape Theory originated in the 1970s, Certainly the name did, but not the concept.

Information imprinting on the environment for later retrieval has a long history. In fact, the concept that apparitions were created in or by the human mind was part of very early scientific thinking about hauntings.

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With the popularity of Kneale’s play the name Stone Tape Theory (STT) seems to have been retroactively attached to the ideas of Thomas Charles Lethbridge, a controversial and colourful self financed archaeologist from Cambridge who left academia to concentrate on writing and researching the paranormal.

Lethbridge’s “Ghost and Ghoul” (1961) is frequently cited by amateur investigators as the origin of the STT despite Lethbridge never having used the term. Although he did think that perhaps some kind of memory may be connected to inanimate objects through “a sort of surrounding ether” or a particular “resonance”.

In “Ghost and Divining Rod” (1963) he develops the idea further by suggesting that although he does not believe ghosts are supernatural per se he argues that they are attributable to invisible fields he claimed surrounded water, forests,

mountains, and within the earth – that record these imprints.

The fields according to Lethbridge are recharged by ions in the atmosphere and enhanced by additional imprints from a person’s own field. He goes on to claim that some places, such as those notorious for suicides, such as Beachy Head in Sussex, or uneasy feelings, would accumulate these thoughts by a snowball effect, making a site even more dramatic and susceptable to weird happenings.

People are then more susceptible to environmental change, weather, temperature, suggestion etc.

He further supposed that humid conditions enhanced conductance within these fields water molecules helping recharge them and subsequently continue to record imprints ad infinitum.

It’s possible of course that Nigel Kneale developed ideas explored

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by TC Lethbridge for the Stone Tape and earlier stories in particular “The Road” for BBC Radio in 1963; “Quatermass and The Pit” for BBC television 1958; and Hammer Films in 1967. However, there is no record of him ever referring to Lethbridge or his writings.

The term STT is used as though it were a scientifically backed explanation for site specific residual hauntings and to account for visual disturbances and sounds that playback under appropriate conditions.

But, it is NOT a theory. In science a theory is a set of principles that explain a group of facts, a procedure.

Most theories that are accepted have

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been repeatedly tested and can be used to make predictions about the phenomenon. This is the “empiric” approach. i.e. the notion that all knowledge is based on experience derived from the senses.

A theory in science is not a guess.

It is a well-tested model of how a process works, a repeated exercise to prove a particular hypothesis.

The questions that should be asked of the Stone Tape Theory are: How is it possible to record events, however traumatic.

How are these specific events preserved?

What is the criteria for the recording of one event but not another ?

How is the so called “playback” possible?

What exactly is the mechanism?

Therefore, the “Stone Tape Theory” isn’t a theory at all in a scientific sense. It is mere speculation and until it can be proven otherwise under repeated laboratory conditions it will remain just that.

Drew Mulholland is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal Society of Arts and University of Glasgow lecturer.

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Night at the Museum showcases Scotland’s role in the birth of the comic

Professor Laurence Grove; Anna Smeaton, 7, from the West End of Glasgow and Frank Quitely

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cotland is renowned around the world for its whisky, castles, scenery and kilts but what is often forgotten is that it is also the birthplace of the comic book.

In a special event to celebrate the birth of the genre almost 200 years ago the University of Glasgow hosted a special one off ‘Night at the Museum’ event to honour Scotland’s legacy as the “cradle of comics”.

The free public event at the University’s Hunterian Museum proved to be highly a popular event for fans, both young and old. As well as creating an opportunity to party with dinosaurs, superheroes and the Mummy, the event saw the world’s first comic - Glasgow Looking Glass put on public display for one night only.

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Launched in June 1825 by William Heath the satirical magazine poked fun at the political and social life of Georgian Scotland. The magazine ran for only 19 issues but it set the tone for a genre of publications that became increasingly popular throughout the 19th century.

Although the comic, which changed its name after five issues to become the Northern Looking Glass to reflect a more national approach, ceased publication in June 1826 it pioneered a path for others such as Punch which was established in 1841 and went on to become a national institution.

The evening at the Hungarian also served to provide an ideal opportunity to showcase the research being done at the University’s College of Arts on the important role Scotland had in the development of comics.

Members of the public were encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters for a special costume parade to celebrate the Comics Night at the Museum extravaganza.

“We wanted the Night at the Museum to be fun and encouraged lots of dressing up to celebrate our comic book superheroesm” said Prof.

Laurence Grove, Professor of French and Text/Image Studies at the University of Glasgow.

“From earliest times from Egyptian hieroglyphs to medieval illuminated manuscripts we have used pictures to explain the world around us, so the culture of comics has always been here.

“But there is an important story for everyone to know as well that Scotland was the cradle of comics.

The world’s first modern comic book was published in Scotland.

“Called the Glasgow Looking Glass it poked fun at political issues and the fashion of the day. It was an early example of satirical topical graphic journalism, a genre that became

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First Page of Vol 1 No 1 Glasgow Looking Glass June 11th 1825

increasingly popular throughout the nineteenth century.

“This was a night of fun and enjoyment with a few interesting insights to celebrate all things comics. The fact is comics are, quite frankly, super cool and I love researching this inspirational field to bring it to new audiences.”

The special evening was also a chance for children and adults to

explore the cultural and historical background of comics from the earliest times up to the present day.

The event was been run to coincide with St Andrew’s Fair Saturday, Scotland’s contribution to a global cultural movement aiming to provide a positive response to the consumerism of Black Friday by delivering a festival of arts and culture and celebrate Scotland’s patron saint at the same time.

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Highlights of the night will include an appearance by one of the world’s top comic book artists with the legendary DC Comics - Scotland’s own Frank Quitely, the pen name of of Glaswegian Vincent Deighan.

“The Hunterian was delighted to

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support this exciting Comic Night at the Museum,� said Steph Scholten, Director of The Hunterian which was founded in 1807 and is Scotland’s oldest public museum with one of the largest collections outside the National Museums.

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Date 4 ur diary

Scotland

Until 5 January Edinburgh’s Christmas Edinburgh Edinburgh’s Christmas is a spectacular, six-week season of festive entertainment in the heart of the city providing lots of fun for all the family. http://www.edinburghschristmas.com/#stq=&stp=1 Until 2 January Stirling Winter Festival Stirling.

Stirling, the perfect place to visit during the festive season, bring some sparkle to your season in Stirling.

Join us for an outstanding programme of events for the whole family to enjoy, including Carol Concerts, Christmas shopping, and a fantastic range of bars and restaurants to visit, all set against a sparkling festive backdrop.There really is no better place to enjoy at this special time of year. http://www.stirlingwinterfestival.com 5 - 22 December Dundee Ethical Christmas Fair Dundee City Square The Ethical Christmas Fair has been running every year for twelve years and since 2016 in Dundee City Square with international exhibitors from as far Zambia, Kenya and India and hand crafted products from all around Scotland as well Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa, Peru, India, Chile, Palestine, Cambodia, Pakistan and everywhere else in between. http://www.handupevents.co.uk/the-ethical-christmasfair.html 9 December Glasgow’s Santa Dash George Square, Glasgow Dust off your Santa boots and join thousands of other Santas for a festive 5K! Don’t miss this mass participation run as the city centre transforms in to a red sea of festivity. It’s a sight to beho-ho-hold – adults, children and even dogs all welcome! https://www.glasgowloveschristmas.com/whats-on/ Pages/Santa-Dash.aspx 15 - 24 December A Magical Christmas at The Falkirk Wheel Falkirk Watch the kids beam with delight as Santa comes aboard our magical boat trip with gifts for all the girls and boys, dance and sing with the Elves and get your picture taken with Santa! https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/falkirk-wheel/

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If you have a future event you would like included in our diary please email details to news@scotlandcorrespondent.com 25 December The Ba’ Laing Street, Kirkwall, Orkney Every Christmas and New Year’s Day the “Ba’” is contested in the streets of Kirkwall. The game has been played in its present form since about 1850 between the Uppies and the Doonies. http://www.bagame.com 26 December Nippy Dipper Boxing Day Dip Aberdeen Beach, Aberdeen Brush off the Xmas cobwebs with a refreshing dip in the chilly North Sea. Raise funds for your own charity or the Lord Provost’s Charitable Trust. https://www.facebook.com/pg/nippydipper/ about/?ref=page_internal 30 December Edinburgh’ Torchlight Procession Edinburgh Blaze throgh the city accompanied by pipers and drummers, fire and fanfare and forge a river of light through the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. A spectacular and unforgettable family-friendly event culminating in the historic Holyrood Park. https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/whats-on/ torchlight-procession 31 December - 1 January Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Edinburgh The part of all parties. Celebrate the New Year in style in the home of Hogmanay’s capital city. https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com 31 December Stonehaven Fireball Festival Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire The Fireball Ceremony is Stonehaven’s unique way to welcome in the New Year and greet friends and neighbours. As the midnight chimes ring out on December 31st, approximately 40 men and women parade up and down the High Street swinging fiercely flaming balls around their heads. http://stonehavenfireballs.co.uk 31 December Candlelit Concert St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh A festive end of year celebration in the candlelit atmosphere in St Giles’ Cathedral. https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/whats-on/ candlelit-concert

31 December - 1 January Edinburgh Street Party Edinburgh See in the New Year, at the world’s best street party as Edinburgh invites the world to share the love, embrace friends – old and new – and celebrate the New Year in the home of Hogmanay. https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/whats-on/streetparty 31 December - 1 January Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens Edinburgh Celebrate Hogmanay in spectacular style at the Concert in the Gardens main stage in the iconic West Princes Street Gardens. Headlining this year is one of the standout bands from Scotland’s musical heritage, Mercury Prize and BRIT Award winners, Franz Ferdinand. https://www.edinburghshogmanay.com/whats-on/ concert-in-the-gardens 31 December - 1 January The Red Hot Highland Fling Inverness Scotland’s biggest and most spectacular FREE Hogmanay party which regularly features in the list of top 10 places in the United Kingdom to welcome in the New Year. http://www.invernessfestivals.com/index.php 31 December - 1 January Stirling’s Hogmanay Stirling To celebrate Hogmanay 2018 and bring in the New Year in style, Stirling will host two spectacular events on the iconic Stirling Castle Esplanade. There can be no better place to bring in the New Year with friends. http://www.stirlingwinterfestival.com

Australia

1 December Daylesford Highland Gathering Victoria Park, Daylesford, VIC A wee bit of Scotland in the picturesque tourist town of Daylesford, Victoria. Our charming Gathering includes a captivating Street March in the Main Street of Daylesford and then a full days Drumming, Piping and Dancing at the picturesque Victoria Park, located at the southern entrance of Daylesford. www.daylesfordhighland.com 2 December Holy Islands – Iona and Lindisfarne Study Day Canberra Irish Club, 6 Parkinson Street Weston, Weston, ACT At the centre of Saint Columba’s federation of monasteries and churches, the island of Iona was a centre of learning. The first half of this study day will look

at this beautiful island and its intriguing history, https://celticlearningcomau.wordpress.com/samhainterm/ 8 December Book of Kells Study Day Thirroul Community Centre, 352 Lawrence Hargraves Drive Thirroul, NSW. The Book of Kells is a beautiful, illuminated manuscript made around 750. In this day-long event, we will consider the context of the church in Ireland and Scotland, and the relationship of the Book of Kells to Saint Columba. www.celticlearningcomau.wordpress.com/events/

Canada

6 December Scotland in 3D Atwater Library, 1200 Atwater Avenue, Montreal Author and collector Peter Blair presents Scotland in 3D. Most people are astonished to discover that 3D was the most popular format of photograph in 1860! Peter Blair will introduce you to stereoscopy and, using 3D images from his new book, will take you on a virtual reality tour of Scotland via the main Victorian tourist hot spots. www.standrews.qc.ca 9 December The 55th Annual Gleneagles Ball Pacific Ballroom of the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver BC We look forward to welcoming you to our 55th Annual Gleneagles Ball. https://rscdsgleneagles.org/2018gleneaglesball

New Zealand

8 December Jenny Mair Highland Square Day Palmerston North, New Zealand The Jenny Mair Highland Square Day is set again to showcase a raft of talent from across the country and overseas. Upwards of 20 highland pipe bands and scores of contestant solo bagpipers, solo drummers and highland dancers will converge on The Square for a magnificent day out for all ages. https://www.facebook.com/events/169646123860484/

USA

1 December 173rd Feast of the Haggis Cultural Centre, Chicago, Il The Illinois Saint Andrew Society, now known as the Chicago Scots, was established in 1845 when a group of Scots came together to celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew, Scotland’s patron saint. Every year for 173

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years, despite world wars, great depressions and fires, the Society has hosted the “Feast of the Haggis” never missing a year and making this event Chicago’s longest running black tie dinner and we look forward to welcoming you to the 173rd year of the Feast! https://www.chicagoscots.org/upcomingevents/2018/12/1/173rd-feast-of-the-haggis 1 December 2018 St. Andrew’s Society of San Francisco’s 155th Annual Banquet & Ball Marine’s Memorial Club & Hotel, 609 Sutter St. San Francisco, CA Founded in 1863, the society joins men and women of Scottish birth and those of the same heritage in a bond of culture and benevolent purpose. www.saintandrewssocietysf.org 9 December Saint Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles St Andrew’s Day Celebration Tam O’Shanter, 2980 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039 The Saint Andrew’s Society of Los Angeles is the oldest

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organisation in Southern California devoted to the promotion of Scottish culture. www.saintandrewsla.org 13 December St. Louis St. Andrew’s Society Social Night Weber’s Front Row Bar and Grill on Big Bend Blvd in Webster Groves, Webster Groves, MO Once a month, we host a social night to give people a chance to meet officers and fellow members to answer any and all questions they have about the society. These are informal gatherings where everyone is welcome and can bring guests too. www.stlstandrews.com 15 December Pipes of Christmas Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, 921 Madison Avenue, New York, NY USA From the bold sounds of the bagpipes and the harmonious blending of brass, strings and percussion, to the poetic and lyrical words that complement them, the Pipes of Christmas is a festival for the soul. www.pipesofchristmas.com

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