Interesting Facts about Scotland

It is my intention to post one interesting fact about Scotland on this page each day, until I run out.  Each fact will fall into one of six categories:
1 - Land & People
2 - History
3 - Government & Politics
4 - Food & Drinks
5 - Culture & Sciences
6 - Economy

Please feel free to throw in your two-pence worth.  Speaking of 'pence' - Scotland does not have its 'own' separate money - it shares the £ (sterling) with the rest of the United Kingdom.

It is a decimal currency and every £ (pound) is divided into 100p (pence). There's been a lot of political discussion over the years about whether Scotland should go over to the euro, but there has been much opposition to this, so it does not look too likely in the near future.

Scottish currency banknotes differ in design from English ones, but are of the same value and are accepted everywhere in the UK.  Likewise, Englishes notes are accepted in Scotland.

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Scotland has three officially recognised languages: English, Scots (a relative of English) and Scottish Gaelic (a completely different language).  Add to this Scottish English, which is English spoken with a more or less strong Scots accent and the occasional use of words from Scots or Scottish Gaelic.

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Until 1603, Scotland had its own King.  Edinburgh – the capital of Scotland – like Rome, was built on seven hills.  Edinburgh was the first city in the world which had its own fire-brigade.

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Scottish dishes are well-known for their strange names like … Forlar Bridie (a meat pastry), Cock-a-leekie (soup), Collops (escalope), Crappit heid (fish dish), Finnan haddie (haddock fish), Arbroath Smokie (smoked haddock), Cullen Skink (haddock soup), Partan bree (seafood dish), Neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes), Rumbledethumps, Skirlie ……

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just wanted to stop by and thank you for all these interesting facts - I am really appreciating them!

Love,

Nicole

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You're most welcome, Nicole.  Today's interesting fact about Scotland …

For its diminuitive size, Scotland has has spawned an amazing number of great thinkers and inventors: Adam Smith, James Watt, David Hume, John Stuart Mill, Sir Alexander Fleming and Alexander Graham Bell.

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Scotland has some 790 islands, 130 of which are inhabited.

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wow, Laurie, 660 uninhabited islands? and it's true, that the number of great thinkers, inventors and also authors and poets is tremendous.

Robert Burns


Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson


J K Rowling


George MacDonald

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Nicole - THANK YOU for the links; they're great!  Here is another interesting fact about Scotland:

Skara Brae, on the island of Orkney, is the most complete Neolithic village in Europe.  It is also the oldest building Britain, dating from 3100 BCE (Before Common Era).

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I know I am being picky but JK Rowling isn't actually Scottish.
Orkney does have some fabulous prehistoric buildings, most because its quite isolated and no one came along and built on top of them. In fact my sister has just been there for a holiday.
Scottish banks can issue their own bank notes. All the banks in the UK had this right but it started to get out of hand and the Bank of England took over - but due to a campaign led by Sir Walter Scott, the Scottish banks kept their powers. Sir Walter was so popular that after he died a 61 metre high memorial was built in the centre of Edinburgh - it looks a lot like the rocket Thunderbird 3!

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wow! it does actually, kevin - F.A.B. thunderbirds are Go!

lol

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Kevin - Thank you for stopping in and adding to the thread.  Here is today's interesting fact about Scotland:

One particularity of Scots law is that the criminal trial may end in one of three verdicts:  “guily,”  “not guilty”  or “not proven.”  The “not proven” verdict may be referred to as the Scottish Verdict abroad.

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That's very true Laurie. Another quirk of the legal system is that juries have 15 members, not 12. The idea being that if there's an odd number you will never get a tie.

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that actually makes sense having an odd number. But why 15? It seems like an awfully large number to try to get agreement.

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I don't know but I will find out whne I go to court. No I've not done anything illegal! I have been called up to serve on a jury.

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cool! when do you start?

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I don't have a start date yet but it will be unusual going into court via the Front door… the court is also called the Sheriff's Court - but he doesn't have a star and a Colt 45.

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aw! what's a sheriff without a star and Colt 45? :) i look forward to hearing whatever you feel like sharing about it when it's over.

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Kevin & Nicole - interesting discussion about an odd number of jury members.  It certainly does make good sense - eliminating the possibility of a tie.  But 15!  That's a lot of folks to try to get to agree.  Kevin, if/when you can share about your jury duty, that would be interesting, too.

New fact for the day:

Shortbread is Scotland's most famous biscuit.

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mmm! “Ceart gu leòr. Tha an t-acras orm.”


http://scotgaelic.tripod.com/phrases.html

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Interesting, in Irish Gaelic it is very similar ” Ceart go leor, tà an_ocras orm ( right on, I'm very hungry)

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I didn't realise the two gaelics were that similar! thanks Mike!

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I have to challenge the shortbread assumption. Tunnock's teacakes are exported worldwide. OK I'll admit to local bias, and a recent tour of the factory where I got to sample these warm off the production line!

The product consists of a small round shortbread biscuit covered with a dome of a whipped egg white concoction similar to marshmallow. This is then encased in a thin layer of milk or dark chocolate and wrapped in a distinctive red and silver foil paper for the more popular milk chocolate variety, with blue and gold wrapping for the dark.
The name tea cake is somewhat confusing as generally a teacake is taken to mean a sweet bread roll with dried fruit added to the mix, which is usually served toasted and buttered. A Tunnock's Tea Cake bears no relation to this product.

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Nicole - What a wonderful reference.  Thank you!  The interesting fact for today is:

Edinburgh is Europe's fifth largest financial center.

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I did not know that.  Very cool!

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Financial centre! Sorry I am being a fuss pot - just proving I do actually read this stuff Laurie!

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ps thanks to everyone for keeping this going, much appreciated

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lol the Scottish mafia is out…………we'll insist on centre, and colour, and pants being things that go UNDER your jeans………………..oh the power of it:-)

Liz

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hehe… power to correct spelling ;) vive la difference!

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Nicole, Kevin & Liz - Thank you for stopping by and your comments.  Here's today's interesting fact:

Notable Scottish inventions include the method of logarithms (1614), tarmac (1820), the waterproof raincoat (1823) and the pneumatic tyre (1887).

If you are aware of any more, please add them.

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http://www.magicdragon.com/Wallace/thingscot.html

First cloned mammal
Dolly the sheep, in Edinburgh, 1997

The Historical Novel
This literary form was “invented” by Sir Walter Scott, author of “Ivanhoe”, “Rob Roy” and many other historical novels. It may be argued that there are earlier examples from Japanese literature, but these were not known about in the west. So in the literary tradition of Europe and America, Scott was an innovator.

King Arthur
Despite claims to the contrary, there is a lot of evidence that King Arthur and most of the knights of the Round Table were Scottish. And what was that Questing Beast that Sir Pellinore spent years pursuing - could it be the Loch Ness Monster? Was Arthur the son of King Aidan?

The Kelvin scale of temperature
Named after the scientist, Lord Kelvin (William Thomson), professor at Glasgow University, who was a pioneer in the field of thermodynamics.

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Here is a list of scottish inventions including penicillen, the decimal point & many more

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(((Mike))) it's fun to have you participating here, hope your connection troubles are resolved soon.

Love,

Nicole

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Nicole - Those are terrific!  Thank you for adding them to this discussion thread.  Here is today's interesting fact:

At least six U.S. Presidents were of Scottish descent: Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826); James Madison (1751-1836); Andrew Jackson (1767-1845); James Knox Polk (1795-1849); William McKinley (1843-1901); and Woodrow (Thomas) Wilson (1856-1924).

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Oh and of course Andrew Carnegie..memorialised here in public libraries. I think they named a wee hall on the other side of the pond after him too.

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Rather strange that the waterproof rain coat was invented in Scotland! Not sure about King Arthur although he must have been a celt. Strangely enough this week it turns out that Muhammed Ali's great grandpa was from Ireland and Ali was in this wee town called Ennis to be given the freedom of the town - he's the only person ever to be given it. I heard the town mayor on the radio and he was so excited!

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yes, odd that! LOL! so, what is this about Ali? wow! who knew?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8232367.stm

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Mohamed Ali honoured in Ennis -Ireland

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a wee hall named after Carnegie - LOL! Carnegie Hall Animated History

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Great video, Nicole. Oh that's a very Scottish trait, no-one ever gets really big praise for anything :-) It's a mentality that really doesn't approve of people getting too big for their boots.

Yeah, as wee halls go, that one isn't bad:-)

Liz

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oh, so that's where we Canadians got our immoderate modesty from! i'd always wondered :)

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Today's Interesting Fact about Scotland:

Other famous Americans with Scottish ancestry include John Paul Jones (father of the American Navy), Thomas Edison (inventor), Ben Affleck (actor), and Heather Locklear (actress).

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I'm a bit slow on the uptake today – here in the U.S. we are enjoying a holiday – Labor Day weekend.  The unofficial end of summer.  Here is today's Interesting Fact about Scotland:

The two first Prime Ministers of Canada, John A. Macdonald (1815-1891) and Alexander Mackenzie (1822-1892) were Scottish.
 
The photograph is of John A. Macdonald.  Born is Glasgow, Scotland on June 6, 1891.  His remains are buried at Cataraqui Cemetery, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

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Alexander Mackenzie, from Vernon, Perthshire. I didn't know we has spawned Canadian PMs, thanks Lawrie.

As Prime Minister, Alexander Mackenzie strove to reform and simplify the machinery of government. He introduced the secret ballot; created the Supreme Court of Canada; established the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in 1874; created the Office of the Auditor General in 1878; and struggled to continue progress on the national railway. After his government's defeat, Mackenzie remained Leader of the Opposition until 1880, when he relinquished the party leadership to Edward Blake. However, he remained as a Member of Parliament until his death in 1892 from a stroke that resulted from hitting his head during a fall. He died in Toronto and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery in Sarnia, Ontario.

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Liz - yours is a great addition, thank you!  Here is today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Scotland is reputed for its whisky, known outside Scotland as Scotch or Scotch Whisky.  What few people know is that whisky was invented in China and was first distilled by monks in Ireland in the early 15th century before reaching Scotland 100 years later.

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I just wondered how the chinese guys got to Ireland to show them how how make
uisge beatha which means “water of life” in gaelic. Whisky is great but always drink it in moderation. If Moderation is closed… drink it at home! Thanks again folks for keeping this going!

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it's strong stuff i hear! i don't dare go near alcohol as i am always high enough on life… God only knows what would happen if I did more than sniffed a cork lol

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I don't think they did, I think trading ships found China. And as far as I'm aware, though of course I may be entirely wrong, what the east had was distillation, so the process was brought back. I'm not sure they actually had anything we'd recognise as whisky.

Oh and its good advice to do everything in moderation………..especially moderation!
Liz

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Kevin, Nicole and Liz - Thank you for sharing your fun comments.  Here is today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Just like whisky (see above), kilts, tartans and bagpipes aren't Scottish inventions.  Kilts originated in Ireland.  Tartans were found in Bronze-age or Iron-age Central Europe (Hallstatt culture) and Central Asia (Tocharian culture).  Bagpipes might also be an ancient invention from Central Asia.  Interestingly, genetic studies are now pointing that the mutation for red hair, which now reaches a world maximum in Western Scotland and Northern ireland, may have originated in Central Asia too.  This means that Scottish people may be (partly) descended from ancient people from Central Asia.   

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First and foremost, today – 09-09-09 – is my son's 26th birthday. 
Happy Birthday Eoghan!

Now on to today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Scottish surnames are divided into two main categories: Gaelic names (typically starting with “Mc” or “Mac” – and Germanic names such as Barclay, Blair, Brown, Carmichael, Cumming, Hamilton, Howard, Melville, Menzies, Stewart, etc. 

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Happy birthday Eoghan! What a cool name,

Hugs,

Nicole

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Thank you Nicole.  Eoghan is Scottish Gaelic and is pronounced “You When”  – or as he would have you think, “You Win!”

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birthday Eoghan

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Today's Interesting Fact about Scotland:  Scotland is known as “Alba” in Gaelic.

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you win eh? :) good for him!

I found this poem: 

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Runrig, Alba at Edinburgh castle

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Nicole and Liz -  Thank you for your contributions.  I enjoyed the poem, and I think we have every Runrig CD that's ever been made!  The Gaelic word “Runrig” means a verticle furrow (as opposed to the typical horizantal furrow) dug into the side of a hill so that water channels off …

Today's Interesting Fact about Scotland:

Scottish literature includes such names as Sir Walter Scott, Lord Byron and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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Today's Interesting Fact about Scotland:

Famous Scottish actors include Sean Connery, Gerard Butler and Ewan McGregor.

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mmm and Tom Conti for those Shirley valentine moments

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oh yes… and let us not forget these :)

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Liz and Nicole - Great additions, thank you!  Today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Scotland has roughly 5 million inhabitants, about 8.5% of the UK's population.

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That's fascinating… when you look at a 
United Kingdom map you see how relatively large Scotland is, but there is much space which is still wild. Wonderful, isn't it?

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And it's so accessible, it took me an hour to drive to Loch Lomond today. Lovely sunny day, lunch outside.It felt like Summer. The Steamer is the Maid of the Loch, she has been running there since I was a kid.

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Wow, imagine living so close to Loch Lomond. I am jealous! Looks gorgeous. Thanks for the pictures,

Love,

Nicole

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Nicole - You've hit the nail on the head – the space is fantastic!

Liz - beautiful photographs - thank you (I'm jealous too) …

Today's interesting fact about Scotland -

Scotland has about the same land area as the Czech Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Panama, the U.S. state of Maine, or the Japanese island of Hokkaido.  The latter (Hokkaido) has the most similar climate and population density. 

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wow, who would have connected Scotland and Hokkaido. Come to think of it, I don't even know very much about Hokkaido… thanks, Laurie, I am learning so much.

Hugs,

Nicole

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Nicole - I don't know much about Hokkaido and I would never have pegged Scotland and Hokkaido as having a similar climate and population density.

Today's interesting fact about Scotland:

About 5 million Americans reported Scottish ancestry.  The highest concentration of people of Scottish descent are found in New England and in the Northwest.

[Personal note - the “Northwest” surprises me.  I would have thought after New England it would have been the Appalachian Mountain region] …

Interesting Facts about Scotland

The Isle of Skye is is situated off the West coast of Mainland Scotland and is the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides.  It is sometimes referred to in Gaelic poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò, or The Misty Isle.

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That's a surprise to me too, Laurie, about where there are most people of Scottish descent in the US. The Isle of Skye looks so magical…

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Scottish cuisine consists of lots of frying, hence a link to the Southern USA… and the “m” word - McDonalds!

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I couldn't bear to post the picture, but here is a delicacy:-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep-fried_Mars_Bar

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oh my, Liz and kevin! :):)

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Back to slightly more mundane stuff, the steam engine was not really invented in Scotland but it was greatly improved by James Watt. The story goes he was watching his mother make tea, and was inspired when he put a spoon over the spout of the kettle and the lid blew off. Clearly not the ideal person to be working in Starbucks but his new design of steam engine paved the way for the industrial revolution and the steam locomotive which completely transformed the world. Had he been alive today he would almost certainly have been Sir James, or Lord Watt, and a Nobel laureate.

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Kevin - that is very interesting!  I loved your comment, “Clearly not the ideal person to be workin in Starbucks …”

Today's interesting fact about Scotland:

In 1603 the king of Scotland became the king of England – not the other way round.  The two countries did not merge their givernments until 1707, to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.

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what great stories you tell kevin :)

That's fascinating, Laurie, so, which king was that of Scotland?

Speaking of kings I understand that Macbeth has gotten a very bad rap through the Shakespeare play. Apparently he wasn't such a terrible guy…

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James VI of Scotland became James I of England after the death of Elizabeth I (the Virgin Queen). James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots and a cousin to Elizabeth. Elizabeth had her imprisoned at Fotheringay Castle, and then killed.
james vi and i two kings or one

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There is more history here

http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/

I don't know if you can watch the videos outside of the UK though

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sadly you are quite right, only available in the UK. Pity! :)

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ah, that's right! Thanks Liz!

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Nicole, Liz and Kevin - Great information!  And yes, I was able to view the video - thank you for the link.  Nicole you said, “Speaking of kings I understand that Macbeth has gotten a very bad rap through the Shakespeare play. Apparently he wasn't such a terrible guy…”  I would love to learn more about this if anyone has information.

Todays interesting fact about Scotland:

The Bank of Scotland, founded in 1695, is the oldest surviving bank in the UK.  As mentioned previously, it was also the first bank in Europe to print its own banknotes, a function it still performs today.

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Macbeth (c.1005 - 1057)

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The Royal Forest, which includes Birnam Hill, was gifted in 1160 by Malcolm, the Maiden, to Duncan, Earl of Fife, on his marriage with Princess Ada, the King's niece. This Duncan was a descendant of that MacDuff who accompanied Malcolm Canmohr on his march to oust the victorious usurper, Macbeth..
Beautiful as this hill is, with its belts of graceful birches andgreen tasselled larches, its patches of purple heather and green blaeberry knolls, its huge precipitous rocks and gentle slopes with magnificent prospects, it does not owe its world-wide fame to beauty or prominence of situation. It has been rendered classical by Shakespeare's immortal pen.
Every reader knows the story of Macbeth and great Birnam Wood. Duncan, “gentle king,” whose assassination by his general Macbeth, forms part of the play, was a son of Crinan, the lay Abbot of Dunkeld. Seventeen years after King Duncan's assassination by Macbeth, Duncan's son Malcolm marched from Stirling on to Crieff, thence through the Sma' Glen, their resting place for the night. Various reasons are cited for the subsequent adornment of Malcolm's army with branches from Birnam Wood.
Thus in Shakespeare's Macbeth,
Act V, Scene 3
In a room in the castle of Dunsinane:
Macbeth tells the doctor that he is not afraid of an invasion, because of the witches´ predictions that, 1) No man born of woman can kill him and 2) the woods must march before he is defeated.
Scene 4
In the country near Birnam Wood:
Malcolm, Macduff and their army are ready to invade Macbeth´s castle. Malcolm tells his men to camouflage themselves with branches from the trees in the forest.
“Let every soldier hew him down a bough
And bear't before him; thereby shall we shadow
The numbers of our host and make discovery
Err in report of us.”
Scene 5
At Dunsinane:
Within the castle. Macbeth is told that Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth is stunned. A messenger arrives telling Macbeth that Birnam Woods is marching on Dunsinane. Macbeth realizes that the witches´ prophecy is not good for him, but he fights on, because he is certain that he will not be killed, because of the other prophecy that no man born of woman can kill him.
Macbeth: I will not yield,
To kiss the ground before young Malcom's feet,
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane,
And thou opposed, being of no woman born,
Yet I will try the last. Before my bodyI throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,
And Damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough'
 
http://www.visitdunkeld.com/birnam-wood.htm

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Wowee Kazowie Liz - your posts are fantastic - thank you!

This has nothing to do with anything, but I want to share it with somebody.  It's 8am and I'm sitting here in my office at home watching a Cooper Hawk from my window.  S/he is looking for breakfast.  S/he has made two unsuccessful attempts at chimpmunks.  I think the Cooper Hawk is a baby (it's only about 18-inches tall), so it's probably just learning to hunt.  If I try to take a picture it will be through glass and screen (and probably scare the bajeebers out of everyone involved), so I'm just sitting here typing and watching.  That said …

Today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Edinburgh is Europe's fifth largest financial center.

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The end of MacBeth, where he cannot be killed by a man born of woman is rather similar to the Ringwraith being killed in the Lord of the Rings, however… my interesting fact is that Roman Polanski's MacBeth movie was not even filmed in Scotland - it was made in North East England and my best friend Geoff from Berwick was an extra in it.

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Kevin - Not even filmed in Scotland?  How dare they!

Today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Scottish waters have some of the largest and richest oil reserves in all of Europe.

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coolness! loving all the responses in this thread…

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Yep, and all the tax revenue goes to the UK government. We're the only country who ever struck oil and got poorer!

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hmm, seems very unfair Liz. But you might want to check out what happened with my home country of Trinidad and striking oil. Hasn't been all good either…

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Hello Nicole!  Today's interesting fact about Scotland:

Scotland is a major producer of wool and wool textiles.

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Hi Laurie
What is even more interesting is how that came about.
People were moved off the land to make way for sheep. Where did they go? On boats to Canada and Australia.


What became known as the Clearances were considered by the landlords as necessary “improvements”. They are thought to have been begun by Admiral John Ross of Balnagowan Castle in Scotland in 1762. MacLeod of MacLeod (i.e. the chief of MacLeod) began experimental work on Skye in 1732. Chiefs engaged Lowland, or sometimes English, factors with expertise in more profitable sheep farming, and they “encouraged”, sometimes forcibly, the population to move off suitable land.

Another wave of mass emigration came in 1792, known as the “Year of the Sheep” to Scottish Highlanders. The people were accommodated in poor crofts or small farms in coastal areas where farming could not sustain the communities and they were expected to take up fishing. In the village of Badbea in Caithness the conditions were so harsh that, while the women worked, they had to tether their livestock and even their children to rocks or posts to prevent them being blown over the cliffs.[1] Others were put directly onto emigration ships to Nova Scotia (Antigonish and Pictou counties and later Cape Breton), the Kingston area of Ontario and the Carolinas of the American colonies. There may have been a religious element in these forced removals since many Highlanders were Roman Catholic. This is reflected by the majority representation of Catholics in areas and towns of Nova Scotia such as Antigonish and Cape Breton. However almost all of the very large movement of Highland settlers to the Cape Fear region of North Carolina were Presbyterian. (This is evidenced even today in the presence and extent of Presbyterian congregations and adherents in the region.)

One estimate for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia has 25,000 Gaelic-speaking Scots arriving as immigrants between 1775 and 1850. At the beginning of the twentieth century, there were an estimated 100,000 Gaelic speakers in Cape Breton, but because of economic migration to English-speaking areas and the lack of Gaelic education in the Nova Scotian school system, the numbers of Gaelic speakers fell dramatically.

It wasn't done with any finesse either…….
To my poor and defenceless flock the dark hour of trial came in right earnest. It was the month of April 1819 that they were all - man, woman and child - from the Heights of Farr to the mouth of the Naver, on one day to quit their tenements and go - many of them knew not whither. For a few, some miserable patches of ground along the shore were doled as lots without anything in the shape of the poorest hut to shelter them. Upon these lots it was decided that they should build houses at their own expense, and cultivate the ground, at the same time occupying themselves as fishermen, although the great majority of them had never set foot in a boat in their lives.

At an early hour on a Tuesday, Mr. Sellar, escorted by a large body of constables, sheriff-officers and others, commenced work at Grummore, the first inhabited township to the west. They gave the inmates half an hour to pack up and carry off their furniture, and then set the cottages on fire. To this plan they ruthlessly adhered. The roofs and rafters were lighted up into one red blaze.

I had occasion the next week to visit the manse of Tongue. On my way thither, I passed through the scene of the campaign of burning. Of all the houses, the thatched roofs were gone; but the walls remained. The flames of the preceeding week still slumbered in their ruins, and sent up into the air spiral columns of smoke. The sooty rafters of the cottages as they were being consumed, filled the air with a heavy and most offensive odour. Nothing could more vividly represent the horrors of grinding oppression.

Donald Sage
Memorabilia Domestica, p.215

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so, that's how we became blessed in Canada with so many Scots! It's a horrible thing to have happened, but we are the richer here for it… life is strange, isn't it?

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Liz - That is EXTREMELY interesting – thank you!!
 
Today's interesting fact has to do with the geography of Scotland:

Scotland's total area is 78,772 sq km
Highest Mountain - Ben Nevis 1344 m
Largest Loch - Loch Lomond 56 sq km
Longest River - River Tay 193km
Coastline - approx 10,000km with 3,900km mainland coast
Weather - average sea level temp. of 9 degrees (min -30, max =30)
Sunshine - average 3 hours daily
Rain - 200 days rain per year, west coast 250 days rain per year

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One of the odd quirks of our geography is that despite having a fairly large land mass, you are never more than 30 miles from the sea.

Also we get the most dramatic effects of the gulf stream on the West Coast. That leads to odd things, such as palm trees growing in Oban. Not exactly what you would expect for our climate.

The gulf stream is one of the strongest ocean currents in the world. It moves warm water from the Gulf of Mexico north into the Atlantic and eventually flows up the western side of Scotland, keeping the sea temperate and the climate mild, allowing tropical plants such as palm trees to flourish.
http://www.visitscottishheartlands.com/ournaturalworld/contact.html

Oh and if anything, that rainfall feels like a conservative estimate. WE know it's Summer here because the rain gets warmer:-)

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I like being near the sea, but prefer it to be a tropical one :) can't wait for that Virgin Islands trip at the end of April! Ah…

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Liz - Ahhhhh, warm rain.

Nicole - The Virgin Islands in April - Wow!  We are going to the Bahamas in March to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary - whoohoo!

Today's interesting fact has to do with the economy of Scotland (Note: GVA = Gross Value Added per employee):

Population - 5,168,500  (estimate at end of 2008)
GVA - £98 million  (estimate at end of 2007)
GVA per head - £19,152  (estimate at end of 2007)
Currency - Pound sterling
Labor Force - 2,678,000
Scotland's Top Five Export Industries (£billions):
Food & Drink - £4.6
Chemicals - £2.2
Wholesale, retail & accommodation - £1.9
Business Services - £1.9
Office Machinery - £1.2
Top Five Export Destinations (£billions):
USA - £2.8
France - £1.5
Netherlands - £1.4
Germany - £1.3
Eire- £1.0

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Bahamas in March! Oh, great! We are going to have to have a big anniversary splash for you here on Gaia, Laurie…

hmm interesting stats…

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Hello Nicole.  Today's interesting fact has to do with the population of Scotland:

Total Population - 5,168,500
Glasgow Population - 577,980
Edinburgh Population - 446,110
Aberdeen Population - 179,950
Dundee Population - 141,930
Inverness Population - 42,400
Stirling - 33,060
Birth rate 10.7 per 1,000 population
Death rate 11.0 per 1,000 population
Net migration rate 4.1 migrant(s) per 1,000 population
Population growh rate 0.4%
Life expectancy at birth:  Male 74.2 years  Female 79.3 years
Literacy 99%

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99% Literacy! awesome Scots!

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Wow laurie, I remember as a child being taught Glasgow had almost a million people. Then about 30 years ago it was 800,00. Is it really down to half a million?
I guess thats the effect of deindustrialisation and also clearing poor city centre tenements and relocating people to the outskirts.
Some of it will be playing with figures. There are large suburbs to the south and west which are technically in another authority, though most people there work in Glasgow. Its a bit of a sore point, as they have all the advantages of the city, but don't pay any taxes there. The authority which manages the outlying area where there are nice homes and schools doesn't need to develop industry or other infrastructure, as it is effectively “poached” from the city.
Of course, with lots of good housing and schools, not to mention lower taxes, those who can often chose to live just outside the city. That leaves the city itself with a reduced tax base, but providing services for a much bigger population.   

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This page is starting to get rather long and cumbersome.  As such, after I post on September 30th I will start a new page.  In bread-crumb manner I will put a link to the new page at the bottom of the current page so that you can easily find your way on October 1.  I'll start a fresh on the first day of each new month.

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Liz - Your point is very well taken, indeed.  Today's interesting fact has to do with the Scottish government:

The Scottish Government is the devolved administration for Scotland, dealing with all devolved issues independently of the UK Government.  Devolution is the delegation of power from a central government to local bodies.  This enables decisions to be made at a level closer to the point at which they have an impact.  However, some areas remain reserved to the UK Parliament such as Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security, and Social Security.  The Scottish Government was officially renamed on September 3, 2007, having formerly been known as the Scottish Executive.

Specific details about the Scottish Government will follow in tomorrow's post.

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… continued from yesterday:

Leader - Alex Salmond MP MSP - The First Minister for Scotland
 
Structure - Cabinet Government: First Minister leads the Cabinet and selects 5 Cabinet Secretaries, each representing one portfolio such as Finance and Sustainable Growth.

Budget - £31 billion

Location - St. Andrews House, Edinburgh

Political Party - Scottish National Party (Minority Administration)

Ministers (Not in Cabinet) - 10 Scottish Ministers each reporting to a Cabinet Secretary, 2 Law Officers (non-political)

Devolved Powers - Health, Education & Training, Local Government, Social Work, Housing, Planning, Tourism, Economic Development, Law & Home Affairs, Police & Fire, The Environment, Natural & Built Heritage, Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, Sports & The Arts, Statistics, and Transport 

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thanks for being so very organised and dedicated, my dear! 

hugs,

nicole

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Scotland's Deputy First Minister is called Nicola Sturgeon and while she has a funny name she is easily the best looking politician in Europe. Unlke Alex Salmond, who I have met and he makes Danny DeVito look like a film star. OK, so he IS a fim star, but you get the idea!

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yes lol

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Good morning Nicole and Kevin!  Today is my 52nd birthday – whoohoo!  I'm going to a birthday brunch shortly, and then I'm headed off on a wee bit of an adventure …

I'm going to shift the trajectory of our recent conversation from Government to Arts and Culture in Scotland.

The contemporary Scottish art scene is thriving, with leadind artists like Gerald Burns, Elaine Woo, Peter Howson, Lois Carson, John Bellany, Alison Watt, Jack Vettriano and Alex Cooper all finding their work hanging in the world's most prestigious galleries, fetching stunning sums at auction (Sotheby's sold Vettriano's 'The Singing Butler' for £748,000), and being snapped up by celebrity collectors like Jack Nicholson, Madonna, Terence Conran and Tim Rice.
 
For those who are not yet established artists, Scotland is one of the best proving grounds in the world.  Whether it's abstract or classical, digitally photographed or painted in oils, SCOTLAND'S ART SCHOOLS have been producing world class artrists for centuries.

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have a wonderful wonderful happy birthday!

Hugs,

Nicole

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I do not believe for one second that you are 52 Laurie! I think you should scan your birth certificate and post it online to prove it. 42 maybe at most!

I hope you had a great day and many happy returns.

Kevin

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i think we could add sweet birthday greetings to that product line, you are obviously a master, kevin!

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Nicole - Thank you!  Kevin - Awe shucks [blush, blush].  For anyone who would like to see my birthday adventure, simply click HERE.

Today's interesting fact about Scotland as it pertains to Arts and Culture:

As for acting, one only need to consider the alumni of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) to understand Scotland's eminence in that field: Robert Carlyle, Sir Ian Richardson, Alan Cumming, James McAvoy and Tom Conti being just a few of the internationally recognized names who learned their craft in Glasgow.  And there's no shortage of home-grown outlets for the talents of the Academy's graduates: from the world-class “Traverse Theatre” in Edinburgh to the legendary “Citizens” in Glasgow, Scotland has an eniable theatrical reputation.

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Today's interesting fact about Scotland as it pertains to Arts and Culture:

The Royal Scttish Academy of Music and Drama provides a wonderful launching pad for new talent, with names like Janis Kelly, Felicity Hammond, Lisa Milne and Patrick Doyle all moving from the Academy onto greater things at both the Royal Opera and the Scottish Opera.

Tomorrow, (October 1st) this page will be continued on a new page.  Once I start the new page I will come back to this page and place a LINK to the new one for convenience.

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As of October 1, 2009, this page is continued HERE.  Kevin, can you lock this page?