The Wittance Issue #5 2023

The Wittance Issue #5

2023

Scotland Top of Europe’s School Class Book & Music reviews Wind, Wave, Tides, Hydrogen.

Scotland fronts Renewables Race

2

editor@bruhupu

Welcome It’s getting to the time of year when the casual greeting in the street changes to “It’s gettin’ cauld.” and “It’s dark early the day.” Yes autumn is definitely on the way. The trees will be turning soon and we enter another beautiful colourful season.

Before that all kicks in, we have a new edition of The Wittance for you and we continue our look at all things Scottish brought to us by people from all over the country. Who knew that Glasgow was such a film star? Kate MacRitchie goes through some of the more famous movies filmed on location in our biggest city.

Gaelic is the language of our forefathers and is once more on the rise, have a look at the history behind the words and where you too can give it a go, for free.

It’s well known that learning a language aids mental health and increases cultural understanding.

If you are in need of a bit of encouragement to face that task or decision you have been putting off for some time we have the very thing. A world champion triathlete who gave it all up, bought the rights to an old book to remake an already famous film and fell into financial struggles but won through and is now an Oscar winner.

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

3

We have a look at Scotlands move from the European capital of oil and gas to the permier provider of hydrogen fuels and renewable energy, some fascinating history, British army movements in Scotland after 1745, book recommendations, reviews, art exhibitions, music gigs and of course Alice gives us some more Scots words.

We hope you enjoy it.

Bruce Patterson.

Editor & compiler

ublishing.com

Kate MacRitchie.

Contributor & feature writer

What’s I Wind Power & Green Energy The taming of Scotland’s wilder weather into a renewable powerhouse

Atholl Country Life Museum Donald McBeath was a remarkable man. Find out why from this incredible small rural museum.

Lesley Paterson From world leading performances in a gruelling sport to an Oscar. What a story!

Glasgow or Hollywood A run through the big films made on location in Glasgow

Scottish Youth Film Festival

The festival happens this month in Perth. Find out what’s on and who is going.

Hydrogen Fuel

Another example of how Scotland can lead Europe in renewable energy. Green energy from green energy

Inside?

Cantonments from 1746 Onwards The as yet untold stories of British troops in Scotland after Culloden.

Scots Best Educated In Europe A recent independent study results. Kate MacRitchie investigates our education history.

Blairgowrie As part of the Bookmark Festival join local resident David Gow on a photographic tour around the town.

Scots Wirds Wie Alice How to express yourself using the rich and beguiling tapestry of Scottish words.

Books, Music & Art New books, reviews, recommendations, music and art exhibitions. They’re all here.

Scottish Firsts More innovations from Scotland but Southern Fried Chicken and Gospel Music? Surely not.

editor@bruhupu

6

Wind Power & Greener Energy.

A Breeze For Scotland

By Kate MacRitchie Instead of cursing Scotland’s dreich weather, it’s time to look on the bright side. Next time you’re fastening your cagoul tighter against a howling hoolie, consider that last year 85% of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption came from renewable sources.

in essentials like fuel and despite Scotland’s windy, wet weather the climate emergency still looms large. If renewables can reliably provide us with the energy for heat, transport, and electricity, can Scottish citizens look forward to greener energy and a reduction in bills?

But who really benefits from this excess of wild weather? The cost of living crisis has seen steep rises

For Scottish Renewables, the “voice” of the industry in Scotland, renewable energy is key to tackling

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

climate change. With a vision for Scotland to take the world lead when it comes to renewable energy, their carboncutting targets are some of the most ambitious in the world.

Since 2019 emissions from the electricity sector have sharply fallen.

Thanks to onshore wind farms and hydro power there’s been an 87% emissions reduction. In

ublishing.com

7

2022, wind power alone generated 78% of renewable electricity in Scotland. Hydro power contributes a smaller but significant 12%, and other sectors are catching up.

But it’s wind that’s making waves in the renewable energy sector.

In fact, the gustiest parts of Scotland can lead to an excess of renewable energy. 2022 was a recordbreaking year, generating

8

enough electricity to power all households in Scotland for over three years. The problem is, there’s no reliable way to store energy for later use.

So where does the excess go? Fortunately, there are export opportunities. In 2022, Scotland’s net electricity exports grew to 13.8 gigawatts, which translates to a wholesale market value of £4 billion.

Onshore windfarms contribute to the bulk of this figure but a range of sectors are being developed to contribute to the renewable energy revolution. Offshore wind

editor@bruhupu

is another big contributor alongside hydro and solar photovoltaics (that’s solar panels to me and you). It’s a growing industry that supports nearly 30,000 jobs, with onshore windfarms contributing nearly £2.5 million to the Scottish economy.

Not everyone is blown away, however. Many feel that these figures aren’t worth the detrimental impact to the stunning vistas and wild land Scotland is known for. The John Muir Trust recently objected to a multiturbine windfarm being built on a designated Wild Land Area and argued that, given the renewable

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

industry’s strides in decarbonisation, “now is the time to invest in the other strategies we need to reach net zero.”

Environment aside, the area most Scots want help with is making daily life easier, like a reduction in heating bills and fuel costs. Are renewables a viable answer?

Orkney is the shining example of what a renewable Scotland could

ublishing.com

9

look like, with a lowcarbon, renewablespowered future becoming a present reality on the archipelago. In the past, gales have reduced the streets of Kirkwall to rubble as giant waves pulverised the sea wall.

While tempests of this magnitude are thankfully rare, winter storms are the norm on Orkney and today they’re being harnessed to improve locals’ lives. Once heavily reliant on coal and gas energy from the mainland, nature’s raw

10

power is now responsible for lighting up entire villages and powering cars.

A report commissioned

by Point and Sandwick Development Trust found that a community-owned turbine on Westray punched above its weight in terms of economic return. For each megawatt of electricity produced per year it returns roughly £299,000 to the community. Over 25 years this figure is expected to skyrocket to £6.8 million.

editor@bruhupu

It means Orcadians are becoming increasingly self-sufficent. In fact, the island produces more electricity than it needs.

Now the challenge isn’t how to create renewable energy, but what to do with the excess?

Pioneering technology that splits water into its two basic elements has been the Orcadians’ answer. Once the water is split into hydrogen and oxygen via a cutting-edge

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

11

electrolyser, the hydrogen can be stored for later use (Orkney’s hydrogen store has already generated electricity for berthed ships).

The innovations on the Orkneys aren’t Scotland’s only success story.

Whitelee Windfarm, the biggest in Scotland has made an enormous contribution to net-zero over the past decade. 215

turbines can generate 539 megawatts of electricity — that’s enough to power every home in Glasgow.

While Scotland failed to reach its renewable energy target 2020, it was only off by a whisker: 98.6% of gross energy consumption came from renewables. It seems the future is bright for clean, green energy in Scotland.

Let us know what you want to read about.

Send us your contributions, articles, photographs, videos, images and stories.

Send us a message to find out how it all works.

ublishing.com

editor@bruhupublishing.com

editor@bruhupu

12

Atholl Country Life Museum Donald McBeath

People travelling to, or through, Blair Atholl might wonder who the imposing bearded highlander is who proudly stares out of the threshold signs to the village.

The man is Blair Atholl’s most famous son, Donald McBeath. He was born in 1830, a native Gaelic

speaker. He lived his early life in the family cottage at Ruidhe na Coileach, or “shieling of the grouse”, in Glen Girnaig by Beinn a’Ghlo. He worked on the land in his early life both as a cattle herdsman and as a ploughman.

He began to make a name for himself serving in the Scots Fusilier

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

13

of the regiment’s sharpshooters. Not only did he excel as a rifleman but he also won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for rescuing an

Guards which he joined up aged 21. He was promoted to corporal in 1854, the year in which his regiment joined the Crimean War and then further promoted to sergeant following the Battle of Alma in the September.

His abilities as a marksman were noted at the Siege of Sevastopol and he was given charge

ublishing.com

14

injured private while under fire during battle the following year.

McBeath came home to Blair Atholl at the end of 1856 and became a gamekeeper. As a distinguished soldier he was a natural addition to the Duke of Atholl’s private army of Highlanders and the Duke appointed him as

editor@bruhupu

sergeant major in charge of arms, a rank he held until his death in 1911 at the age of 81. He is buried in Blair Atholl graveyard.

Donald McBeath’s image is not only seen on the signs, but also in the Atholl Country Life Museum. Afficionados of the products of the Borders brewery in Broughton might also

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

recognise him as the face on the “Old Jock” bottled ale.

The Atholl Country Life Museum is open every day until the end of October.

11 am to 5 pm July and August then 1 pm to 5 pm thereafter. Admission is £5 for adults and £4 for seniors. Children enter free.

The Museum houses a comprehensive collection of local artefacts photographs and stories displayed in the old

15

primary school. You can find fascinating exhibits relating to the working of the land, the railway, social history and a wonderful reconstruction of the former Trinafour Post Office.

The museum has a very popular and active facebook page athollcountrylifemuseum We'd love the chance to welcome you – see you there!

To read all previous issues, photo tours, music & book review publications.

Visit our website www.bruhupublishing.com

ublishing.com

editor@bruhupu

16

Meet Lesley Paterson: Screenwriter, Triathlete — and Oscar winner Earlier this year,

triathlete Lesley Paterson’s dreams came true when her adaptation of All Quiet on the Western Front won four Oscars. Cowritten with Ian Stokell and director Edward Berger, the Oscar victory is a dazzling achievement considering the film took 16 years to make amid various financial challenges.

Paterson, however, is no stranger to setbacks — or success. By the time All Quiet scooped awards for Best International Feature, production

design, score, and cinematography, Paterson was already a five times World Champion triathlete.

It’s tempting to think that her tenacity to chase her film industry dreams

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

came from those triathlon wins, but Paterson’s stubborn streak and desire to overachieve formed much earlier.

Born in Stirling to a surveyor father and hotel manager mother, Paterson was the youngest of four children.

Boisterous older brothers meant she learned to toughen up fast and by seven Paterson was playing rugby at Stirling County Rugby Club, the only girl out of 250 boys.

Her first setback came early, too. At 12 it became unsafe for her to play rugby with the boys. With no girls team to play on Paterson was bereft until her father introduced her to fell running.

Fell running isn’t for the faint of heart. Mucky, tough, and requiring bags of endurance, competitors

ublishing.com

17

race off-road up steep hills and over tricky terrain.

Naturally, Paterson took to the sport immediately.

Her drive saw her out of step with the rest of her age-group, and she found solace running through the Scottish hills, describing it as “superpoetic”.

A couple of years later Paterson’s father took her to the local triathlon club where she found greater kinship cycling with burly, working-class blokes than socialising with girls her own age. Destined to achieve great things, at 15 she represented Scotland, then Great Britain, in the triathlon.

Unfortunately Paterson had one Achilles heel: swimming. Now a key component of triathlon, triathletes need to excel in water as well as on land.

18

Despite being top of her game in running and cycling, her competitors regularly outswam her and she lost out on competing in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. It came as a crushing blow, so much so that Paterson retired from the sport before she’d even entered her twenties.

Born with boundless drive and dynamism, Paterson wasn’t destined to peak early. After graduating from Loughborough University with a drama degree, Pateron moved to the States to pursue a career in film alongside her husband. The film industry proved fickle and Paterson struggled to make it as an actor. The move was far from a waste, however, as Paterson discovered her true passion: writing screenplays.

editor@bruhupu

By this time Paterson was in her mid-twenties.

One story more than any other captivated her, the anti-war novel All Quiet On The Western Front written by Erich Maria Remarque. She’d read the novel in high school and nursed a secret dream to adapt it for the screen.

Touched by the “theme of the betrayal of the youthful generation” she teamed up with exjournalist Stokell to option

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

Remarque’s novel and bring the poignant story to life. Little did Paterson know it would be 16 years before her vision came to life.

Bringing an idea to the big screen is no mean feat.

Roughly 50,000 scripts are submitted to Writers Guild of America each year but only 50 scripts are sold.

That’s before you take into account the cost of bringing a successful script to life.

ublishing.com

19

At one point Daniel Radcliffe was set to star in Paterson’s All Quiet adaptation but pulled out due to the project’s precarious financial position. It was while visiting her parents in Scotland, deflated and desperate for the cash to keep her dream alive, that Paterson decided to face some old demons. What if winning triathlons could finance the film?

It sounds like the screenplay of a feel-good biopic in itself, almost too

20

mad to be believable. But in 2011 Paterson won the first of five triathlons. The $20,000 prize money went towards renewing the option for All Quiet. As if winning multiple triathlons wasn’t challenging enough, she somehow managed to win one with a flat tire and another with a broken shoulder. During training Paterson had fallen off her bike, injuring her shoulder. Unable to raise her arm and struggling to hold onto the bike, let alone swim, things looked bleak. In Paterson’s eyes though there wasn’t another option. She had to compete and win if she wanted to make her film dreams a reality.

With the thought, “it’s only a mile”, Paterson entered the water loaded up on painkillers, kicking furiously, and employing the one-arm drill to make

editor@bruhupu

up for losing the use of the other arm. Against all the odds she won the race.

And more races after that.

Each win (and remortgaging her house) helped Paterson and Stokell hang on to the film option. Finally, 16 years after first optioning Remarque’s novel, All Quiet On The Western Front has been made into a Netflix original film.

The film, starring Daniel Brühl and newcomer Felix Kammerer, depicts the brutal reality of a generation destroyed by war. One of the first “degenerate books” to be burned by the Nazis in the 1930s, All Quiet On The Western Front is an unflinching portrayal of trench warfare from the perspective of young soldiers. Paterson’s adaptation is tragically timely as war continues to rage in Ukraine. It’s been

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

recognised with a recordbreaking seven Baftas, including Best Picture, and nine Oscar nominations, of which it’s won four.

No stranger to winning, the achievement of a lifetime dream nevertheless has Paterson on a high. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Spielberg still comes as a shock and she already has

ublishing.com

21

plans to shoot a psychological thriller she wrote with her husband in the Scottish Highlands.

Speaking on the Rich Roll podcast Paterson revealed her recipe for relentless persistence. “Do something everyday that totally scares you. Get to know yourself [...] what’s your heart of darkness?

Create your own film world. Get to know your character.” It begs the question, what is Paterson’s heart of darkness? “That I’m not special” she reveals, without a hint of irony.

The age-old writer’s advice of ‘write what you know’ springs to mind.

Surely if Paterson turned to her own inspirational story for her next screenplay she’d have another Oscar winner on her hands?

editor@bruhupu

22

Glasgow or Hollywood.

Who Can Tell The Difference?

By Kate MacRitchie Avid film fans might have spotted cinema’s new rising star. Glasgow has been used as a film location for numerous blockbusters, from The Batman to the latest Indiana Jones installment.

With BBC Studioworks launching a new purposebuilt studio in Kelvin Hall, Glasgow’s West End looks set to become the new Hollywood.

But what makes Glasgow an ideal film set?

For a start, its grid structure and striking architecture make it a plausible stand-in for New York, one of the mostfilmed cities in the world.

But another reason that makes Glasgow so appealing is Glasgow City Council’s apparent enthusiasm and cooperation in working with Hollywood filmmakers. The famed

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

friendliness of the Glaswegians has paid off — last year over £40 million was generated for the city’s economy.

Try watching the films and TV shows from the following list to see if you can spot any streets or building you recognise!

New Releases

23

flags for a scene in which a ticker-tape parade celebrates astronauts returning from the moon.

Cochrane Street was also closed during the filming of The Dial of Destiny and while the city centre ground to a halt and travel plans were disrupted, Glaswegians lined the streets, eager for a glimpse of Harrison Ford.

Outlander Series 7 We can’t talk about film locations in Scotland without Outlander making

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny Causing the most stir recently is the latest Indiana Jones flick.

Glasgow provides a body double for New York in the final instalment of the franchise. Set in the 1960s, locals were bemused to find Vincent Street decked out in US

ublishing.com

the list. Locals were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of superstars Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe filming scenes for Series 7, the first episodes

editor@bruhupu

24

of which aired last month.

It’s not the first time dogwalkers have spotted the real-life Jamie Fraser strolling the streets of Glasgow; the star lives in a luxury farmhouse only 20 minutes outside the city.

and parts of Glasgow city centre. It stars Elgin native, Kevin McKidd, who in searching for his missing daughter uncovers a wider conspiracy. Six Four is available to view on ITVX.

Tetris It’s not just New York Glasgow is mistaken for.

Recently Tradeston, on the southside of the city, stood in for 80s Moscow for the filming of Tetris.

The biographical thriller stars Taron Egerton as a game developer racing to patent the classically addictive game Tetris before the Soviets.

Released in March 2023, you can stream the entire film on Apple TV+.

Six Four Six Four is a crime drama set in Edinburgh

The Flash What do A-listers Ben Affleck and Michael Keaten have in common?

They both appeared on the streets of Glasgow as

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

25

the Dark Knight for the filming of The Flash. Both actors were reprising their roles as the caped crusader Batman in this time-travel superhero film. Unfortunately it was a box-office bomb (unlike another Batman entry on this list).

Necropolis of striking statues, gothic graves, and forbidding masoleums was really the only choice for the final scenes of The Batman, the latest gritty offering from DC’s

Deadshot New York, Moscow, London…Glasgow’s grid system and impressive sandstone buildings make it a prime stand-in for other major cities. In Deadshot, set dressers transformed Glasgow into 1970s London for a Sky Original Production, starring Aml Ameen, Colin Morgan, and Felicity Jones.

The Batman Series One of the biggest names on this list used one of Glasgow’s most historic sites to create an unforgetably moody Gotham City. Glasgow’s

ublishing.com

franchise. Forget the bat mobile, it was the Dark Knight racing his “batcycle” at top speed through the spooky Victorian Necropolis that stole the show.

Outlander Glasgow Cathedral and Outlander make our list twice. Thousands of Outlander fans have flocked to Scotland to tour the glens and castles where the popular TV series was filmed.

Glasgow has featured several times in the series,

editor@bruhupu

26

including the Cathedral, which stood in as a 1740s Parisian hospital.

The Control Room Glaswegian actor Iain De Caestecker was on home soil when he starred in 2021 BBC drama The Control Room. Various scenes were filmed in the city centre and Glasgow’s southside.

Annika Glasgow has a reputation for grit.

Another crime dram filmed within the city was Annika, a series that follows a Marine Homocide Unit tasked with solving murders that wash up on Scotland’s waters.

1917 Steven Spielberg and Sam Mendes’ WW1 epic 1917 used the River Clyde and the historic Govan Graving docks as their film

set for key scenes. In 2022 it was announced that a £500,000 scheme was being launched to transform the derelict docks to their former glory. In terms of 1917, the Glasgow connection is strong with Scottish screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns being born and raised in the city.

Outlaw King The Clositers at the University of Glasgow could have housed Hogwarts, but it was Outlaw King, starring Chris Pine as Robert the Bruce, that made use of its medieval setting. The

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

27

historical epic was the scene of a decadent 14th century banquet and also stood in for Greyfriars Kirk. The accents might have been dodgy but at least the sets were authentically Scottish.

The Princess Switch: Switched Again It might be hard to reconcile sugary, feelgood films with Glasgow’s gritty reputation but filmmakers found Glasgow Cathedral the perfect romantic setting for The Princess Switch: Switched Again. The film starred Vanessa Hudgens of High Musical fame.

If you’ve lost the plot with how many Fast & Furious films and spin-offs there are, Hobbs & Shaw and Fast & Furious 6 are the ones that feature Glasgow.

Who knew “London” looked so good?

Fast & Furious series

The Wife

Not one but two Fast & Furious films have used Glasgow’s city streets for high-speed chase scenes.

Glenn Close was Oscarnominated for her role in The Wife, a tale of a woman who starts to

ublishing.com

28

editor@bruhupu

Patrick Melrose You could make a drinking game out of how many Glaswegian Streets Benedict Cumberbatch races down in Sky Atlantic drama Patrick Melrose.

The star delighted local fans by filming scenes in

question her life choices as she follows her husband to Stockholm where he is to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.

We feel Glasgow deserved an Oscar for lending atmosphere with a variety of locations, including stately home Pollok House, the Barrowland Ballroom, and magnificent Hutchesons’ Hall.

the city centre on Cochrane Street, St Vincent Street, and Bothwell Street. The Barras Market also did its best impression of a meatpacking district in the City That Never Sleeps. New York’s famous skyline was added digitally in postproduction to bring this

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

series, based on the novels of Edward St Auben, to life.

Succession Dundonian Brian Cox was back on home soil when he filmed Succession, a dark family comedy set in “New York”.

By now it’s almost a given that New York = Glasgow in the film world. George Square is easily recognisable and the sharp-eyed might spot Kimpton Blythswood Hotel standing in for a luxury hotel in the Big Apple.

ublishing.com

29

Trainspotting While set in Edinburgh, Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting was filmed almost entirely in Glasgow. The infamous scene where Begie chucks a pint glass over his shoulder was in fact Crosslands bar in Maryhill and studio filming used the abandoned Wills Tobacco cigarette factory.

Most of the locations were filmed far from Princes Street in Glasgow’s Dennistoun.

Coming Soon: keep your eyes peeled for Glasgow’s latest starring role

editor@bruhupu

30

Scottish Youth Film Festival comes to Perth!

By Chantel Hiden-Livingstone

In a much-anticipated return, the Scottish Youth Film Festival is back for another remarkable year, promising to be bigger and better than ever before. Scheduled for Saturday, September 30th, this cinematic extravaganza is set to captivate film enthusiasts, young talents, and industry professionals alike. The vibrant event will unfold at the North Inch Community Campus in the charming city of Perth, where creativity and inspiration flow freely.

Distinguished guests, including the acclaimed actors Andrew Rothney and Sara Vickers, visionary directors Raisah Ahmed and Andrew

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

31

Cumming, and an array of other prominent figures from theScottish film industry will grace this magnificent festival!

filmmakers across Scotland.

Hosted at the North Inch Community Campus in Perth, this year’s festival promises not only an enriching cinematic experience but also a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for storytelling and filmmaking.

Screenings:

Celebrating Scotland’s Young Filmmakers.

The Scottish Youth Film Festival has firmly established itself as the premier platform for showcasing the creative talents of Scotland's budding filmmakers. With a rich tradition of celebrating innovation, storytelling, and artistic expression, this year' s event promises to be a highlight for young

ublishing.com

The festival’s diverse program includes: Immerse yourself in a captivating selection of films created by Scotland’s emerging young talents. From gripping narratives to thought-provoking pieces, the festival will showcase a wide range of cinematic talent.

editor@bruhupu

32

Panels: Network with industry experts, filmmakers, and educators as they delve into the world of filmmaking. Gain insights, knowledge, and inspiration from those who have made their mark in the industry.

Workshops: Hone your filmmaking skills in hands-on workshops led by experienced ropfessionals.

Whether you’re interested in acting, directing, cinematography, animation, or special

effects, there’s a workshop tailored to your interests.

Talks: Discover the secrets of sound design, the art of directing, and what it’s like to work for a animation studio in our incredible program of industry guests.

Annual Awards Show: The festival’s crowning moment is the muchanticipated awards show, where outstanding young filmmakers will be recognised for their exceptional short films. Be there to witness the future stars of the industry receiving their welldeserved praise.

Book Your Free Tickets Now! One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s festival is that tickets are absolutely free! However, due to the overwhelming

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

33

Book your workshops here: Exclusive Workshops and Special Events

demand, early booking is strongly recommended.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary celebration of youth talent and creativity!

To secure your spot, simply visit the official festival Eventbrite: There, you’ll find all the information you need, including the full festival schedule, ticket details, and the latest updates.

Make sure you book onto your workshops as tickets fly fast!

ublishing.com

In addition to the festival’s main attractions, there are exclusive workshops and special events that promise to further enrich your festival experience. These events include: Scriptwriting: Finding Your Stories: Dive into the art of scriptwriting and learn how to bring your stories to life on the screen.

Exploring the World of Production: Get an insider’s perspective on the world of film production and discover the magic that happens behind the scenes.

Under the Camera: CutOut Animation: Explore the enchanting

34

world of cut-out animation and bring your characters to life frame by frame.

Acting for Screen: Unleash your acting talents on screen and learn the techniques that make performances truly shine in film.

editor@bruhupu

Under the Camera: Object Animation: Explore the fascinating world of object animation and bring inanimate objects to life through the lens of a camera.

LS Productions: Rohan Crickmar: Gain valuable insights from Rohan Crickmar, a key figure in LS Productions, and delve into the dynamic world of film production.

For more details, visit the festival’s official website.

And check out their promotional video here:

Creating Practical SFX for Camera: Step into the realm of special effects and discover how to craft stunning visual effects that enhance your storytelling.

Stay connected with the festival on social media by following Scottish Youth Film Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest news and announcements.

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

Join us on September 30th at the North Inch Community Campus in Perth, and let’s celebrate the boundless creativity and talent of Scotland’s young filmmakers. The Scottish Youth Film Festival awaits you with open arms, ready to immerse you in a world of cinematic wonders. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!

About the Scottish Youth Film Festival: The Scottish Youth Film Festival is an annual event

ublishing.com

35

dedicated to showcasing the talents of young filmmakers living in Scotland. Established to promote creativity, storytelling, and innovation in cinema, the festival provides a platform for emerging talent to meet their peers, network and celebrate the work of Scotland’s next generation of film talent.

The festival is run by the Scottish Youth Film Foundation and funded by partners including Screen Scotland and The Sean Connery Foundation.

editor@bruhupu

36

Creating Renewable Energy From Renewable Energy

Scotland at the Forefront In 2021 the Scottish Government produced a Hydrogen Action Plan with ambitions to become a leading producer of a cheaper, renewable

energy source. Since then events around the world have exacerbated the drive to produce energy alternatives with the proposed demand rising even faster.

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

The plan is to begin exports to mainland Europe 2025. The scale of production would be enough to firstly satisfy the home Scottish market with the rest exported via new pipelines. It is estimated that by 2045 Scotland could be producing 3.3m tonnes (Mt) and the home usage to be around 0.8Mt, giving an export capability of 2.5Mt every year.

Production on this level would support in the

ublishing.com

37

region of 300,000 jobs and an increase to the economy of around £25bn per annum.

Scotland has vast wind, wave and tidal resources essential in the production of large scale hydrogen. It is already a world leader in renewable energy generation with ScotWind offering the largest opportunity in the world for increased production. The country has over 60 years of

38

experience in gas and oil drilling and the pipeline and infrastructure technology required to deliver the hydrogen to The Netherlands and Germany. The coastline with existing ports and islands offer the development of hubs to supply markets further afield.

Access to existing abundant gas and oil reserves in the North Sea Scotland can support the

editor@bruhupu

transition from these fossil fuels to reach it’s net zero ambitions by using the existing skills to create “Blue Hydrogen” allowing the movement away from those established fuels without harming the economy with improving the global environment.

The new Hydrogen Backbone Link project is looking at putting the first pipeline from Scotland’s east coast to Emden in Germay. The cost of this is

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

estimated at £2.5bn with have of the money already in place from the Scottish Government. While production costs in Scotland may be higher than elsewhere, Chine, Canada or Chile, ease of transport and movement will make it very

ublishing.com

39

competitive.

It is estimated that by 2030 Scotland will be supplying 10% of mainland Europe’s import demand, this will grow as the Scottish access to the world’s largest tidal, wave and wind resource is tapped.

editor@bruhupu

40

History Never Stands Still The Cantonment Registers of the British Army in Scotland

By Stuart McHardy Here we have a demonstration from Stuart McHardy that history is fluid. Through the study of old documents, unseen for hundreds of years he brings a new perspective to our knowledge and understanding of the events after 1745.

The idea that history is fixed is silly. Opinions about the past are always changing. Sometimes this is because the political, or even religious situation has changed, and sometimes it is because of new research.

Recently a period of Scotland’s history has had a new light shone on it because of the online publication of a document that had been sitting unpublished for nearly three hundred years. The

document, which exists in a single hand-written manuscript, is called the Cantonment Registers of the British Army in Scotland 1746-53. It has been in the library of the War Museum in Edinburgh Castle for more than half a century and it is only in the past couple of years that its contents can be fully appreciated.

The manuscript details not just the movement of the different regiments that pursued the Jacobite army from England to the

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

fateful field of Culloden but has sections on courts-martial and the deployment of pensioned soldiers. But much of it

ublishing.com

41

relates directly to something that has been ignored since the time of Am Bliadha Tearlaich, the Year of Charlie, 1746.

42

This is the fact that glen after glen in most of the Highlands, and virtually every port in Scotland had a cantonment of Soldiers.

The cantonments ranged from a handful of troops to medium sized garrisons at places like Corgarff Castle and major encampments at Fort William and Fort George.

Although presented in other official documents of the time as little more than a police action to control Highland depredations, this was, as

editor@bruhupu

has now become obvious, nothing other than fullscale military occupation of Scotland. The government in Westminster was well aware that even after Culloden support for the Jacobite cause remained strong and they were determined to prevent another large-scale uprising.

This occupation followed on from the brutal suppression of much of the Highlands,

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

that nowadays would be seen as ethnic cleansing if not attempted genocide.

That there were also many instances of brutality in our Lowland towns and villages is another aspect of this that has been little talked about. Eye witness accounts of the all too often inhumane treatment by the British Army, with a number of Lowland Scots well to the fore, were collected in book called The Lyon in Morning, several excerpts of which, mainly concerned with the activities of one Charles Edward Stuart in 1834, but it was not published in full till 1895.

Nowadays it can be accessed here.

Today Jacobite specialists are well aware of the reality that into the 1750s many Highland Jacobites were ready to follow Prince Charlie again, but by that period

ublishing.com

43

he no longer looked to Scotland, though he did continue to try and regain the throne of his ancestors, as he saw it, until at least 1759. That was the year a massive French invasion was prevented by the British Navy at the Battle of Quiberon Bay. Against a background of constant plotting and spies regularly plying between Scotland and Europe it is perhaps not surprising that the British Government wanted troops on the ground.

They were undoubtedly paranoid and when you consider that in 1750 Prince Charlie was in London, renouncing Catholicism and meeting with leading English aristocrats, they had a point.

A couple of years ago a group of students I was teaching formed a Radical

44

History course in Edinburgh and offered to help transcribe the Cantonment Register. So the Stennis Historical Society (SHS) was formed.

This was a major piece of work but they did not stop there. After repeated attempts to get one or another of the statutory bodies supposedly concerned with Scottish history to help get the transcription published came to nothing, one of the SHS, an IT specialist David Kennedy decided to create an interactive map of all of these locations.

He and other members also sought out other source material and the map has been expanded several times to date. The website, which can be found here,has a wealth of information from the period including details of road-building, medical records and details of

editor@bruhupu

specific British Army regiments.

Much has been written about the Jacobites in Scotland, much of it overly romanticised and but the over-arching story has always been that after the tragic defeat of Culloden, Jacobitism in Scotland was dead. What the map, the work of SHS and scholars like Glasgow University’s Professor Murray Pittock and Doron Zimmerman of the Center

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

for Security Studies in Zurich, show is that this was not the case. The fires of Jacobitism smouldered on and while mainly a sanitised version of the’45 has become the norm, the people of Scotland never forgot and stories from the period continued to be told. Stories that gave a

45

very different version of our history.

Stuart McHardy is an author, lecturer and storyteller, whose latest book, co-written with Archaeo-astronomer Dougie Scott is Stones of the Ancestors Luath Press 2020

Follow us on Facebook for more exciting posts and upcoming events

ublishing.com

editor@bruhupu

46

Scotland Is Top Of The European Class Eurostat data finds Scotland has Europe’s best educated population.

Eurostat, the statistical office for the European Union, has found that Scotland has the highest educated population in Europe.

The recent study revealed that more people

in Scotland hold a degree than the rest of the UK — a 20% increase since 2000.

The promising figures span the generations, too.

According to the EU data centre, 50.4% of 25-61 year-olds are educated to degree level, beating the UK average of 44.7%

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

History of Education in Scotland These statistics shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider that Scotland has some of the oldest universities in the UK, a long history of invention, and ground-breaking cancer research. As the Wittance reported in our first issue, Glasgow builds more satellites than anywhere else in the world. So, what attracts the brightest minds to Scotland?

Modern education has played a key role in Scottish society since the Middle Ages. The Education Act of 1496 demanded the eldest son of every landowner was

ublishing.com

47

educated in Latin, law, and the arts. Scotland’s egalitarian streak is evident in the need for justice threaded through the Act — if landowners were versed in legal matters, they’d be better equipped to help those in need in their parish.

Theoretically, increased literacy should ensure a fairer society for all.

Up until this point, Scottish society thrived on the oral tradition.

Customs and traditions were preserved in impressive memories and this knowledge was then passed on verbally through the generations instead of via literary recordings. The need for increased literacy came at a time when Christianisation supplanted the oral

48

tradition and the highly respected bard.

An increase in monasteries brought Latin and scholarly learning to Scotland. Schools sprung up. Affiliated with cathedrals, these medieval schools provided rich learning, mostly for boys, and were the precursor to grammar schools such as the High Schools of Glasgow and Dundee.

Robert Reid, Abbot of Kinloss Abbey near Forres, was instrumental in furthering learning by introducing an organised

editor@bruhupu

education system to the area and admitting a wider body of students to the monastery — not to mention introducing a fire-proof library.

Scotland’s first university, St Andrews, was founded in 1413.

Prior to this, students had to travel to England or Europe to attend university. Only 1,000 are recorded as having done so. The introduction of universities on home soil paved the way for greater access to further learning.

After St Andrews, the universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen followed, providing education for

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

49

clerics at a time when the Wars of Indepence prohibited Scots from studying in England.

Intellectual life in Scotland continued to develop throughout the Reformation as educating the wider population became a key priority.

Imposing taxes on landowners provided the means for establishing a school in every parish, with the kirk keeping a beady eye on the curriculum. Andrew Melville, a Scottish scholar and religious reformer, encouraged European scholars to study at Glasgow and St Andrews.

His radical views and unflinching criticism of a church ruled by the King’s will and governmentappointed clerics earned

ublishing.com

him the nickname The Scourge of the Bishops.

The Scottish Enlightenment During the 18th and 19th centuries a wealth of intellectual achievement in Scotland contributed to a movement that became known as the Scottish Enlightenment.

Characterised by humanist and rational

50

ideals, the Scottish Enlightenment saw significant advancement in fields as diverse as philosophy, politics, engineering, architecture, economics, chemistry, zoology and law. Key thinkers included Joseph Black, David Hume, Adam Smith, and poet Robert Burns.

The Scottish Enlightenment had a lasting impact on society and culture, contributing discoveries like magnesium and carbon dioxide, and shaping modern political and philosophical ideals that spread beyond Scotland, most notably influencing 19th century American thought.

editor@bruhupu

What About Women?

Did this humanist view of education really benefit everyone? If you were a noblewoman like Mary Queen of Scots, you could

expect to be educated and cultured. However, even by 1750 female illiteracy was at 85% compared to 35% for men. Somehow, one of the finest educations in the world hadn’t rid Scotland’s scholars and religious elite of their superstition regarding a woman’s reduced intellectual and

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

moral capabilities. It wasn’t until 1889 that woman could graduate from university.

The ‘Edinburgh Seven’ were a group of female medical students and the first women to study medicine at Edinburgh University from 1869 1873.

When the seven arrived to sit an anatomy exam, fellow male students hurled mud at them and the scene escalated into a riot. Ultimately, the seven female students were prevented from graduating as doctors, but their resilience and determination blazed a trail for future generations. In 2019 the University of Edinburgh awarded the Seven their

ublishing.com

51

degrees posthumously, 150 years later.

Today, Scotland’s figures for women in education is a different story. The government’s Scottish Household Survey found that women are now more likely than men to hold a degree or professional qualification.

International reputation From the humble beginnings of parish schools and selective universities, Scotland’s educational system has cultivated a reputation for excellence that attracts students worldwide.

Scottish universities welcome thousands of international students each year, which brings billions to the Scottish

52

editor@bruhupu

economy. According to Universities UK International, students from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee contribute most to the £4.75bn boost.

The latest figures from Eurostat also come off the back of two record-breaking years of applications to Scottish universities, showing that that when it comes to delivering an outstanding education, Scotland is top of the class.

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

53

Blairgowrie: Scotland’s Berry Toon.

As part of the Blairgowrie Bookmark Festival in this month’s issue we take a wee look at what else the town has on offer.

Have you visited Blairgowrie, the ‘Berry Toon’? Nestled on the banks of the River Ericht just north of Perth, Blairgowrie is one of Perthshire’s largest towns.

Known as the ‘gateway’ to the glens its central location is perfect for skiers visiting nearby Glen Shee in the winter or exploring East Perthshire’s beautiful rolling hills.

making industry, the remains of which can be seen in the ruined cottages and impressive mills which still stand along the Ericht.

Blairgowrie is also the epicentre of Perthshire’s soft fruit industry. Famous for its juicy raspberries, many will fondly recall berry picking holidays in Blairgowrie during the height of summer.

Blairgowrie is a town steeped in history. From the 18th century it became central to the flax

In the 1950s the Scottish Folk Revival kicked off in Blaigowrie when Hamish Henderson, renowned

ublishing.com

54

editor@bruhupu

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

poet and ‘Blair’ native collected a rich trove of traditional stories, songs, and customs from Blairgowrie’s berryfields.

At that time many Scottish Travellers came to Blairgowrie for the fruit picking season. Hamish would camp among them and record their stories and songs for Edinburgh University’s School of Scottish Studies. Hamish likened this harvesting of lore from the Travellers as akin to “sticking a tin can under a waterfall”.

Today Blairgowrie is popular with golfers, anglers, and hill walkers.

The Cateran Trail, a 60mile circular route that begins in Blairgowrie, allows you to follow in the footsteps of the old cattle drovers and see more of East Perthshire’s beautiful

ublishing.com

55

woodlands, hills, and moors. Within the town Blairgowrie boasts plenty of independent shops and cafes, with the charming Wellmeadow in the town centre providing a historic focal point.

Come the autumn events like Braemar Day, the Highland Games, and the much anticipated Bookmark Book Festival provide culture and entertainment. Yearround the Cateran Ecomuseum, a ‘museum without walls’, provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the area’s rich heritage.

Whether you’re seeking culture and history or outdoor activities, Blairgowrie is an idyllic starting point for an autumn adventure.

56

editor@bruhupu

Some Scots Wo an’ how tae

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

ords wie Alice, e say them.

ublishing.com

57

Books, Music & Art

Book Festival The annual Blairgowrie Bookmark Festival is nearly upon us. Kate MacRitchie takes a look at what’s going on.

Tippermuir Recommends There are a lot of great books around, it’s just a matter of finding them. Tippermuir has a look at some recent releases from across Scotland.

Graham Huggins Reviews This month Graham reviews “Life In Lethinnis” - read his reaction and thoughts here.

Alison Price Exhibition Alison is from Birnam, Perthshire, you can see examples of her work here & visit her exhibition before it ends.

For your Ears We have videos showing in our office and we thought we should share a couple of our favourites with you.

editor@bruhupu

60

Bookmark Festival Blairgowrie

by Kate MacRitchie

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

Book lovers have something to look forward to once summer is over.

While many festivals wind down after August, Bookmark, Perthshire’s Book Festival, runs into October. Picnic blankets can be exchanged for cosy throws as reading outdoors is swapped for evenings curled up by the fire with a good book.

Autumn feels like the season of the bookworm, and this year’s Bookmark Festival in Blairgowrie gives readers plenty of

ublishing.com

61

intriguing titles to add to their TBR pile.

This year, Bookmark’s 2023 lineup is their usual hallmark of familiar faces and novel newbies.

Running over two days on the 7th and 8th of October, the festival kicks off with esteemed nature writer Jim Crumley.

Crumley has written over 40 books inspired by the beauty of Scotland’s natural landscape. Poetic and passionate, wordsmith Kathleen

62

Jamie claimed of Crumley, “Scotland flows into him, and he breathes it out.” An advocate for rewilding (notably supporting wolf reintroduction to the Scottish Highlands), Crumley’s new book ‘Seasons of Storm and Wonder’ contemplates the majestic fragility of Scotland’s wild

editor@bruhupu

landscapes and urges us to take a more radical approach to conservation.

He’s joined by Patrick Galbraith whose debut ‘In Search of One Last Song’ chronicles the ballads of Britain’s disappearing birds interwoven with folklore, history, and art.

It’s a treat for bookish nature lovers who might want to step away from

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

the page every now and then to seek the beauty in a world beyond books.

63

shares with co-author Dr Marisa Haetzman).

Meanwhile, Alan Taylor (journalist, editor, and friend to Muriel Spark) invites us into the mesmerising mind of the late Alan Rickman via access to his private diaries.

Well-kent faces include broadcaster Sally Magnusson, attending to present the Christine Findlay prize and promote her latest book ‘Music In the Dark’, and best-seller Chris Brookmyre (under the alias of Ambrose Parry, a pen-name he

ublishing.com

A celebration of William Souter on the Sunday provides a fascinating insight into a bygone Perth poet. Writing in both English and Scots, Souter lead an active life, serving in the Royal Navy during WW1 until developing spondylitis left him housebound.

Bookmark Festival is in its 11th year. Since 2012, authors big and small have converged on the town of Blairgowrie to

64

discuss ideas and share a love of literature with festival-goers. This year proves no different, with a trademark blend of novelists, historians, poets, and journalists in attendance.

The festival takes place on 7th-8th October at Blairgowrie Community Campus. Tickets for the small but beloved book

editor@bruhupu

festival are selling fast, so don’t miss out on some inspiring reads to see you through autumn.

Tickets are available from Rhona Christie on 01250 875613 or rhona. maclean@yahoo.co.uk.

Alternatively, tickets can be bought in person from Adventure Into Books, Blairgowrie Library, or Perthshire Box Office.

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

You can see more of Blairgowrie courtesy of local photographer David Gow in this exclusive tour edition.

ublishing.com

65

editor@bruhupu

66

Dr Paul S Phillipou A Heartland Book Chat’s tour of Scotland’s publishing houses (but not the big ones) continues this month with Charco Press, whose name derives from the Spanish word for puddle and which refers to that big puddle commonly known as the Atlantic Ocean. Charco’s remit is contemporary Latin American literature in translation – a crossing of the ‘cruzar el charco’, a

cultural joining of two continents kissed by the waters of the Atlantic.

Latin American literature is a great vein from which nuggets such as Holiday Heart by Margarita García Robayo can be mined. Many of the big Latin American authors (these include Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Colombia), Isabel Allende (Chile), Carlos Fuentes (Mexico) and Gabriela Mistral (Chile)) are household names

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

67

internationally. What Charco Press is doing is bringing to the attention of the English-reading public those lesser-known Latin American voices, sourcing them from a ‘vast and rich array of works’ another ‘puddle’, in their words.

Holiday Heart (Margarita García Robayo, translated

by Charlotte Coombes, 2020) tells the story of immigrants Lucia and Pablo who have successfully settled in Connecticut having left their home in Colombia and made a prosperous life for themselves in the US. It is a tragic tale of belonging, class, race and identity, and the interaction and degrading of relationships, emotions and love with

ublishing.com

time. The author has had previous success in the UK with Fish Soup (2018) and is well known as a writer in her native Colombia.

The novella is readable and some readers will find themselves consuming its 160 pages of sharp and cynical observations in a single sitting (two days for me).

68

Holiday Heart takes its narrative locus as the couple’s failing marriage and their own individual failings. Neither is a likeable character. Pablo yearns for Colombia and pursues other women to the detriment of his marriage; Lucia wallows in her rootlessness and desires to be a great mother, which she is not.

Despite their differences, they have much in common including a superiority complex manifest as a snobbery and disdain for others, including each other. This is a tale of a marriage falling apart, lives falling apart and social statuses in freefall.

The book has much to say about belonging and aspiration – if you leave everything you were

editor@bruhupu

behind, there is a danger that if you do not become something else, you have nothing. It is also a warning that if we live life without a moral compass we are a hazard not only to ourselves but also to our children and those with whom we interact.

Moreover, Holiday Heart warns us that though we are always in a state of becoming, and we are aware of what is wrong with something (not in the moral sense but in the working sense), we can reach a state where we no longer care to do anything to remedy the malaise.

If Holiday Heart has any fault line/weakness – and it may be my failing for struggling with this – it is in the shift of tenses which the author uses to mix together memory and the

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

present. In this, the author, I am minded, is purposefully muddling what is occurring in ‘real time’ and what is being remembered in ‘real time’, presumably to get us to understand how we are informed by the memories of our past and that the present is not a fleeting moment but a collection of those presents we can or choose to remember.

That said, I struggled when the writing changed tense, the process rupturing the flow of the narrative, for me. at least

Dying to Live (Grant and Amanda McIntyre, 2021) is the latest title from Tippermuir. In the words of Terry Waite CBE former Church of England envoy and assistant to the Archbishop of Canterbury,

ublishing.com

69

who after attempting to secure the release of four hostages held in Lebanon in 1987, including John McCarthy, was himself kidnapped and held in captivity for four years – who has provided an endorsement to the book: ‘This is a true story of courage, dedication and skill. Professor Grant McIntyre, writing clearly and from his own

70

experience, recounts what it is like to suffer the ravaging effects of Covid19 and to recover. His praise for the compassion and skill of the NHS staff who cared for him is truly well deserved. Read this book. You will be better for having done so.’

The book is the story of Grant McIntyre’s battle with Covid-19 and his subsequent recovery and recuperation. It was during his recovery period that Grant found comfort in reading Terry Waite’s writing on isolation and hope, and decided to reach out to him about his own book. The response was very supportive.

Dying to Live has also received favourable reviews and endorsements from Dr Matt Morgan, intensive

editor@bruhupu

care consultant, researcher and author of Critical (2019), Professor Linda Bauld OBE, Bruce and John Usher Chair in Public Health, University of Edinburgh an awardee in the recent 2021 Queen’s Birthday Honours (the aforementioned OBE) and Dr Pauline Austin and Dr Stephen Cole, consultants in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine.

The book blurb provides a good description of the book, which, I guess, is what it is supposed to do:

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

‘At the start of 2020, Grant McIntyre was a fit and healthy 49-year-old.

The year had started unusually, with reports of a new virus sweeping across the world. At the end of March, life changed suddenly for the McIntyre family as Grant tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to hospital.

As the days passed, the situation became progressively worse.

Grant’s body went into a cytokine storm and this immune response nearly killed him. He suffered multi-organ failure, a collapsed lung and sepsis, spending fifty days on ECMO life support which no one, not even the doctors, expected him to survive. As his condition deteriorated, death looked almost certain. This is the

ublishing.com

71

inspiring story of his journey back to life.

At the time of writing, Grant remained the sickest survivor of COVID-19 in Scotland. The book will open your eyes to the personal story of a family who despite all the odds, with the help of the incredible NHS, were victorious in the conquest of Covid-19. The book is dedicated to the families around the world who have not been as fortunate.’

The book is available online, from booksellers and directly from Tippermuir Books: Dr Paul S Philippou is Honorary Research Fellow in History and a member of the Centre for Scottish Culture at the University of Dundee, and a director of Tippermuir Books.

editor@bruhupu

72

Life in Lethinnis

By Rory Putman Reviewed by Graham Huggins

The author is a professional biologist who focused his studies on the practical side of biology and therefore spent most of his time in the countryside.

to earn a living. They ended up buying a dilapidated cottage on a remote peninsular on the West Coast.

However, he became disaffected by urban life in general and began to dream about going back to his roots in Highland Scotland. Luckily his wife, Morag, also had roots in Scotland and so they began looking for a property in the Highlands that they could afford. There were no children, and his wife was an illustrator and keen on the outdoor life.

The move to Scotland was one that amazed the removers who were a local firm. They were already operating a smallholding complete with goats and sheep and all had to be moved from Southern England to the Scottish Highlands. The journey took two days involving two large removal vans and many mishaps but finally was successfully completed except for the demise of one hen.

It took them five years to find a property that they could afford in an area that suited their needs which included the ability for him

The change in lifestyle was dramatic. It was like living fifty years ago. The local population, such as it was, spoke mainly Gaelic

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

and the normal facilities of life in modern day Britain were mostly absent or very rudimentary.

The book therefore concentrates on them establishing a life in their new environment and the giving a selection of cameos on the various aspects of life on the end of a remote peninsular in Highland Scotland.

Although the sense of community was very

ublishing.com

73

strong, all strangers were viewed with suspicion.

However, the local residents welcomed them with open arms when they realised that Rory and his wife were country folk and intended to make their life and take a part in the ocial life of their new locality.

Thus, the book is well written and an easy read as it is divided into small selfcontained chapters giving a snapshot of life in the rural and remote highlands of Scotland. It is the sort of book that would be a perfect companion when on holiday as each chapter is fairly short but quite informative and entertaining.

Overall, for anyone interested in leaving the rat race and living a simpler and more socially and environmentally aware life, or just dreaming of doing so, then this makes a pleasant read.

editor@bruhupu

74

Alison Price Exhibition; Drawn to The Land.

On display in Birnam, Perthshire Alison is a Perthshire born artist with an exhibition showing in her home town of Birnam. Her art tells us a story of the Scottish landscape. She describes her a drawing as immediate, instinctive and “the most present I can be in my surroundings.”

“Growing up in Birnam I did not fully appreciate the scenery and history of the place when I was younger.

And although I regularly come home I don’t often draw.

Preparing for this exhibition has prompted me to look again at some of the places that I feel I know so well, places my Mum walks on a regular basis and where she follows the rhythms of the seasons.

The sun coming over Birnam Hill

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

ublishing.com

75

towards the end of winter, daffodils and narcissus marking springtime with tadpoles and puddocks not far behind. Oyster catchers nesting, blaeberries ripe for picking. Watching the Old Oak saplings slowly establish.”

76

editor@bruhupu

Terra Kin - Flames A 23 year old Glaswegian with a jazz voice to die for. We hope you like them as much as we do.

This is the debut single, an e.p. out is out now.

www.bruhupu

ublishing.com

77

Kitti Chasing the Crowd Kitti is from Glasgow and has won numerous awards & recently supported Rod Stewart at Edinburgh Castle bringing her to a bigger audience. It will not be long before everyone knows her name.

ublishing.com

Scottish

Southern Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken or Southern Fried Chicken, that most quintessential dish of all American cuisine was first cooked by the Scots.

The first recorded deep fried foodstuff was Fritters, wedges of potatoes like fat chips, which became popular in the Middle Ages. The Scots went a step further by using fat and deep frying their chicken.

The first recipe reference to fried chicken in American cookbooks appears in the late 1860s. Research has shown that the southern states of the US can trace the beginnings of their version to Scottish and West African cooking.

While Scots used lard the West Africans employed palm oil and spices both were adopted in the American South by enslaved Africans.

h Firsts

Gospel Music

Willie Ruff, professor of music at Yale University puts Scotland at the front of Gospel Music. He states that the Scots Gaelic method of singing psalms in the form of “lining out” brought to America from Scotland evolved into the call and response of Gospel Music in Southern America.

Lining Out was used in the Hebrides by a precentor or leader who chanted out or sang a capella as the hymn or psalm tune and words were to be sung by the congregation. It was often referred to as “the old way of singing” and was the first examples of call and response type of singing with one person singing solo with others following. This form was used often due to poor literacy levels and the heavy cost of buying books containing the words of hymns and psalms.

This format has gone on to influence not only Gospel Music but many 20thC popular music styles.

Visit the website for all past & present publications. www.bruhpublishing.com