"Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin

TODAY is St Andrew's Day .

Saint Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day is celebrated by Scots around the world on the 30th November..... BUT you would never know it looking at the local news on TV and the newspapers. So much for having a pride in our heritage.

ALSO,

This week the Scottish National Party (SNP) introduces a NEW campaign to entice people to come and visit Scotland. What is it? It is "WELCOME TO SCOTLAND". I think that people will come in their thousands because of this (NOT).

Here is an extract from the Scottish Government web site:

The theme of the campaign was unveiled at Glasgow Airport by External Affairs and Culture Minister Linda Fabiani. It will incorporate a range of local messages celebrating diversity and success across Scotland - with distinct point of entry images at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Dundee, Inverness and Aberdeen airports.

The Minister said:
"This Government is determined to make the most of Scotland's image and reputation both here at home and abroad.
"From St Andrew's Day, these images will welcome people arriving in our country and Scots coming home, giving everyone a taste and glimpse of the very best of Scotland - enticing everyone to see more.
"As one of the first things that people will see upon arriving in Scotland, these images celebrate the historic and modern day successes that have shaped our country.

WHAT A LOAD OF TATTLE!

And in the same week the people of Scotland rejected Donald Trump's planning application to build a £1bn golfing complex in Aberdeenshire because a few do-gooders think that our coastal area will be ruined by his large Golfing development.

Have the same doo-gooders not smelled the air recently around Black Dog? Aberdeen City Council allowed the placing of two rubbish tips in the vunerable sand dunes area just a few miles south of the proposed golfing complex and that has left a large environmental impact far greater that anything the Trump golf complex would contibute to.

WELCOME TO SCOTLAND, indeed!

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"Misty Blue" by Dorothy Moore

This week we took a break away for a few days with a some good friends. We stayed in an hotel near Aviemore and had a relaxing time together.

Here are a few photos taken while we were enjoying a walk in Rothiemurchus Estate .














The estate has many things on offer among the most beautiful Scottish landscape, with walking, cycling, fishing, shooting, pony treks, bird watching and other exciting activities to enjoy.












Loch An Eilein within the ancient Caledonian Forest at Rothiemurchus.

"Here, There & Everywhere" by The Beatles

It's been a month since I last wrote anything here in my Blog.

I have been busy with various activities, the main one being to help gather gifts put together into shoe boxes that are going to be sent to orphaned children in Romania to allow them to enjoy a special time at Christmas. The Christmas "Shoe-box" Parcel Appeal goes out to help children in need in Romania. The New Hope Trust ask for gift boxes and there are many, many school children responing to the appeal by each one making up a box full of sweets, toys, hats, scarves, gloves, soap, toothpaste, and other small gifts, bringing happiness and joy to so many poor children in Romania. This year I drove one of their trucks around our local area and loaded many parcels from schools. I also spent time driving to Glasgow & Edinburgh collecting gifts and clothing. I was proud to drive one of the trucks out to orphanages in Moldova in 2005. This year all the gifts are being transported by container as this works out to be a more cost effective option.

Janis and I also had a weekend away to Fort William and Gairloch with our local Porsche Club group. Everyone had a good time despite the wet weather. Here we are in the car park of the hotel we stayed in at Fort William.