Category: History

Haggis schmaggis

The DT today gives rein to a Scotch cook called Callaghan (is that genuine Scotch?) who blasphemes to the effect that haggis originates from the Vikings and was made with venison – hence his ‘staggis’. And a Norse etymologist finds a link between haggis and ‘haggwa’ or chopped food.

The modern Danes call haggis ‘hachis’ which is French, from a root meaning ‘chopped food’ so the haggwa isn’t so far away, innit?

But dare we refuse the Scots their glorious invention? Er, yes. Because homo sapiens has been stuffing animal meat into conveniently shaped animal organs since Adam was a lad. Think sausage.

Verdict? Callaghan is good at PR but a poor linguist. 😳

Breaking Scotch News

Help me out here. Is it the Stoon of Scoon, the Ston of Scon or just the Stone of Scone a la Sassenachs?

OK. That’s settled then. Except the laddie wot nicked it in 1950 says we the British may not presume it will be available for the next coronation.

And before you say it, I blame Alex Salmond too. Personally I would insert it widthways into an appropriate fundament but that wouldn’t allow it to be returned to Westminster as Mr Major said.

All patriotic suggestions welcome.

Vox populi

Famous men (and women) and our fathers that begat us are never safe from censure as ideas evolve.

Back in the day (horrible expression) a scion of my college had his portrait re-titled ‘Haig the Butcher, 1 million dead’. The job was so professional that it was several weeks before it was spotted.

Now colonial torch-bearer Rhodes is the target; Oriel College has decided to disown his values.

‘And?’ you ask. Well, it’s a shame the facetwats can’t indulge their own prejudices without trying to rewrite history. Haig and Rhodes did important things, like them or not.

A bridge but not for a while

Fifty years ago we all admired the new Forth road bridge – a modern, elegant addition to a proud Scotland.

Today it’s out of service until the new year, owing to structural failures. So commiserations to Embra drivers, thousands of whom will have to find a new route to work, or take the train or a temporary ferry.

Come on, Nicola! Get it sorted!

Are you an unsung poet?

Clive James is a wordsmith of the first order. For example:

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/21/clive-james-poets-sitwell-auden-gerbils

And he strikes a familiar chord for me, fascinated as I am by the spoken and written word, its etymology, philology and sheer existence in this otherwise technological world.

Continue reading “Are you an unsung poet?”

Freedom of movement

It looks as if the EU’s Shengen days are numbered.  Queue of lorries at the Ukraine border with Poland

Thank goodness, I hear you say. Sanity returns.

But be careful what you wish for. I remember well the queues of stinking lorries at border crossings, waiting interminably for the cynical attention of the customs crews, who now and then threw a sickie or struck in the name of solidarity with something or other. Train drivers, air-traffic controllers, farmers…..

And if you were unlucky enough to be carrying goods requiring their attention, it was ‘back of the line for you, my lad, car or no car’. I have spent whole half-days between Belgium and France, Holland and Germany. Friday afternoons in summer were always particularly unpleasant among short-tempered drivers eager to get home and short-tempered customs officers reluctant to let them.

Ho hum.

The Marmite of the retail sector

Love them or hate them, M & S commands respect in the biz community. Like coriander in the kitchen perhaps.

I recall just what a demanding time we had whenever as suppliers we were summoned to Baker Street to field ultra detailed questions about our product’s performance in their stores. Any justifiable consumer grouse had to be reimbursed five-fold.

But hey! I hear Backside retort, that was all nearly 50 years ago; although I doubt anything has changed.  So I’m impressed with Cameron’s choice of Stuart Rose, ex M & S boss of renown, to chair the campaign to stay in the EU. Just as Maggie the Great chose an earlier Baker St. Boss to mastermind her slimming of the overfed Civil Service 30 odd years ago.

So when I pop back home later this month, I’ll do homage to St. Michael and top up with hanks and socks, my kind of Marmite and coriander you might say.

The first tv commercials

Backside et moi, we were 12 sixty years ago when ITV first appeared, gracing our 12″ b & w telly.

I recall ads for the TV Times – a household must now, with two national channels!

Otherwise which brands stick in the furthest recesses of the old memory? Cigarettes. ‘You’re never alone with a Strand.’ Was that on the box? ‘You’ll wonder where the yellow went, when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent!’ That was. Hamlet cigars. Black Magic chocs. And probably some more when I’ve had a couple of pints.

What do you remember? 😏