Happy Hogmanay… & New Year!
A wee touch of Scotland to mark Hogmanay – New Year’s Eve.
I did try to find some videos of humour with a Scottish flavour but, as a native born Scot, I’m ashamed to say that every single video I tried contained crudity to a greater or lesser extent – no good clean fun at all, so, while there were some hilarious one-liners in them, especially the Rev I.M. Jolly videos, none are suitable for posting here. I then turned to videos of the old White Heather Club shows to recreate some of the national song and dance fun from those years, before pop bands took over Hogmanay and ruined it, but they’re all too lengthy, or so I thought – if anyone disagrees, feel free to post them.
This is just to allow some light relief as we approach the New Year – which promises to be a very interesting year indeed, to say the least. So, share your jokes and stories, songs etc. I have a story about the Alexander Brothers featured in the video above, from my days in the Legion of Mary, but will keep it for the comment box. What, I hear you ask, does the Legion of Mary have to do with the Alexander Brothers? Keep guessing!
Comments (55)
Wishing everyone and Happy and Holy New Year.
Perhaps some music from the Scottish National Fiddle Orchestra playing the eightsome reel. I wish I had the energy of the dancers.
Theresa Rose,
Love it! Brings back memories of the St Andrew’s night ceilidh some of us attended on 30th November, in the Immaculate Heart parish in Balornock. Great fun. The young people there seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, and I know that some of them have offered to teach others the dances properly for future occasions.
I can see that everyone is clamouring for my story about the Alexander Brothers (!) so here goes…
In my youth (WHAT a memory!) our parish priest decided to build a hall next to the church and all the organisations were asked, once it was built, to put it into use by doing something to raise funds to contribute to the cost. Our branch of the Legion of Mary decided to organise a concert.
When discussing who we could invite, someone mentioned that one of the Alexander Brothers lived in a nearby suburban estate and maybe they would agree to top the bill. So, one of the members (we’ll give her a pseudonym, Alice) was assigned to track down the address and issue the invite.
At the following week’s meeting she explained that she’d not been able to contact the Alexander Brother directly, but had been in touch with “the Company” and the woman she spoke to didn’t even know that they were musical. She couldn’t help Alice, as she didn’t know how to contact them directly herself.
We were all puzzled and asked what she meant by “the Company”.
Long story cut very short, Alice had telephoned Alexander & Sons, the bus company! I don’t think they’re in business any more, but at that time they were known as “the blue buses”. Alice hadn’t realised that we meant the singing duo. When we all looked incredulous and explained, light dawned in Alice’s eyes and she, by her own admission, felt foolish.
For the record, we never did get the Alexander Brothers to perform – at that time, my own personal motto was “if at first you don’t succeed, forget about it…” 😀
It’s already 2017 down under, so happy new year to our Australian readers and our blogger, Summa. Every blessing in the coming year, which we anticipate with a certain apprehension – the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions to be marked at our Conference on Saturday, 13 May. Tickets are going steadily, so I think it is going to be a great day.
Happy Hogmanay and a Happy and a Holy New Year Ed. I know you really put in a lot of work . ( unlike me ) Have enjoyed also the little digs back and forth . Another one,to end the year is,I can see why you posted The Alexander Brothers. Personally they along with Sidney Devine used to give me nightmares. God Bless.
FOOF,
The Alexander Brothers gave you nightmares? Well, I hope you didn’t tune in to BBC 1 this evening – I switched it on at almost ten to midnight and, to my astonishment, the show was (or had been) largely traditional music, singing and dancing. Someone mentioned the Gay Gordons at one point. I couldn’t believe it. So, I guess their years of producing pop shows didn’t bring home the bacon in terms of ratings. That has to be the explanation, surely? Even as a youngster who enjoyed pop music myself, I liked the New Year traditional stuff, as did my friends, or so they told me, possibly to stave off a lecture, who knows.
Anyway, I know some folks don’t like that sort of thing but, come on, “nightmares”? Gerragrip!
And a very happy new year to you and yours!
God bless.
Wishing you all a very happy New Year. Perhaps 2017 will indeed see some much needed Divine intervention in the church and indeed the world. On a lighter note, as a youngster I could never understand why the Scots seemed to highjack New Year, at least on the BBC! What was that all about? Surely New Year belonged to everyone? Bagpipes, dancing and Jimmy someone or other did nothing for me. I suppose I still feel a bit that way to be honest! Head now behind the parapet waiting for the flak!!
Elizabeth,
I suspect the “hijacking” dates from the time when Presbyterian & Wee Free Scotland didn’t celebrate Christmas, and so New Year was a good substitute. After typing the foregoing, I Googled and found this interesting article
Well, I was partly right!
That is a really interesting article, thank you. Although my parents were not Scots they always celebrated New Year with enthusiasm, my father doing the first footing and also knocking on the neighbours doors to greet the New Year. Might not be so welcome these days!
I think the first footing custom has all but died out – but let me make it plain here and now that no tall, dark, handsome man will ever be turned away from my door, on Hogmanay or any other time of year! Kidding! Goodness, I shouldn’t have said that – now I’ll be inundated with aforesaid TDH men on my doorstep all the year round. Ach well…
Editor
Just beat them all away with a big stick!
By the way, if any of our women bloggers facies the ghost of Christmas past turning up on their doorstep, just say the word!
I’m kidding, too. Well at least the part about turning up on your doorstep!
When I said Nightmares I of course meant it in the jocular fashion. Talking about the Gay Gordon’s are they not Presnters now on The BBC.
Naughty, FOOF. Very naughty. But yes, probably 😀
“Long story cut very short, Alice had telephoned Alexander & Sons, the bus company!”
LOL!
A very happy Hogmanay to everyone, and a happy new year when it comes!
A happy but not too riotous Hogmany to all you Scots, and a New Year filled with blessings! Now back to my New Year Resolutions….
RCA Victor,
You need to make New Year resolutions? Really? WOW! I’m amazed. I thought you and I, we were, sort of, two of a kind, if you get my drift…
http://dustoffthebible.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/New-Year-Resolutions.jpg
Editor,
My approach to New Year resolutions is slightly different. I always write some down, and then forget about them until about the last week of the following year! That way I can claim to have a blank mind, instead of a blank piece of paper….say nothing! (OK, you can have another “WOW”!)
WOW!
It’s now en route to 1.a.m. here so I’ll wish a very happy new year to you and yours as I am en route to my beauty sleep. Say nothing!
Dear Madam Editor,
That’s brilliant! I must admit, however, that I made 1 New Year’s resolution which I did keep.
In 1996, we were hit with the Blizzard of ’96. Dad drove me to work but there were snow drifts at least 10 feet high. Thankfully, then-Governor Ridge declared a state of emergency on the radio, so we went home. I didn’t drive at that time, so my New Year’s resolution was to learn how to drive. My dad tried giving me driving lessons but that didn’t work out. So when Mom and Dad went on a week-long trip with the senior center, I called a local driving school and took driving lessons while they were gone. Eventually I learned how to drive. To the best of my knowledge, that’s the only New Year’s resolution which I made and kept.
I wish you and the entire CT family a Happy and Holy New Year.
Z nami Boh! God is with us!
Yours in the Infant King,
Margaret
Margaret, just curious, what does Z nami Boh mean? God with us I guess but what language?
RCA Victor,
When the BBC TV presenter of the Hogmanay Live show, leading up to midnight, went walkabout with her microphone into the crowd in Edinburgh, speaking to people from various parts of the UK, she included a few people overseas, including a couple from San Francisco, asking them what they would normally be doing on Hogmanay, to which they replied, in their unmistakeable American drawl: “Much the same as here but not so much fun”
So, what are you waiting for? What time’s the next plane? I PROMISE to check the exact population of Glasgow this time, before your arrival (and then add +1)!
“in their unmistakeable American drawl…”
Many Americans from the southeast have a drawl; the rest of the country has an accent. In San Francisco they’re known for their California English, a subset of General American that shows up in a lot of what Hollywood puts in its films.
It’s all likely to be nuance to persons from abroad – just as, for example, to this American’s untrained ear, Scots and Geordie accents are at times difficult to distinguish.
Happy New Year!
Wurdesmythe,
No offence intended. I love the American drawl, accent, whatever.
None taken – just deepening the pool of knowledge for y’all in Scotland.
You mean, you think we Scots don’t know everything? Really? WOW!
I’d have made a terrific American. I can do drawls, and accents and WOWs like there’s no tomorrow! You betcha!
Editor,
But can youse tawk like DIS? To express your solidarity wit’ all dose woikahs o’ de woild who live in Brooklyn?
After all, according to the present occupant of the Chair of Peter and his fellow travelers, we must “accompany” everyone in whatever state they find themselves…even Brooklyn…which is definitely a state unto itself…
À VOUS TOUS, BONNE ET HEUREUSE ANNÉE 2017!
TO YOU ALL, GOOD AND HAPPY YEAR 2017!
And the very same to you, Lionel. A very VERY happy new year in 2017, to you and your family.
God bless.
http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/new-year-honours-luton-lgbt-champion-awarded-mbe-for-services-to-education/story-30018596-detail/story.html
http://www.itv.com/news/2016-12-21/abortion-provider-marie-stopes-put-women-at-risk-health-watchdog-says/
now here really is something to CELEBRATE … papers were full of information regarding mass abortion industry M STOPES … lets hope many precious lives were saved by these revelations
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4057026/I-expected-sympathy-Marie-Stopes-abortion-clinic-like-conveyor-belt-says-mother-accused-wasting-time-backed-out.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3853328/As-concerns-raised-Marie-Stopes-clinics-young-mothers-pressured-having-abortions.html
http://abort67.co.uk/blog/expectant-mums-we-need-your-help
WONDERFUL
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4079694/Student-union-bans-use-don-t-want-make-assumptions-gender.html
horrific ..and unbelievable
Wendy,
Thank you for all those links to articles about abortion – great that you are keeping us on our toes from day one of the new year!
A very happy New Year to you and yours.
God bless.
A very belated happy New Year to one and all. God bless the lot of you!
NOTICE:
Can I just let those who attend Mass at the SSPX chapel in Glasgow that Friday, January 6th (Epiphany) is NOT in fact a Holy Day of Obligation, as mistakenly announced. It has been transferred by the Bishops of Scotland to the Sunday, meaning that the Obligation is no longer applicable. Traditionally, however, it was a Holy Day binding under Obligation, so it is always good, if we can manage it, to attend Holy Mass on the day itself.
Athanasius,
Thank you for that – in recent years, one of the Society priests in Glasgow (now moved to another part of the world) had actually used the fact that the SSPX recognises the local bishops’ authority to change Holidays of Obligation as a means of underlining the fact that the Society is not running a parallel Church, so thank you for that clarification.
Editor
Yes, the position of the SSPX is exactly as the priest you cite stated it, that’s why I felt it was important to highlight the mistake on this occasion. But I also highlighted it for those who may struggle to get to Mass on a weekday evening at 6.30pm when the Church has placed no necessity on them to do so, especially those who are working. It was a bit easier when Mass was at 7pm in Glasgow but the change to 6.30 (rush hour on the motorways) makes it now almost impossible for some.
http://metro.co.uk/2017/01/01/heres-what-you-need-to-know-if-you-need-to-have-an-abortion-6341388/
Who said happy New Year ? this most abhorrent article I found today hopefully PRO LIFE PEOPLE WILL COMPLAIN ..this sort of reporting should not be allowed
Many thanks, Wendy.
It’s interesting to note how the likes of Marie Stopes (a registered charity and ‘not-for-profit’ organisation) are always rubbing their hands at this time of year.
They know only too well that lots of young women have been ‘letting their hair down’ at Christmas/New Year parties. With the booze and dope in free-flow, they’ve probably no idea who they had their ‘fling’ with. And their bed-mate(s) certainly couldn’t care less.
Now, surprise, surprise, many a positive pregnancy test….. ‘It’s ok dear, step this way – the NHS will fund it’…….
Thank you for your kind words Patricia ….and for having these Blogs so important
wishing you all the very best always
God Bless all the readers /contributors
Wendy
http://metro.co.uk/2014/09/08/useful-numbers-2-4164977/
Details of Metro contact numbers for those wishing to complain re article
RE HORRIFIC ARTICLE IN METRO
WW
wendy walker
Reply|
Today, 13:19
[email protected];
Dear Editor
Iam contacting you about one of the most horrifically cold ,callous and disgusting articles I have ever read from your reporter Ashitha Nagesh …The New Year had hardly drawn its first breath and here she was penning this vile ,offensive article ..entitled
HERES WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU NEED AND ABORTION !!!!!!!
Well all it really was was a free advert for the abortion mills …..one of which just prior to Christmas was found to be woefully lacking in its workings by the CQC …please look up Marie Stopes and CQC …where one Lady who went to seek and abortion but thankfully never had one describes it as a conveyor belt .Yet Nagash cheerfully recommends its “”””help”””to readers
It is interesting to see Nagesh has a lot of concerns about Puppy Farms and a petition to stop Fox slaughter yet she obviously has no qualms with Preborn Human Slaughter
Another amazing thing is recently during the Sex Selection outcry the the silence from the wimmins groups was deafening wouldnt yo think they would be very concerned about the killing of little sistas ?????..Obviously not
It may be time for you to rethink your reporters and their views and consider getting ones with more humane Human feelings ?
Yours Most deeply concerned ..saddened and disgusted
Wendy Walker
A copy of my letter to Metro
Wendy,
Thank you for posting a copy of your great letter to the Metro.
For some reason it went into moderation – not sure why, but presumably there is a word in there somewhere that is in our blacklist – or it may be the series of exclamation or question marks – not sure. Sometimes the system diverts comments if there is a risk of it being SPAM or whatever. So, it’s best to write without too many links or in any unusual way, to avoid your post going AWOL. In the end I’ll see diverted posts, so worry not.
Anyway, I’m sorry it has taken so long to release it – I’ve only this minute found it. Apologies.
No problem Patricia ..many thanks
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14999296.Potential_abortion_shake_up_could_see_terminations_performed_in_Scotland_up_to_24_weeks/?c=u8iobq#comments-anchor
please read comments and add one scroll right down article ..lots of Pro Life complaints please urgent
A very tardy “Happy New Year” to Editor and all bloggers from myself!
May 2017 be a fruitful and holy year for us all and, please God, a good one for the Church.
http://www.citizengo.org/en/lf/39867-proposals-make-abortion-legal-birth-scotland-must-be-rejected?m=5&tcid=31136544
pLEASE SIGN AND SHARE ..THANK YOU
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4089302/Bible-students-warned-crucifixion-upsetting-Critics-say-trigger-warnings-distressing-content-creating-generation-snowflake-students.html
http://www.abolitionsociety.org/blog/mk-christian-foundation-the-30-pieces-of-silver-behind-their-childcare-pathways
Not written by a Catholic but some very interesting information of what goes on in Milton Keynes
JANUARY 2017
Killing Africa: Exposing the Core of MSI Mission in Africa
We have just launched a new video entitled – KILLING AFRICA.
It is about Marie Stopes International (MSI) which is a UK-based organization founded by Marie Stopes a renowned eugenist of her time.
Today MSI works in 37 countries around the world of which 16 are African countries.
They are the largest abortion organization in the world with a staggering 3.3 million abortions and abortion related services every year which means that they perform more abortions (and abortion related services) each year than the United States, Russia, France, Japan, England and Wales combined.
In their UK practices, they have been riddled with many scandals bordering on malpractice, mismanagement, mistreatment of staff and patients. This has recently led to in-depth inspections and investigations by the British Care Quality Commission (CQC).
There have also been various whistleblower cases by former MSI staff in the UK who have spoken out publicly of untenable working conditions within the organization including pressure put on the staff as a result of the MSI incentive bonuses paid to nurses and centres that perform more abortions.
In spite of these well documented scandals in the UK , MSI still gets about £250 million every year from their donor-partners (which include many western governments and private foundations) to further their work in developing countries particularly African countries (where they are hardly monitored, inspected or regulated).
In most of these African countries, Abortion is not legal and this is predicated on the prevailing consideration in these countries that abortion is a direct attack on the life of the unborn.
This UK-based abortion organization however has set up clinics across Africa, in urban and rural areas alike under the guise of “family planning”. But in practice, there have been reports of industrial-scale illegal abortion operations , desecration of fetal remains flushed down toilets or thrown into open sewage, accusations of mismanagement of funds ,claims (by African government workers) of interference in African Ministries of Health policies and allegations of incentive bonuses awarded for increased numbers of abortions performed by centres in countries where abortion is not legal.
Some of their staff in Africa, have also complained of being, demoted, disciplined, intimidated or sacked when they raised objections about MSI illegal abortions.
Marie Stopes International is the largest abortion organization in the world with a staggering 3.3 million abortions and abortion related services every year which means that they perform more abortions (and abortion related services) each year than the United States, Russia, France, Japan, England and Wales combined.
These are all claims worth investigating, yet very little attention has been given to them leaving MSI to continue their work unchecked in Africa.
In addition to all these, MSI may also be concealing from their (western) donors, the scope and nature of their unethical (and sometimes inhumane) practices in Africa. Some of these donor countries who generously fund them may not be aware of how their financial aid may indeed be hurting rather than helping the people of Africa.
This is why we decided to tell the story of the MSI mission in Africa. This is why we needed the world to know about this British organization that may be KILLING AFRICA.
Please help us end these inhumane MSI practices in Africa by sharing this video.
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ABORTION DEVASTATING AFRICA A WONDERFUL ARTICLE ..M STOPES HANG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME
http://www.radioimmaculata.org/
A new radio station created by The Friars of The Immaculate
Thank you Wendy – I took a quick look at the link just now but it looks like it is not simple to listen, requires log-in (unless I’m misreading the page) so I’ll check it out later when I’ve got more time.
Friday 13th January is the 20th anniversary of the founding of The Good Counsel Network in the UK,
thousands of lives have been saved.
Please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia on the eve of this anniversary.
Your prayer and fasting is urgently needed.
http://www.goodcounselnetwork.com
Prayers please ..thank you
Wendy,
They picked Friday 13th to launch… ?
http://citizengo.org/en/lf/40174-killingafrica-end-taxpayer-funding-illegal-abortion-africa?dr=
Please sign and share …Marie Stopes AGAIN
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