Freedom - a view from the North

For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.

Quite a controversial quote here, especially as the majority of wonderful people who read my blog are in fact English. I mean no offence here friends. It is just that I have been reading so much about the appalling plans by the UK government to take away the freedom of English parents to home educate their children, that I find this quite apt in the circumstances. It is a frightening prospect. Everyday I find more and more to worry about. Information can be found here and here, and here.
Fortunately for me, I live in Scotland, where these measures will not apply - our SNP government have said they have no plans to implement a similar review. Hopefully Mr BrownBalls will take some notice of the huge response to their 'proposals' If, as is supsected, they do not, I look forward to welcoming any home educators and their children to this land - there is plenty room to grow here. Its a sad day for democracy though when people are forced to become refugees in their own country over doing the best for their children.
I was in the National Museum of Scotland the other day. The entrance to the ground floor exhibition contains one of my favourite items - The Monymusk Reliquary. On the walls are inscribed the names of all the Kings of Scotland, and also the above quote from the Declaration of Arbroath is highlighted in beautiful calligraphy. As I read these familiar words, my eye travelled down to the long bench below. Sitting there looking very tired and subdued was a group of children from a daycare nursery wearing their high visiility vest uniforms and all strapped together with one of these. Ironic? Poignant? Or a warning?
Well - there are still 5320 of us at least!

Undeniably delicious, but...

The month of June is full of various local festivals - every Saturday, one or two Sundays and other odd days through the week, depending on the particular village or town. Today was our village procession and fete - a small affair compared to the one pictured on a previous post. Nevertheless, we do like to support local community events, so off we went - despite the drizzling rain. No photos of the parade as it was so wet and cold, but later we all repaired back to our house for a buffet lunch. I made this fabulous orange and raspberry cheesecake for desert - definitely worth a photo, even if I almost forgot and had to rescue this slice before it met it's fate.


Less tasty, however, is the amount of plastic packaging I used in the making of this culinary masterpiece. None of this is recyclable in our area. I am quite ashamed of this, and so I should be. I am going to try harder to source non plastic, and it can be done, with a bit more effort. It did make me think about the tons and tons of plastic waste going to landfill. What's the use of buying organic raspberries, strawberries and cream if they are wrapped up in non reusable plastic cartons? How many households in West Lothian are piling up plastic waste in their dustbins for their Galaday lunches and barbecues during the month of June? How many articulated lorries are spewing out exhaust fumes carrying their cargoes of plastic food storage boxes up and down Britain's motorways? My head is about to explode just thinking about the ramifications of my cheesecake. I think I'd better go and lick the plate.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Gala Day Parade

Today was our local Gala Day Parade. Schools, organisations and businesses and individuals come together and enter decorated floats, or dress up and walk around the town accompanied by various bands. This year's theme was Homecoming Scotland 2009.

Here are two Scots boys, my younger son and my grandson, waiting impatiently on the parade to start - flags at the ready

First came a man selling balloons...

...then the Gala Queen's carriage...

A brass band...

...and a pipe band (of course).

Then I looked across the road and saw this...

Our old picture house, now a community theatre and arts venue.

Hope you enjoyed my shadow parade. See lots more Shadow Shots at Hey Harriet.