Category — Scotland

Scotland is a land of contrasts combining the old and the new, the rural with the urban. A land of unspoilt and unrivaled landscapes, of rugged mountains and lochs, yet possessing vibrant and modern cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, it manages to successfully combine these two contrasting sides. It holds a rural backdrop of awe inspiring scenery, villages and towns of unique local history and culture all the while possessing a modern and young urban landscape with cities of the calibre of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen that can rival the best in Europe. Scotland is  a land for many tastes, both young and old. From the intrepid trekker, the nature enthusiast, the history buff to the young trendsetter and music fan, Scotland holds a bit of everything.

This weekend is a massive sporting weekend on both sides of the Atlantic. You’ve got Superbowl XLII in Phoenix, Arizona .We’ve got the opening matches in the 2008 six nations rugby tournament involving Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy. In both events the media hype for the games is massive with players taking on the status of warrior gods in these clashes of titans.

The build-up is very much the same both sides of the pond and will remain so until a few minutes prior to kick off when it’s time for the National Anthem. In Colorado the crowd will unite with Jordin Sparks (sorry I don’t know her either but she won “American Idol” if that means anything to you) and stand proud in the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner”. In the rugby matches a sub competition occurs at this point when each nation involved sings its own anthem. It’s a proud moment with the power to bring tears to the eyes. I know I’m not the only one.

To celebrate Burns night and before we log off for the weekend here’s the Scottish Poet’s ode to the Haggis:

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!
Aboon them a’ yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’a grace
As lang’s my arm.

As a Welshman I can’t say that I understand much of what is being said above any more than I understand why people eat haggis. Washing it down with a wee dram though is a splendid tradition. To all of you celebrating Robert Burns’ birthday, have a great night.

This is by way of a warning when driving on British Roads. We have speed cameras everywhere. I think we’ve got as many speed cameras as rabbits – they seem to be proliferating at the same rate anyway. A debatable number of these yellow boxes are there in the name of road safety. The vast majority however are cash generators for our esteemed government. You have been warned. Even Britain’s top traffic cop, Meredith Hughes fell foul of the cameras recently and was fined and disqualified from driving for 6 weeks for driving at 90mph in a 60 mph area. I shouldn’t gloat as I’m nearly in the same position as Mr. Hughes, being only a couple of minor speeding offences away from a statutory driving ban. I’m not alone however as it’s calculated that there are over 1 million motorists in the same predicament. If you think that the fact that you’re not British and that you’re driving a rental car will protect you …think again.

I often get asked for a list of my top places to visit in Britain, both from guests and colleagues in myguideBritain. It’s a difficult question to answer as there are so many great places to list and more often than not I try and deflect it by suggesting some safe bets such as Stonehenge, Bath and Edinburgh. These are places that I know everyone will love. Also, you see, I’m never sure if people will like the same things as me. And of course, it depends very much on my current mood! If I’m a bit stressed my list includes remote out of the way places such as the Brecon Beacons, just a few miles from the office, here in South Wales where I can sit in solitude. If I’m on top of my game it’ll include dynamic buzzing places such as London………. I’m sure you get the drift.

I used to live in Louisville, Kentucky and my first daughter was born there so it holds a warm place in my heart. It was in Loretto, Kentucky on a bright autumn day of that year that I discovered hard liquor ….. and Maker’s Mark is still my whisky of choice. Try it and be convinced.

I watched an interview with JK Rowling on TV this morning where she was talking about life after Harry Potter and discussing her revelation that Dumbledore was gay that had so shocked the audience at a question and answer session she gave over the weekend in Carnegie Hall, New York. Who’s Dumbledore I ask?

She’s just published a new fairytale of which only seven copies have been published. All were lavishly bound and in her own handwriting throughout. Six of these she’s given away as a thank you to individuals that had supported her during the writing of the Harry Potter series, the seventh is to be auctioned off in December in aid of charity. Bids will start at £30,000 ($60,000) and will probably end up in the stratosphere. Start saving, Potter fans.