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The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Dougie MacLean's anthem causes Scots to start greetin' and drinkin'
This is one of these weeks when I must think carefully (reader's voice: 'That's a first!') about whether the Icon is the person or their most famous work. But there's more to illustrious songwriter Dougie MacLean than 'Caledonia', Scotland's unofficial national anthem. That said, he actually had Perthshire in particular in mind when he wrote the song as a homesick young man abroad. However, 'Perthshire's been everything I've ever had' would have had limited appeal. It's a song for the nation. 'Wester Hailes has been everything I've ever had' wouldn't have worked either. Not that Wester Hailes has been anything to Mr MacLean – no fault on either part – but his love of the land in Perthshire is very real. He lives and works where he grew up, even converting his old school and teacher's house in Butterstone, by Dunkeld, into a music studio and home. Dougie told punk rock fanzine Scottish Field in 2015: 'When the school closed in the 1970s it lay empty for a long, long time, then I was able to buy it. We also bought the old teacher's house, which my mum used to clean. We live in it now – it's really bizarre!' Born on 27 September 1954 in Dunblane, Dougie MacLean has described his childhood in Butterstone as 'idyllic'. His father's side of the family hailed from Mull, his mother's from around Taynuilt. Father, a gardener on a big estate, played the fiddle. Mother played the melodeon. Grandfather was a shepherd on the hills above Butterstone. When full of whisky, he'd sing old Gaelic songs with tears flooding down his face. 'We would say, 'What's wrong with Seanair [Gaelic for grandfather]?' MacLean told the National earlier this year. 'My mum would say, 'Oh, no, it's fine. He's just happy'.' HALL OR NOTHING THE kitchen table would then be pushed back, as mother and uncles produced their melodeons. By the time he was five, Dougie could play 'Morag of Dunvegan' on the harmonica. A year later, taken round village halls to hear Scottish country dance bands, he wanted to be a drummer: 'I used to sit up on stage beside the drummer with a pair of drumsticks and play along.' Soon, mandolin was added to his repertoire and, while at high school, he and buddy Ewan Sutherland (singing Corries songs) would play the Angus Hotel in Blairgowrie, earning £1 a night. With a few more pals, they formed a band called Puddock's Well, with Dougie on fiddle, the instrument for which he became best known in his early years. In 1976, while working as a gardener in Aberdeen, the 20-year-old was invited to play for the Tannahill Weavers – beginning in Germany the following day. After quickly consulting friends – 'Do it or you'll regret it for the rest of your life' – he gave up his job and flat and ended up, as he told Klof magazine, 'travelling all over Europe, sleeping in sleeping bags on people's floors and going through some real hard times'. Good times for folk, though, which was growing in popularity on yonder Continent. In the late 1970s, MacLean spent six months touring with Silly Wizard. Wanting to focus more on his own songwriting, he left the band, taking up an invitation from a friend living in Germany, the late Alan Roberts, to form a duo. (Image: PA) SICKENING TALENT AROUND this time, in just 10 minutes, he wrote 'Caledonia' while homesick on a beach in Brittany with a group of Irish buskers. It received its first airing at a concert in West Berlin and has since been embraced in Ireland, Norway, Denmark, all sorts of places, but mostly in Scotland, the homesickness capital of Europe. As MacLean has said: 'It's a magical thing when you put a bunch of words with a melody. When it works, it's really powerful.' It's been played during childbirth and in folk's dying moments. A commenter on the National's website called for it to be sung in schools as Americans do with the Star Spangled Banner. A version sung by Frankie Miller was used in a Tennent's Lager advert, which was quickly pulled for allegedly promoting a pro-independence message. It's since been watched by hundreds of thousands on yon YouTube. 'Caledonia' was written near the start of MacLean's stellar career, during which, while still in his early 20s, an English record company told him his music was 'banal, stupid and parochial'. This was at a time when cosmopolitan sophisticates Chas & Dave were all the rage. The insult led him to set up his own recording studio and label (Dunkeld Records), 'the best thing I ever did'. Musically, 'Caledonia' may have been the best song he ever did, but he also won plaudits internationally for 'The Gael', a dramatic and ominous version of which was used as a theme tune in 1992 film The Last of the Mohicans. READ MORE Rab McNeil: Get your Boots on, we're going shopping for unicorn hair gel Rab McNeil: No wonder the whole Scottish nation loves Nicola (no, not that one) Scottish Icons: William McGonagall - The poet who right bad verses wrote still floats some folk's vessel or boat Scottish Icons: There is a lot of tripe talked about haggis – so here's the truth BY ECK ANOTHER song, 'Holding Back', received a particularly emotional outing in 2013 when the late Alex Salmond presented MacLean with the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Lifetime Achievement for Contribution to Songwriting. It's a song about contentment: 'That's one of the great things about being an older musician – you can feel content with your place in the greater scheme of things.' Among other awards, in 2011 MacLean was conscripted as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), a higher award than the Quite Good Order of the British Empire. In 2014, Till Tomorrow, recorded in collaboration with The Royal Scottish National Orchestra, revisited some well loved songs. In Perthshire, MacLean set up the Amber Festival, so that fans might visit the places that inspired his songs. This coming November, a revitalised Shades of Amber will light up life in the county. In April, Dougie returned to New York's Carnegie Hall for a special concert with celebrated Scottish musicians Julie Fowlis and Mànran, while last month saw him perform at The Reeling, Glasgow's summer celebration of traditional Scottish music, at Rouken Glen song, though. Here are some final words on 'Caledonia', from the man himself: 'People sing it at weddings, they sing it at funerals. It becomes a kind of tool that people use in their everyday life. Music is much more than just a commodity. When it's done right it's a tool in life's toolbox to keep you from getting depressed or for celebrating in your own home.'
Spectator
17-06-2025
- Spectator
Am I ready for Turkey teeth?
My parents both had false teeth. My mother had all her teeth taken out one winter afternoon. I can remember her huddled by the electric fire with a small bowl of blood beside her, mourning their loss. It was a loss not just of teeth but of youth. She can't have been much over 40. Because of her I feel rather proud of the fact that I've managed to hang on to mine. I tell this to my dentist, Marcus. He's not impressed. I should have guessed by my stint watching the video in the waiting room of a blonde whitening her teeth and smiling. Just hanging on to them isn't quite good enough. I haven't had mine straightened, realigned or veneered. I haven't had 'a smile make-over'. Actually, I have rather large teeth. I'd quite like them reduced, like they reduce breasts – but I don't mention this to Marcus. He might take me at my word. He's already warning me about what he calls 'Turkey teeth'. Turkey teeth? Welcome to the world of dental tourism. Apparently, lots of people (celebrities, the rich, the desperate?) go to Turkey where dentistry is cheaper and where there are smile design dentists. Marcus describes having the bottom of your teeth shaved off then new porcelain pieces tacked on to the stubs. That's the least of it. When I Google, I find that for £5,900 you can have 'full mouth' treatment (both rows of teeth plus four implants and crowns), including flights and five days in a hotel. Such a holiday! Marcus says that the term 'Turkey teeth' is slang for botched dental treatment and that it's one thing for your treatment to go wrong when your dentist is just round the corner but quite another if it involves a flight back to Turkey. Which isn't to say that there aren't some exceedingly successful Turkey teeth. I can't remember when I gave up trying to find an NHS dentist and went private. I realise today, at my regular six-month appointment, that I must be a very boring patient. I haven't had a filling or a tooth out for at least five years. My teeth do look rather yellow but I'm so old nobody suggests whitening and at home we're too mean to buy the expensive toothpaste. A few days after my appointment I meet a friend just back from a holiday in Istanbul. She knows about Turkey teeth. She tells me that Turkey's proud of its medical accomplishments The waiting room at the dentist's is large enough to host a baby grand piano and I suggest this to Marcus, but I can see it doesn't appeal. The room has a couple of sofas, the video about smiling and snoring (they can deal with that too), a mini palm tree and magazines. I'm extremely pleased to see that magazines are back. During lockdown, this waiting room was so bleak I actually cried. I'm a little disappointed that the magazines are such traditional dentist-type magazines – National Geographic, Scottish Field, Good Housekeeping. I find myself yearning for the Sun, but settle for penguins in the Geographics. I can't help thinking of Elizabeth Bishop's wonderful 'In the Waiting Room' poem told as if by a child who, while reading the National Geographic (February 1918), hears an 'oh of pain' from her aunt in the surgery and suddenly discovers she's part of the human race, 'an Elizabeth', 'one of them'. There are three surgeries in this dental practice and I reason either the surgeries must be soundproofed or, hopefully, that all three dentists are so brilliant that there's never an 'oh' of pain. Actually, I do remember having a tooth out and afterwards suffering from what they call a dry socket – which was more a howl than an oh of pain. But that was then. This afternoon is just a check-up preceded by a session with the hygienist. Betty is new. She's accompanied by a nurse who I saw in the hall cleverly watching her computer and iPhone simultaneously. The previous hygienist used handheld scrapers and prodders and the like. Betty uses ultrasonic. It's noisy and wet and I protest. 'It's the modern way,' says Betty. Mopping my face I try and suggest that 'modern' doesn't necessarily mean 'better'. Smiling my yellow tooth smile, I pay Max at the desk, buy a packet of interdental brushes, book an appointment for six months' time and – £160 lighter but oh so clean and bright – make my shining way home, very glad I don't have to go to Turkey this year. At least not for my teeth. A few days after my appointment I meet a friend just back from a holiday in Istanbul. She knows about Turkey teeth. She tells me that Turkey's proud of its medical accomplishments, cornering the market on self-enhancement. 'It's not just teeth,' she says, 'It's hair implants. Bottoms.' I decide not to pursue the subject.
Glasgow Times
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Why this pub with over 1000 whiskies is Glasgow's top-rated
The Pot Still on Hope Street has operated in some shape or form since 1867 and has had a number of families at its helm. The Murphys, who are the location's current owners, have been involved in the bar since 2003, taking full control in 2011. Since then, the establishment has gone on to win both the Scottish Dram Awards' Whisky Bar of the Year accolade and Scottish Field magazine's Whisky Bar of the Year Award in 2016, according to The Pot Still's website. The Pot Still (Image: Tripadvisor) Why this iconic Glasgow pub with 'mind-blowing selection' of whiskies is the city's top-rated The pub in the heart of Glasgow has received heaps of praise from pubgoers, with users on Tripadvisor giving it a 4.7/5 out of 1322 reviews. Discussing the bar, one visitor said: "Mind-blowing selection of malt whiskies. Very, very busy but quite rightly so. "Good to hear Glasgow voices mixed with tourists from all over the world, and no music or TV pumping out media garbage. Exactly how a pub should be, please don't ever change." The Pot Still in Glasgow has operated in some form since the 19th century (Image: Tripadvisor) Recommended Reading: A second patron penned: "The Pot Still is hands down one of the best whisky bars in Glasgow! With an incredible selection of whiskies from all over Scotland (and beyond), it's a must-visit for both whisky lovers and those just starting their journey. "The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and full of character—exactly what you'd hope for in a proper Scottish pub." A third person added: "Get there early to make sure you can sample the super Scotch pies. I had haggis and black pudding pie with beans - scrumptious!"
Daily Record
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Stirlingshire home owners hope it will prove a hit on top BBC TV show
The property - named 'The Dairy' - will feature as part of an episode of 'Scotland's Home of the Year' in the Central and Tayside region which is set to run on Monday evening. A Deanston family are hoping their dream home will be a hit with judges on one of their favourite TV shows. Mhairi Wilson and her husband Andrew live with their blended family of four teenagers — Ben (21 – Mhairi's son) and Andrew's children, Harry, 19, Hamish, 18, and Hannah, 14, - in The Dairy. The house features on the latest episode of the cult programme 'Scotland's Home of the Year'. In Central and Tayside, the couple's farm steading conversion near Doune will come up against a modernist bungalow in Broughty Ferry, and a detached Victorian home in Auchterarder. Asked what would be her dream home, Mhairi said: 'Honestly, we've found it. The Dairy gives us everything we hoped for — views, light, space, warmth and complete joy. 'It feels like a retreat for our blended family and a home full of love and personality. I love that we have this place where everyone can come and go and be loved and looked after then head off back to their lives, usually with a load of food and their bags of washing done! 'Having this big blended family really is a joy and we all love this home.' Summing up its style, she added: 'I'd say it's Contemporary Scottish with global influences. The interiors reflect what I'd call Joyful Maximalism — more is more, but not too much. The home captures who we are as people, our personalities and passions. Colour emerged as the defining factor.' Mhairi, who runs Shine Creative, a PR agency for travel and hospitality businesses, is also an interiors writer for Scottish Field, a freelance travel writer and is currently studying a diploma in interior design. Her husband Andrew works for a bank. She first applied for the show two years ago. 'But the time wasn't right,' said Mhairi. 'A lot of our furniture hadn't even arrived - but the producers came back to me, did the recce and then we were told we were picked for Central Region. 'The experience was so much fun and the crew were just so lovely. I feel proud of breaking out of my world of neutrals, which is what my home was like before we bought The Dairy, so I was just so delighted to have the chance to share my inspiration and journey with colour, which I fully embraced. 'Scotland's Home of the Year is hands down my favourite television programme so having our home featured was just such a thrill.' The family first moved into The Dairy on Valentine's Day 2023. 'Andrew and I were both single parents and met just before the pandemic. We kept our relationship going over Zoom until we unlocked and then started to build a life together across two homes – mine in Dunblane with my son Ben and his in Edinburgh with his children, Harry, Hamish and Hannah. Judges Anna, Banjo and Danny must decide who will represent Central & Tayside at the grand final held at Glasgow's House For An Art Lover. Scotland's Home of the Year, Ep4/7 Central & Tayside, is on BBC One Scotland on Monday, May 12, 8.30pm-9pm.
