AMERICA,CANADA - SCOTLAND CALLING.

AMERICA,CANADA - SCOTLAND CALLING.

AMERICA,CANADA - SCOTLAND CALLING is the message to all Scottish bloodlines.
Mail invite for Scots-Americans

A drive to attract visitors to Scotland from North America has been launched.

It was made possible by a change to the US census rules, which makes it easier to identify people who believe they are of Scottish descent.

Almost 140,000 households in the United States and Canada will receive a mailshot from VisitScotland.

Enterprise Minister Jim Mather launched the promotion during a visit to Chicago, home of America's oldest St Andrews Society.
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TRANQUILITY WILD WEST TOWN.

TRANQUILITY WILD WEST TOWN.

TRANQUILITY WILD WEST TOWN is thousands of miles away from the prairies nestled in a beautiful area of the North East Scotland.
Yesterday was one of their popular open days which had families out for their Sunday drive visiting as well as others who had penciled in their day out especially to see the cowboys and cowgirls in action.
Tranquility is so well named being in the heart of one of the best nature areas less than a mile south of the well known Glen Dronach Distillery which sits just off the B9001 at Drumblair Forgue near Huntly in Aberdeenshire.
In discussion with a few of the cowboys and talking to Alistair on whos ground the Jail, the Saloon, The Church & Court, General Store, Bank and Undertakers are all built he told me this was the only Wild West Re-enactment Group in Scotland, reminding us to remember many Scottish bloodlines started the Wild West as we all know it.
During the days activities the cowboys were great with the kids tutoring them on all the Health and Safety aspects of handling even these replica guns which could only fire loud blanks.
Lots of hard work was obvious on the work these guys and gals had put into Tranquility and although they are well known in them Eastern Parts, they will perform their Re-enactment for Open Days, Shows etc..
Yesterdays show was so popular it attracted attention from BBC Scotland and Radio 106 from the local area network.
The cost yesterday was nothing and for this nothing refreshments and food was available which most visitors appreciated, there was of course the donations box next to the general store.
You come away from Tranquility and it's quiet and peaceful setting thinking these cowboys and cowgirls have put in years of hard work and you know it has paid off just listening to the kids talking about how cool a place Tranquility is and asking so many questions you know you just have to go back next time.
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!
Full details about the only Wild West Re-enactment Group in Scotland.
Another report from the BBC.
With excellent shows like this Homecoming Scotland 2009 is set for an exceptional year.

BBC ALBA GAELIC GOLD.

BBC ALBA GAELIC GOLD.

BBC ALBA GAELIC GOLD refreshing broadcasts aired from 9 pm last night.
The long awaited Scottish home grown channel looked very good with some excellent singers with a mix of heritage and tradition for the opening night on freesat. We are told by the BBC it will be two years before it surfaces on Freeview which is a great pity.
We say this is a great pity as this channel has been needed for many years to educate the British public exactly what the Gaelic means to those who make the effort to learn their "Mither Tongue".
Students learning Gaelic could do a lot worse than viewing the new channel and a freesat box comes at a lower cost than expensive lessons.
We are happy that "Home Grown" channels from around the country are coming up on freesat and we can expect the Irish equivalent next year to join the Welsh and Scottish "Home Grown", channels.
Over the next eight to ten weeks, freesat channels will swell in number making a freesat set top box an excellent buy with no headache of paying monthly subscriptions.
Freesat boxes will also receive many updates to accommodate these new channels and hopefully at the same time iron out any little receiver niggles one can expect from a brand new product of this type.
This is a very important milestone in the history of Scottish TV and in the year before the Homecoming Scotland 2009 festival it will be well remembered exactly when it started.
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!

BURNS NIGHT 2009.

BURNS NIGHT 2009.

BURNS NIGHT 2009 will in fact be Burns weekend in 2009 as on this very special occasion the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns birth.
Ayrshire being the official Homecoming Burns Supper, and Ayrshire being the birthplace and home of Robert Burns will host the worlds biggest Burns Supper Celebration.
In Glasgow Celtic Connections, Scotland biggest winter music festival will showcase and in Dumfries thousands will take to the streets to celebrate the Bard with a lantern procession and fire show through the heart of Dumfries key Burns landmark sites.
The Glagow Celtic Connections celebrations will ring out at the Clyde Auditorium.
The Dumfries celebrations, aptly named Burns Light also takes in a traditional ceilidh with fireworks and a spectacular fire show.
The world Burns night hosting traditional Scots music and poetry inspired by Burns is celebrated by the National Library of Scotland Edinburgh.
Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre reflect on the cultural events between Scots and Poles through theatre, music and contemporary visual art.
These are only some of the Burns Supper celebration going on in Scotland, for those visitors coming from overseas it's worth noting that there will be celebrations and Burns Suppers in nearly every hotel and club in Scotland, there is always another chair to fill on Burns night in Scotland.
Homecoming Scotland 2009 honours Robert Burns on the 250th anniversary of his birth.
Is it news to you ? then you read it here first!