It’s coming up to January 25th: the Birthday of Robbie Burns, and the time of year when arguably Scotland’s most famous poet is celebrated. So set yourself the challenge of learning ALL the words of Auld Lang Syne and read on to find out more. (Note - Burns Night Events will be happening all around the Loch Ness Area - go to the events page of www.visitlochness.com to find out where)

 

Born in Alloway, Ayrshire, in 1759 to William Burness, a poor tenant farmer, and Agnes Broun, Robert Burns was the eldest of seven. He spent his youth working his father’s farm, but in spite of his poverty he was extremely well read - at the insistence of his father, who employed a tutor for Robert and younger brother Gilbert. At 15 Robert was the principal worker on the farm and this prompted him to start writing in an attempt to find “some kind of counterpoise for his circumstances.” It was at this tender age that Burns penned his first verse, “My Handsome Nell”, which was an ode to the other subjects that dominated his life, namely scotch and women.

The last years of Burns’ life were devoted to penning great poetic masterpieces such as The Lea Rig, Tam O’Shanter and a Red, Red Rose. He died aged 37 of heart disease exacerbated by the hard manual work he undertook when he was young. His death occurred on the same day as his wife Jean gave birth to his last son, Maxwell.

On the day of his burial more than 10,000 people came to watch and pay their respects. However, his popularity then was nothing compared to the heights it has reached since.

On the anniversary of his birth, Scots both at home and abroad celebrate Robert Burns with a supper, where they address the haggis, the ladies and whisky. A celebration which would undoubtedly make him proud.

Burns Suppers have been part of Scottish culture for about 200 years as a means of commemorating our best loved bard. And when Burns immortalised haggis in verse he created a central link that is maintained to this day.

The ritual was started by close friends of Burns a few years after his death in 1796 as a tribute to his memory. The basic format for the evening has remained unchanged since that time and begins when the chairman invites the company to receive the haggis……but whatever happens you are guaranteed an evening of good verse, a full belly and a dram, or several!

The format of a Burns supper is usually as follows:
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Chairperson’s opening address A few welcoming words start the evening and the meal commences with the Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat and cannot eat.
Some cannot eat that want it:
But we hae meat and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.

Everyone is then asked to stand to receive the haggis. A piper then leads the chef, carrying the haggis to the top table, while the guests accompany them with a slow handclap. The chairman or invited guest then recites Burns’ famous poem To A Haggis (see below). When he reaches the line ‘an cut you up wi’ ready slight’, he cuts open the haggis with a sharp knife.

Address to a Haggis.

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

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
‘Bethankit’ hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect sconner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither’d rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit:
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He’ll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld

Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!

It’s customary for the company to applaud the speaker then stand and toast the haggis with a glass of whisky.

An invited guest is then asked to give a short speech on Burns. There are many different types of Immortal Memory speeches, from light-hearted to literary, but the aim is the same - to outline the greatness and relevance of the poet today. Then comes the Toast To The Lasses: a more light-hearted address to the women in the audience. Originally this was a thank you to the ladies for preparing the food and a time to toast the ‘lasses’ in Burns’ life. The tone should be witty, but never offensive, and should always end on a concilliatory note. As men NEVER get the last word….the Lasses respond, usually detailing men’s foibles. Again, it should be humorous but not (overly!) insulting.

Once the speeches are complete the evening continues with songs and poems. These should be a good variety to fully show the different moods of Burns muse. Favourites for recitations are Tam O’ Shanter, Address to the Unco Guid, To A Mouse and Holy Willie’s Prayer.

The evening ends with the company linking hands and singing Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus: For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I’ll be mine,
And we’ll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine,
But we’ve wander’d monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a hand o thine,
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.

Coming to the Sci Fi Channel in the USA on Saturday January 5th 2008, this film is the antithesis of the recent release of the family film The Water Horse.

No cuddly Kelpies here! Previously called ‘Loch Ness Terror’ (scroll down to a previous post to see an ace cheesy trailer ) ‘Beyond Loch Ness’ is American TV’s 2008 contribution to the B-movie horror fare for lake monsters.

The ‘Plot’ : As far as we can tell - Nessie has relocated to Canada, possibly after an internet romance, has shacked up with Champ and has bred lots of little monsters. This happy family unit then appears to try and eat everyone in sight - which they kind of deserve as the main character is out to kill them after his dad was allegedly munched by Nessie 20 years earlier. Probably in retribution for really bad acting.

Screenings in Scotland may have to wait until after we can sort out Nessie’s repatriation and give her counselling to work through the trauma of being involved in such scurrilous activities . It is yet unclear if Champ & the kids will be moving back with her.

To our American cousins - Happy Viewing!

Almost everyone knows that Loch Ness is 23 miles long, has historic Urquhart Castle on its shores, and is believed to be home to ‘Nessie’ the Loch Ness monster.

The following are just some of the facts and interesting snippits of information and legends about Loch Ness and the surrounding area which you don’t often hear about! Perfect to fill those gaps in conversation over the Holiday period. (!?!)

Did you know???? Urquhart Bay on Loch Ness and the surrounding woods is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The woods, lying between the Rivers Enrick and Coiltie, are one of Britain’s last remnants of swamp woodland

Did you know???? The Corrimony Chambered burial cairn in Glenurquhart was built circa 2000BC, and is of a type known as a passage grave, encircled by 11 standing stones.

D id you know???? On the 29th September 1952, whilst travelling at 206mph on Loch Ness in his craft Crusader in an attempt to gain the world water speed record, John Cobb lost his life. The people in the area had so taken to the quiet, unassuming Englishman that it was decided to erect a simple cairn, to commemorate the man, from the people of Glen Urquhart, on a site overlooking the measured mile.

Did you know???? The artist George Bain, known as the father of Celtic Design lived in Drumnadrochit for many years after marrying a local girl. The house where they lived can be seen perched high on the slopes near Drumnadrochit and the former manse house where he had his school of celtic design is now the Benleva hotel. George Bain also designed the plaque that is on the Cobb’s Memorial Cairn (see above)

Did you know???? When Johnson and Boswell set off from Inverness to Fort Augustus on the morning of Monday, August 30, 1773, they travelled on horseback, accompanied by a guide and translator, Joseph, and two other Highlanders on foot. “I perceived a little hut, with an old looking woman at the door of it,” wrote Boswell. “I thought there might be a scene that would amuse Dr Johnson.” Sure enough, in they went to the hovel, lit only by a hole punched in the turf and the light of peat fire in the middle of the floor and goats tethered to one end. Where, wondered Dr Johnson aloud, did the woman sleep? Something must have been lost in translation because the old crone interpreted this as an alarming invitation to go to bed. The misunderstanding and her dignity were saved with humour.

Did you know???? Cherry Island near Fort Augustus, about 100m from the shore, is the only island on Loch Ness. In fact is not an island, nor is this its real name! The ‘island’ is in fact a man made structure known as a ‘crannog’. Designed to provide a fortified retreat for the local people when threatened, they were built and used for this purpose between the Iron Age and the 16th century. The real name of the crannog is Eilean Mhuireach or Murdoch’s Island.

Did you know??? The RSPB purchased Corrimony reserve in 1997 with the aim to regenerate a large area of Caledonian pinewood. Black Grouse, Golden Eagles, Scottish Crossbills, Crested tits & Greenshanks can all be found there. Source: www.rspb.org.uk

Did you know??? Strathglass & Glenurquhart Shinty Clubs competed in the fixture considered to be the origin of the rules applied today in modern shinty at Bught Park, Inverness in 1887. This ancient rivalry is still continued with the clubs’ first teams playing each year for the MacDonald Cup and second teams for the Ali Bhan Cup as a curtain raiser to the new season.

Did you know? Legends of Loch Ness-side records that at one time the Great Glen in which the loch now lies was a place of rich pasture, a land of milk and honey with plenty of corn, fish, deer and game for its numerous people. In the Glen there was a well which had been blessed by Daly, the Druid, under the condition that whosoever drew water from the well must always replace its cover. Many years later a woman was drawing water from the well when she heard that her child had fallen into the fire. The poor mother immediately rushed home forgetting to replace the well’s cover. The water of the well overflowed and flooded the whole glen and the escaping inhabitants lamented “The loch nis ann” (there is a lake now). From this saying (nis is pronounced Neesh in Gaelic) Loch Ness took its name. Source: A Brief History of Foyers by the late Gordon Wilson

Did you know?? Urquhart Castle is located on the shores of Loch Ness on the rocky promontory of Strone Point. It dates from early in the thirteenth century, and was built by Alan Durward, son-in-law of King Alexander II. For a time, it was a strong-hold of Robert de Brus (the Bruce), and it met its end in 1692, when English forces blew it up to thwart the Jacobites. It is now in the care of Historic Scotland, and is open to the public.

Did you know?? IN 1890, when Queen Victoria was still using paraffin lamps in Balmoral Castle, some villagers in Fort Augustus had the unlikely luxury of electric light because of a small water turbine installed by the monks at the nearby Benedictine Abbey. This is believed to be Scotland’s first electrical installation and began operating eight years after Edison opened his station at Holborn Viaduct in London in 1882.

Did you know? Divach Falls on the edge of Drumnadrochit drops over 30m (100feet). The falls have inspired artists and authors. The artist John Phillips painted the falls & the painting now hangs in Buckingham Palace. The Falls were also responsible for the first tourism in the area.

Did you know???? In the 2001 census Drumnadrochit had a population of 813, Fort Augustus had a population of 508 & Inverness had a population of 40,949.

Did you know???? In 1895 the North British Aluminium Company started to make use of the River Foyers to generate the electricity needed to process aluminium at Foyers, South Loch Ness. All materials were transported to and from Foyers by boat and a light railway was built to connect the works and a wharf. Aluminium production at Foyers ceased in 1967: though the plant was then used for a while to build narrow boats for English canals. In 1973 the power generation equipment was enlarged and upgraded and the ex-aluminium plant now serves as a hydro electric power station feeding the national grid.

Did you know???? High above the village of Inverfarigaig there is a large hill fort, which probably dates back to the Iron Age. The fort was built on the top of Dun Dearduil, about 925 feet above sea level. The fort was built by the Celts some time around 700BC to protect them from their enemies and to protect their cattle and families. At the beginning of the last century it was excavated and found to be partly vitrified. This means that some of the stones it had been built with had melted and become like glass. Originally, the fort would have been surrounded by a thick stone and timber wall and there are still traces of a separate enclosure which might have been used for cattle.

Did you know???? Some time in the 11th century, the story goes, a Viking prince called Monie landed in Argyll, accompanied by an army of men and his sister. The Scots were having none of it, and he was pursued northwards until he finally reached a rocky crag in what is now Drumnadrochit near Loch Ness, visible for miles around. Though he and his companions bravely held their own, they were eventually defeated and Monie was killed. Craig Monie, as that rocky crag is called, is a local landmark still – so prominent that a gibbet once stood there as a sombre warning for wrongdoers. Source: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk

Did you know???? Baxter’s Loch Ness Marathon had Twenty-five nationalities represented in this year’s (2007) event with athletes from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, USA & Inverfairgaig.

Did you know???? Brown trout exist in large numbers in Loch Ness and are regularly caught at lengths between 6″ and 10″ or 15cm to 25cm. Some turn cannibal and grow much larger, easily attaining weights of 12 lbs (5.3Kg). These are known as ferrox trout. (please note – if this inspires you to grab a rod and reel, the season runs from the 15th of March to the 6th of October).

Did you know???? Northeast of the village of Dores is Drumashie Moor, where Fingal and his Gaels fought a battle against A’ishidh (Ashie) and his Norsemen. The battle is said to haunt the moor where ghostly columns of soldiers and horsemen march on the moor and silently enact the battle just after dawn on May 1st.
Source: University of St Andrews.

Do YOU have any facts or legends or trivia aboutLoch Ness that you would like to share?

Let us know!

 

The ‘greatest reunion in rock history’ took place yesterday in London when the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reformed for one night.

When tickets went on sale, the 18,000 seats sold out within seconds. Formed in 1968, Zep sold more than 300 million albums during a career enhanced by a reputation for offstage excess - exceeding even their storming onstage performances.

What does this have to do with Loch Ness?

Boleskine House, on the southern shores of Loch Ness, was bought in 1971 by Zeppelin guitarist, producer and band leader Jimmy Page because he revered its former owner, the Satanist Aleister Crowley (some argue he was the real monster of Loch Ness!).

To find out more about South Loch Ness click HERE 

Page became obsessed with black magic and would ‘wander through Boleskine wearing Crowley’s cloak claiming that the house was haunted by a decapitated head’. There is a graveyard situated across from the property, which may have had a reputation for strangeness before Crowley’s and Page’s occupation. One legend suggests that a tunnel exists linking Boleskine to the graveyard, and the graveyard is said to be the haunt of witches.

Sections of Page’s fantasy sequence in the Led Zeppelin concert film, The Song Remains the Same were filmed at night on the mountain side directly behind Boleskine House.

The house is now privately owned – but many fans still make a pilgrimage to the area…

 

Loch Ness Monster found in New York

A mysterious creature floating in the waters of a Brooklyn nature reserve has caused passers-by to do a double-take in recent weeks.

But it’s not the mythical Scottish beast, the Loch Ness Monster - it’s the creation of US sculptor, Cameron Gainer which is at the Salt Marsh Nature Preserve and is one of 40 temporary art installations in parks and playgrounds in New York’s five boroughs.

Mr Gainer said the work was inspired by the pose of the iconic ‘surgeon’s photograph’ of Nessie taken in April 1934 at the Scottish loch, taken by Robert Wilson . That photo at least was later revealed as a hoax.

Passers-by think the 600-pound, 12-foot by 12-foot fiberglass, aluminum and foam replica of the mythical monster is real - if only for a moment.

The Parks Department commissioned Nessie and other works for ‘Art in the Parks,’ the 40th anniversary celebration of its public art program.

Gainer’s sculpture is modeled after the plesiosaur, a long-necked, aquatic reptile that became extinct, ‘It looks good,’ said John Fritz, a local resident. ‘The artist did a very good job. I was even expecting it to move. The only thing giving it away is its stillness.’

‘Nessie’ will be on view in New York until December 15, when it moves to Florida.

There has been to date no comment from Nessie herself on how she feels about this likeness.

Find out more about the Loch Ness Monster HERE

Ahhhhh - its the run -up to everyone’s favorite (?) time of year…..

Christmas lights are going up all around Loch Ness and the Great Glen which is a boon on the long winter nights on the run up to the winter solstice on December 21st (The ’shortest’ day) .

Luckily with the clear (COLD!) nights nature has been putting on some spectacular lights of her own with some wonderful moon-rises and gorgeous starry nights.

Fingers crossed that we will get a repeat of the awe inspiring the northern lights / aurora borealis that we were treated to a couple of years ago.

*

The Forestry Commission is again selling local sustainable Christmas trees which are available from Forestry Commission Scotland, Strathoich, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Scotland. Opening hours are 8.30 - 16.00 Monday to Friday till 24 December (Apart from 20/12) Call 01320 366322 for more info.

White Christmas?

We already have snow on the high hills here around Loch Ness - and bets are being laid to see if we are going to get another white Christmas in the UK.

William Hill White Christmas Betting: 4/1 Aberdeen, 4/1 Glasgow, 9/2 London, 6/1 Cardiff.
16/1 that the lowest recorded temperature in England will be beaten (-26.1C, Jan 10 1982, Shropshire).
16/1 that the lowest temperature in Scotland will be beaten (-27.2C, Jan 10th 1982, Aberdeenshire).
22/1 for the record in Wales to be beaten (-23.3C, 21st Jan, 1940 Powys).
100/1 that the Thames will freeze over between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.
100/1 Big Ben Fails to chime due to being frozen solid.

I haven’t found odds yet for a White Cristmas at Loch Ness, but The bookies have put up a Nessie Reward of £1 Million to anyone who can convince experts at the Natural History Museum that Nessie exists -with odds of 250/1 about it happening in 2007.

I wonder if this is the year!?! (what is left of it!)

* Can’t find who to credit for this photo…tell me if its you!

To see what special offers are  on this Christmas and Hogmanay in the Loch Ness area click HERE  - check out events HERE

The 30th of November means that Saltires all over the world will be waving as Scots celebrate their patron saint’s day and all things Scottish.

 

In fact - the majority of people on earth will be using at least one Scottish invention today as part of their everyday lives!

Here’s a list of just some of the useful things the Scots have been responsible for creating, discovering and developing. What would you have done without us!!

The adhesive postage stamp, the hollow-pipe drainage system, the breech loading rifle,  reflecting telescope, Tarmacadam, the telephone, the Macintosh raincoat, threshing machine, the concept of logarithms and the decimal point, the Bank of England, the use of chloroform in anaesthetics, iron plough, the first steam powered marine engine, vulcanised rubber pneumatic tyres , patented the fountain pen and patented the steam traction engine,  the process of refining oil, kaleidoscopes, the vacuum flask, the reaping machine which led to the combine harvester, RADAR, the concept of latent heat and the discovery of Carbon Dioxide, the two-stroke Clerk Cycle Gas Engine, television, the use of tubular steel in construction, the percussion cap which later became the bullet, coal-gas lighting, blackboard and coloured chalk, Inventor of the ATM, World time zones, hypodermic needle, the process of criminal fingerprinting, ultrasound scanner, the Anderson Air Raid Shelter

And  did you know that……

• Saint Andrew is not only the patron saint of Scotland but is also the patron saint of Romania, Malta and Russia.
• He was Christ’s first disciple.
• He was born in Bethsaida in Galilee
• He was born and brought up as a Jew
• He spoke Aramaic
• Andrew’s Greek name was Andreas which means ‘manly’
• He was the elder brother of Saint Peter
• Andrew was a fisherman by trade
• He was the second person to be baptised by John the Baptist after Jesus
• Andrew was martyred for his faith in Patras
• Legend has it that some of St Andrew’s bones were taken to Scotland by St. Rule (also known as St Regulus) in Pictish times
• His bones once lay in St. Andrew’s Cathedral
• The first church in England to be dedicated to him was in Rochester
• His emblem is a cross Saltire
• The flag of Scotland, the Union Flag, the Arms and Flag of Scotia all feature a Saltire to commemorate St Andrew
• He is also patron of the Order of the Thistle, one of the highest ranks of chivalry in the world

Waterhorse mania is about to hit - so as I was finding out about the author I thought I would share the following with you…

Dick King-Smith (born 27 March 1922, March Bitton, Gloucestershire, England) is a prolific English children’s author, who has, up to know, been best known for writing The Sheep-Pig, retitled in the US as Babe the Gallant Pig, upon which the movie Babe was based. He was a farmer for 20 years before he became a teacher and author.

Dick King-Smith’s first book was The Fox Busters, published in 1978. He is one of the UK’s most prolific authors and has written over a hundred books, which have sold over five million copies in the UK alone and been translated into twelve languages. A list of all his books is below - but have a look at this clip with an interview with the Author.

Books by Dick King Smith

 

 

1. The Fox Busters (1978)
2. Daggie Dogfoot retitled in the US as Pigs Might Fly (1980)
3. Magnus Powermouse (1982)
4. The Queen’s Nose (1983)
5. The Sheep-Pig retitled in the US as Babe, The Gallant Pig (1983)
6. Saddlebottom (1985)
7. Noah’s Brother (1986)
8. The Hodgeheg (1987)
9. Tumbleweed (1987)
10. Farmer Bungle Forgets (1987)
11. Friends and Brothers (1987)
12. Cuckoobush Farm (1987)
13. George Speaks (1988)
14. The Mouse Butcher (1988)
15. Emily’s Legs (1988)
16. Water Watch (1988)
17. Dodo Comes to Tumbledown Farm (1988)
18. Tumbledown Farm - The Greatest (1988)
19. The Jenius (1988)
20. Sophie
21. Sophie’s Snail (1988)
22. Sophie Hits Six (1991)
23. Sophie’s Tom (1991)
24. Sophie in the Saddle (1993)
25. Sophie Is Seven (1994)
26. Sophie’s Lucky (1995)
27. Alice And Flower And Foxianna (1989)
28. Beware of the Bull (1989)
29. The Toby Man (1989)
30. Dodos Are Forever (1989)
31. The Trouble with Edward (1989)
32. Jungle Jingles (1990)
33. Ace: The Very Important Pig (1990)
34. Blessu (1990)
35. Paddy’s Pot of God (1990)
36. Alphabeasts (1990)
37. The Water Horse (1990)
38. The Whistling Piglet (1990)
39. The Jolly Witch
40. The Jolly Witch (1990)
41. Mrs. Jollipop (1996)
42. Mrs. Jolly’s Brolly (1998)
43. The Cuckoo Child (1991)
44. The Guard Dog (1991)
45. Martin’s Mice (1991)
46. Lightning Strikes Twice (1991)
47. Caruso’s Cool Cats (1991)
48. Dick King-Smith’s Triffic Pig Book (1991)
49. Find the White Horse (1991)
50. Horace and Maurice (1991)
51. Lady Daisy (1992)
52. Pretty Polly (1992)
53. Dick King-Smith’s Water Watch (1992)
54. The Finger Eater (1992)
55. The Ghost At Codlin Castle And Other Stories (1992)
56. Super Terrific Pigs (1992)
57. The Invisible Dog (1993)
58. All Pigs Are Beautiful (1993)
59. The Merrythought (1993)
60. The Swoose (1993)
61. Uncle Bumpo (1993)
62. Dragon Boy (1993)
63. Horse Pie (1993)
64. Harry’s Mad (1993)
65. Connie and Rollo (1994)
66. The Schoolmouse (1994)
67. Triffic: A Rare Pig’s Tale (1994)
68. Mr. Potter’s Pet (1994)
69. Harriet’s Hare (1994)
70. The Excitement of Being Ernest (1994)
71. I Love Guinea Pigs (1994)
72. Three Terrible Trins (1994)
73. Happy Mouseday (1994)
74. Bobby the Bad (1994)
75. The Clockwork Mouse (1995)
76. King Max (1995)
77. Omnibombulator (1995)
78. The Terrible Trins (1995)
79. Warlock Watson (1995)
80. All Because of Jackson (1995)
81. The Stray (1996)
82. Clever Duck (1996)
83. Dirty Gertie Macintosh (1996)
84. Smasher (1996)
85. Godhanger (1996)
86. King Max the Last (1996)
87. Winter Wonderland (1996)
88. Treasure Trove (1996)
89. Mixed-up Max (1997)
90. What Sadie Saw (1997)
91. The Spotty Pig (1997)
92. A Mouse Called Wolf (1997)
93. Robin Hood And His Miserable Men (1997)
94. Thinderella (1997)
95. Puppy Love (1997)
96. The Merman (1997)
97. Round About 5 (1997)
98. Mr Ape (1998)
99. How Green Was My Mouse (1998)
100. The Big Pig Book (1998)
101. Creepy Creatures Bag (1998)
102. The Robber Boy (1998)
103. Pig in the City (1998)
104. Charlie Muffin’s Miracle Mouse (1999)
105. The Witch of Blackberry Bottom (1999)
106. Babe’s La-La-bye (1999)
107. The Crowstarver (1999)
108. Dinosaur School (1999)
109. Poppet (1999)
110. The Roundhill (2000)
111. Spider Sparrow (2000)
112. Just in Time (2000)
113. The Magic Carpet Slippers (2000)
114. Julius Caesar’s Goat (2000)
115. Mysterious Miss Slade (2000)
116. Billy the Bird (2000)
117. Lady Lollipop (2000)
118. Back to Front Benjy (2001)
119. The Great Sloth Race (2001)
120. Fat Lawrence (2001)
121. Funny Frank (2001)
122. Chewing The Cud (Autobiography) (2001)
123. Titus Rules! (2002)
124. Billy the Bird / All Because of Jackson (2002)
125. Story Box (2002)
126. The Golden Goose (2003)
127. Traffic (2003)
128. Clever Lollipop (2003)
129. The Adventurous Snail (2003)
130. The Nine Lives of Aristotle (2003)
131. Aristotle (2003)
132. Just Binnie (2004)
133. The Catlady (2004)
134. Under the Mishmash Trees (2005)
135. Hairy Hezekiah (2005)
136. Dinosaur Trouble (2005)
137. Nosy (2005)
138. The Mouse Family Robinson (2007)

Adaptations

1. Harry’s Mad (1993-1996): TV series based on Harry’s Mad
2. The Queen’s Nose (1995-2003): TV Series based on The Queen’s Nose
3. Babe (1995): film based on The Sheep-Pig a.k.a. Babe, the Gallant Pig
4. Babe: Pig in the City (1998): film sequel using King-Smith characters
5. The Foxbusters (1999-2000): TV cartoon loosely based on The Fox Busters
6. The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007): film based on The Water Horse

This information is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Monsterness - October 2007, organised by the Calman Trust.

The launch of a 65m long model of the Loch Ness Monster, constructed from 60,000 balloons, over 2 days by young people and volunteers from across the Highlands, along with Dutch balloon artist Guido Verhoef and his team. Launched onto Loch Ness from near Bonar Lighthouse…due to strong winds the monster didn’t last long, but the experience inspired everyone involved.(and all the balloons were biodegradable)!

A cracking vid clip below. Well done all!

The internet is alive with speculation that a new record breaking salmon has been caught on the River Ness which runs from Loch Ness to the sea. ( Click HERE for a couple of the articles). The jury is still out on if the cock fish caught right at the end of this year’s salmon fishing season (and then released) will outweigh the current bristish record holder’s weight of 64lb (caught by a woman no less, 85 years ago).

Earlier this year, another angler celebrated after catching his monster in Loch Ness - a perhaps more modest 37lb salmon. Dave Kirkham, 58, spent four hours and 20 minutes fighting the huge fish before he was able to heave it into his boat. He explained: “I managed to manoeuvre the fish into the middle of the loch to give me fighting room “I was getting towed down the loch. It was making a run and it turned. I managed to get it towards the boat and just slipped my net in front of it. It was fun and games getting it into the net which was far too small. I couldn’t even haul it by the net handle because it would’ve buckled. I just grabbed the net round the edges and hauled it up. My arms were nearly falling off.”
His catch was his biggest since his dad first took him fishing on Loch Ness when he was nine. Dave said: “I’ve never landed a salmon that size - I’ve never even seen a fish that size. My best salmon to date was just under 22lbs, again caught in Loch Ness”. (Daily Record 25/07/07)

Unlike this Saturdays catch which was released in accordance with the reccommendation that all fish over 10lbs are returned , Dave (above) took his fish home and ate it….. hopefully doing it justice with some fine home grown potatoes and a decent chablis.

Big fish, like monsters, will always attract people, especially when the one that you let get away was ‘THIS’ big…..!

Fishing info for Loch Ness:

Fishing is by way of bank and boat for brown trout and salmon.
The season is from the 15th of March till the 6th of October for browns
and from Jan 15th till October 15th for salmon. Ask locally for permits.