Category Archives: Ikke kategoriseret

Occupation, Betrayal and Heroes

This building (above) is a Danish højskole, but in the early 1940s it was something entirely different. Back then it housed Nazi occupation forces.  I’m sitting in the large courtyard of the adjoining farm buildings, Krogerup Gaard. These now house ‘Aarstiderne’ (‘Seasons’), a business that started in the 1990s, selling boxes of organically-grown vegetables. WeContinue reading “Occupation, Betrayal and Heroes”

Latitude, Lenin, and Liberty

When I awake we are already in the harbour. The overnight voyage between Sweden and Finland has been calm and relaxing. I’m in the cheap seats but I’ve slept all the same. From the Stockholm archipelago, the route takes the ship across the southern end of the Gulf of Bothnia, to finally navigate its wayContinue reading “Latitude, Lenin, and Liberty”

Response from Professor Alf Baird

Response to question on #YoursForScotland from Professor Alf Baird, author of Doun-Hauden Question: “Why do so many colonies sweep to victory with huge votes for Independence and yet we struggle to get to 50%.” In my research into this question for the book ‘Doun-Hauden’ there appear to be two key factors which help explain theContinue reading “Response from Professor Alf Baird”

Letter from Denmark: Weaving the Light

Copenhagen has its East End. At least, it seems like that to me. After several years in Valby, it was about as close to Dennistoun, Parkhead and Shettleston as I would get. Of course, being Denmark, the comparison doesn’t really work. This small independent country is not like Scotland at all. Its political and economicContinue reading “Letter from Denmark: Weaving the Light”

The Occupation: A Hidden and Forgotten History

The Edinburgh salvo.scot hub has produced another Stuart McHardy bite-sized history lesson with Stuart McHardy. Reference is made to Bishop Robert Forbes. All three volumes of ‘The Lyon in Mourning’ by Bishop Forbes are available at achive.org – links below. The Lyon in Mourning, Vol. I. A collection of speeches, letters, journals etc. relative toContinue reading “The Occupation: A Hidden and Forgotten History”

The Case of the Missing Constitution

1. How It All Began(This is a crime story so settle in for a wee read.) Once upon a time there was a great and powerful Empire, the largest empire in the history of the world. It was the British Empire. It started at the end of the 1500’s (Actually this is the English Empire we’re talking about becauseContinue reading “The Case of the Missing Constitution”

Letter from Sweden: Twenty Minute Crossing

The voice on the ferry tannoy is read out in three languages. The first is in Danish: “Velkommen ombord Forsea færgen Aurora. Overfarten tager tyve minutter.” The welcome is repeated in Swedish: “Välkommen ombord på Forsea-färjan Aurora. Överfarten tar tjugo minuter.” As you can see, some minor spelling differences aside, these phrases are pretty muchContinue reading “Letter from Sweden: Twenty Minute Crossing”