A marriage made in heaven

[mangerton]

Thanks FF. Even a wizard like me can make the odd spelling mistake.

BTW Is that the way you always spell porridge in Eburdeen?

HS

Yes, ff is slightly askew here, I fear. "Porage Oats" are what Scott's purvey. I think it may be a registered trade mark. And "Eburdeen" should be rendered "Aiberdeen" as this epitaph found in the city proves:

Here lie the bones of Elizabeth Charlotte
Born a virgin, died a harlot.
She was aye a virgin at seventeen,
A remarkable thing in Aiberdeen.

[vinteuil]

North Britain?

"King James VI & I used the terms 'South Britain' and 'North Britain' for England and Scotland respectively, most famously in his Proclamation of 1606 establishing the first Union Flag, where Scotland and England are not otherwise named:
"Whereas some difference has a risen between our Subjects of South and North Britain, Travelling by Sea, about the bearing of their flags"
This usage was repeated in Charles I's Proclamation of 1634 on the use of the flag, though adding England and Scotland too for explanation:
"Our further will and pleasure is, that all the other Ships of Our Subjects of England or South Britain bearing flags shall from henceforth carry the Red Cross, commonly called S. George’s Cross, as of old time hath been used; And also that all other ships of Our Subjects of Scotland or North Britain shall henceforth carry the White Cross commonly called S. Andrews Cross"
After the Act of Union 1707, Scotland was sometimes referred to as 'North Britain'. In 1707, the Royal Scots Greys were renamed the 'Royal North British Dragoons'. In Rob Roy (1817), Sir Walter Scott refers to a Scottish person in England as a North Briton, sometimes in the mouth of an English character but also in the authorial voice - 'Why, a Scotch sort of a gentleman, as I said before," returned mine host; "they are all gentle, ye mun know, though they ha' narra shirt to back; but this is a decentish hallion—a canny North Briton as e'er cross'd Berwick Bridge — I trow he's a dealer in cattle.'"

[also sprach wikipedia... ]

[salymap]

Some epitaph Mangerton. I see on my latest packet of oats it says 'Nature's way to lower cholesterol' Is that really so?

[french frank]

"King James VI & I used the terms 'South Britain' and 'North Britain' for England and Scotland respectively

On first reading I took that to mean ...

[mangerton]

Some epitaph Mangerton. I see on my latest packet of oats it says 'Nature's way to lower cholesterol' Is that really so?

See below for the epitaph.

As far as the oats go, yes, that is true. Eaten as true Scots (not North Britons) would, ie with salt and probably no milk, it is a very healthy food. When you start adding sugar, syrup, honey, butter and cream, it obviously becomes less so. Read about the porridge drawer and the spurtle here.

[vinteuil]

"Porage Oats" are what Scott's purvey. .

... the problem I have with the porage spelling is that it tempts me to wonder how it might also be pronounced.

I mean, does the '-age' rhyme with 'sausage' - or with 'barrage'? - or with 'outrage'?? - or with 'Lalage'???

I have additional problems with 'Farage' ....

[mangerton]

"King James VI & I used the terms 'South Britain' and 'North Britain' for England and Scotland respectively,

[also sprach wikipedia... ]

Oh, I know. He was allegedly very keen on the union and wanted to remove the names Scotland and England from the map. He left Scotland in 1603, and never returned, and that seems to sum up his feelings for his native land.

Sir Walter Scott, mentioned in your article, stage-managed the visit of George IV in 1822:

[wikipedia sprach wieder...]

On Saturday afternoon, 17 August, the King attended a short levee at Holyrood Palace, where the great and good queued to be greeted by George in his Highland outfit complete with pink pantaloons to conceal his bloated legs, described as "buff coloured trowsers like flesh to imitate his Royal knees". When someone complained that the kilt had been too short for modesty, Lady Hamilton-Dalrymple wittily responded "Since he is to be among us for so short a time, the more we see of him the better."

Scott had recently been made a baronet and knew perfectly well on what side his bread was buttered. He'd be delighted to continue the use of the term "North Britain", but the fact is that it is offensive to Scots.

[mangerton]

... the problem I have with the porage spelling is that it tempts me to wonder how it might also be pronounced.

I mean, does the '-age' rhyme with 'sausage'

Yes! But -age is a marketing department's invention; the -idge spelling is correct.

[Hornspieler]

A French tourist was sitting in the Breakfast Room of an Edinburgh hotel. Looking across the room, he spotted a guest, spoon in hand, with before him a plate of porridge.

The waiter was urgently summoned. "Tell me, monsieur, is that man about to eat what is on his plate, or has he just done so?

[salymap]

A French tourist was sitting in the Breakfast Room of an Edinburgh hotel. Looking across the room, he spotted a guest, spoon in hand, with before him a plate of porridge.

The waiter was urgently summoned. "Tell me, monsieur, is that man about to eat what is on his plate, or has he just done so?

That's disgusting HS

[Nick Armstrong]

Kev - my Dad, who grew up in Lincolnshire, said his family would eat cheese with fruit cake.

Christmas cake + Wensleydale cheese ....... truly a marriage made in heaven.

My Yorkshire grandparents and aunt always require(d) cheese with fruit cake esp. at Christmas. Are you from the North, AmpH?

I don't mind it, but I'd much rather have a cup of tea with my Christmas cake

Good thread this.

I'm always in seventh heaven with good bread and butter (ditto toast and butter - I'm more than happy without marmelade or jam); and never cease to be amazed by the felicity of bacon and eggs (on the rare occasions I indulge)

[teamsaint]

I am a Hampshire boy, born and bread...but my family(and also Mrs TS's) was from Yorkshire on one side, and Xmas cake and cheese is compulsory.

Sweet and savoury seems to have been big in the West Riding. Apparently , my grandfather, who lived in Bradford, had to make a trip to London when trying to get his first decent job. London proved a bit of a culture shock i guess, but he needed something to eat and went to a cafe with a board outside with a list of sandwiches which had names (like cocktails do) rather than just the detail of the filling.. Not knowing what was what he decided to go for a "Bradford Lad"...being one, and so on. He was delighted to find out that this was cheese and jam....his favourite. And a fave of mine also!

Anyway, if its not a beer night, saturday night...peanut butter sandwich, glass of milk, and match of the day.....Magic !!

[Nick Armstrong]

born and bread...

Wholemeal or granary?

Yes my folks were Bradford/Dewsbury-based. Long live the West Riding!

[salymap]

Similar in a way - I like plain cream cracker biscuits, thickly spread with cream cheese and topped with good blackcurrant jam.

Almost like cheesecake.

[teamsaint]

Wholemeal or granary?

Yes my folks were Bradford/Dewsbury-based. Long live the West Riding!

now my spelling can be careless,(and sometimes I am incistine on correcting it) but that is a serendipitous typo....honest !!

Dewsbury ?Thats nearly abroad to Halifax folk !