The Mighty Monteith

What’s In a Name?

There are many things in our day to day lives which we just accept without thinking and I suppose words are among them. I doubt many even stop to consider why things are called what they are. Who names things?

Image via.

You may have a concocted moniker of your own or perhaps have a nickname bestowed on you as a child.

Burns Night

Lang May Yer Lum Reek.

This Sunday, 25th January, sees Scotland celebrating the birth of their nation’s favourite son.
This was the day in 1759 when Robbie Burns was born in Dumfries, Scotland.

Will you see out Burns night with a wild Ceilidh dance? Image via.

Best known as a poet, he wrote in the Scots language as well as standard English. Burns was regarded as one of the founders of the Romantic movement and as such became one of the great cultural icons of his nation.

A Whole Lotta Quaichin’ Going On

Well, Glasgow has been buzzing over the last couple of weeks as the Commonwealth Games took place in the city once referred to as the ‘Dear Green Place’.

Once known as the British Empire Games, they have taken place every four years since 1930 when just 11 Commonwealth countries took part.

The 2014 Commonwealth medals, with ceremonial wooden quaich. Image via.

The 2014 games in Glasgow saw 71 countries take part, making for an exciting world event.

The purpose of the games is to inspire and unite the commonwealth nations. The ethos of the games is to encourage the values of humanity, equality and destiny.
Along with the medals bestowed on the winners at the games this year, you may have noticed the athletes also receiving a small wooden bowl.
This bowl was given to the athletes to symbolise love and friendship amongst the commonwealth nations.

England's gold medallist Alistair Brownlee raises his wooden quaich. Picture via BBC