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The Waverley Gazette
Welcome to our latest news
Happy St Andrew's Day 30 November 2020
St Andrew's Day is today!
St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland. Scotland is in good company as he is also the patron saint of Romania, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Barbados, and the Amalfi coast. Patron saints are chosen to be special protectors or guardians over things.
These days Scotland mostly (when not locked down) marks the days with small evening celebrations of culture with traditional food, music and some Scottish dancing.
Outside this Covid period, traditional Scottish recipes are served at dinners, and would feature foods such as Cullen Skink (fish soup), haggis or vegetarian haggis.
Why St Andrew?
Not that much is known about St Andrew. It is thought he was born between the years 5 AD and 10 AD and according to the New Testament he went on to become one of the 12 disciples of Jesus. Andrew lived in Galilee with his brother Simon Peter. Why was he chosen? Legend says it was because of a battle.
The story behind the St Andrews Cross, or the Saltire: Legend has it that the battle took place in the year 832 AD. An army of Picts led by Angus mac Fergus, High King of Alba, and aided by a contingent of Scots, had been on a raid, and were caught by a larger force of Angles and Saxons. As they stood to face them, near what is now East Linton, King Angus prayed for deliverance. Legend has it he saw in the sky some clouds that formed a white saltire. The white saltire was the cross on which St Andrew had been martyred.
The king vowed that if, with the saint’s help, he gained victory, then Andrew would thereafter be the patron saint of Scotland. The Scots did win, and the Saltire became the flag of Scotland.
Leaping forward some years, we find Kenneth mac Alpin uniting the Picts and the Scots, to become Scotland, and according to national myth, becoming the first king of Scots. Andrew then became the patron saint of Scotland. Known now as Kenneth 1, mac Alpin was buried on Iona in 860.
The MacAlpine name is recorded several times in various forms from 1260. https://www.kinlochanderson.com/tartan/MacAlpine
Tumshie
It's July.Happy July.
We have some news and some things to celebrate today as we go into a new month...
BISCUITS FROM THE FRENCH ALPS...
Today we received a lovely box of biscuits from a customer who lives in a "wee village that has a church and wine makers in Savoie, France". It is in the Alps. This nice man has been buying the Waverley notebooks but nearly ran out as France went into lock down. He contacted us and we rushed him some new notebooks - except they did not arrive quickly. Because of lockdown. So we sent some more, and then both lots turned up. Wouldn't you know. As a thank you, he kindly sent biscuits that are cinnamon and gingery, called 'Les Gaudelices' and are famous for being made with a nice recipe of butter and sugar and other lovely things biscuits are made from. Thank you so much, Yvan. Yvan says the wine made in his village is called CERDON and it is pink and sparkling. That is a wonderful thought in Glasgow today as it is rainy and cold. We like to think of sunshine and the Alps.
BBC's "INSIDE CENTRAL STATION"
Meanwhile authors Jill Scott and Bill Hicks, who wrote a book on Glasgow's Grand Central Hotel have many bookings for the talk they give on the history of the hotel. Jill Scott appeared last month in the BBC's 'Inside Central Station' TV series with stories about the building of the hotel, and some of the special people who have stayed there.
THE GLASGOW COOKERY BOOK
Still popular, and particularly so in lockdown, The Glasgow Cookery Book has over 1000 recipes and continues to be a cookbook to turn to for everything from a starter to a main course to chocolate truffles. Some of us have more seasonal interests and are baking more than ever just now. The Glasgow Cookery Book has it is all. Whether you are looking to make scones, or try some strawberry jam, or a rhubarb chutney or a traditional custard made with eggs and cornflour, The Glasgow Cookbook will keep you busy for some time.
TUMSHIE - THE FORGOTTEN HALLOWEEN TURNIP LANTERN by Mark Mechan
With Scotland still locked down, and shops only just beginning to re-open, some of you may have noticed the publication date for Tumshie has moved back to September. Tumshie promises to be an engaging and charming adventure into the traditions of halloweens of the past. Coming in early September, Tumshie will be on sale in a few weeks' time.
TARTAN NOTEBOOKS
We love to hear from you, so please get in touch with any comments on the notebooks.
With best wishes from everyone at Waverley Books.
Waverley's 'Malt Whisky Map' by Neil Wilson makes the news in Frankfurt (with a man in pink ears)
Waverley's 'Malt Whisky Map' by Neil Wilson and James McEwan made the news in Germany. At the Frankfurt Book Fair October 2019 whisky collector Felix showed the map in a tube to the editor. The 'Malt Whisky Map' in a tube was much admired, although we think the editor (in the pink ears) was probably hoping for a bottle of malt whisky in the tube. Not paper! At least he can plan his tour for next year now in Scotland and visit the distilleries. Come soon! You are welcome! And thank you. Next year we will publish the map translated into German by German whisky writer and crime writer Frank Winter. So - not too long to wait. Auf Wiedersehn.
London Book Fair 12th March - 14th March 2A67
Come and see us!
Waverley/G&G are celebrating 30 years ( + ) and will be at their own space in London at 2A67. Come to see us please if you are attending LIBF Olympia. We've always got time and we'd love to see you
Bringing a little bit of Scotland to London...
David, Ron and Liz and Eleanor will be about!
Some pictures of the Commonplace notebooks in Friedrichshafen, Germany
Happy news for a Friday... Martina Kraus has kindly sent us pictures of the display in her store in Friedrichshafen, Germany, of the Waverley Commonplace Notebooks, now on sale. Thank you for the lovely pictures. We're delighted to see the notebooks in such a beautiful setting, and they sit well among the many German language travel books on Scotland. Hope they go to happy homes 
(Pictures courtesy: RavensBuch GmbH)
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