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The Royal Bank of Scotland are preparing to pay out more than one billion pounds to it's investment bankers even though 14 billion in bad debt plunges them into the red.
The BoS is 84% owned by the taxpayer.

Livingston Labour MP Jim Devine is one of three Members of Parliament to face charges under the Theft Act as a result of their Commons’ expenses claims, it emerged today.

Mr Devine, as well as fellow Labour MPs Elliot Morley and David Chaytor and Tory Peer Lord Hanningfield were told today they would be charged.

In a joint statement the MPs said they refuted any charges and would “defend our position robustly”.

Mr Devine has been under scrutiny over his expenses claims for several months and he has already been de-selected as the Labour candidate for Livingston for the forthcoming General Election.

He is accused of “dishonestly claiming” money for cleaning services and for stationery using false invoices.

The announcement of the charges against the MPs – the latest episode in what has become an extraordinary saga for the Houses of Parliament – was made outside the headquarters of the Crown Prosecution Service by Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer.

Mr Starmer said: “In four cases, we have concluded that there is sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges and that it is in the public interest to charge the individuals concerned.

“Accordingly, summonses in these cases have been obtained from the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court and will now be served on the individuals in question.”

Former minister Elliot Morley, MP for Scunthorpe, will be charged in relation to more than £16,000 of mortgage interest claims on a property in Winterton, Lincolnshire between 2004 to 2007.

The charges alleges he made claims “in excess of that to which he was entitled” and – for part of the period when “there was no longer a mortgage on that property”.

David Chaytor, MP for Bury North, is accused of “dishonestly claiming” £1,950 for IT services and further sums of £12,925 and £5,425 relating to rent on properties in London and Lancashire.

Paul White – the Conservative peer Lord Hanningfield – is accused of “dishonestly” submitting claims “for expenses to which he knew he was not entitled” – including overnight stays in London.
we should them all, thieving swines

Alexander 3rd....1249-1286
Akexander came to the throne at 8 years of age.
At the battle of Largs in 1263, he succeeded in defeating King Haakon of Norway and his Vikings.
His first marriage was to Margaret Tudor, daughter of King Henry 3rd of England. Alexander had 3 children but they all predeceased him and he married for the second time to Yolande de Deux, a French noblewoman, Within six months of the marriage however, Alexander was killed in an accident when his horse stumbled in the dark and threw him off a cliff. It is said that Yolande was pregnant at the time and miscarried when she heard this news.

Margaret, the Maid of Norway. ...1286-1290.
The Grand-daughter of Alexander 3rd, Margaret became Queen of Scotland at age three. She was the last of the House of Canmore. Alexander's daughter had married Eric 11 of Norway and Margaret was born of that union.
In 1290, she left Norway for Scotland but took ill on the voyage and died before setting foot in her new realm.
Prior to this, by the Treaty of Birgham in 1290, it had been agreed that Margaret would marry the future King of England, Edward 2nd., but her death invalidated this treaty.

Inter-regnum ...1292.....1296
Their were thirteen claimants to the now empty throne of Scotland, the two main ones being John Baliol and Rober Bruce, Eral of Annandale. It was decided to ask King Edward of England to settle the crown on one of these. Edward of course, ever anxious to annexe Scotland, used this to his own advantage, insisting that the King of Scotland should be subservient to the King of England. Edward settled on John Baliol, at the same time demanding custody of many of the important castles in Scotland.

John Baliol 1292-1296
Baliol was crowned at Scone in 1292, however King Edward's demands became intolerable and Baliol tried to renew the 'Auld Alliance' with France. A furious King Edward then invaded Scotland and routed the Scots army at Dunbar in 1296. Baliol was stripped of his Royal Insignia and sent to the tower. He was later released and spent the rest of his life in France.

Inter-regnum....1206-1306.
With Baliol now out of the way, King Edward effectively ruled in Scotland for the next ten years.
William Wallace and Andrew de Moray defeated Edward at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and were made Guardians of the Realm of Scotland. De Moray died shortly after the victory and Wallace briefly governed the country. He was defeated at the Battle of Falkirk but continued a guerilla campaign agains Edward's forces in Scotland.
He was betrayed and captured in 1305 and executed at London.

Edgar ... 1097-1107
The fourth son of Malcolm 3rd, Edgar was aged 19 at the death of his father in 1093. He wa given shelter by the English Saxon King, William Rufus, and in 1097 with the assistance of English troops, he defeated his Uncle, Donald 3rd.
During Edgar's reign, the King of Norway, Magnus Barelegs, forced Edgar to give up "All islands round which a ship could sail" and promptly dragged his galley oveland at Tarbert, Loch Fyne to seize a chunk of the mainland Mull of Kintyre as well.
Edgar died peacefully in 1107 and was buried in Dunfermline Abbey.

Alexander 1st....1107-1124
Alexander was the fifth son of Malcolm Canmore. Although King of Scotland, he only ruled north of the Forth and Clyde as his younger brother David, had been made Eral of Strathclyde, Lothians and the Borders.
North of the Spey and the Westen Isles were at this time under Norwegian control. He died at Stirling in 1124 and was buried in Dunfermline.

David 1st....1124-1153
The last of Malcolm Canmore's sons to become King of Scotland, Dvid was sent to the English Court of Henry 1st at the age of nine and spent many years there. When his brother Edgar died, David became Earl of southern Scotland and then King of Scotland in 1124 when his brother Aleaxander 1st died.
David brought many knights and Courtiers from England and established a Feudal system in Scotland. He introduced many novel ideas such as silver cionage, promoting education and giving audiences to rich and poor alike.
During a long and peaceful reign, he enacted many good laws and died peacefully at Carlisle in 1153 at the age of 69.

Malcolm 1V.... 1153-1165
A Grandson of David 1st, Malcolm 1V came to the throne at the age of twelve and was nicknamed 'The Maiden'
He had to cope with rebellions by Somerled in Argyll and the Isles and by others in Moray and Galloway.
Henry 11nd of England also reclaimed Northumberland and Westmoreland which had been ceded to the Scots during the reign of David 1st.
After figting in France on behalf of King Henry of England, he returned and defeated Somerled who was attempting to advance eastward, but not before the town of Glasgow had been sacked. Malcolm never enjoyed very good health and died at Jedburgh at the age of 23, succeeded by his brother William.

William (the Lion) 1165-1214
Another grandson of David 1, the nickname 'The Lion' was accorded to him after his death and could have been due t his valour or to the Herladic Symbol he adopted, The Lion Rampant.
He attempted to recover land at Northumberland in 1174, but was defeated and captured at the Battle of Alnwick. He was forced to swear allegiance to King Henry 11 of England, which lasted until Henry's death in 1189. He failed to assert his authority ove the south west of Scotland and over the MacDougalls of Lorne or MacDonald of the Isles.
He married Ermengarde de Beaumont who bore him a son. (King Alexander 2) and three daughter, all of whom married English noblemen

Alexander 2nd...1214-1249
The son of William the Lion, he succeeded his father at the age of 16. He has a reputation as a wise and well loved monarch, more of a politician than a fighter, although he did support the English Barons in their figt against King John.
His first marriage was to a sister if King Henry 3rd of England. Following her death, he married the duaghter of a French Nobleman with whom he had one son. He founded a number of monasteries and the castles at Kildrummy and Eilean Donan.
He died at Kerarra off Oban on 8 July 1249 while attempting to recover the Hebrides from King Haakon 1V of Norway. He is buried at Kelso Abbey.

Na Fir Dileas will be paying tribute to those who died in the masacre of Glencoe in 1692, on Saturday 13 February.

Cruel is the snow that sweeps Glencoe
and covers the grave of Donald
And cruel was the foe, that raped Glencoe
And murdered the House of MacDonald

I was watching a programme last night which freaked me out a wee bit.
Apparently 2012 is the deadline for the end of the world.

The Mayan Calendar ends in 2012.
The Hopi Indians of America believed the world is in it's 4th and last time and a day of purifacation will come around 2012
The Hindu Calendar points to 2012 as the final cycle of life
Nostradamus predicted a great misery for mankind around the same period when a great fire dragging a trail of sparks will be the end of the world
The late Terry McKenna experiments predicted the end in 2012 using a Chinese system of calculation.
Scientists today are concerned that Solar energy sunspots will peak around 2012

Have a great day and don't be spending your money on holidays for 2012.

Duncan 1st..... 1034-1040
Grandson of Malcolm 2nd. Duncan first became King of Strathclyde and then of Scotland on the death of his Grandfather. He married the couin of the Earl of Northumberland and his two sons, Malcolm 3rd and Donald 3ed eventually became Kings. He was defeated i battle by his cousin Thorfin, Earl of Orkney and failed in an unsuccessful siege of Durham in the north of England. He was defeated and killed by MacBeth near Forres in Morayshire.

MacBeth.....1040-1057
MacBeth's orifins are obscure-his mother was a daughter of Kenneth 2 or 3 or possibly Malcolm 2 and his father was Findlay McRory, Mormaer of Atholl. He killed Duncan 1st and was a powerful nd successful monarch. His Queen, Gruoch was a grandaughter of Kenneth 2. MacBeth was defeated by Malcolm Canmore, with an English army, at Dunsinane in 1054. A econd invasion in 1057 saw his defeat and death at Limphanan near Aberdeen, by Malcolm and his English allies, led by Earl Siward of Northumbria.

Lulach... 1057-1058
Stepson of MacBeth and named ' the Fool' Lulach became King on his step father's death. He was the first recorded Monarch to have been crowned at Scone but was defeated and killed by Malcolm Canmore less than a year later.

Malcolm 3rd.....1058-1093
Malcolm 'Canmore' (ceann means head or chief and 'mor' means great) was the son of Duncan1st and went into exile in Northumberland when his father was killed. With English support he defeated and killed MacBeth in 1057 and killed MacBeth's son, Lulach, in the following year. He founded the dynasty of the House of Canmore which lasted until the House of Stewart.
By his first marriage to Ingibiorg he had two sons, Dancan 2nd and Donald. Following Ingibiorg's death he married Margaret, the sister of Edgar Atheling who would have become King of England if William the Conqueror had not overun that country. By his marriage to Margaret, there was six sons, four of whom, Duncan, Edgar, Aleaxander and David would become Kings. Malcolm made raids into Northumbria and Cumbria but was forcedt o submit and sign the Treaty of Abernethy in 1071A final incursion in 1093 led to his death and defeat at Alnwick. His son and heir, Edward, died in the same battle and Queen Margaret died four days later.

Donald 3rd ....1093-1094
Donald Bane (The Fair) was a son of duncan and brother of Malcolm 3rd. He claimed the throne when Malcolm 3 and his son were killed on the same day. During his short reign, in a Celtic backlash, he expelled all the English courtiers brough in by Malcolm and his wife Margaret

Duncan 2nd.....May to November 1094.
Son of Malcolm 3 by his first marriage, Duncan grew up in Normandy ( having been handed over as a hostage to William the Conqueror) and he ousted his Uncle Donald 3 with the support of the Engglish King, William Rufus. Donald fought back and Duncan was killed at Dunottar by his half brother Edmund, who supported Donald. Duncan's dscendents through William, Earl of Moray were a thorn in the side of the King of Scotland until the end of the 13th century.

Donald 3rd....1094-1097
Having resumed his reign, Donald Bane did not last much longer and was captured, blinded and imprisoned by Edgar, one of the sons of Malcolm 3rd. Donald died in captivity in 1099 and was buried on Iona.

Constantine 1st... ..862-878
Possibly another son of Kenneth 1st. Constantine faced a number of viking invasions and was killed in battle against the Danes.

Aedh....878-879.
Brother of Constantine 1st, he was killed by Giric, a son of Donald 1st.

Eochaid.... 879-880
Grandson of Kenneth 1st (whose daughter had married Run, King of Strathclyde and gave birth to Eochaid), thus extending further, the Kindom of Alba. Eochaid was deposed shortly before his death.

Donald 2nd.... 889-900
Donald was the first Monarch to be called 'Righ Albain' or King of Scotland. He was a son of Constantine 1st and was killed by men from the Mearns near Dunottar and buried on Iona.

Constantine 11nd.....900-942
He was the son of Aedh but after an unsuccessful invasion of Northumbria he had to submit to the Saxon King, Edward the Elder. He was also defeated in a later battle by Athelstan, Edward's son, at Brunanburgh. He later renounced the throne in favour of his cousin Malcolm 1st to become a monk at St. Andrews. He died in 952.

Malcolm 1st....942-954
The son of Donald 11nd, he was killed in battle with the men of Moray and is buried on Iona.

Indulph....954-962
A son of Constantine 2nd. He defeated the Danish King, Eric the Bloody at the Battle of the Bauds on the Muir of Findochy in Banffshire in 961.
Like his father he abdicated and entered monastic life.

Dubh/Duff ....962-966
The son of Malcolm 1st and father of Kenneth 3rd, he died in battle

Culen/Cuilean/Colin....966-971
Another great great grandson of Kenneth 1st and a son of Indulf, he was killed by a treacherous booby trap at Fettercairn which had been set by the Thane of Angus.

Kenneth 11.....971-995
He was the son of Malcolm1st and GG Grandson of Kenneth 1st

Constantine 3rd. ...966-971
Son of King Culen and grandson of Constantine 2nd. He mat have succeed to the throne by killing Kenneth 2nd and may in turn have been murdered by Kenneth 3rd.

Kenneth 3rd.....007-1005
Son of King Dubh, he was nicknamed 'Donn' meaning brown haired. He defeated in battle and killed at Monzievaird by his cousin Malcolm 11. None of his sone became King.

Malcolm 2nd.... 1005-1034
The son of Kenneth 2nd, but due to a disputed succession, he did not come to the throne until ten years after his father' death, having killed his cousin Kennethh3rd. The last of the House of Appin, he had no sons to succeed him so he arranged good marriages for his daugters. His Daughter Bethoc mrried the Abbot of Dunkeld and their son became Duncan1st.
Another daughter married Earl Sigurd of Orkney and their son, Thorfinn brought the lands of Caithness and Sutherland under the control of the King of alba.
Malcolm made an alliance with King Owen, the bald of Strathclyde and together they defeated King Canute at the battle of Carham in 1018.
Malcolm claimed Strathclyde for his grandson, Duncan. His enemies were not pleased with this and murdered him at Glamis in 1034.



more to follow.

Young Roderick MacKenzie was the son of an Edinburgh Jeweller and an ardent supporter of the Jacobite cause. He was one of the bodyguards of Prince Charles Edward Stewart.
Roderick was not unsimilar to his prince in appearance, being of the same stature, colouring and similar in features.
In the terrible aftermath of Culloden, the government troops were searching the highlands looking for Prince Charles with a reward of £30,000 promised to whoever took the Prince..
Charles Edward was at the time, hiding around the hills of Glenmoriston and Roderick was in the same area. One of the Government patrols came across the young Roderick, and on being challenged, Roderick turned to fight. The Redcoats opened fire and Roderick fell, fatally wounded. As the Redcoats rushed in on him, with his last breath, displaying a quick thought and great courage, the dying man called out,
"You have killed your Prince"
The patrol, fooled by Roderick's words and the strong resemblance the man had to Prince Charles, cut the head from the body and carried it proudly back to Fort Augustus. The Duke of Cumberland was there but was unsure as he had never seen the Prince, and ordered the head to be sent to London for identification. No-one there could identify the head so a man named Peter Morrison, the Prince's batman who was lying in Carlisle awating execution was sent for. By this time, decomposition had set in and the head could not be identified. Morrison's sentence was commuted and he was later freed. Cumberland however had convinced himself that the severed head was indeed that of the Prince and he returned to London. Meanwhile, during the time lapse, Prince Charles had made good his escape from Glenmoriston.
The grave of Roderick MacKenzie lies just off the A887, two miles or so past it's junction with the A87 and is marked by a simple wooden cross. There is a memorial to Roderick by the side of the road.

Probably the earliest and one of the greatest Jacobites was James Graham of Claverhouse who so vehemently had opposed William of Orange, and who, more than any, fanned the flames of Jacobitism into the fire which swept Scotland.
Claverhouse was also known as Bluidy Clavers by the Covenanters who had risen in rebellion against the King (James) and who was sent by James to put down the insurrection.
Born at Old Claverhouse Catle in 1643, James Graham was the elsest son of Sir William Graham of Claverhouse in Angus and his wife Lady Jean Carnegie.
He was descended from the Royal House of Stewart through the marriage of his ancestor, Sir William Graham, Lord Kincardine, who had married the second daughter of King Robert 3rd.
In the year 1660, at the age of 17, James was sent to further his education at the University of St. Andrews where he excelled in the study of mathematics, also studing humanity and poetry at which he excelled. He was a firm believer in an established way of life.
After several years at the University, he travelled for a time arpound the country before going to France and entering French Military service in 1670 where he learned the skills of leadership and combat.
As an accomplished soldier, he left the French army and went to Holland where he joined the Royal Guard of the Prince of Orange. He distinguished himself at the battle of Seneffe, where he save the life of the Dutch prince.
In 1677, he returned to Scotland and received a commission as Captain in the newly formed Scottish Regiment.
In the early days of the reign of King James he was sent into southern Scotland to quell the Covenanters, and as a loyal supporter pf the House of Stewart he obeyed the orders of his King.
The Covenanters.--- During the reign of King Charles 1st, the Covenant was passed ay Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh in 1638 and was a direct result of the determination of the KIng to force a new Episcopal prayerbook on the Presbyterians. The Sxcots were incensed at this attempt to change their religious beliefs, and saw this as a prelude to a return to Catholicism. They declared their determination to defend their religion.
After the deaths of King Charles and the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell and into the reign of James the Covenanters continued their fight for religious freedom.
Under the brief reign of King James, Presbyterianism was outlawed and it became an offence and considered an act of treason against the King.
Graham remained completely loyal to his King and in due course was promoted to from Captain to Brigadier and the to general, before being raised to the peerage with the titles Viscount and Constable of Dundee.
He continued to harass the Covenanters until the usurper, William of Orange came to the throne and forced King James into exile.
Dundee continued to support King James nd at a meeting of the estates in Edinburgh, he refused to kiss the hand of King William and stormed out of the meeting.
He rode north to his homelands from where he rallied the clans to his banner.
He was declared anh outlaw and would concede no terms. He continued his oppoosition to William until his death at the Battle iof Killiecrankie when a stray musket ball found it's mark. He was in his 46th year when he fell in battle and died before knowing his army was victorious. He was buried that night, wrapped in plaid, at the little church at Blair.
Killiecrankie may have been a victory for the Jacobites, but with the death of Dundee, the one man who could have rallied all Scotland to the cause of King James was gone, and instead of Killiecrankie becomng a turning point for King James, it was in fact, the precursor of his ruin.