Dear Readers, If you would like to read this in html format with all links in place go to: http://www.scottishradiance.com/notes.htm Our magazine is all dressed up for the holidays and we hope you enjoy it. This year we tried to use only things you might find in Shetland. The star of the show is Herbert, the lighthouse hedgehog and his new friend, Robin. Do not miss our holiday greeting to each and every one of you. The card involves a lot of animation so please be patient as it downloads. On the home page you will find snow has come to the lighthouse. As always in our December issue we have a Christmas C�ilidh for you with many Gaelic and Celtic holiday songs. In our book review section we have listed some holiday books and some ideas for Christmas presents including a half priced book that could be used as a stocking stuffer. One of the best holiday gifts we could receive was to have Frank Hatton back. He has had some health and personal problems but he is back in rare form. This month he takes on the petrol strike, television and the weather in From Over the Pond. Whoa! Great to have you back, Frank. In our Gaelic Section a hoax is the focus of the article in the Gaelic Column. Since this is the season most of us do a lot of shopping we finish the instruction on money and buying things in Gaelic Sayings for Everyday. The Gaelic poem subject is Hogmanay. Fada 's Farsaing Far and Wide gets into the mood of the holidays with a Gaelic Christmas greeting and a recipe for Black Buns for your Hogmanay celebration. Our guest writer is Mary-Sue Searles who shares two beautiful Scottish poems. Macbeth, the King of Scotland, is the principle personality in this month�s History of Scotland. The Hoy Low leading light is the featured lighthouse and we have a picture from another excellent Orkney photographer, Doug Houghton. Being the holidays I have chosen to wish everyone �Peace� with a picture of our lighthouse and my favourite holiday song � Let There Be Peace on Earth. The Midi of the Month is The Bonnie Ship the Diamond. A Christmas C�ilidh CD from the Thistle and the Shamrock program is featured in Notes on Celtic Music. A full Scottish breakfast is the subject of Kay Glasgow�s Scotland Puzzle. This month's book reviews are A Life of Robert Burns, which we have on sale for half price as our Christmas special. The Bannockburn Years is a historical novel in a style similar to Nigel Tranter and well worth reading. Bloody Mary is a story of the Glasgow �boarded-outs.� If like me you do not what that term means you should read this book.The final review is of a second edition of No More Paraffin-Oilers, which is written by a former lighthouse keeper and a real treasure of information on Scottish lighthouses. The Engagement, December dates, Scottish quotes on pleasure, and a Christmas Gaelic proverb can all be found in Flotsam The Site of the Month is about Glasgow�s network of aligned sites (and the sites are not websites). Woei has a remarkable poem for us this month called All We Have Is Now. The joys of the season and my best to you and yours, Alba gu br�th! (Scotland Forever), Sharma Krauskopf Editor Scottish Radiance http://www.scottishradiance.com Email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] My latest books are: The Last Lighthouse (http://www.eshanesslighthouse.co.uk/llight.htm), Scotland - The Complete Guide and Road Atlas (http://www.scottishradiance.com/guide.htm), and Moonbeam Cow (http://www.scottishradiance.com/mbeamcow.htm)
