Taste of Scotland - 32

Here we see Tunnock's milk chocolate coated caramel wafer biscuit.



Equipped with cutting edge machinery, the Tunnock factory occupies around 250,000 sq ft. It produces all the quality elements required to create the famous Tunnock taste - the wafers, the caramel, the marshmallow and even the distinctive rich creamy chocolate. Today, this factory still stands 100 yards away from the site where Thomas Tunnock opened his first shop in 1890.

The coveted reputation acquired down through the years is still enjoyed by Tunnock's today. Thanks to the efforts of 550 dedicated staff, who are determined to maintain the company's enviable high standards. All this in a friendly family enviroment. No wonder the brand is sold internationally and nationwide by all the main supermarkets and cash & carry outlets.

The family-owned company is currently headed by Boyd Tunnock CBE, the founder's grandson. This connection with the past is strengthened by the presence of Boyd's daughters and son-in-law who all play a crucial role in managing the business.

Taste of Scotland - 31

We return to our occasional series on great Scottish food and drink producers. This week it is the turn of Tunnock's - biscuit and confectionery producer.



How do you create ever-popular biscuit products? Well, start with excellent ingredients. Add layers of ownership by the same, caring family. Then cover with a generous sprinkling of attention to detail and personal service.

This winning formula was initiated by Thomas Tunnock in 1890, after he paid £80 for a shop in Uddingston. Under the guidance of Thomas (and later his son, Archie), Tunnock's operated only as bakers and purveyors of quality flour confectionery until the 1950s. This decade saw the emergence of four original speciality items: Caramel Wafers, Snowballs, Caramel Logs and Teacakes. Consequently, business boomed and factory extensions followed, the latest as recent as 2002.

The innovative management has always remained true to the original principles and is close to the local community.

This blog congratulates the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their 65th wedding anniversary.

The Garden of Westhill - 53

Well, in case you cannot wait for Christmas, I thought I had better let you see the conservatory in its winter snug style!



During the summer months the conservatory is very much a centre of horticultural activity, but with the cold nights we get in the Highlands, I move all my plants into the main house for the winter months. Whilst during the summer I do quite a lot of work in the conservatory, during winter I use it more as a place to relax. Yes, the geranium is artificial!

I really enjoy the different seasons of the year both in nature and in church.

Advent tells us Christ is near;
Christmas tells us Christ is here!
In Epiphany we trace
all the glory of his grace.

Those three Sundays before Lent
will prepare us to repent;
that in Lent we may begin
earnestly to mourn for sin.

Holy Week and Easter, then,
tell who died and rose again;
O that happy Easter Day!
"Christ is risen indeed," we say.

Yes, and Christ ascended, too,
to prepare a place for you;
so, we give him special praise,
after those great Forty Days.

Then, he sent the Holy Ghost,
on the Day of Pentecost,
with us ever to abide;
well may we keep Whitsuntide!

Last of all, we humbly sing
glory to our God and King,
glory to the One in Three,
on the Feast of Trinity.

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

In the gospel today, Jesus tells his disciples that although heaven and earth will pass away, his words will not pass away.



All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew,
me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.

Pride of man and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple fall to dust.
But God's power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.

God's great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
newborn worlds rise and adore.

Daily doth the almighty Giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

Still from man to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ, his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.



Happy Sunday!

The Garden of Westhill - 52

The deed is done! The slate hearth has been treated with virgin olive oil and the oak floor has been polished. It is now time to furnish the conservatory for the winter months and light the stove.



I was a bit in the dumps during midsummer with my broken leg and so it was suggested that I should get on with a project that I would otherwise have put off. The idea was that one day, when the project was complete, I would look back at the summer and think it wasn't so bad after all.

Well, we are not yet in the bleak midwinter, but it is not all that far away. Hopefully I will soon be warming myself at the fire and thinking someone is smiling on me!

Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
All ye who hear,
Brothers and sisters draw near,
Joining in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shieldeth thee gently from harm, or when fainting sustaineth:
Hast thou not seen
How thy heart's wishes have been
Granted in what he ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend thee:
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
If to the end he befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
Sound from his people again:
Gladly for ay we adore him.



The next time you see the conservatory it will be decked out in festal array for the Christmas season.

The Garden of Westhill - 51

Here is a rare sight. The conservatory is completely empty!



The decorating is complete and all that remains is to polish the floor and oil the slate hearth.

I am delighted with the new colour scheme of dairy farm and woodland fern emulsion for the walls and brilliant white gloss for the woodwork.

It is now 4 years since I moved to Westhill and this is the first bit of redecorating that has been done. The conservatory gets quite heavy use, but the work was really necessitated by the installation of the woodburning stove in August.

I must not take any credit for the high standard of craftsmanship! The decorating was undertaken by Des Baker - Head Verger at St Andrew's Cathedral, Inverness.

The Garden of Westhill - 50

Here we see part of this years tomato crop. I had to harvest the remainder of the tomatoes on 14 November, as the conservatory is being decorated at present and the vines were in the way.



The few green tomatoes will ripen nicely on a window ledge and thus provide fruit until the end of the month.

I am very popular with my neighbours at present - I wonder why!