And I thought things had progressed

Capt Lightning

Capt Lightning

Well-known Member
Location
Historic Buchan, Scotland
I read an article in the news where apparently Tesco has divided the occupants of Stornaway on the isle of Lewis, by wanting to open its store on Sundays.
It's many years since I've been to Lewis and then everything, except the kirk, stopped from 5pm on Saturday till 9am on Monday. Stornaway was like a ghost town on Sundays. Even the ferries to the mainland didn't run.

There was an uproar some years ago when there was a 'same sex marriage' on the island. Shortly afterwards there was a storm which the local minister said was 'God' showing his anger.

In believe that the ferries run on Sunday - if they haven't broken down, but it would seem that the church is still stuck in the dark ages.
In strict contrast, in my part of Scotland, Sunday is just another day with full opening hours.
 

It was like that when I was a kid.

We had what were known as Blue Laws that restricted business on Sunday.

I don’t have a problem either way and I’m not sure that it makes much difference.

If observing the sabbath or having a day of rest is important it shouldn’t matter what is happening in the world around us.
 
Capt Lightning said:
I read an article in the news where apparently Tesco has divided the occupants of Stornaway on the isle of Lewis, by wanting to open its store on Sundays.
It's many years since I've been to Lewis and then everything, except the kirk, stopped from 5pm on Saturday till 9am on Monday. Stornaway was like a ghost town on Sundays. Even the ferries to the mainland didn't run.

There was an uproar some years ago when there was a 'same sex marriage' on the island. Shortly afterwards there was a storm which the local minister said was 'God' showing his anger.

In believe that the ferries run on Sunday - if they haven't broken down, but it would seem that the church is still stuck in the dark ages.
In strict contrast, in my part of Scotland, Sunday is just another day with full opening hours.
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You are spot on right there Capt, I've had holidays there and it is just as you say.
Ironically, last night, I watched the film 'Whisky Galore' where the islanders sat on the shore until the Sabbath was over, so that they could then go out to a shipwreck to filch all of it's whisky. 😊
 

timoc said:
You are spot on right there Capt, I've had holidays there and it is just as you say.
Ironically, last night, I watched the film 'Whisky Galore' where the islanders sat on the shore until the Sabbath was over, so that they could then go out to a shipwreck to filch all of it's whisky. 😊
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That's an old film I wouldn't mind seeing again.
 
My late father in law was in the merchant navy at the time of the 'Whisky galore' incident and said he had seen the abandoned ship. He had hoped he might have got something from the wreckage as a souvenir, but it had been picked clean. I believe that many bottles were never found, and if they were, they would be worth a fortune.
I'm not sure where the original film was shot, but the remake, and it's pretty good. was largely filmed not far from where I live. If it was the remake, you might recognise this.
portsoy.jpg
 

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Capt Lightning said:
I read an article in the news where apparently Tesco has divided the occupants of Stornaway on the isle of Lewis, by wanting to open its store on Sundays.
It's many years since I've been to Lewis and then everything, except the kirk, stopped from 5pm on Saturday till 9am on Monday. Stornaway was like a ghost town on Sundays. Even the ferries to the mainland didn't run.
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There's always a positive side. Stornaway is not exactly an enclave of Islam, or for that matter Judaism. Had it been so, the Island would have shut up shop on the respective Sabbaths of: Friday (Islam) Saturday (Judaism) as well as Sunday. Perhaps I should say no more, the council members of Stornaway, chancing on this thread, might get ideas.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Anybody want to tell me why an atheist has to observe the Sabbath? Or why Christians don't observe other religions' practices? Like munching down on sausage pizza?
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Because it was the law in some cases. WA State had fairly strict blue laws even as late as the 1960s. Prohibition of Sunday liquor sales was really the last one to go.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Anybody want to tell me why an atheist has to observe the Sabbath? Or why Christians don't observe other religions' practices? Like munching down on sausage pizza?
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Who says an atheist has to observe the Sabbath? He/she is perfectly free to work as hard as they like on the Sabbath, digging the garden and eating pork chops for lunch. However, if one chooses to live in a conservative Jewish or Amish society you would have to cook your own dinner.
 
Llynn said:
Because it was the law in some cases. WA State had fairly strict blue laws even as late as the 1960s. Prohibition of Sunday liquor sales was really the last one to go.
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1975 and I still couldn't get an alcoholic drink in a pub in the 2 hours mid-day they were allowed to open on a Sunday in Scotland because I was under 21 ( I was 20)...but I was able to get one if I went to a hotel lounge instead. .....Crazy!
 
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We could order alcohol at 18 so needless to say, many began at 16 which caused some problems. Checking IDs came later.
 
We can't buy alcohol before 10 am on any day, even though the larger stores are open 8am till 8 pm on Sundays and longer on other days. Sunday is one of the busiest shopping days. There were never Sunday trading laws in Scotland, and shops only closed on Sundays to please the church.
 
Capt Lightning said:
We can't buy alcohol before 10 am on any day, even though the larger stores are open 8am till 8 pm on Sundays and longer on other days. Sunday is one of the busiest shopping days. There were never Sunday trading laws in Scotland, and shops only closed on Sundays to please the church.
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Only in Scotland.. which is Ironic given the Scots have the worst record for alcoholism in the uk


In England and wales... this is the rule...


In England and Wales, thanks to the Licensing Act 2003, the law which introduced 24 hour drinking, shops can sell alcohol 24 hours if they have been granted a licence allowing them to do so. Whereas in Scotland, alcohol is not sold in shops from 10pm at night until 10am the next morning. As long as a supermarket or retailer is open, a customer can buy alcohol. So basically you are free to stock up on as much booze as you like at any time of the day.
 

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