On November 22 1515 Mary of Guise, the French Queen Consort of James V, was born.

She was an astute and capable stateswoman who was regent of Scotland during the minority reign of her daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. However, in spite of being a member of the de Guise family, the champions of Roman Catholicism in France during the French wars of religion, she was unable to stop the Scottish Protestant Reformation, which began during her reign.

22 November 1926 saw the publication of A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle by Hugh MacDiarmid, Scotland's Greatest Twentieth Century poet. MacDiarmid was the principal character in the forming of the Scottish Renaissance of the inter-war years and a founder member of the National Party of Scotland.

Today's recipe: make the most of seasonal pumpkins in this tasty ravioli with sage butter.