In these daft days between the Yule and Hogmanay celebrations it’s easy to lose track of time, as Fergusson suggests. He also claims this is the time to enjoy ourselves in all the usual ways: Let mirth abound, let social cheerInvest the dawning of the year;Let blithesome innocence appearTo crown our joy;Nor envy wi sarcastic…
Category: Scotland
Dark Moon, Dark Goddess
As the dark moon is upon us this month and the winter solstice approaches, naturally thoughts turn to the Cailleach here in Scotland. The Crone of Winter some call her; she is the one who made the landscape as the old tales tell. She shoes up in the romantic poetry of the eighteenth century, such…
Nacreous Clouds
We were treated to nacreous clouds in Dundee after the solstice. I was mesmerised and took far too many photos of the rainbow-coloured clouds that formed before the sun rose, reflecting its light. There are always wonders to come.
Happy Midsummer
Hope your day is magnificent: Broughty Ferry brought the breezes and blue skies.
Grissel Jaffray’s Stone
In the Howff this stone has come to be called the headstone of Grissel Jaffray, last witch executed in Dundee. It’s not her headstone, but who am I to mess with tradition? There is of course a formal memorial for her as well. Besides, the cemetery is full of lovely sights. You should probably visit…
#BurnsNight
I dropped by the Albany statue for Robert Burns to pay my respects on his birthday. My friend Terry tells me after Columbus and Queen Victoria, he’s the figure with the most statues in his honour. He’s a lot more palatable than those two, too. The panels around the sides include a rendition of Tam…
V&A Dundee
It’s true I mostly hibernated over the break — some days I never even left the house — but I did finally make it down to the V&A to experience the much-anticipated glory inside it. The outside, I already knew, was gorgeous. I mean really just lovely. But inside, too, many wonders awaited. Lots more…
Dundee
I realise I have not updated the blog since I got here: there was the flurry of grading and then my birthday and all kinds of weird stuff called relaxing that was happening. So here are some random snapshots of the toon that you may have glimpsed if you follow me on social media: More to…
Smiles of a Summer Night (and Day)
I am back in Dundee so life has improved immensely. Yes, still busy (week two of a three-week online intensive, one review written and sent, a couple of deadlines looming) but I have played with the Executive Princess, slept soundly, finished a book I’ve been reading in bits, and started watching the final series of Bron/Broen/The…