19 January 1596: Walter Hay, a goldsmith, brought up on charges per the Elgin Kirk sessions for playing bowls and golf (obviously an athletic enthusiast) on a Sunday when he should have been attending to the sermons in the kirk. Five pounds and a promise never to do it again. The eldership of the church…
Tag: Scotland
Daft Days & Discipline
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…
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…
Crossing Borders
A new exhibit Border Crossings opened this summer at the McManus Galleries. It highlights Scots artists who often went off to other lands to find fame. Like Eduardo Paolozzi: Check out the McManus page dedicated to it, but I will share a couple more here. I drafted this post months ago and then found it…
Out at the Ferry
On a cloudy day that did end up with rain, I headed out to Broughty Ferry to wander, mudlark and do a little thrifting, because you know the thrifting is better with the poshos. The rain was well-timed to grab a sandwich and daydream and people watch. A suitably Gothic day at the beach, which…
Witches, Devils & Theatre of Cruelty
I was talking with Chloë about keeping track of reading, which I do badly, my memory palace not being what it used to be when life was more regularly paced. I bought this novel by Jane Parkhurst (Nancy Smith?) back when I was first diving into Isobel Gowdie a few years ago, but this one…
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.
EUPop2023 at Stirling
I will spare you most of my photos taken as notes but the campus itself was gorgeous and full of oystercatchers who nest between the buildings which are then closed to keep them safe. So lovely! I was planning to go up to the castle and cemetery during our free afternoon — mostly to think…
Is It Funny? Episode 14: Muriel Spark
Guess who’s back? Staggering up to the finish line just before 2021 ends is another episode of the languishing series Is It Funny? This time we turn to the Scots style icon Muriel Spark, whose books never fail to cheer me. She is both vicious and economical, as well as laugh out loud funny when…
Gifts at Solstice
On the longest night I find I’m the gal with all the gifts.