I should have been in Scotland weeks ago. I miss my family, I miss Dundee, I miss livable weather, too. I miss idling in the Howff and dropping by my favourite paintings in the McManus or standing on the little observation deck in the V&A watching the Tay flow past. I miss all of us…
Tag: Scottish
#NationalUnicornDay Medieval Style
In Scotland it is National Unicorn Day, the day they celebrate the national beast. With the lockdown and everyone staying indoors, they have become plentiful again, so I hear. Thus from medieval Scots history I offer you a tale told by a unicorn (on good authority!) from The Talis of Fyve Bestes (beasts that is,…
HB Muriel: Re-Reading The Abbess of Crewe
THE ABBESS OF CREWE It is Muriel Spark’s birthday and I just re-read this so it seems apropos to write about it, too. I just re-read it for the obvious reason that it was inspired by the shenanigans of an impeached president and now we have another impeached ‘president’ who proves just as mendacious and…
That Was the Year That Was
Every year I have to give myself a little shake because undoubtedly, having idled away my holiday break (if it has gone according to plan), I feel as if I have accomplished nothing at all ever, never mind for the whole last year. Some people are putting together ‘end of decade’ lists, too (never mind…
#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…
FFB: A Far Cry from Kensington by Muriel Spark
I don’t know why I put this off so long: maybe it was knowing it was set in the publishing world. That sort of roman à clef doesn’t usually appeal to me much — possibly because there is nothing much that will surprise me about the publishing world anymore. But dashing off on the train to…
FFB: The Comforters by Muriel Spark
I have been filling in some of the holes I didn’t even know I had in my readings of Spark on her 100th birthday year. I have not been disappointed. Don’t make my mistake: read everything of hers. Compounding the audacity of The Driver’s Seat (which really every crime writer needs to read especially) I at…
Supernatural Scotland
Friday’s voyage to Edinburgh was a delight. I attended the IASH workshop ‘The Supernatural in Early Modern Scotland’ (thanks to Cailleach’s Herbarium for the alert). It was a bit tricky finding the Institute due to both construction and its rather hidden corner, but I only missed the very beginning. I thought I might feel a…
Charcoal Burners, Black Sails & Magic
Admittedly I’ve not left the house since I got here, but don’t let my indolence fool you! I am ready to rise to the opportunity and sure enough, I will be. Thanks to Cailleach’s Herbarium mentioning it on Facebook, I got on the waitlist and now have ticket in hand to attend ‘The Supernatural in…
The Big Trek
Back to Scotland: the big trek is even bigger this time around. Albany to Philly to Manchester then Edinburgh where I’ll catch the train to Dundee. Depending on how timing works, I will either catch up with my family at Granddad’s or back at the house. As usual, I’m still packing. It’s been so hot…
K. A. Laity 