A new star in the Scottish sky? Not exactly but the name of a monumental sculpture which might well shine like a star, in a near future, on the heights of Gretna Green, one of the most mythical places situated in the south of Scotland, near the border between England and Scotland. . “Susan Houston, chair of the Star … Continue reading →
On a particularly inspiring day, triggered by an amusing yet enlightening email received from Iain, our dear Scottish friend and contributor to the Letters of Scotland, I found myself diving into the niche world of topical stamp collecting, specifically under the theme of Food and Beverage. Iain’s heartfelt correction of a porridge recipe mistake led me down this path, showcasing … Continue reading →
January… February…what about sitting by the fireside with a good book when it’s freezing cold outside and the wind is howling ;-). Add to that a cup of tea, coffee or chocolate and you’ll begin to like winter! Unless, of course, you prefer to go out and face the elements. I must admit that when travelling in Scotland, even in … Continue reading →
As the last page of the calendar turns and we bid farewell to another year, Hogmanay celebrations are under way in Scotland, much like the Réveillon in Quebec and the Saint-Sylvestre celebrations in France, and these celebrations stands as beacons of cultural identity and tradition amidst the universal celebration of the New Year. In Scotland, Hogmanay illuminates the … Continue reading →
Kenneth White n’est plus… The great Scottish-French poet and visionary thinker passed away peacefully, at the age of 87, on the night of 11 August 2023, in Gwenved, the house he had lived in with his wife Marie-Claude for fourty years, in the Côtes d’Armor, Brittany. All our thoughts are with his lifelong companion to whom he had been married … Continue reading →
Hello everyone! I have exciting news to share: The continued operation of the world’s most ancient functioning post office in southern Scotland is ensured, thanks to the acquisition by new proprietors.🎉 Scotland has long been home to tales of the old and the new, of history merging with the contemporary, and of traditions that refuse to die. One such tale … Continue reading →
Among the many islands we visited in Scotland, the Outer Hebrides are among those which left the greatest impression on us. We always come back from our Hebridean journeys (Inner and Outer Hebrides) with new, wonderful, unforgettable memories. But there is a specificity of the Western Isles. Each island of this distant Scottish archipelago, to which St Kilda belongs, adds … Continue reading →
Hello Bonjour Dear Readers! Before diving into today’s topic, I’d like to extend a special ‘thank you’ to my dear friend Iain from Scotland. He brought to my attention the fascinating story of a totem pole making its way back to Canada after nearly a century in Edinburgh. Iain, your thoughtful sharing of this story has not only enriched my … Continue reading →
Today, I’ll tell you how, during our last trip to Scotland, on our road from Perth to Oban, we added a milestone to our wonderful map of mysterious Scotland. The place, situated on the shore of Loch Awe, in the heart of the beautiful Argyll and Bute region, is St Conan’s Kirk. We immediately fell in love with this architectural … Continue reading →
Once upon a time, in a quaint village nestled amidst the rolling hills of Scotland, there lived a man named Robert. Robert was a hardworking and determined individual who had spent most of his adult life striving to own a house. He dreamt of the day when he would finally pay off his mortgage and call the property his own. … Continue reading →
Going on with my reading notes about Sir Walter Scott’s books, the next in file on my chronological reading list is Rob Roy, one of his most famous novels which was published in December 1817. I’ve just finished it and it is still open on my desk together with a number of extremely interesting books about the author and his … Continue reading →
Nessie in Art | The Loch Ness monster, or Nessie for short, is a cryptid (an animal such as Sasquatch that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist) that is said to live in the murky depths of the Loch Ness Lake. This mysterious, aquatic being has been the subject of many stories, sightings, and theories over … Continue reading →
When Janice and I made our promise to Sir Walter Scott to read all his books, we certainly did not realise the magnitude of the task 😉 How many books did the great Scottish author write, I could not tell exactly but what I do know is that there are many of them! 😉 Today, I can check off another … Continue reading →
Creating a virtual museum featuring postage stamps related to Scotland could be a fascinating and informative resource for stamp collectors and anyone interested in Scottish culture and history, so I purchased a few years ago the domain ScotlandOnStamps.com To make the website even more engaging, I thought I could include interactive features such as quizzes, exhibits and offer resources for … Continue reading →
Recently, I came across a very interesting article published by Holly Kirkwood in the magazine Country Life. In this article Holly Kirkwood draws our attention to the so-called “peel-towers”, a type of construction typical of the Scottish Borders. “There are more than 100 peel towers in various states of repair and ruin scattered the breadth of the Borders“, she writes. … Continue reading →
