Such is the atmosphere of the melancholy valley of Glencoe that it still seems to be haunted by what happened there so long ago on that fatal day of 13 February 1692 when 38 members of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by government forces billeted with them. The friendly and unsuspecting villagers were slaughtered at five o’ clock in … Continue reading →
Bonjour Marie-Agnès, Janice et Jean-Claude, Hello again from Scotland ! 🙂 I know that you rarely travel without your camera, Jean-Claude, but I wonder whether you were keenly interested in photography even as a schoolboy? One or two of my school friends would talk of developing and printing their own photos – in black and white only – skills … Continue reading →
For those of you who appreciated the articles I’ve posted on the blog relating to philately, I have yet another one to share. 🙂 Mind you, I am not a fan of murder cases, as MairiUna would witness, but in this particular event, postal history is involved, so it strikes my fancy ! I cannot resist getting into the story … Continue reading →
Linlithgow Palace is located in West Lothian about 15 miles (24 km) west of Edinburgh, off the M9. The name “Linlithgow” comes from the Old British and means “lake in the damp hollow”… Even if you have planned to go directly to Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument don’t miss Linlithgow Palace. This magnificent ruin, for the old palace lost its … Continue reading →
On my desk is Alex Nye’s book For My Sins, a fascinating historical novel I’ve just finished reading. I recommend it to all people interested in Mary Stuart’s life. There are many books devoted to Mary Queen of Scots but this one is particularly moving since the narrator is Mary herself. In my last selection of books for Christmas … Continue reading →
In Norse, Saddell means “sandy valley” and the ruins of Saddell Abbey are situated in this lovely and quiet glen where the Saddell Water flows into the Kilbrannan Sound on the east coast of Kintyre. The beauty of the landscape around, the ruined abbey echoing times long past and the remarkable collection of medieval slabs and effigies sheltered in a special-built … Continue reading →
One week ago, on Wednesday 17 September, Scotland was about to live one of its greatest pages of history with most of the Scottish people feeling like on the eve of a battle. Indeed, the Scottish independence referendum WAS a battle, a peaceful battle but with big consequences, a battle between two camps of passionate opponents. Scotland would never … Continue reading →
YES or NO to become independent from the United Kingdom, that is the big question to be answered in Scotland today! A historical day indeed ! The above photo of the Saltire and the Union flags being raised on Arthur’s Seat with a view of Edinburgh Castle and the hills in the background is absolutely WON-DER-FUL. The two flags … Continue reading →
Dear readers, It has escaped nobody that a strong wind of change is blowing in Scotland these days, a wind murmuring echoes of the old Scottish dream of independence, a dream which is not shared by all, far from it. In a very few days each Scot will have to say whether he chooses to remain or not in … Continue reading →
They used to call it Drumossie Moor – a bleak stretch of boggy, heather-clad upland moor above Culloden House, south-east of Inverness, overlooking the broad waters of the Moray Firth. This was where the last pitched battle on British soil was fought, on 16 April 1746. Culloden is now one of the flagship possessions of the National Trust … Continue reading →
http://youtu.be/PSH0eRKq1lE Dear readers, 11 november 2013… A number of celebrations have taken place yesterday and all day long today in many parts of the world in memory of the soldiers who gave their life to preserve ours and, here, in France, the very moving ‘sonnerie aux morts’ still echoes in the night… Lest we forget… Many moving testimonies from … Continue reading →
The rose of all the world is not for me I want for my part Only the little white rose of Scotland That smells sharp and sweet And breaks the heart (Hugh McDiarmid) Hi everybody, The name of Bonnie Prince Charlie is often associated with the little white rose which became the emblem of the Jacobites at the time … Continue reading →
Hi Mairiuna! Upon reading your great article about the magnificient Prestonpans Tapestry: the Prince’s journey up to Glenfinnan… I wondered if postage stamps were issued to commemorate this milestone in Scottish history? I surfed the web and .. by golly … found one! 🙂 It was issued in 1981 by the Royal Mail to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of … Continue reading →
Hi everybody, Our recent visit to the Bayeux Tapestry Museum which temporarily shelters the magnificent Prestonpans Tapestry, made me want to know more not only about the tapestry itself and the people who contributed to the creation of this great masterpiece but also about the journey of Bonnie Prince Charlie from Rome to Prestonpans and beyond… http://www.tapestry-bayeux.com/index.php?id=1&=&L=1 The Prince … Continue reading →
‘The Embroidery’ by Franz Xaver Simm (1853-1918) Le tambour bat son plein* ! ………………………… Hi everybody ! So, after the unveiling of The Prestonpans Tapestry in 2010, and of The Great Tapestry of Scotland in September 2013, at the Scottish Parliament, http://youtu.be/LvWo_6JIYAA The Scottish Diaspora Tapestry, a new artistic chef-d’oeuvre is now in the hands of a … Continue reading →
