We came back from our 2004 and 2006 trips to the Outer Hebrides (Vatersay, Barra, Eriskay, South Uist, North Uist, South Harris, North Harris, Lewis) with lots of unforgettable memories. We’ll share them with you on Scotiana but today and before investigating, as I’ve promised to do, into the past of Hoddom Castle, that old and mysterious castle which … Continue reading →
Mairiuna, on discovering that the news release by Marshall Islands was about the commemorative stamps issued to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of King James Bible, I immediately felt it could be an interesting subject for Scotiana and I tried to know more about this famous translation of the sacred book and its royal Scottish translator James Charles Stuart, who made such … Continue reading →
Romania 2003 Easter Rabbit Stamp Mairiuna and Jean-Claude are traveling today towards the beautiful French Touraine’s region to visit family, and I would like to wish, on their behalf and mine, to all our loyal readers, a very Happy Easter! The celebration of Easter is a worldwide celebration and involves many customs and traditions. It’s a time of joy, relaxation … Continue reading →
If you really want to get better at golf, go back and take it up at a much earlier age. Thomas Mulligan (*) Is there a golf season? I wonder… So many times have we been watching Scottish people deeply absorbed in their game while we were staying miserable and drenched to the skin on the edge … Continue reading →
A few days ago, when I discovered ‘First Days of Golf’, Iain and Margaret’s last Letter from Scotland, I suddenly realised that our friends had been writing on Scotiana for more than one year. Their first letter appeared on February 13 th 2010 and we are not about to forget this memorable date since they had chosen as … Continue reading →
I guess I will surprise no one if I confessed that Iain’s latest post about the “First Day of Golf…” got me running to my stamp albums to see if I could find some stamps featuring Scottish golf courses. You can imagine the smile on my face when I stumbled upon a Great Britain First Day Cover commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the world’s … Continue reading →
. Bonjour Marie-Agnès, Jean-Claude et Janice! Hello again, how are you? 🙂 . Thank you for all your help in finding illustrations for our last Letter from Scotland (‘Daft Pate’ Macmillan of Courthill Smithy, Pioneer of the Pedal-Driven Bicycle). . We’re very pleased that “Kevin 76’s” (presumably a cycling enthusiast) should make available his excellent photographs from Keir Mill by posting them at flickr. It all helps to … Continue reading →
‘Books!’ says Tuppence in Agatha Christie’s Postern of Fate (Chapter 1: ‘Mainly Concerning Books’) “Is there anything I can take down for you?” “Well, I wish you would”, said Tuppence. “I’m falling off those chairs. Some of their legs are very wobbly, some of them rather slippery.” ”Any book in particular?” ”Well, I haven’t got on very far … Continue reading →
Bonjour Marie-Agnès, Janice et Jean-Claude! Ca va? – How are you? 🙂 We’d like to tell the story today of the quiet, diffident Scotsman who is generally accepted as the inventor of the bicycle; but first, please let us say how thrilled we were to see the excellent photos you’d taken at Gretna, in the course of three separate visits. … Continue reading →
After reading Iain’s such informative article “Married at Gretna Green!“, I simply could not resist to google away in search of philatelic collectibles about this very unique romantic little town. Results from the Web were fascinating and I’m excited to share some examples with you today. On BFDC ‘s website (an acronym for Bradbury First Day Covers), long time UK established company catering … Continue reading →
I would like to begin this post with a few words about Lettres de Gourgounel (1979), one of the first books written by Kenneth White (his first book of prose) and also the first book I‘ve read by this author. The title of the original English edition is Letters from Gourgounel (1966) but it has been out of print for … Continue reading →
“How far, how far to Gretna? ‘Tis years and years away, And chaise and four will nevermore fling dust across the day; But as I ride the Carlisle road, where life and love have been, I hear again the beating hooves go through to Gretna Green.” Anon. Bonjour Jean-Claude, Janice et Marie-Agnès! Hello again from Scotland! 🙂 Isn’t this an … Continue reading →
Scotiana readers who have followed us on our ‘blue road’, in Quebec, already know we are great admirers of Kenneth White. Now, we would like to share with you what we know about the well-known Scottish-French poet, academic and writer. Open on my desk are the last two books published by Kenneth White : La carte de Guido and Les … Continue reading →
I was making for Havre-Saint-Pierre. When I told that to the bus-driver, he said: ‘It’s the end of the road. Can’t go any farther than that. It’s the end of the road.’ Two Indian youths got on the bus at the same time as myself (..) ‘Where you makin’ for?’ ‘Havre-Saint-Pierre.’ ‘That’s the end of the road.’ ‘So they tell … Continue reading →
