“A city built on books, brimming with writers and readers and home to the world’s largest Book Festival” Hi everybody ! Do you remember how an old dying sycamore growing in Conan Doyle’s childhood garden, on the playground of what is now known as Dunedin School, in Edinburgh, had been given a second life ? What a good idea to … Continue reading →
On the subject of anniversaries and detectives, I’m indeed very pleased Mairiuna to talk about another well known Scottish author, Ian Rankin, creator of the famous Scottish detective Sergeant John Rebus. Back in 1987, when his novel Knots & Crosses introducing for the first time Inspector Rebus was published, Ian Rankin had no idea that he would win, in 1991-92, … Continue reading →
Conan Doyle died of a heart attack on 7 July 1930. He was aged 71 and lived then at “Windlesham”, his house situated in East Sussex, England. He was buried in the churchyard at Minstead in the New Forest, Hampshire. The epitaph on his grave reads “Steel True – Blade Straight – Arthur Conan Doyle – Knight – Patriot, Physician & … Continue reading →
Quite touching the idea of portraying Sherlock Holmes brooding over the death of his author… all the more since we know how, at one time, Conan Doyle got so tired of his character that he decided to ‘kill’ him. “I must save my mind for better things,” he wrote to his mother. In The Final Problem, published in 1893, Conan … Continue reading →
Hi Mairiuna ! I doubt you have been able to find the solution to the stamp mystery, since you would need a magnifying glass and the physical copies of the stamps to find the hidden letters. That’s why I will give you the solution right now! The letter D is found on The Hound of the Baskervilles stamp, at the bottom center. … Continue reading →
. In 1993, Great Britain issued a set of five stamps commemorating Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the very famous detective characters: Sherlock Holmes and his companion, Dr John Watson. . Five great novels are depicted on the stamps: The Reigate Squire, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Six Napoleons, The Greek Interpreter and The Final Problem. What is very particular with … Continue reading →
We’re almost there Mairiuna, only a few feet away from Picardy Place where the more than life-size bronze statue of Sherlock Holmes is standing close to the house (No 11) where his creator, Arthur Conan Doyle was born. Sculpted and cast by Gerald Ogilvie Laing at Kinkell Castle in Sutherland in 1989, it is today one of Edinburgh landmarks. The … Continue reading →
. Hi Janice ! You know I’m a born player and since nobody has answered your question still, I’ll give it a try myself. I leave it to you to talk about the statue of Sherlock Holmes in Edinburgh. 😉 I remember you’ve taken beautiful close-ups of it during our last trip and don’t forget to talk about the “Conan … Continue reading →
Photograph of King George V by W.& D Downey In fact Mairiuna, it was Prince Alfred, the second son of Queen Victoria ( later King George V ) that started the Royal Philatelic Collection. His enthusiasm about stamp collecting was shared with his brother, the Prince of Wales ( later King Edward VII) who bought Prince Alfred’s collection just a … Continue reading →
. What a good idea, Janice, to create a Scotiana philatelic album and to open its pages to our readers ! I have only a few stamps and First Day Covers to begin with but see how beautiful they are ! You know, I’m not a philatelic expert and I’ve bought them only for the sake of their beauty. Look … Continue reading →
This is right up my alley Mairiuna ! Thanks for the invite. 🙂 For the benefit of our readers, I can say that I’m really passionate about topical stamp collecting and have marveled in this rewarding hobby of philately since I was 12 years old. And as of today, I still delight in collecting those miniature pieces of art called … Continue reading →
. Tinker Bell’s wings would scarcely carry her now (…) Every moment her light was growing fainter; and Peter knew that if it went out she would be no more (…) Her voice was so low that at first he could not make out what she said. Then he made it out. She was saying that she thought she could … Continue reading →
Hi Mairiuna 🙂 Come and look at the view! Over there, it’s Salisbury Crags and Arthur’s Seat. Can you see the path climbing up the hill? … look… there are people at the top ! Can’t wait to walk up there, be sure to include it in our next itinerary. I’ve read a few things about the place while waiting for you. Quite … Continue reading →
The east of new Edinburgh is guarded by a craggy hill, of no great elevation which the town embraces (…)You mount by stairs in a cutting of the rock to find yourself in a field of monuments. (Robert Louis Stevenson – Edinburgh Picturesque Notes – 1878 ) I’m coming Janice ! Didn’t you say Calton Hill was 333 feet high … Continue reading →
