Time flies! And with it another month has come and gone…and on the eve of a new month, in all time zones, it may be April’s Fool’s Day, but the need to protect our planet is no joke. April is Earth Month, and April 22nd is Earth Day but should we not celebrate our beautiful and supportive blue planet upon … Continue reading →
Trick or treat, bag of sweets, ghosts are walking down the street… for tonight it’s Halloween! The dead rise again, bats fly, terror strikes and screams echo, werewolves howl, and phantoms prowl as Halloween is upon us. But really…what is Halloween all about? Well, back in the 16th century, the name Halloween was derived from a Scottish shortening of All-Hallows … Continue reading →
Indeed Mairiuna, the beautiful automaton clock that we had the privilege to view inside the Eastgate Shopping Centre depicting Noah’s Ark provide a special moment that all, adults and childrens, enjoy. It moves into action at noon sharp every day. On each hour the clock diorama also plays an animal themed song and a single set of doors open to … Continue reading →
As you’ve guessed, Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year. Nobody is quite sure where the name comes from. A few theories include the Gaelic Og maidne or new morning and the Norman French word hoguinane which was derived from the Old French anguillanneuf or “Gift at New Year.” Hogmanay’s roots reach back to the pagan practice of sun and fire … Continue reading →
The largest public artworks in Scotland? The Kelpies! You are invited to take more than a look at these two 30 meter tall horse head sculptures designed by Andy Scott, erected in Grangemouth Park, Falkirk, near River Carron, in The Helix, a new parkland project; there are so impressive…!! By definition, the ‘kelpie’ is a supernatural water horse of Celtic … Continue reading →
Upon reading Mairiuna’s post on Scotiana’s Favourite Castles and enjoying the beautiful pictures inside the article, the view of Blair Castle reminded me of a sign post above the entrance door of a nearby fish and chips restaurant that had caught my eye for its originality. 😉 You’ve surely heard about the traditional fish in batter along with fries, or … Continue reading →
Robert Louis Stevenson’s cousin, David Alan Stevenson worked on twenty-six (26) Scottish lighthouses during his career. Among them, near Glendale, is one of Scotland’s most famous, the Neist Point lighthouse on the Duirinish peninsula, the most westerly point of the Isle of Skye. 1909… On the very tip of Neist Point, quite literally on the cliffs edge and standing alone … Continue reading →
. A snippet from an article on BBC.com about increasing chances of seeing Aurora Borealis in Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England Breathtaking pictures! British Geological Survey, Aurorawatch UK and US body Space Weather Prediction Centre have all reported heightened opportunities of spotting the aurora. It is due to recent activity on the surface of the sun. The aurora is … Continue reading →
Had it not been for this magnificent sculpture of a white unicorn, I’ve probably would not have noticed, upon leaving the beautiful town of Cromarty, where we delightfully visited the native house of one of Scotland’s premier palaeontologists, Hugh Miller, this very ancient building, circa 1775, named The Stables. The Stables, an imposing Georgian building was converted in 1995 to … Continue reading →
Having travelled many times around Scotland, I noticed that many Scottish towns have a unicorn carved on the pinnacle of its ‘Merkat’ Cross. Why so?… Because the ‘Mercat’ (market) cross was the traditional heart of the burgh and although we now look at the unicorns as a mythical creature, in times past there were a lot who believed in their … Continue reading →
Happy New Year to all our friends in Scotland and around the world! Haste ye back, we loue you dearly, Call again you’re welcome here. May your days be free from sorrow, And your friends be ever near. May the paths o’er which you wander, Be to you a joy each day. Haste ye back we loue you dearly, Haste … Continue reading →
Dear readers, The book I’ve chosen today for our Christmas selection is Scotland, A History from Earliest Times by Alistair Moffat. It is the author’s last published book and a very good choice for people who love Scotland and more especially the history of Scotland. I had already downloaded the book on my kindle but the beautiful hardback edition … Continue reading →
In every form or shape, the unicorn has always fascinated me and thus, I have gathered many collectables over the years, be it stamps, figurines, book covers, illustrations, postcards, photos…you name it! So, it is with great pleasure that I take this opportunity to share with you some of my findings throughout my numerous quests and more particularly of the … Continue reading →
Hello Hello from beautiful Scotland! Finally have access to Wifi 🙂 and therefore very happy to share some pictures we took recently while touring the scenic roads, colorful places and magnificent landscapes of our beloved Alba. Even when the weather is acting up….the beauty lies within. Breathtaking scenery of the spectacular Assynt region in the North West Highlands of … 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 →
