tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4735286064133020792024-03-05T20:03:13.714+00:00Scotland for the SensesPurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.comBlogger207125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-64767991064908158662012-05-05T15:57:00.001+01:002020-10-07T05:28:51.911+01:00The big move...<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">It has been almost a year since I said goodbye to this blog and now my Scotsman and I are saying goodbye to Scotland as well. After much discussion and even more paperwork, we are moving to Canada. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Thank you for all the lovely supportive emails and stories of Scotland. I will miss it here. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">One more **squeeze** for the road. Wish me luck. </span><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sophia </span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">xx</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl8956KIeDX9NbxX1j9KqKBg30lLkMQLfgh4wt7G4BH-IOr_HMk0OB6u8EY6jIhedch6_fr07IDyL5yUF-i3udFLW9BsYBGZWR5wciwO9CGc9aaa0jkmLthoTK1z-yC8TN2vkMDNNW1A/s1600/Cake+in+Edinburgh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl8956KIeDX9NbxX1j9KqKBg30lLkMQLfgh4wt7G4BH-IOr_HMk0OB6u8EY6jIhedch6_fr07IDyL5yUF-i3udFLW9BsYBGZWR5wciwO9CGc9aaa0jkmLthoTK1z-yC8TN2vkMDNNW1A/s400/Cake+in+Edinburgh.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-2237836643354066252011-06-19T12:54:00.001+01:002020-10-07T05:29:12.264+01:00Should auld acquaintance be forgot…<span lang="EN-GB"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I thought the first line to the popular Burns’ song Auld Lang Syne would be appropriate on this occasion, which marks my goodbye to this blog.</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">After more than two years I am closing up virtual shop. Like many bloggers I have simply run out of creative steam, and as I get older it becomes more important that I persue something because I love it rather than because I feel I should. My life is very full and happy, and I simply feel my energy being pulled elsewhere.</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I don’t know quite how to thank you, everyone who has followed along on my many adventures, and who has encouraged my writing and photography. You have helped make this wee project a great joy. Thank you also for your passion and curiosity for Scotland. I think that together we have shown this wee country a lot of love.</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></span><span lang="EN"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif">While I will eventually be shutting down comments and other bits and pieces, the blog itself will remain as a point of reference and potential enjoyment for whoever should stumble upon it.</span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><span lang="EN"><span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span></span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">I shall leave you with Eddi Reader, who sings my favourite rendition of Auld Lang Syne.</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZhhxOI3gfp8" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Much love and safe journeys,</span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif"> </span><br />
<span face="Verdana, sans-serif">Sophia</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-38122067301312434442011-06-05T12:36:00.000+01:002011-06-05T12:36:07.649+01:00Gullane's black rocks, then cake<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the gentle world of East Lothian, it is easy to make a trip to the beach stretch out the way the sun laps from the dunes to the shore in the late afternoon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be as lazy or adventurous as you like, running or rambling from the carpark in Gullane down to the beach, where you start the lingering trek towards the distant black rocks.</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qGPNqtdV3_xImoz2uBhHSqmJ-Wk7UClVGEIraMSaw6xd42mge8AyEGTAbT9G2xgDSghtdOMh1Dehxh0RRsllvhxOSNQfP4Pc4TY6SwbCnZQ-fhzC5KB90RYZr4v5ZYGFnxuwNdOQy7Y/s1600/1GullaneBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qGPNqtdV3_xImoz2uBhHSqmJ-Wk7UClVGEIraMSaw6xd42mge8AyEGTAbT9G2xgDSghtdOMh1Dehxh0RRsllvhxOSNQfP4Pc4TY6SwbCnZQ-fhzC5KB90RYZr4v5ZYGFnxuwNdOQy7Y/s400/1GullaneBeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFKmolStI_uocNXqxF-4kO64SVvLVYkKaQLbYzro4BRRRclvRBI78ICpdPHwaEuH3zxElnXrG3j3Tbvd_eZ-F5fGCC2Utn8oYPFO13Bjlltv1oLj05qbBK4zfFedJRrl6ngeiOTKMApY/s1600/2GullaneTide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSFKmolStI_uocNXqxF-4kO64SVvLVYkKaQLbYzro4BRRRclvRBI78ICpdPHwaEuH3zxElnXrG3j3Tbvd_eZ-F5fGCC2Utn8oYPFO13Bjlltv1oLj05qbBK4zfFedJRrl6ngeiOTKMApY/s400/2GullaneTide.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh18PgIIKG5lbXI2qQeMwIWAiA2YM1RVsF6LoCGbQl_d_FtEepbWgpMyrDNfRxt5sDHabVcpe1ue-z-yni6LrBVKgyUdk0yaJ_-zR2H3vNafi8MW_NWdMpojjAeHJvLKPxZGEBh7Hpdg/s1600/3GullaneBeach2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh18PgIIKG5lbXI2qQeMwIWAiA2YM1RVsF6LoCGbQl_d_FtEepbWgpMyrDNfRxt5sDHabVcpe1ue-z-yni6LrBVKgyUdk0yaJ_-zR2H3vNafi8MW_NWdMpojjAeHJvLKPxZGEBh7Hpdg/s400/3GullaneBeach2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3JlADgKSdesTPqJ1_tFJZyyaEyGM5v9GpaUmfYs1MfcL5yf6wvML2SPUZSezdgzXX2BiSsaQHP9wx3-_Y6JhhB5PYjNnaGGfNy8fOR8cyrm_jiQZTAdW38vZDu1lihRh3ONf3zHvy_U/s1600/4Pathway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3JlADgKSdesTPqJ1_tFJZyyaEyGM5v9GpaUmfYs1MfcL5yf6wvML2SPUZSezdgzXX2BiSsaQHP9wx3-_Y6JhhB5PYjNnaGGfNy8fOR8cyrm_jiQZTAdW38vZDu1lihRh3ONf3zHvy_U/s1600/4Pathway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3JlADgKSdesTPqJ1_tFJZyyaEyGM5v9GpaUmfYs1MfcL5yf6wvML2SPUZSezdgzXX2BiSsaQHP9wx3-_Y6JhhB5PYjNnaGGfNy8fOR8cyrm_jiQZTAdW38vZDu1lihRh3ONf3zHvy_U/s200/4Pathway.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The day is that combination of chilled breeze and the coin-sized orbs of warmth against your cheeks and your eyelids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow the trail from the beach, over the rocks and up into the dunes, past the ruins of a small chapel whose parishioners worshiped here 500 years ago. Today a golf course extends inland not far away, but the waves that roll against the sand below sound the same as they did then.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVCVhY_eUpIUR91BDiSUc90cG_4tnBd-qQxV-ixmMlPmwyFNW8f11zYxQu-X1ISazlit3VTggnxYezPTMikrw9y-TWRb5eWq_xhshdSwz_IdSwxPuQdijSJfEBoC5RsS1VnFPG2gg9HA/s1600/5ChapelRuins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVCVhY_eUpIUR91BDiSUc90cG_4tnBd-qQxV-ixmMlPmwyFNW8f11zYxQu-X1ISazlit3VTggnxYezPTMikrw9y-TWRb5eWq_xhshdSwz_IdSwxPuQdijSJfEBoC5RsS1VnFPG2gg9HA/s400/5ChapelRuins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFElwpFkUDsOJYgHKIe0ow7uWS-Ht08_SW4vaSiA9eTMun8VcZSai7MUQz1qpA9nEGah6YxRQFubpohhimbVOmyd1rTA0XuiivqN8qKdOfKsWhUhg7aVHIQdfWMBjySSm8PQ-D1Y-3qk/s1600/6StonesInTallGrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAFElwpFkUDsOJYgHKIe0ow7uWS-Ht08_SW4vaSiA9eTMun8VcZSai7MUQz1qpA9nEGah6YxRQFubpohhimbVOmyd1rTA0XuiivqN8qKdOfKsWhUhg7aVHIQdfWMBjySSm8PQ-D1Y-3qk/s400/6StonesInTallGrass.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmccaDwi0T4kNPLWR8cjaozkq0EYJdmnDiqQ4EwlOKd8sjlk4SApsJ0Yo_lfvqoMSWFa2JaWDzZdVb4MDUdhVjEukKfP32HJQLjrBpUZWzWFuAlm0RnJ6SFXFQjQgDCkzmd-a0Pd7Jf6c/s1600/8GullaneBeachView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmccaDwi0T4kNPLWR8cjaozkq0EYJdmnDiqQ4EwlOKd8sjlk4SApsJ0Yo_lfvqoMSWFa2JaWDzZdVb4MDUdhVjEukKfP32HJQLjrBpUZWzWFuAlm0RnJ6SFXFQjQgDCkzmd-a0Pd7Jf6c/s400/8GullaneBeachView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWClkcQmFOYiskOdkyz-1Jee4jijnG6hOxt0F-7CSlDyvE1tRBkaMMdud4e_UVGQMdCvPjDvx6xC_y0QSYwoGrPx2dnNxTsDiKIbFcWBzYvWi1s28QVYR0MZ0FumOIEoi5njwhKayozzo/s1600/9GullaneBlackRocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWClkcQmFOYiskOdkyz-1Jee4jijnG6hOxt0F-7CSlDyvE1tRBkaMMdud4e_UVGQMdCvPjDvx6xC_y0QSYwoGrPx2dnNxTsDiKIbFcWBzYvWi1s28QVYR0MZ0FumOIEoi5njwhKayozzo/s400/9GullaneBlackRocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM9Tapj6McxDMkb6OsMHSb_zXqoDMcDQaQSOSGI6fa0uxDl20ilBuiSBzhRfqbKxB9dt3udSGCc2Qkr56Ab6kp6NJMxuytWgv_TSV0FgdTDYrkFTlv_NW5EEx1bBozZaqd6-MrorZQJs/s1600/10FalkoCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM9Tapj6McxDMkb6OsMHSb_zXqoDMcDQaQSOSGI6fa0uxDl20ilBuiSBzhRfqbKxB9dt3udSGCc2Qkr56Ab6kp6NJMxuytWgv_TSV0FgdTDYrkFTlv_NW5EEx1bBozZaqd6-MrorZQJs/s1600/10FalkoCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM9Tapj6McxDMkb6OsMHSb_zXqoDMcDQaQSOSGI6fa0uxDl20ilBuiSBzhRfqbKxB9dt3udSGCc2Qkr56Ab6kp6NJMxuytWgv_TSV0FgdTDYrkFTlv_NW5EEx1bBozZaqd6-MrorZQJs/s200/10FalkoCake.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walk as far as you like, all the way out to <a href="http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=854">Yellowcraig</a> if the spirit moves you. Or stop and sit for awhile before deciding that the afternoon just wouldn’t be complete without an enormous <a href="http://www.falko.co.uk/">piece of cake</a> and a comforting cup of milky coffee.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sun, sand, vistas, shells, cake. The perfect afternoon out.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttKQUyJiPddfgntHbzDpysGr8ojVZuiLLYGFsIeJ7MM3kpaRCcXZ0RRvnZYwISRe3S552gSrZbHmJbAEiWuE9oPV5HYAP1Rx01q46RkbSKJYWqIy9mnEYhdp4VMVcScNQXdUXqIPHa3w/s1600/Shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttKQUyJiPddfgntHbzDpysGr8ojVZuiLLYGFsIeJ7MM3kpaRCcXZ0RRvnZYwISRe3S552gSrZbHmJbAEiWuE9oPV5HYAP1Rx01q46RkbSKJYWqIy9mnEYhdp4VMVcScNQXdUXqIPHa3w/s400/Shell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d0Wkogb9GTAJ_agOqiLJ86YcbtEFZlD5uGVu7OTh2ZZ5CDfuY10YWX0zmcTMiN9sl4REIBzcJ1Dwi4fdY8Duj4CUHWJIdmqLrW7LeGx_f5gKn60qcyYRS2aAjBhLFLT7YkEZWWvFOb0/s1600/SkySeaSand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3d0Wkogb9GTAJ_agOqiLJ86YcbtEFZlD5uGVu7OTh2ZZ5CDfuY10YWX0zmcTMiN9sl4REIBzcJ1Dwi4fdY8Duj4CUHWJIdmqLrW7LeGx_f5gKn60qcyYRS2aAjBhLFLT7YkEZWWvFOb0/s400/SkySeaSand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-74979491270538166412011-05-26T18:32:00.000+01:002011-05-26T18:32:23.827+01:00Deep fried pizza. Get it in ye.<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a pizza supper. Take a pizza. Fold it half. Plunge it into hot oil until maximum saturation is reached.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you dare, unfold the greasy pizza and fill it with chips until you are have created a mountainous, fatty, salt-sprinkled, cheese strewn monster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Consume.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regret.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Repeat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjCybmtfW-KY2UEl3NXx7PcGYAi9t4ufIF865fh3thRZsMQGLMBmGDZmGjfEsKdCxmWituyLY8Gjvi-dt7GKJJy8IwJYNHFkr1Fdr_YEA3Fav2r8maSmO8pj54gTc_Y1fQEad1Torl4U/s1600/PizzaSupper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjCybmtfW-KY2UEl3NXx7PcGYAi9t4ufIF865fh3thRZsMQGLMBmGDZmGjfEsKdCxmWituyLY8Gjvi-dt7GKJJy8IwJYNHFkr1Fdr_YEA3Fav2r8maSmO8pj54gTc_Y1fQEad1Torl4U/s400/PizzaSupper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-32113038616373133222011-05-23T16:31:00.001+01:002011-05-23T16:36:13.871+01:00The long walk of foodie torture<span lang="EN"></span><br />
<span lang="EN"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaB14vN1nCtaxq9zrRZFGaJ3jb9gMjLVpWD-UYe5nPU3ma25EoWbU71ZA9FAaFNZ44hsbHpR3s8BxNkGVy6cVMNulT_1BNKPmq4-bo20-utxsKzW8sZWKFzIY76EBCVIzZJJdoU6YXGs/s1600/1.MorningsideStationClock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzaB14vN1nCtaxq9zrRZFGaJ3jb9gMjLVpWD-UYe5nPU3ma25EoWbU71ZA9FAaFNZ44hsbHpR3s8BxNkGVy6cVMNulT_1BNKPmq4-bo20-utxsKzW8sZWKFzIY76EBCVIzZJJdoU6YXGs/s200/1.MorningsideStationClock.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A wee while back I undertook a stroll through areas of Edinburgh known as Morningside, Bruntsfield and The Meadows. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My guidebook was once again the Pocket Mountains Edinburgh edition of 40 town and country walks, but while the book pointed out one quaint city landmark after another, for me the directions they had written down entirely missed the mark when it came to the pleasure of this particular journey.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We're talking foodie pleasure here. A walk through Morningside and Bruntsfield takes you past some of the best cafes Edinburgh has to offer, especially if you have a sweet tooth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I began as instructed at the clock at the foot of Morningside road, which in 1884 marked the spot for Morningside train station. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I should pause here to point out that I already knew of several of the foodie havens we will be visiting. So as a way to limit my spending, I had brought with me a paltry £6. Only a few steps away from the clock I began to regret my decision.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first stop was <a href="http://www.henrisofedinburgh.co.uk/">Henri’s of Edinburgh</a>, a specialist French delicatessen where the cheese cooler is full of delights and the shelves are heaving with treats direct from Paris. On this occasion, the counter was also coloured with a selection of delicate fruit tarts. Glancing around the shop I saw my friends’ Christmas lists filling themselves in.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvu7yqBUTDMuEbqmaKAhhIPP7vGvnADVWPOPEuqQ6XBHwrFrX9C6ReIxYm70rVGl2dbH0DqGGjc1alFSLpdjM96_xjckXEF73qvRGP1gNXt1_Hbx0cc9H-N7H_nCoMldU1j2B3gwOQmM/s1600/2.HenrisCheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvu7yqBUTDMuEbqmaKAhhIPP7vGvnADVWPOPEuqQ6XBHwrFrX9C6ReIxYm70rVGl2dbH0DqGGjc1alFSLpdjM96_xjckXEF73qvRGP1gNXt1_Hbx0cc9H-N7H_nCoMldU1j2B3gwOQmM/s400/2.HenrisCheese.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1KusdCDzbNXgpBA94G3EW_BdJPL5Y7f_3AGIWdcGSzO3Ed7zFLFIincRQHkGV3OciN7UCuPNNQFt8rBKlD3PyvaeimoeUgblKc5vOhFO543MWNBnrakhMSYf2zRxR2Ideux7-20Xcko/s1600/3.HenrisFruitTarts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1KusdCDzbNXgpBA94G3EW_BdJPL5Y7f_3AGIWdcGSzO3Ed7zFLFIincRQHkGV3OciN7UCuPNNQFt8rBKlD3PyvaeimoeUgblKc5vOhFO543MWNBnrakhMSYf2zRxR2Ideux7-20Xcko/s400/3.HenrisFruitTarts.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioENNoT_gndorBymgUqB0sffvnSm9n51B_s8Y7n5U6i5a6QhqgKSa4s7cIisqoT5wFdP6-mbtNYzRRL2VylWhwji3mbTq9hqZtlvfKMNCNBpKA8jkJZF2dZKkhTAJFZOs30BwvUa_xYfU/s1600/4.LoopyLornaSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioENNoT_gndorBymgUqB0sffvnSm9n51B_s8Y7n5U6i5a6QhqgKSa4s7cIisqoT5wFdP6-mbtNYzRRL2VylWhwji3mbTq9hqZtlvfKMNCNBpKA8jkJZF2dZKkhTAJFZOs30BwvUa_xYfU/s200/4.LoopyLornaSign.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Managing not to part with any of my meagre pocket money so early on, I crossed the street to <a href="http://www.loopylornas.com/da/86375">Loopy Lorna’s Tea House</a>, where the pink sign in the window adorably dubbed me “poppet” and let me know that the kettle was on. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was there that I spied what must surely be the city’s grandest lemon and poppy seed cake. It was a tower of two layers of cake and canary yellow, creamy citrus goodness. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC2iwVhQpO1eHuttPMaQlOJ4oQSddyAD4wBcilDaJppoOKpuKIUlLFnRXHnBPS2-DazHAjTkjI4YcUsqq3-eDcOxke8GgKSBSlD8KIJKyYT9mfWXoj31Ijl1FKoQ-YmFPG46hHE5LIe4/s1600/7.LemonPoppyseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsC2iwVhQpO1eHuttPMaQlOJ4oQSddyAD4wBcilDaJppoOKpuKIUlLFnRXHnBPS2-DazHAjTkjI4YcUsqq3-eDcOxke8GgKSBSlD8KIJKyYT9mfWXoj31Ijl1FKoQ-YmFPG46hHE5LIe4/s400/7.LemonPoppyseed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uOMsbWHTTzQTt_aBPG9P2EROvzL3FkeyXd7jac7grANB8CfuGzr9D4rriTFgJohdIUnkFq3MrYhHTHBmp15ggvhK48WJyjITZm8T4dy_Kmt1-u9vYrB3PwHVUVPSB4VMQ53DKqbcwZM/s1600/8.CannyManSeats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0uOMsbWHTTzQTt_aBPG9P2EROvzL3FkeyXd7jac7grANB8CfuGzr9D4rriTFgJohdIUnkFq3MrYhHTHBmp15ggvhK48WJyjITZm8T4dy_Kmt1-u9vYrB3PwHVUVPSB4VMQ53DKqbcwZM/s320/8.CannyManSeats.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once again I extracted myself without buying anything (fellow foodies may begin to praise me at your leisure). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My next stopping point was <a href="http://www.thecannyman.co.uk/">The Canny Man’s</a> public house, which dates back to 1850 when it was a popular boozer for local cattle drovers and farmers. On the outer wall is posted a brass plaque that would make the surly character of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters_of_Black_Books">Bernard Black</a> creak out a lopsided scowl:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No smoking</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No credit cards</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No mobile phones</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No cameras</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No backpackers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily the woman behind the bar gave me a pardon on the no camera rule and I was allowed a few shots inside this dimly lit, writer’s dream of an old pub. My favourite spot was a tiny nook between two close walls, which housed a single table and two chairs. The ultimate booth for introverts. Then there was the main bar, which displays an amber wall of Scotch. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tJVXz1ZdD1W8WDPxADydoa8qmzbkgWsS5LDMxL48aXPj_MK4Ei8G5-djZj8rKguftNOC38oEklqmfcjrOZmwxVIS2U0x5-jd1nvy_SMbewOneVxDxYkZHQrsmuUR2UnKHjK7NS1yaYc/s1600/9.CannyMan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tJVXz1ZdD1W8WDPxADydoa8qmzbkgWsS5LDMxL48aXPj_MK4Ei8G5-djZj8rKguftNOC38oEklqmfcjrOZmwxVIS2U0x5-jd1nvy_SMbewOneVxDxYkZHQrsmuUR2UnKHjK7NS1yaYc/s400/9.CannyMan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With a rambling trail of thank yous I left The Canny Man's and headed out of Morningside and towards Bruntsfield, where my non-spending streak would meet an abrupt end the moment I set foot in the <a href="http://www.lucasicecream.co.uk/">S. Luca</a> ice cream parlour.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First I sampled the NY Lime Cheesecake ice cream, a brilliant combination of creamy texture and tart citrus tang. But as the weather had been variant all morning, I decided to be the same and go with a trio of vanilla, chocolate and coconut icecreams with a hot chocolate sauce. The coconut was my very favourite, like a tropical smooch that melts into memory.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxb0WTBJOE13GFqx_Wz7tKIYZX3LyguRXHW0uRV0CStUyQbQJv9AC_4DE9r_7RfeEdZRqts8Hnz86XJp2LTMXIO5mirEhrjI8wgSgIY1PjDFGIlifL5_PZO7rdeNyxC3YPUTEkvxEhug/s1600/10.NYLimeCheesecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNxb0WTBJOE13GFqx_Wz7tKIYZX3LyguRXHW0uRV0CStUyQbQJv9AC_4DE9r_7RfeEdZRqts8Hnz86XJp2LTMXIO5mirEhrjI8wgSgIY1PjDFGIlifL5_PZO7rdeNyxC3YPUTEkvxEhug/s400/10.NYLimeCheesecake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaweCNv3f5l8L_br7u5eBRO3qMtsxOG9yRr8UEVNfmH-aoWVIz0MrY51I_g_SbLWwxDvncqids9YwTlXBIN4QLr2QaXiC1232EKSnvKIgcaFWDaKnS69PigOreZQOmxucvoVZaXFtPvhc/s1600/11.sundae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaweCNv3f5l8L_br7u5eBRO3qMtsxOG9yRr8UEVNfmH-aoWVIz0MrY51I_g_SbLWwxDvncqids9YwTlXBIN4QLr2QaXiC1232EKSnvKIgcaFWDaKnS69PigOreZQOmxucvoVZaXFtPvhc/s400/11.sundae.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Anyone with German ancestry living in Edinburgh knows of the next spot on our trail. If childhood recollections can be reborn in a loaf of bread, they are at <a href="http://www.falko.co.uk/">Falko</a>, where the fat bread pretzels hang before baskets of heavy rye and walnut loaves.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then there are the mountainous apple strudels and the triple layered torte, but I succumbed only to a loaf of this dark bread, mainly because I was down to my last few coins.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAZ0GmklSidNTXoRFNyzF_W7qAAavkrF4LcuOyUfZHOM70g1ohzFKEVZB3wevAkwSCSfXMPPCaxKrrom3FVfHWXnYTmuSf3xLcjFTnjmKqg1pZlofRYDJIGcbBcK1yOPLRLJFttADcT8/s1600/12.FalkoBread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiAZ0GmklSidNTXoRFNyzF_W7qAAavkrF4LcuOyUfZHOM70g1ohzFKEVZB3wevAkwSCSfXMPPCaxKrrom3FVfHWXnYTmuSf3xLcjFTnjmKqg1pZlofRYDJIGcbBcK1yOPLRLJFttADcT8/s400/12.FalkoBread.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One more stop before we get a reprieve from pleasure, and only because on the day of my walk (a Sunday), <a href="http://www.cocochocolate.co.uk/coco.htm">Coco Chocolate</a> was closed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.the-chocolate-tree.co.uk/">The Chocolate Tree</a> is one of my favourite shops in the city. They adore chocolate here, and their welcoming window display, a tip of the hat to Victorian style indulgence, speaks to their ongoing obsession.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLynX8hBMsj-0h8Apj8kSDGnZalGFqsOg8v46CJaflxj0RJsJP1_NcfzeS5JiuBg2x7NwIBghTVCQCp-5atkfJ8kz4kQ1SQt6vMuVUwqPZdJM2U_X8atOasu9lyZMKo5Wv7bRptIYbujc/s1600/13.ChocolateTreeWindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLynX8hBMsj-0h8Apj8kSDGnZalGFqsOg8v46CJaflxj0RJsJP1_NcfzeS5JiuBg2x7NwIBghTVCQCp-5atkfJ8kz4kQ1SQt6vMuVUwqPZdJM2U_X8atOasu9lyZMKo5Wv7bRptIYbujc/s400/13.ChocolateTreeWindow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3I0OfYPGHG-ArNjOOMDpWargrFcdLpOKM8e7tysqGUsa0dyQvRdCyTAdTPrH9TZPwM0wMrX3rzU8HpkFWMyyfw22tVC7BTA9cTEaDSSSJIBV78kHoGhnseRuq14QR2iCru19eCue6XSM/s1600/14.BlueberrySorbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3I0OfYPGHG-ArNjOOMDpWargrFcdLpOKM8e7tysqGUsa0dyQvRdCyTAdTPrH9TZPwM0wMrX3rzU8HpkFWMyyfw22tVC7BTA9cTEaDSSSJIBV78kHoGhnseRuq14QR2iCru19eCue6XSM/s200/14.BlueberrySorbet.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Normally I would linger longest over the cakes or the chocolates themselves, but as it is the summer season they have added a small ice cream selection to their offerings.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I nearly fell into the almost sinister blob of purple and red that is the blueberry sorbet. When I look at it I don’t know whether to feel afflicted or hypnotised, but either way I know I want some.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now we are (mostly) free! Free to dance or (in my case) lumber through Bruntsfield Links and its marvellous views toward Edinburgh Castle, before turning down the path through The Meadows, where only weeks ago the last of the blossom petals cascaded around walkers and bicyclists. The light that dances through the heavily leafed trees onto the carpet of green below will last all summer long.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1niQW1ohT8esXv_V-DwCdeGt_QIC-2eIDyncdjJ_nyh9q_7badwcJTFvSaP3f49uxyBF9mgamp16UQtvRYmy4KwLkvWNvCoxrGwjY2mx4UByAT9b-614NTJmecxREg7hiuUqRU-iMoFc/s1600/15.EdinburghCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1niQW1ohT8esXv_V-DwCdeGt_QIC-2eIDyncdjJ_nyh9q_7badwcJTFvSaP3f49uxyBF9mgamp16UQtvRYmy4KwLkvWNvCoxrGwjY2mx4UByAT9b-614NTJmecxREg7hiuUqRU-iMoFc/s400/15.EdinburghCastle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9M0Len-FjCPGP-oUn3xwlWRVXtw1mYD1gMdW43GADE-SADEspy6xKVYzMBhgX1fygNMv1ahdvmwFwIbETC_iLFH6B1VDLajPCh6HUNmpGVJ33jql8d68XqzUpSEwxMrGMVtP2cW_IsY/s1600/16.TheMeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9M0Len-FjCPGP-oUn3xwlWRVXtw1mYD1gMdW43GADE-SADEspy6xKVYzMBhgX1fygNMv1ahdvmwFwIbETC_iLFH6B1VDLajPCh6HUNmpGVJ33jql8d68XqzUpSEwxMrGMVtP2cW_IsY/s400/16.TheMeadows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBkGkLhBygkJnnj3tV_uygIvgsyNH50JBDVCV3Zn81jtQHxdwQ9AXi-JvI2A7lmc_RET3E7_wjui4f9kSBTeE69dkmNAMb8gc-z5bCAQqhIPs972QjWvX5WERPFY2xeAwevHZ8SQ-otw/s1600/17.TheMeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBkGkLhBygkJnnj3tV_uygIvgsyNH50JBDVCV3Zn81jtQHxdwQ9AXi-JvI2A7lmc_RET3E7_wjui4f9kSBTeE69dkmNAMb8gc-z5bCAQqhIPs972QjWvX5WERPFY2xeAwevHZ8SQ-otw/s400/17.TheMeadows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxd8NH36yORuhlYU6qxt76XywWg6TE2gej5J_hlBI15_j_si8kRd4a7F-VpGgfi7mngo1Yc7gyORPMrLvNxVLY9JpTF9lc_VZ7j0A_4oVqA8IumKV_pBzPgCvJs0bYcCK_D7BkTa4pgE/s1600/18.TheMeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxd8NH36yORuhlYU6qxt76XywWg6TE2gej5J_hlBI15_j_si8kRd4a7F-VpGgfi7mngo1Yc7gyORPMrLvNxVLY9JpTF9lc_VZ7j0A_4oVqA8IumKV_pBzPgCvJs0bYcCK_D7BkTa4pgE/s400/18.TheMeadows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re still feeling up to it you can stop again at <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-to-be-swedish-in-scotland.html">Peter’s Yard</a> before heading over George IV Bridge and ducking down to the <a href="http://www.mellischeese.co.uk/MellisHome.asp">best cheese shop ever</a>. Or you can just go home. Rest. Try not to think about cake or chocolate or ice cream or bread or sorbet or cheese or anything at all.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just promise to remind me to bring my wallet the next time I walk through Morningside and Bruntsfield. Thank you.</span></span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-35505288914682065782011-05-03T06:56:00.000+01:002011-05-03T06:56:23.498+01:00The Hound of the Wellingtons<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The folks at the <a href="http://www.nessbypost.com/">Ness</a> store in Edinburgh have created a tartan canine out of boots. And I love him.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHUeollR-1wLWTVaGPjKBhM1kJ1Spa7wIqWB34MkcNUeOo7-mTZpNLnIoVb_GIwVm5pfy3pH-_TjvWlTDIjfiFCSOL1wciSr5MvvqwMj5CmlUH5576TvW2hh-Jlc1v8uB43E3dmBffro/s1600/NessPooch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="366" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHUeollR-1wLWTVaGPjKBhM1kJ1Spa7wIqWB34MkcNUeOo7-mTZpNLnIoVb_GIwVm5pfy3pH-_TjvWlTDIjfiFCSOL1wciSr5MvvqwMj5CmlUH5576TvW2hh-Jlc1v8uB43E3dmBffro/s400/NessPooch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-14233919587367291732011-04-30T21:38:00.000+01:002011-04-30T21:38:51.413+01:00Isle of May: Highlights<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_May">The Isle of May</a> will make you think of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lost World. On the island’s western side, sheer cliffs reach up from the waters of the Firth of Forth. Noisy guillimots - around 30,000 of them - clutter every available rocky ledge, while thousands of kittiwakes dive and squawk in what seems to be a mad, confused display.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVZNPgfOY0JekMJPsIedZROu2jUPaCjHxa_MleSdmzbzfHFz6DyoeGL1uMN4pyz72_jVAB3R_4MlmVQpZxYXet4Al66282NNDiAanSC_xJc5UCy4l_tQENlUsuevyLuViW2o4xSBMeuM/s1600/IsleOfMayLostWorld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVZNPgfOY0JekMJPsIedZROu2jUPaCjHxa_MleSdmzbzfHFz6DyoeGL1uMN4pyz72_jVAB3R_4MlmVQpZxYXet4Al66282NNDiAanSC_xJc5UCy4l_tQENlUsuevyLuViW2o4xSBMeuM/s400/IsleOfMayLostWorld.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGNTSO0AToCL5A8c79rpXcl1UH19Jv89ZfZ6sUFBqmddrxRbdwFpF7gZA2clyHfR6x8USy_EJhwIF0CVSnAppVNEFMLsU_GutKFqp4N8bwFZk32tZ5w2FFQMl-gDEjoOWSOHUZOANoek/s1600/IsleOfMayLostWorld2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGNTSO0AToCL5A8c79rpXcl1UH19Jv89ZfZ6sUFBqmddrxRbdwFpF7gZA2clyHfR6x8USy_EJhwIF0CVSnAppVNEFMLsU_GutKFqp4N8bwFZk32tZ5w2FFQMl-gDEjoOWSOHUZOANoek/s400/IsleOfMayLostWorld2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr1tyoymGOzyejWSFtl-kdLJstxlafLXe_c4SJHzwSRJ8t8TQ-Mqp7bV2I8xKw8wJu9HUCKRNSo3xPKcEFdBlQzsosA66Pm8RyvvgPA602TvjdFlvHQ1URGleAZLNB61bSp61Cb3Kax4/s1600/IsleOfMayLostWorld3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr1tyoymGOzyejWSFtl-kdLJstxlafLXe_c4SJHzwSRJ8t8TQ-Mqp7bV2I8xKw8wJu9HUCKRNSo3xPKcEFdBlQzsosA66Pm8RyvvgPA602TvjdFlvHQ1URGleAZLNB61bSp61Cb3Kax4/s400/IsleOfMayLostWorld3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are prone to seasickness and the water is choppy, you will not enjoy the more than 45-minute journey to the island. As eager as you will be to take it all in as you approach, all you will be able to do is look towards the horizon and focus on your breathing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once your shaky legs touch solid ground again, you look up to see your first <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puffin">puffin</a>, sitting at a distance atop a concrete outbuilding. Today the Isle of May is inhabited each summer season by a handful of researchers from Scottish Natural Trust, but over the centuries it has been a holy retreat for monks, a village for fishermen and their families, the site of Scotland’s first permanent lighthouse, and a wartime lookout post.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazrhcDUR0m4qr9LICge1p_awOFw4T6otArNbqCDAPod2T4W2HzOcUSvYtFf3Hh4_YG6OrQqlyGd82VV9rNH0dB48ma47Hf0xSsaRljANhAi3SvwY2dAhMtEEV_Ii5V67KaE0HecJjYTI/s1600/IsleOfMayFerry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjazrhcDUR0m4qr9LICge1p_awOFw4T6otArNbqCDAPod2T4W2HzOcUSvYtFf3Hh4_YG6OrQqlyGd82VV9rNH0dB48ma47Hf0xSsaRljANhAi3SvwY2dAhMtEEV_Ii5V67KaE0HecJjYTI/s400/IsleOfMayFerry.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw82szc9YeNETEYrrP2pbC-zfBilH1hdJnONt53IMLpnUqlKJXBiXtHIXQg7TDODcUgnijrfvT-tzI6goZ0oprazJbgPVyf3lwRFjubFaAq8EemT1HU_vOdlZYnCMdvhOqJJVQJBAExvo/s1600/IsleOfMayLighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw82szc9YeNETEYrrP2pbC-zfBilH1hdJnONt53IMLpnUqlKJXBiXtHIXQg7TDODcUgnijrfvT-tzI6goZ0oprazJbgPVyf3lwRFjubFaAq8EemT1HU_vOdlZYnCMdvhOqJJVQJBAExvo/s400/IsleOfMayLighthouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV4bMLr4774oGSfx6yUkkXlgqgPNLEyN042cFBvhTON7dTIYiAn0Ke81DvuVmnAfevDGHQG_ga6sGHwbkoxw7GR7VhauKcoNht8_MjK_5ZhP-finULzYb4MCBOT2vz66YhfryxgLeUi0/s1600/IsleOfMay+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdV4bMLr4774oGSfx6yUkkXlgqgPNLEyN042cFBvhTON7dTIYiAn0Ke81DvuVmnAfevDGHQG_ga6sGHwbkoxw7GR7VhauKcoNht8_MjK_5ZhP-finULzYb4MCBOT2vz66YhfryxgLeUi0/s400/IsleOfMay+Wall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You have two hours to follow the paths around the two-kilometre long island. If you thought you were excited about seeing one puffin, prepare to fall utterly in love with these tiny clown-faced birds. From just 10 pairs in 1950, the Isle of May is now home to the largest breeding colony of puffins in the UK.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As tempted as you may be to leave to path to get closer, don’t! You could disturb a puffin burrow or the nest of a female eider duck, who, unlike the drake with his stark black and white plumage, blends in neatly among the tufts of uneven grass.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7E0tRAR8KXOp1vcRROjzeuz9GTUjqjjfopeC-UV03iOqJlgtQx2cQdety1xBmitlB7efUDYafVGlMQ_XOjm53xH34NXD-4cb1KLWuWZqIzdZch8DC8So-RmSG3yONFR6QhLM9qxfZLc/s1600/IsleOfMayWalkingPuffin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7E0tRAR8KXOp1vcRROjzeuz9GTUjqjjfopeC-UV03iOqJlgtQx2cQdety1xBmitlB7efUDYafVGlMQ_XOjm53xH34NXD-4cb1KLWuWZqIzdZch8DC8So-RmSG3yONFR6QhLM9qxfZLc/s400/IsleOfMayWalkingPuffin.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRPuiVOZe5W6MgS_fvEldiazYKY6WoardfOoNJ8TSB4g3MbjWcuMPrEG_M2CWKx1UcnhOy4UfUGRGAPewXG8WLg2xMvbgpWU6DQlAMjLd3V8kPYQXYBTDUdqNAcGGYGGeNr6Iaq0OVAk/s1600/IsleOfMayPuffins2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRPuiVOZe5W6MgS_fvEldiazYKY6WoardfOoNJ8TSB4g3MbjWcuMPrEG_M2CWKx1UcnhOy4UfUGRGAPewXG8WLg2xMvbgpWU6DQlAMjLd3V8kPYQXYBTDUdqNAcGGYGGeNr6Iaq0OVAk/s400/IsleOfMayPuffins2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARdXWjIWbB9xtaWmzkIFZ0DyNWLuL_1nF5szUgA3uc2HPDz6aNbpSToCKhjjC6s-YqRv-VGG3SckSMvaYoZly-BHsUxhoAqX5qRiWNL3dQEJPeC8QPozEvUtfRLkLcucHErkTA-AsVks/s1600/IsleOfMayPuffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARdXWjIWbB9xtaWmzkIFZ0DyNWLuL_1nF5szUgA3uc2HPDz6aNbpSToCKhjjC6s-YqRv-VGG3SckSMvaYoZly-BHsUxhoAqX5qRiWNL3dQEJPeC8QPozEvUtfRLkLcucHErkTA-AsVks/s400/IsleOfMayPuffins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsniWX3eUD3iZW262DLVeN__d_bfTs2tp54bF8ybxRVZmgEZJdyrl2CU57ZkDdrz1Dy9K_5toB3E3cDCokKeGHlFXNEXnywm5wVcOKlH_ld-vVi7COWkfCA-sYC4yUZtdyc7TBRkU5Uc/s1600/IsleOfMayEiderDuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsniWX3eUD3iZW262DLVeN__d_bfTs2tp54bF8ybxRVZmgEZJdyrl2CU57ZkDdrz1Dy9K_5toB3E3cDCokKeGHlFXNEXnywm5wVcOKlH_ld-vVi7COWkfCA-sYC4yUZtdyc7TBRkU5Uc/s400/IsleOfMayEiderDuck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qFaZnCo6jbwdMSeynejZ1eJn9vsWqx8nbZJSdAVzVb7CxMQ6Oa8lKSxLyFrqFbq4rmfSYjMulfz2jR30TN6z-06AvHCOEBBM1vza7kJU2EMYclhwbsAaCja9u6TGpHHrre0se-NWKV4/s1600/IsleOfMayIncoming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qFaZnCo6jbwdMSeynejZ1eJn9vsWqx8nbZJSdAVzVb7CxMQ6Oa8lKSxLyFrqFbq4rmfSYjMulfz2jR30TN6z-06AvHCOEBBM1vza7kJU2EMYclhwbsAaCja9u6TGpHHrre0se-NWKV4/s200/IsleOfMayIncoming.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There will be so much going on around you that you won’t know where to look. These seabirds descend en masse to breed and raise their young, rattling every fibre of life while there is time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are lucky, you will spot some grey seals sunning themselves on the beach on the west side of the island, or poking their heads out of the water. In the autumn the birds will return to the sea as the seals come ashore to welcome another 2,000 pups into the world.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_0FpaFikpm_t6s7TiWPOZhJrNV3Tjd-f19nc28C5RgTLKG0iiv38Cdp8nvNA-PzYnFVAKIgWIxo1912Xl8B7P4XPETLhYDQiBTW7hUHPxzCZm_KkLkCmCVLrfwy-n4mk7WpMKjbkyGg/s1600/IsleOfMaySeals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_0FpaFikpm_t6s7TiWPOZhJrNV3Tjd-f19nc28C5RgTLKG0iiv38Cdp8nvNA-PzYnFVAKIgWIxo1912Xl8B7P4XPETLhYDQiBTW7hUHPxzCZm_KkLkCmCVLrfwy-n4mk7WpMKjbkyGg/s400/IsleOfMaySeals.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCjhn-bAiBj5TJ-Rnb1-9zWqTRZIz8UxNLZZ2hdb9qLQdq1o93bvMCYMk6xN6pEvOOP1xwy28MIKU28KUw5C_1nNnkNXP5bvhlXzsk8D0AQC0h70jZMiu3D8ocxLSI62n-dgmTxRWNrg/s1600/IsleOfMayGreeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivCjhn-bAiBj5TJ-Rnb1-9zWqTRZIz8UxNLZZ2hdb9qLQdq1o93bvMCYMk6xN6pEvOOP1xwy28MIKU28KUw5C_1nNnkNXP5bvhlXzsk8D0AQC0h70jZMiu3D8ocxLSI62n-dgmTxRWNrg/s400/IsleOfMayGreeting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwdouNdfw6BLZeYjZG3DKfRa5J7pAqBu6FFBi60ifuwy4ZQWeeJMKV3wqptyIcFSriwoCbpuhSYmBsKPKzLwAUOe_t8cOf3TIBHXUnZfi_-fNXizst0Rpg53ZAC_PadOPC_nCLrH5IyY/s1600/IsleOfMayNesting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmwdouNdfw6BLZeYjZG3DKfRa5J7pAqBu6FFBi60ifuwy4ZQWeeJMKV3wqptyIcFSriwoCbpuhSYmBsKPKzLwAUOe_t8cOf3TIBHXUnZfi_-fNXizst0Rpg53ZAC_PadOPC_nCLrH5IyY/s400/IsleOfMayNesting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtMCH2mVZS1tSWkvJgXksp9Cbm7iWOsNtyeL42hn4xgk0Nesu4taKP29QOTKXekTU1ZQEwK-CHGYR5uAIhyEoQvMmO23jgTj590b4GX4Uqx0Ivx9kB3mPKKgNAmMdPpVNjzlVxV6MSbc/s1600/IsleOfMayGuillemots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYtMCH2mVZS1tSWkvJgXksp9Cbm7iWOsNtyeL42hn4xgk0Nesu4taKP29QOTKXekTU1ZQEwK-CHGYR5uAIhyEoQvMmO23jgTj590b4GX4Uqx0Ivx9kB3mPKKgNAmMdPpVNjzlVxV6MSbc/s400/IsleOfMayGuillemots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOLEpJVA1guMs5uRdAa_Ccs-Fp7-oISAJjA7e-mMDqoI8XyaEg-YWWC3Fi9CONhGC94VVAdlepa7MmybEOrPGILclmBwKFSu6gUNwhWqVrwI1dH_YkdKZ8N5ltFkGQ1mIBJVUESlBm4U/s1600/IsleOfMayWeeCove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOLEpJVA1guMs5uRdAa_Ccs-Fp7-oISAJjA7e-mMDqoI8XyaEg-YWWC3Fi9CONhGC94VVAdlepa7MmybEOrPGILclmBwKFSu6gUNwhWqVrwI1dH_YkdKZ8N5ltFkGQ1mIBJVUESlBm4U/s200/IsleOfMayWeeCove.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It will be difficult to leave, and not just because you are dreading a second bout of illness on the way back to <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/anstruther/anstruther/index.html">Anstruther</a>. What is most precious is being a passive observer among creatures who are so oblivious to you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You are a curious two-legged thing that walks by and will not harm them. When you leave you will not be remembered. But you will remember them and be grateful for all the rapturous life that will continue when you are gone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The journey back is fine, since you head straight to the upper deck and an endless supply of cold, fresh air. Yes, your bones will feel as if they have atrophied by the time you enter Anstruther harbour, but it will be worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">If you want to learn more about the Isle of May, Scottish Natural Heritage offers a great <a href="http://www.snh.org.uk/VirtualTours/IsleOfMay/main.html">virtual tour</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh351eG5hB25GlDgnElf1g90_mbXfQc5fe-ZClAwGaMQMey6mmSh-Mh5YiKg4MDMBFXFxkwt8VayzFLdRfEqM_oYYrqIzcoMeQZf5poXqSBtA2BVkau48apFmwHY7Q3QmWHEe21nMvMUT8/s1600/WhereHeProposed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh351eG5hB25GlDgnElf1g90_mbXfQc5fe-ZClAwGaMQMey6mmSh-Mh5YiKg4MDMBFXFxkwt8VayzFLdRfEqM_oYYrqIzcoMeQZf5poXqSBtA2BVkau48apFmwHY7Q3QmWHEe21nMvMUT8/s320/WhereHeProposed.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a side note, the Isle of May is a wonderful place to get engaged.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Particularly if you are looking out at a view like this one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy Beltane, everyone!</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-87613357750604616522011-04-25T13:23:00.000+01:002011-04-25T13:23:56.778+01:00Kirkcaldy to Dysart: The longest short walk<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking at a map, the walk from <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/2011/04/daytrip-to-kirkcaldy-and-links-market.html">Kirkcaldy</a> to <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkcaldy/dysart/index.html">Dysart</a> is short. The two are so close in fact that Dysart is considered another suburb of Kirkcaldy and if you stick to the roads the two communities flow together almost seamlessly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if you take the trail from Ravenscraig Castle along the shore to Dysart, you can easily forget there are any towns nearby at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Start at the beach below Ravenscraig. If you are the type who loves to wander beaches collecting pebbles, don’t be surprised if glance at your watch and find that an hour has passed rather than 15 minutes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3L-uz7PlvcMLzj52v5ewmxTyK8buut3FmmPCEBrQHB14kjymX-PSB1nF-HCezT4xAVrNZ0cq8DyD0Z5k-Xn_fohea94HYHh64SHbsRkli5moiFBv7jgsy7tWqNHWSEOtW49CjbiaaHQ/s1600/KirkcaldyBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3L-uz7PlvcMLzj52v5ewmxTyK8buut3FmmPCEBrQHB14kjymX-PSB1nF-HCezT4xAVrNZ0cq8DyD0Z5k-Xn_fohea94HYHh64SHbsRkli5moiFBv7jgsy7tWqNHWSEOtW49CjbiaaHQ/s400/KirkcaldyBeach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA6EGo7gngYrf-3-PUk4_N5Q0V8UmjeaRTq8aaToa_o01B9dD11Vl9peQdywi8DAq5JODK9aMdiN5YeYbyZDCeHU2jCl4bXVJLzV7kdqEV7n8rRe4iQh58t7elR3SNQOtpWtnC-Ew1Hk/s1600/KirkcaldyBeach2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsA6EGo7gngYrf-3-PUk4_N5Q0V8UmjeaRTq8aaToa_o01B9dD11Vl9peQdywi8DAq5JODK9aMdiN5YeYbyZDCeHU2jCl4bXVJLzV7kdqEV7n8rRe4iQh58t7elR3SNQOtpWtnC-Ew1Hk/s400/KirkcaldyBeach2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKllMz9fufNvNQKsIy9Pdb-Okmf6Kl5JrMdtKo9PVrk8MHhseeulJS645bJC5yI0X4t9jmHPoh5QjEDBUNS_gtRd4FU6TptxU4j92sFr2tGMhPD7fEdouyXy0UfEGpAy_AY9iVE9EmzTE/s1600/Kirkcaldy+Rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKllMz9fufNvNQKsIy9Pdb-Okmf6Kl5JrMdtKo9PVrk8MHhseeulJS645bJC5yI0X4t9jmHPoh5QjEDBUNS_gtRd4FU6TptxU4j92sFr2tGMhPD7fEdouyXy0UfEGpAy_AY9iVE9EmzTE/s400/Kirkcaldy+Rocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK2m583dxqhM7hCHbD1JCF4F8nxNOIQCGMeEzNT8ytKJymoNAnp4FtcJRkGTUqqX1UtMLiPlu1PzG-fw86O2Lr-7pVS1wt5C1H8M9b4gnA-yeNdQGWGzk38PZWfemFCv8ONKvpskh_OI/s1600/KirkcaldyRocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPK2m583dxqhM7hCHbD1JCF4F8nxNOIQCGMeEzNT8ytKJymoNAnp4FtcJRkGTUqqX1UtMLiPlu1PzG-fw86O2Lr-7pVS1wt5C1H8M9b4gnA-yeNdQGWGzk38PZWfemFCv8ONKvpskh_OI/s400/KirkcaldyRocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Years of wind and waves have created incredible contours and designs in some of the larger rocks, whose features warp and sway like frozen lava. Scattered here and there are particularly unique specimens, like the stone I have named “Batman rock” for its bizarre shape. Where did it come from? What might it have been used for?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircR5-iSo_8CfmH2tmKieGoCGcacpLLkc9BDrtu0xYvfwTzq-bMS8zyppqOpFM29F8fFvv01jx-2HIkKxFdyS1fzTYUlYMLvGwZED4HD2AeZdWT12ppFe2xMEkFS_3T1LKNXRjQkb7keo/s1600/BatmanRock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircR5-iSo_8CfmH2tmKieGoCGcacpLLkc9BDrtu0xYvfwTzq-bMS8zyppqOpFM29F8fFvv01jx-2HIkKxFdyS1fzTYUlYMLvGwZED4HD2AeZdWT12ppFe2xMEkFS_3T1LKNXRjQkb7keo/s400/BatmanRock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I propped it up on another larger stone to photograph it and this is where I left it, with its blind eyes looking out to sea. Mind you, if I had brought my backpack along you can be sure I would have hauled it home. I wonder if anyone else saw it and did just that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you finally leave the beach below Ravenscraig you have the option of retreating to one of a number of waterside nooks that exist next to a long curved rock wall that looks like pulled sugar. Shorter rock walls descend to the beach, creating secluded enclosed areas ideal for picnics or just a little quiet time. At least until the tide comes in.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfgBiQr4L7SWwlXZBlP4Rhvjv9th16Ywwd_F4oIFhX66JdzLCYA-v4fzagmm9uNm-ILxAdhwLEI4P90QMRoNyYPDdTdqNcpFUavoDkba33tuJ38mqQ_eOykQt_mhRlezPH7NXBjTBOHU/s1600/FifeView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfgBiQr4L7SWwlXZBlP4Rhvjv9th16Ywwd_F4oIFhX66JdzLCYA-v4fzagmm9uNm-ILxAdhwLEI4P90QMRoNyYPDdTdqNcpFUavoDkba33tuJ38mqQ_eOykQt_mhRlezPH7NXBjTBOHU/s400/FifeView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH5q9Rl_xQ9sfRr1-Fb9jijrATXustchJ7nW9HMY0jqXC3J5jAOo89HB3p6vmxtFWOMltOVqoCA4ROKxT-oP36zrvNv3wjmQNPYypU0Yj8V9KvSqTd05E1iyAy5uefFHFqYOURJMkluU/s1600/Kirkcaldy-BeachGateway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH5q9Rl_xQ9sfRr1-Fb9jijrATXustchJ7nW9HMY0jqXC3J5jAOo89HB3p6vmxtFWOMltOVqoCA4ROKxT-oP36zrvNv3wjmQNPYypU0Yj8V9KvSqTd05E1iyAy5uefFHFqYOURJMkluU/s400/Kirkcaldy-BeachGateway.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaaglusTfkoR6_RGOSU-TqJrDcgrEIEqHb_zgQX0tBDF_3bRnBcOmOPS8vHv6GPQ7fboV1tgAAILhAr1yUClJcRyHk0fvveninko8JqmWwNMLlLwQyAX_H1xjKoWnkBlFJmaCTyUa5ys/s1600/PebbleBeach-Kirkcaldy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaaglusTfkoR6_RGOSU-TqJrDcgrEIEqHb_zgQX0tBDF_3bRnBcOmOPS8vHv6GPQ7fboV1tgAAILhAr1yUClJcRyHk0fvveninko8JqmWwNMLlLwQyAX_H1xjKoWnkBlFJmaCTyUa5ys/s400/PebbleBeach-Kirkcaldy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eventually you must make your way through a large stone tunnel before emerging at Dysart’s quaint harbour. On one side the gaps in a massive stone wall have become home to nesting seabirds, while on the other a myriad of boats bob and rock in the quiet water.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu0a8zKj5k_PtZCB0UiZEvUDw47Tvx4XX5rjj2vijuV3mHEckSWYTA7DKS-em12tjj6SUMFhB2Ik51AV1ssQtK7xwIBpdK8kTCjrHLrfaORhO1DPBy1Ebk5XaB-e8pyHlCnaIunXLS2s/s1600/DysartHarbour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRu0a8zKj5k_PtZCB0UiZEvUDw47Tvx4XX5rjj2vijuV3mHEckSWYTA7DKS-em12tjj6SUMFhB2Ik51AV1ssQtK7xwIBpdK8kTCjrHLrfaORhO1DPBy1Ebk5XaB-e8pyHlCnaIunXLS2s/s400/DysartHarbour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrbx1kkphmQCGK9sfs3sNb_Wu7f_PPdy3fhB6cgFpsGt8M0Q9qeyPEnK-tZSnjpOLeAMCfbpBvYSP25cKMjjXcXoaCqTkMdMBWezD0DYS5x2XvRJ-aaIUNz90cHKFiP7X3E2g7Y0eR7o/s1600/NestingInDysart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrbx1kkphmQCGK9sfs3sNb_Wu7f_PPdy3fhB6cgFpsGt8M0Q9qeyPEnK-tZSnjpOLeAMCfbpBvYSP25cKMjjXcXoaCqTkMdMBWezD0DYS5x2XvRJ-aaIUNz90cHKFiP7X3E2g7Y0eR7o/s400/NestingInDysart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_spXeljoUld1IhNnhtVZmHr7hEz6CTwpjF2ldFpCsqnwyCI7Fx9tPBk5M7FOBAPksPhb5cbohKnFGfxBZEz7p5qW5mmeayKXXalr7UZMLaHOPsmGUy7e236nX5VQKR3lwAL9gqk8SENI/s1600/DysartChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_spXeljoUld1IhNnhtVZmHr7hEz6CTwpjF2ldFpCsqnwyCI7Fx9tPBk5M7FOBAPksPhb5cbohKnFGfxBZEz7p5qW5mmeayKXXalr7UZMLaHOPsmGUy7e236nX5VQKR3lwAL9gqk8SENI/s200/DysartChurch.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To get a sense of Dysart’s fishing past and the history and geological background of The Fife Coastal Trail, it is ideal to first pay a visit to The <a href="http://www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk/the-harbourmaster-s-house_9.html">Harbour Master’s House</a>, which was opened in 2006 as Fife’s first coastal centre and the headquarters of the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The old workers houses along the harbour front were restored in the 1960s. Their whitewashed walls face the lapping sound of the waves. I imagine the view from the windows would be incredible during storms, and of course just a few short steps from the doors is the water and plenty of opportunity for watching the local sea and bird life.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uK7hfDC7BcjRcmGdo5ggjgUod7CYBNB3MbcxzliK4zRnSbleMA7l0te3mmgYv9W_Tm_iePxYL5etZpBTZPVvjEW8Y-3hEzmN41Xdh76FfzERGqKmxP2llloQ_zdCr0Ur8Wq3aod9CY4/s1600/DysartCottages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uK7hfDC7BcjRcmGdo5ggjgUod7CYBNB3MbcxzliK4zRnSbleMA7l0te3mmgYv9W_Tm_iePxYL5etZpBTZPVvjEW8Y-3hEzmN41Xdh76FfzERGqKmxP2llloQ_zdCr0Ur8Wq3aod9CY4/s400/DysartCottages.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjB1k0bd6fPMOgYwIraojalboyRyIMUeMIeMisrO7z8XVYkYkvGw2mXeAbLYzpPJt_0M4eylMWaqNi8NAdJRvdhSNmdap2G5Ot1pGf-jh0Ifw1S1kBXeZyzOWwS_2yaQEJKCtVkTr2oHQ/s1600/DysartView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjB1k0bd6fPMOgYwIraojalboyRyIMUeMIeMisrO7z8XVYkYkvGw2mXeAbLYzpPJt_0M4eylMWaqNi8NAdJRvdhSNmdap2G5Ot1pGf-jh0Ifw1S1kBXeZyzOWwS_2yaQEJKCtVkTr2oHQ/s400/DysartView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoZdS1IV5FPuxR_CD_Gc9uDDEle_L7U2Ps6L0foPy-EX1izmN3TTVe7VtW299RXb52VxqxY98XcjauMwYWQTeNeY4-DyMhFIzsJPMvxa6VOsMaGIl5gA9zWjELQY03ArhaypGafwixv4/s1600/Bluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikoZdS1IV5FPuxR_CD_Gc9uDDEle_L7U2Ps6L0foPy-EX1izmN3TTVe7VtW299RXb52VxqxY98XcjauMwYWQTeNeY4-DyMhFIzsJPMvxa6VOsMaGIl5gA9zWjELQY03ArhaypGafwixv4/s200/Bluebells.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here you can continue on the Fife Coastal Trail, or head back to Dysart, choosing a high trail out of the village, which provides a postcard view of the harbour. Walk a little further and you won’t miss the end of daffodil season when you see the carpets of bluebells stretched out between the budding trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Depending on the kind of experience you’re after, the short walk from Kirkcaldy to Dysart can take as long as you like. Start in the morning to give yourself plenty of time. Bring a picnic. Bring a book. Don’t rush. If you’re lucky, the sun will shine high and the breeze will blow warm. A short afternoon can stretch out like a week.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlQtLdRW8JP-c2hHvU0Cy7BiJ1Bgil8RWqj3ySrUItX-y67cCHVG2aKLPZNgi8lhMMf6v-Z12smDEMjKnl2s1kNXjAvjaGWcDqjaqaxxMuliA2tWqmLBVJ1KwVDrDNxz8JuS_72ukYFY/s1600/DysartBluebells.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmlQtLdRW8JP-c2hHvU0Cy7BiJ1Bgil8RWqj3ySrUItX-y67cCHVG2aKLPZNgi8lhMMf6v-Z12smDEMjKnl2s1kNXjAvjaGWcDqjaqaxxMuliA2tWqmLBVJ1KwVDrDNxz8JuS_72ukYFY/s400/DysartBluebells.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-57569738799826139772011-04-18T13:39:00.000+01:002011-04-18T13:39:19.229+01:00Daytrip to Kirkcaldy and The Links Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI1AA7EhNvBH6Z3ZnQAQhpLznx4UM4_oTP-8MkbF9t4LYhvEXYV8nQTNRSMET-qnNZtjIEDEuomcnM3WMdiPCyjbamns1dTXVQn1pYV06ZkQEE_o6uEf8Rfj3KUAE81g5Wvdcctn5dpc/s1600/KirkcaldyChurchView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI1AA7EhNvBH6Z3ZnQAQhpLznx4UM4_oTP-8MkbF9t4LYhvEXYV8nQTNRSMET-qnNZtjIEDEuomcnM3WMdiPCyjbamns1dTXVQn1pYV06ZkQEE_o6uEf8Rfj3KUAE81g5Wvdcctn5dpc/s320/KirkcaldyChurchView.jpg" width="202" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I first arrived in <a href="http://www.aboutkirkcaldy.com/">Kirkcaldy</a> I was underwhelmed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My first impression was that of a practical town, a mix of the occasional charming stone building, horrendous apartment blocks that were all the range in the 1970s but which now resemble aging Lego pieces, and a high street where you can pick up a Greggs sausage roll on your way to buy designer sunglasses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I arrived early (part of my German heritage - can’t be helped) in order to have time to wander around before taking in the annual celebration of noise and calorific merriment that is <a href="http://www.linksmarket.org.uk/">The Links Market</a>, the longest street fair in Europe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The high street in Kirkcaldy goes on for miles; it’s no wonder it’s often called "<em>The Lang Toun</em>." But other than the library, which has such lovely grounds it looks like a miniature university campus, it wasn't until I had made my way to the seaside esplanade that I began be be charmed by Kirkcaldy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The steps at the far end of the beach curve like an amphitheatre, except instead of actors the sea itself is the show. At the intermission the tide comes in and tries to wash away the spectators.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RdS5UJcjjhVEeQR0upZ-WMr1EQeiK_EAlbY0x45QXzjquTY4caHf3yq-al_iwBPrnNKZCdGZlHmkXOxolW6qYfoVdb1TZgv7l8gLCVgdJCVuNrflNvIzQsxX696TTBwIGdURzwr4Z6Y/s1600/KirkcaldyView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1RdS5UJcjjhVEeQR0upZ-WMr1EQeiK_EAlbY0x45QXzjquTY4caHf3yq-al_iwBPrnNKZCdGZlHmkXOxolW6qYfoVdb1TZgv7l8gLCVgdJCVuNrflNvIzQsxX696TTBwIGdURzwr4Z6Y/s400/KirkcaldyView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv6vcgMbVhLKUZHi0WD6whviq2J_R1fWyg8L_NtK-DVSI6_n1nhcIxQ4eioPqiGQIwmC5eiM2SmYsHfZ0-1-IznpSt_ah6T8tOFHkXjUwRXouWEdSbJTOu-aD39Z7bkTn2Zlv1Ntp0Zg/s1600/KirkcaldyBeachSteps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv6vcgMbVhLKUZHi0WD6whviq2J_R1fWyg8L_NtK-DVSI6_n1nhcIxQ4eioPqiGQIwmC5eiM2SmYsHfZ0-1-IznpSt_ah6T8tOFHkXjUwRXouWEdSbJTOu-aD39Z7bkTn2Zlv1Ntp0Zg/s400/KirkcaldyBeachSteps.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rg8woQsHoGRux94HNWenDty3uqoFjri1D5htuuW8VXbMnoRvSoW-u8uVbKAhBZwwIIYbkAoiM3Wbx2Vuh7WDEhPZ7O6Aw61UO-t6rde8XbiZ2D4QqZh80iyGB4kbAGHL0r_XH3_d_mw/s1600/Sandpipers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="159" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rg8woQsHoGRux94HNWenDty3uqoFjri1D5htuuW8VXbMnoRvSoW-u8uVbKAhBZwwIIYbkAoiM3Wbx2Vuh7WDEhPZ7O6Aw61UO-t6rde8XbiZ2D4QqZh80iyGB4kbAGHL0r_XH3_d_mw/s200/Sandpipers.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the 1600s Kirkcaldy was one of Scotland’s most vibrant ports. This same stretch of sea and sand would have been alive with all matter of trade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now the gulls scan the lunches of passing walkers, ready to make a meal of any unguarded chip, while the sandpipers wade through the shallows, busy and skittish. The broad harbour is vacant except for one lonely dredger heading back in to anchor.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLdzhcdLHpDpOmxoE3MRDJB0tpfyhg9tOo9Rto9sBJL2Et3eb6xRwtn5NUNxx3tZwfEeQN4HH3QMv59xchvDti6yF99XuAGBnaIlxhKbBjE-eBBvqVJw06Eyq6Toim0YbWfoO2bzqzIY/s1600/DredgerComingIn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLdzhcdLHpDpOmxoE3MRDJB0tpfyhg9tOo9Rto9sBJL2Et3eb6xRwtn5NUNxx3tZwfEeQN4HH3QMv59xchvDti6yF99XuAGBnaIlxhKbBjE-eBBvqVJw06Eyq6Toim0YbWfoO2bzqzIY/s400/DredgerComingIn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leaving the city centre the road leads uphill towards <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/kirkcaldy/ravenscraigcastle/index.html">Ravenscraig Castle</a>, which sits with the modern world at its back and the broad palette of nature before it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James II built Ravenscraig in a fit of protective flamboyance, keen to erect something that could weather the storms of the fiercest weaponry of the 1450s.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A small bridge crosses the dried moat, giving access to the sparse ruins of the headland, where cliffs fall away steeply on either side and a twisting set of stairs lead down to the pebbled beach below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The castle is unmanned and access to the interior is blocked off, but the views out to the sea are remarkable.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0QVboVHJGcECX_VqbZWI4_3jb4l1JRYCvkMTe2AucO5b0bXCfl-twDf7OJlbquwei2Xt_AuzDZ4Mz-YlPcJvbxJZpgW3HWk9hAXuVG8BJ512GSjicjF8s8NVZnxLijkoshZ7CAdcs80/s1600/RavenscraigCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0QVboVHJGcECX_VqbZWI4_3jb4l1JRYCvkMTe2AucO5b0bXCfl-twDf7OJlbquwei2Xt_AuzDZ4Mz-YlPcJvbxJZpgW3HWk9hAXuVG8BJ512GSjicjF8s8NVZnxLijkoshZ7CAdcs80/s400/RavenscraigCastle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7bDCTxaPOLCBUzVAYZlqcL9JJun9OI6Vo2vKQHkHWqzuIirr-plDebo-GgajDK-woMnVPEDIcP-20yblEuwx-XWysOjQNK-mYJgXJxy3R-o9MTTAUZBez7g_tZ5TPU9Ed2o1z_-8yMY/s1600/RavenscraigCastleEntrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7bDCTxaPOLCBUzVAYZlqcL9JJun9OI6Vo2vKQHkHWqzuIirr-plDebo-GgajDK-woMnVPEDIcP-20yblEuwx-XWysOjQNK-mYJgXJxy3R-o9MTTAUZBez7g_tZ5TPU9Ed2o1z_-8yMY/s400/RavenscraigCastleEntrance.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3lMAYGIwR8gKTuXtoeBfEDWsv73pN02IK1Gyv3b9wrQ2f4QPKhkhkvNmfb6syFYfgaDo__DtK99AZY1rUFBdEcPJojEhNTQzrKPJec96tDjXUTXUCOOBFdCIMeEnYf0POGHcz_C-Sac/s1600/RavenscraigCastleView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3lMAYGIwR8gKTuXtoeBfEDWsv73pN02IK1Gyv3b9wrQ2f4QPKhkhkvNmfb6syFYfgaDo__DtK99AZY1rUFBdEcPJojEhNTQzrKPJec96tDjXUTXUCOOBFdCIMeEnYf0POGHcz_C-Sac/s400/RavenscraigCastleView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP4sX7zBrfIRfvKiJ2QXoc5P8d6IS9j5aQ6BkPSOl6koN1JUuAcmXvwvgu4eJ5IO8Wbcg6Ua3c-TXAvd2lR7nhyphenhyphenoLUHU7gSy4S2SU6RtWaf_uUYb1YgVFgVogHbvPAWpLKaGbeCOgq-c/s1600/RavenscraigCastleView2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP4sX7zBrfIRfvKiJ2QXoc5P8d6IS9j5aQ6BkPSOl6koN1JUuAcmXvwvgu4eJ5IO8Wbcg6Ua3c-TXAvd2lR7nhyphenhyphenoLUHU7gSy4S2SU6RtWaf_uUYb1YgVFgVogHbvPAWpLKaGbeCOgq-c/s400/RavenscraigCastleView2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPflnMEpA1_pLEbKL9Mfz83_PjdqM7u7bl_0TbKSkfjMA7dsBMlkZTIvTEuidl1c7gI4j88qdMH4SjcdjPflmWHhbXqABVMJcmOOgszyMOW7vNY0-EM-INyGsrevtUlTtDs7_2S_aipHY/s1600/RavenscraigDoocot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPflnMEpA1_pLEbKL9Mfz83_PjdqM7u7bl_0TbKSkfjMA7dsBMlkZTIvTEuidl1c7gI4j88qdMH4SjcdjPflmWHhbXqABVMJcmOOgszyMOW7vNY0-EM-INyGsrevtUlTtDs7_2S_aipHY/s400/RavenscraigDoocot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If I were to take you to this beach right now, I would be hard pressed to get you to leave. The pebble collecting value alone is worth several hours of exploration, let alone the intriguing trails that lead off along the coast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But if we go now this post will be far too long, so I will save it for the next time. For now we make our way back to town, the esplanade and Links Market. It really does go on for a terribly long way, and can be summed up in a barage of rhythmic repetition:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Candyfloss-hotdogs-ballgame-crazy throw you through the air ride-crying child-barking dog-laughing child-whiff of hash-haunted house-burgers…(deep breath…) Candyfloss-hotdogs-ballgame-crazy throw you through the air ride-crying child-barking dog-laughing child-whiff of hash-haunted house-burgers…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh, and one old guy relating the perils of sin with a handmade sign. As you do.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCaWbT_FiiTTq8LgSx8palxGtg8uKiK2optYALMuQev5BxY4jRW5abmNuKMIWKDNgPzeRJN9W-sVzEEFkQHehYHga46RvNvSKbNRWf55S73BEOmBdnPTO1cR2-B9aDBkQCQadK7rIr6k/s1600/LinksMarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCaWbT_FiiTTq8LgSx8palxGtg8uKiK2optYALMuQev5BxY4jRW5abmNuKMIWKDNgPzeRJN9W-sVzEEFkQHehYHga46RvNvSKbNRWf55S73BEOmBdnPTO1cR2-B9aDBkQCQadK7rIr6k/s400/LinksMarket.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbndxdNtChtdpDgmU2M0T5hJHQiWPJ5hLZNe8yHL9Au9sfQhrtXg8YGYrt0Z5wmCd_ahI5QNCRdvQ2fmVoz0UlD5NsSRWIDVA931ail6gqVYRFHeIn3EozkJPGhl0JX3xw9m23lLA3AU/s1600/LinksMarket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqbndxdNtChtdpDgmU2M0T5hJHQiWPJ5hLZNe8yHL9Au9sfQhrtXg8YGYrt0Z5wmCd_ahI5QNCRdvQ2fmVoz0UlD5NsSRWIDVA931ail6gqVYRFHeIn3EozkJPGhl0JX3xw9m23lLA3AU/s400/LinksMarket2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW3nyFT3ZRI9cfYTlbn-NL5-mq3MwobwxHANJpKAWxXqnnFaDrpu2MuCdzo4E-Ksx13VUY6r1omb7ihFlxzv3kczc2DbFFs1qBtOCVkOD17OUavufLm_cJ4zkOr6WShwg8JeymVdZyyk/s1600/JesusLikesACarnival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEW3nyFT3ZRI9cfYTlbn-NL5-mq3MwobwxHANJpKAWxXqnnFaDrpu2MuCdzo4E-Ksx13VUY6r1omb7ihFlxzv3kczc2DbFFs1qBtOCVkOD17OUavufLm_cJ4zkOr6WShwg8JeymVdZyyk/s400/JesusLikesACarnival.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it goes. See you next time for a walk along a small but stunning section of The Fife Coastal Path.</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-270117588743765612011-04-17T22:33:00.001+01:002011-04-17T22:34:06.548+01:00Sunset over Blackness Castle<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Few words tonight my bloggy friends. Just a fine Scottish sunset falling behind the stones and harbour of <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/blackness/blacknesscastle/">Blackness Castle</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Often referred to as “the ship that never sailed,” Blackness juts out into the Forth River, providing formidable military defense since as early as the mid-1400s.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YeS6dWhoI7_vaEQv6_wqvjntCiT4gd5-wOvMfAfOa0zdjUTruIOHK6Oh5TtlR2f5ku7tPRz6TpIdv8Wbygf2et4UI70AgCX2SYeWOa7qW-Mmc84bFcWoQR9n-2QC9cC9jE_o-bUrbiY/s1600/Blackness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YeS6dWhoI7_vaEQv6_wqvjntCiT4gd5-wOvMfAfOa0zdjUTruIOHK6Oh5TtlR2f5ku7tPRz6TpIdv8Wbygf2et4UI70AgCX2SYeWOa7qW-Mmc84bFcWoQR9n-2QC9cC9jE_o-bUrbiY/s400/Blackness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxZcBoPN-LHzbnCee0PeYuQF30lytFqUtvqzawtYvhMsSzcXIhedp781i8djn0dm5bnqZogvz0BzamcVZebzXEfoG1WmsPbv4PgJsmZU96U-EbSot5OQ6KI3NU3cIOV4DjtdaQlYc5Bk/s1600/Blackness2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxZcBoPN-LHzbnCee0PeYuQF30lytFqUtvqzawtYvhMsSzcXIhedp781i8djn0dm5bnqZogvz0BzamcVZebzXEfoG1WmsPbv4PgJsmZU96U-EbSot5OQ6KI3NU3cIOV4DjtdaQlYc5Bk/s400/Blackness2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwH7Nrl8OI3obBvrDQIZnI9Hyq1CRCIccyZENXoTtDRDsP0Z-SmHsY_J8GsAjFdvyKcOlmhR383AajiV90obbhoxzBebLjm4cRcG5YmMY3T7JvJ_Hf9Kj88XmH2B0kVPxMyHo-ThzVAQ/s1600/Blackness3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwH7Nrl8OI3obBvrDQIZnI9Hyq1CRCIccyZENXoTtDRDsP0Z-SmHsY_J8GsAjFdvyKcOlmhR383AajiV90obbhoxzBebLjm4cRcG5YmMY3T7JvJ_Hf9Kj88XmH2B0kVPxMyHo-ThzVAQ/s400/Blackness3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was one of those rare cloudness days that held us all in awe, the sun’s final glow giving a false warmth to the castle walls. We held out until the breeze turned too cold, then retreated gratefully to the car.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do you have memories of a beautiful Scottish sunset? Where was it? Do tell. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZpzUMl7uxsSKZdxrSyam1byqWdYXFjoeXmLXla7zDKDgHBgUJN0C0Zk2meBpPgY6vV33Od_4IfYOUBb2uQlMyIvOCZGOvaACjIGQA7dJm70W3xr6VrLSfs7kHtMfVjenFGVBC7AQxIE/s1600/BlacknessHarbour2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZpzUMl7uxsSKZdxrSyam1byqWdYXFjoeXmLXla7zDKDgHBgUJN0C0Zk2meBpPgY6vV33Od_4IfYOUBb2uQlMyIvOCZGOvaACjIGQA7dJm70W3xr6VrLSfs7kHtMfVjenFGVBC7AQxIE/s400/BlacknessHarbour2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7cDgslD8CX8_-5_CvTEifNSvVqA4eRCv8pJDOsfjv3rIutk4cozCgS-B2Jkqsh1H4mr4Vs7mP8zn6dctNIcVZ0t-jFXM7wfhl0nkrzFELAu40op_71yDP-iUVcvowH-y0vZ2-yM_z4E/s1600/BlacknessHarbour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7cDgslD8CX8_-5_CvTEifNSvVqA4eRCv8pJDOsfjv3rIutk4cozCgS-B2Jkqsh1H4mr4Vs7mP8zn6dctNIcVZ0t-jFXM7wfhl0nkrzFELAu40op_71yDP-iUVcvowH-y0vZ2-yM_z4E/s400/BlacknessHarbour.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-25198805569545001542011-04-12T23:21:00.000+01:002011-04-12T23:21:22.653+01:00Welcome to Romantic Roslin Glen<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjroYKJRGl2qjcOqGFp7cNAJgbCg3vW_j2H3W6qYPIeVIGROQdmGBgvH26ICUP7Zcegh2XCovzJHb-ZLZgx1dqHxG4OerZEZh0lvWgFDo5aUDU5B2Ek7hChnIdwzhE8OdON4rxaJUL7Hg/s1600/GreenShoots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjroYKJRGl2qjcOqGFp7cNAJgbCg3vW_j2H3W6qYPIeVIGROQdmGBgvH26ICUP7Zcegh2XCovzJHb-ZLZgx1dqHxG4OerZEZh0lvWgFDo5aUDU5B2Ek7hChnIdwzhE8OdON4rxaJUL7Hg/s200/GreenShoots.jpg" width="183" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello you. Welcome to the two year anniversary of this wee blog dedicated to the sensual pleasures of Scotland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me it would not be a celebration unless I indulged in some kind of enjoyable excess, so I invite you to the following photo heavy tribute to the many beauties of <a href="http://www.midlothian.gov.uk/info/495/parks_gardens_and_open_spaces/296/roslin_glen_country_park">Roslin Glen</a> and the River North Esk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The splendour begins not long after we leave the village of Roslin, the name for which is formed of two Celtic words, Ross - a rocky outcrop and Linn - a waterfall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking now through all the layers of springtime green, it is difficult to imagine a time when these fields would have been stained with blood. On February 24 1303, Scottish and English forces clashed here for the 3rd battle of Roslin, an event when saw a Scottish victory but also horrendous casualties.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzPucP7SJ9EjwSY2Wv-wEnVvI8OVW5TQcHedNyAyQz9wqx2KuyvPGBPJ6g4T_4B75hhr8OuXBRq7puFTuqeW_0mGyD5tVyBRfP9yL1vR7s994mDClDj-73uIQ4viIOm2Dlr3wLCM8-T0/s1600/Green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzPucP7SJ9EjwSY2Wv-wEnVvI8OVW5TQcHedNyAyQz9wqx2KuyvPGBPJ6g4T_4B75hhr8OuXBRq7puFTuqeW_0mGyD5tVyBRfP9yL1vR7s994mDClDj-73uIQ4viIOm2Dlr3wLCM8-T0/s400/Green.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPLeX4Go35InsP-VQDlpiDjoWm0D4FP-LrU0Z0roRJmkO2Fz5jkbzLbLswWQEcud_0YP_cyZzYn2dNJ1CMmHx9hI1KUR2XPALAwBsNCw5T-ljwnU3obmoDX3eR5CCNsoC-cFPaBEJm-A/s1600/GreenPath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPLeX4Go35InsP-VQDlpiDjoWm0D4FP-LrU0Z0roRJmkO2Fz5jkbzLbLswWQEcud_0YP_cyZzYn2dNJ1CMmHx9hI1KUR2XPALAwBsNCw5T-ljwnU3obmoDX3eR5CCNsoC-cFPaBEJm-A/s320/GreenPath.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today the sun is out and as we meander the path between fields and forest we think “this is nice,” because it is. Open space, clear air - a pleasant country walk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But when we take the turn to follow the river walk, everything changes. S</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">uddenly get a view of the valley that stops us in awe because we didn’t expect this kind of romantic scene.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once we can move again we thump down worn stone steps, stopping half way to follow a butterfly from blossom to blossom with our camera.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kqOiS6ThDD5SxxX7xH9hYqw-pBbvQRJBRYii3LjVe7uKQfUVqKC3pjfHHFsAFuebXAbChW0W3xK6lLrjBWYjkqn5UualAdeFFUa5wZo_oZOkzWCaxjUxzL_nSqJpsPWcroMkrnCrtto/s1600/RoslinGlen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5kqOiS6ThDD5SxxX7xH9hYqw-pBbvQRJBRYii3LjVe7uKQfUVqKC3pjfHHFsAFuebXAbChW0W3xK6lLrjBWYjkqn5UualAdeFFUa5wZo_oZOkzWCaxjUxzL_nSqJpsPWcroMkrnCrtto/s400/RoslinGlen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAhUaOc33vKw37fcPr8uuGHu6BsBcTTN5cjGI7rq_UclYK5ET3SLwYfbDo4diPT8OyRWDcD9d3QyAKDN7RUtazJvTXPoZm6MBiiP2D48owUsHtvsD1gPAcWNm_KjzfvxL4Gt7gJ15Gv8/s1600/HewanBank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyAhUaOc33vKw37fcPr8uuGHu6BsBcTTN5cjGI7rq_UclYK5ET3SLwYfbDo4diPT8OyRWDcD9d3QyAKDN7RUtazJvTXPoZm6MBiiP2D48owUsHtvsD1gPAcWNm_KjzfvxL4Gt7gJ15Gv8/s400/HewanBank.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ChS5OYbUDO7MNJwPIJ8gJ6iFypq577Tj9Xa9-KwneJt7y0lqI9rhptWErch9LjQzkYkH6ZCpjV893VjmmQrdWRRyJR89LplPaUHa6vLVyw8rXVzuK-pvGooFmFVfYlXYmsNmwbRmfvM/s1600/Buttlerfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="323" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ChS5OYbUDO7MNJwPIJ8gJ6iFypq577Tj9Xa9-KwneJt7y0lqI9rhptWErch9LjQzkYkH6ZCpjV893VjmmQrdWRRyJR89LplPaUHa6vLVyw8rXVzuK-pvGooFmFVfYlXYmsNmwbRmfvM/s400/Buttlerfly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our route, referred to in the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edinburgh-Country-Walks-Pocket-Mountains/dp/0955082218">guidebook</a> as The Riddle of Roslin, directs us along the river trail, but it is impossible to resist a detour to see the remains of what the local information boards call Maiden Castle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is thought that sometime during the late bronze age and the iron age, between 1000 BCE and 200 AD, this ridge above the river was home to a large family group. This was not a castle as we might think of it, but simple roundhouses and some minor defences of stone banks and deep ditches. With the surrounding forests and the fish-rich river for food, a family could have thrived here.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl_dMUUJ3y77lylSs1p-9pTZCJegasMvinnhLA7q7UDSg4axgK4O8TRD4QXTHGDNwNt8ZsN5eVdHEjLnVJ2BPetsrhoqBpEi1wg57ZRkhoizkF77jJoN7Kia03WgLX59ymo0OZmtvL-4/s1600/RoslinGlen-MaidenCastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyl_dMUUJ3y77lylSs1p-9pTZCJegasMvinnhLA7q7UDSg4axgK4O8TRD4QXTHGDNwNt8ZsN5eVdHEjLnVJ2BPetsrhoqBpEi1wg57ZRkhoizkF77jJoN7Kia03WgLX59ymo0OZmtvL-4/s400/RoslinGlen-MaidenCastle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today, if it weren’t for the information boards to advise us of the history of this place, we would walk unaware through the ghosts of our bronze age ancestors. We are always trying to revive our pasts, while nature feels no such need to cling. She moves on, grows over, lives today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally we begin to explore the banks of the river, which are bulging with green and fresh stems and the pristine white petals of wood sorrel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The river is high and slow from spring rains and moves gently past banks that are so thick with plants it is as if life is something that can be purged in one great heave.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PYtdJbwjYBnKrNY18kgRnZGlAC8ZRqGw7TEcKVhenW3egpLctbt58GI-JhKSMNVxIcwKDJwBuI4TfRFKBr0p8A2FrUMlGh9LTOKlJyvGaO76OikDdQ6Wkguq_f17awo5G3lWJCqEUq4/s1600/RiverEsk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PYtdJbwjYBnKrNY18kgRnZGlAC8ZRqGw7TEcKVhenW3egpLctbt58GI-JhKSMNVxIcwKDJwBuI4TfRFKBr0p8A2FrUMlGh9LTOKlJyvGaO76OikDdQ6Wkguq_f17awo5G3lWJCqEUq4/s400/RiverEsk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUNrqN6TFvvQjZ25wfhYq5u0_9x9ZRd2HhPzmeksP-RE4E8G7_DZYSBw32rfFrski7duhRQG4z3CU3m9vSuItrg9BhiH9kH9GUdxXyPflhanD1R0vWw3ng1UGAPJK_caDVwPfc5PmpDI/s1600/RiverEsk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUNrqN6TFvvQjZ25wfhYq5u0_9x9ZRd2HhPzmeksP-RE4E8G7_DZYSBw32rfFrski7duhRQG4z3CU3m9vSuItrg9BhiH9kH9GUdxXyPflhanD1R0vWw3ng1UGAPJK_caDVwPfc5PmpDI/s400/RiverEsk2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumE6zWodGxMM7GbXJ6M-GKKSZKzahWiKMnmGD5wO2KED3EeTmG26f5mm1Pm-eIGp7FAenSB5bxlrKI-2zEOg-1o3AE-gsdwI_QBy_7OWtoOCT3xnCEPL_aYkKOGOihB4yqd9lv83I1XU/s1600/RiverEsk3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjumE6zWodGxMM7GbXJ6M-GKKSZKzahWiKMnmGD5wO2KED3EeTmG26f5mm1Pm-eIGp7FAenSB5bxlrKI-2zEOg-1o3AE-gsdwI_QBy_7OWtoOCT3xnCEPL_aYkKOGOihB4yqd9lv83I1XU/s400/RiverEsk3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdzmqKw9bROHSx0AJi_PRleDgFSEsEyfD5Mz47TNRRAx3AW1Ig8Bjkg47sUlgCSofW7z4SCxa84_BlL0QyUyT2izupbGjusPCzzNU5YDRwYCy3JZShorW3T5uv0TDEj7k2WmRB5ctkRY/s1600/WoodSorrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdzmqKw9bROHSx0AJi_PRleDgFSEsEyfD5Mz47TNRRAx3AW1Ig8Bjkg47sUlgCSofW7z4SCxa84_BlL0QyUyT2izupbGjusPCzzNU5YDRwYCy3JZShorW3T5uv0TDEj7k2WmRB5ctkRY/s200/WoodSorrel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nearby old trees take a humble back seat to all the countless new shoots. They allow the wind to stir their branches, whisks inside an infinite bowl. At the water’s edge their roots wrap like fat baby knuckles around plates of ancient glacier stone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I tell you, there is no way to photograph all of this. Everywhere around us, birdsong bounces back and forth like a room full of grandfather clocks, time reduced to a ball that no one can catch.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun6lnDoxmqDNqKuoUs6u87hZ1Qu8-TcV3sq7jRzP-8vlqtfeXukFVaslTRjXR4de43yhTvfwXmlYhHt9g0VDD4IUOHWD_wFPc3RjZX8hkbTk3g1_tJbdAvf1DwyUynTVWKAaywjJenMs/s1600/RiverWalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiun6lnDoxmqDNqKuoUs6u87hZ1Qu8-TcV3sq7jRzP-8vlqtfeXukFVaslTRjXR4de43yhTvfwXmlYhHt9g0VDD4IUOHWD_wFPc3RjZX8hkbTk3g1_tJbdAvf1DwyUynTVWKAaywjJenMs/s400/RiverWalk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPU62Qwp3jKak4mKso2c24NtucUY_KumeWbNEC6-Zw3dUEAIjC3Gf_e-Ll7FGuvxknJPOza1sl_WTCKxcYLKmsBggsDlirsvQQ9ek3o40gNZ1BrndoL6SQ4ozLUchrzMtDFfuDw-HbJI/s1600/RoslinGlen-OldTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPU62Qwp3jKak4mKso2c24NtucUY_KumeWbNEC6-Zw3dUEAIjC3Gf_e-Ll7FGuvxknJPOza1sl_WTCKxcYLKmsBggsDlirsvQQ9ek3o40gNZ1BrndoL6SQ4ozLUchrzMtDFfuDw-HbJI/s400/RoslinGlen-OldTree.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2E8bWuIeOxIX5iA7Xh9cQrQRu8eI86unnsf7S-4IXSfOcvkYhAZGmbcf1ygTFIVcfQ-v_YRB9PG_vO5LdIqprOw1_HjzkVMclMjdPyHy5aX-ZWH8qoql8czzZsbPD9i4s7SHby_9PVg/s1600/RoslinGlen-OldTree2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2E8bWuIeOxIX5iA7Xh9cQrQRu8eI86unnsf7S-4IXSfOcvkYhAZGmbcf1ygTFIVcfQ-v_YRB9PG_vO5LdIqprOw1_HjzkVMclMjdPyHy5aX-ZWH8qoql8czzZsbPD9i4s7SHby_9PVg/s400/RoslinGlen-OldTree2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7HD54VeqmU4TuzIfJo4xfDDr17mJyGmyqfFPCV4s4rD5JQBAQnJOkgWwXdyB-19AFaqy7LJJzY1rBpdQTRbwtv7GahCIhhDiueYmgsQiQyiJFfB2urEFSjhkinMVxZIxAInlk66ImJM/s1600/RootsRocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7HD54VeqmU4TuzIfJo4xfDDr17mJyGmyqfFPCV4s4rD5JQBAQnJOkgWwXdyB-19AFaqy7LJJzY1rBpdQTRbwtv7GahCIhhDiueYmgsQiQyiJFfB2urEFSjhkinMVxZIxAInlk66ImJM/s400/RootsRocks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We walk for a long time, trying to follow the book but often veering onto this path or that, just letting ourselves wander, to spread out and discover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like when we come to he place where rust-coloured rocks overhang the trail and remind us of scenes of the grand canyon. High above us we can see small caves and we long to look in.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOqxhYn1T6iXj1K9pgy5NwLhRXGbxaGXFiMCGyaTk5QblZYegUf5vtlgtLBkw6Bdub0XEoCXpujlRY4rtZq2plcBaoFFe-Tjdf4R93Ra3yJSYS-4v3uWhDo7BLi8VJweCpdNafyWB-mM/s1600/RoslinGlen-StonesAndTrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOqxhYn1T6iXj1K9pgy5NwLhRXGbxaGXFiMCGyaTk5QblZYegUf5vtlgtLBkw6Bdub0XEoCXpujlRY4rtZq2plcBaoFFe-Tjdf4R93Ra3yJSYS-4v3uWhDo7BLi8VJweCpdNafyWB-mM/s400/RoslinGlen-StonesAndTrees.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uCDd2ghHLixrUs-FFS4kFRlWAIVMV9hkERChXtm3mUw1JeVOm89ybGJmMxKibikGwwQ1I8uvIplp5bFIDwlrmUmvq67zoX4ceBon_Y6Jk5Ks3yeXjbRC1PeVD0-P8GtD3tBcqWKYOB4/s1600/WallaceCave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uCDd2ghHLixrUs-FFS4kFRlWAIVMV9hkERChXtm3mUw1JeVOm89ybGJmMxKibikGwwQ1I8uvIplp5bFIDwlrmUmvq67zoX4ceBon_Y6Jk5Ks3yeXjbRC1PeVD0-P8GtD3tBcqWKYOB4/s200/WallaceCave.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This desire intensifies a short while later when we look across the river to see Wallace’s Cave, named for Scotland’s national hero, who took part in the Battle of Roslin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With no way to get to the other side and explore, we will have to make do with <a href="http://vimeo.com/7761648">this video</a> from BreatheScotland.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cave is also associated with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthornden_Castle">Hawthornden Castle</a>, which stands across the river, somewhere beyond the clutter of tree branches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hawthornden Castle was built in 1638 by poet William Drummond. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A little research has brought me to the brink of jealous delirium as I have learned that part of the castle is now used as a retreat for writers and artists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Each year the Hawthornden Castle Fellowship offers five writers a place here for <a href="http://www.culturalprofiles.net/scotland/Units/5743.html">a month of seclusion</a>. It’s alright if you need a moment to let the idea sink in. We have time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Somehow we are nearing the end of our walk. Already? Well believe it or not, we have been away for hours.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DCanRowlHJZ9Ff3bJzB5e7l_Hnqau79m5MiFyxFbkNDcs27N98NAIvwTK7NwI36HiqA6FKzTKVQfAOi1O4dYeblnVZg9rBmUcrnmUV5ksk8K7QsKEqhw8EZscDXYGU6UteUrWpqEzOc/s1600/RootsStones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DCanRowlHJZ9Ff3bJzB5e7l_Hnqau79m5MiFyxFbkNDcs27N98NAIvwTK7NwI36HiqA6FKzTKVQfAOi1O4dYeblnVZg9rBmUcrnmUV5ksk8K7QsKEqhw8EZscDXYGU6UteUrWpqEzOc/s400/RootsStones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFQFzUHphCXgV2KWBzXKpKOPEiE5YHafQQ8T-1toFot1Aglz-GzNRwBg7t90oJn_MnfWslcMPdKtpXUn8pVUf5PGpLm2UG5GK6etRTcxquc4WKWKjIE580bwxKLLUmptPso1qGWPXwoI/s1600/RosslynCastleArchway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFQFzUHphCXgV2KWBzXKpKOPEiE5YHafQQ8T-1toFot1Aglz-GzNRwBg7t90oJn_MnfWslcMPdKtpXUn8pVUf5PGpLm2UG5GK6etRTcxquc4WKWKjIE580bwxKLLUmptPso1qGWPXwoI/s320/RosslynCastleArchway.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We’ve taken so many detours and stopped so many times to try and memorise the exact undertone of sweetness in the air, that by the time we have journeyed through the last of the forest trails and are making our way up the stairs and through the archway leading to <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/roslin/rosslyncastle/index.html">Rosslyn Castle</a>, we are well and truly knackered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The castle was built after the battle of Roslin, but much of it was destroyed by fire in 1447. The only part that is still inhabitable is the five storey house that was built as part of later restorations. If you are feeling particularly burdened by cash, you can even <a href="http://bookings.landmarktrust.org.uk/BuildingDetails/Overview/242/Rosslyn_Castle#">stay here</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDRA06WS6eiabBVXuy28SVVCL-2qefymiUyH5UdguaD0dit8YwAAdDLd1-Rl2gk84n4-wpdOp_EmmQLzfLKwKqhcKkhoCSfPjxrdgi0XJXXjX3dSRLJLz7rKmVIU_PWIFZEkDeA99jc4/s1600/Rosslyn+Castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZDRA06WS6eiabBVXuy28SVVCL-2qefymiUyH5UdguaD0dit8YwAAdDLd1-Rl2gk84n4-wpdOp_EmmQLzfLKwKqhcKkhoCSfPjxrdgi0XJXXjX3dSRLJLz7rKmVIU_PWIFZEkDeA99jc4/s400/Rosslyn+Castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDH1zcPWq81VuPt1uNwLUsQLUahWUU-uuHohyphenhyphenArYTvg2VBLSuHk3OYWCTHcxUhsS3PLAxlyRNusAZWcR1lMp4MmjeoWV4GcjlmnpwmrDGVMVmJ0eapHzxHOwbVIlaAdW8kaLFQaQvGCQ/s1600/RoslinCastle2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDH1zcPWq81VuPt1uNwLUsQLUahWUU-uuHohyphenhyphenArYTvg2VBLSuHk3OYWCTHcxUhsS3PLAxlyRNusAZWcR1lMp4MmjeoWV4GcjlmnpwmrDGVMVmJ0eapHzxHOwbVIlaAdW8kaLFQaQvGCQ/s400/RoslinCastle2.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the moment let’s set aside plans to visit the famous wee <a href="http://www.rosslynchapel.org.uk/">Rosslyn Chapel</a>. We’ll wait until the construction work for the new visitor’s entrance is finished, and hope that visitors will once again be able to at least get close to the outside of the chapel without having to shell out the £7.70 entrance fee.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for reading. Over the past two years I have so enjoyed sharing my adventures on this wee patch of the internet. I enjoy all manner of enthusiasm and supportive comments. You are welcome for cake anytime. Let’s have a seat just here and enjoy a bit of sun, shall we?</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJDuPBBVpFwsAyJKjkqwJrwa0nREW3Re7FBtT3ErH0uz8snK3eO-CZnpSZzSEdmomQUfnp1tPgVCoKnpBCh0XKVCtQZxJxJkrGbp9iaO6bfRo5VXqYuXGRZHKlrTWJx9v7n0Jwj4-iAo/s1600/TakeASeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJDuPBBVpFwsAyJKjkqwJrwa0nREW3Re7FBtT3ErH0uz8snK3eO-CZnpSZzSEdmomQUfnp1tPgVCoKnpBCh0XKVCtQZxJxJkrGbp9iaO6bfRo5VXqYuXGRZHKlrTWJx9v7n0Jwj4-iAo/s400/TakeASeat.jpg" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN"></span></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-66614428243604030422011-04-09T22:08:00.000+01:002011-04-09T22:08:11.940+01:00Sights and sounds along the Union Canal<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Scotland it is easy to develop an almost obsessive adoration of the sun. Over the past few days we have experienced warmth that has felt more like summer. This sudden heat has the flowering trees turning their sweet stirrings up to 11. You can see the effect on people’s faces; we are all walking around blissfully assaulted by the pleasure of nature's lustful exchanges.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So before we start today’s walk let’s stop to see the blossoms at Saughton Park near The Water of Leith trail. We can stand beneath the trees and hope for a breeze that will loosen some petals and create a soft pink rain just for us.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPMkq2_aU-obAc6lnemLQTxLvWEtXoaQbmk4VuC78VVRW8QUlzWkd08GzEPcNI6la2cgQM5yNQxcooPGJH_aItblstg6abrR9r5weVqXH2PoMTnfmGGBBaGMJGERG8XXrLXq7_t1i5kk/s1600/FlowerPetals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggPMkq2_aU-obAc6lnemLQTxLvWEtXoaQbmk4VuC78VVRW8QUlzWkd08GzEPcNI6la2cgQM5yNQxcooPGJH_aItblstg6abrR9r5weVqXH2PoMTnfmGGBBaGMJGERG8XXrLXq7_t1i5kk/s400/FlowerPetals.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSb0SHkbgLz_SvUgu0IwEeboppu7pMsPYv1ehgz5QXPEBJ2x3kL-iBD_UyhvMDvvXkELlWT-jvzjiLWn-oVX-54PFb7-8wQ62KhhfVDhZzGz48ihjFnu0-eEbIXdz8Ygj_l89K_gxhws/s1600/SaughtonPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSb0SHkbgLz_SvUgu0IwEeboppu7pMsPYv1ehgz5QXPEBJ2x3kL-iBD_UyhvMDvvXkELlWT-jvzjiLWn-oVX-54PFb7-8wQ62KhhfVDhZzGz48ihjFnu0-eEbIXdz8Ygj_l89K_gxhws/s400/SaughtonPark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBfC6wC2WdPVE3BzQztjXff5FBKBEQjOFkd8o7NybzI7ZAHhBizefjaOftEHIRdNMPZKPrIvaoq-ZNKCwEcwQR8t7kQclz09AfwSrrPuxxF5WDFsa5gwAioki2YCcYuFmCHm-85Zvt_8/s1600/WaterOfLeith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBfC6wC2WdPVE3BzQztjXff5FBKBEQjOFkd8o7NybzI7ZAHhBizefjaOftEHIRdNMPZKPrIvaoq-ZNKCwEcwQR8t7kQclz09AfwSrrPuxxF5WDFsa5gwAioki2YCcYuFmCHm-85Zvt_8/s320/WaterOfLeith.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Pocket Mountain Edinburgh walk for <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/falkirk/unioncanal/index.html">Union Canal</a> to the Quay at Fountainbridge starts in Slateford near the Water of Leith Visitor Centre.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From here you actually have many options for walking. You could cross the road and head into the trees towards <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/2009/04/kissing-yews-malleny-garden.html">Balnerno</a>, or walk beneath the canal all the way to Leith.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you had all day (or a bicycle) you could follow the canal out of the city towards Linlithgow. Or, as we are today, you could take the meandering route back towards the city where the canal ends at Fountainbridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Union Canal is 50 kilometres long, extending all the way to Falkirk and its <a href="http://www.thefalkirkwheel.co.uk/">famous wheel</a>. The canal has no locks. It snakes through the countryside over aqueducts and through tunnels, creating as it goes a microcosm of wildness, a stretched-out pond with thick grass lining its banks like a perpetually receding hairline.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g8duaCj1zldUIVS8CKmfqUrZPp6_-2z-a_KuJnbQvscQxrW_2IM8QHu4o7_SXapjitVo9GB2TtZoV148kN2TMmQYmkdwUor_jWjuM5YRnozXMIiOOPdexBQw-8Irv8ECDpkL-Za7ca4/s1600/CanalView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g8duaCj1zldUIVS8CKmfqUrZPp6_-2z-a_KuJnbQvscQxrW_2IM8QHu4o7_SXapjitVo9GB2TtZoV148kN2TMmQYmkdwUor_jWjuM5YRnozXMIiOOPdexBQw-8Irv8ECDpkL-Za7ca4/s400/CanalView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwME3n1LnvUbx7MWCm-_AJh9wg4HUJm87vnNBI9aViRamefSsV8TBn7F7ejSmnKyOIb4nK5gmQhd27n_56TWOQY_QA8DdWWFkc94rI3OX3OAvD1bNh-c3A66NmGnt5yrOqw27WldQlJek/s1600/SlatefordCanal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwME3n1LnvUbx7MWCm-_AJh9wg4HUJm87vnNBI9aViRamefSsV8TBn7F7ejSmnKyOIb4nK5gmQhd27n_56TWOQY_QA8DdWWFkc94rI3OX3OAvD1bNh-c3A66NmGnt5yrOqw27WldQlJek/s400/SlatefordCanal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdg5V6hYmS9dozl0fwmC9F03Py8vNz_KUY4DMXLVOTxFzHDxHq17Uxrw7mq92Dof-fMant8rtwp8hmdlDVkGkCL85HJmTbOm-yYu-YPDzuGgAZ5_sqqgb_KPpmu9NBWT5VYu5cvl1L0s/s1600/Sculpture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdg5V6hYmS9dozl0fwmC9F03Py8vNz_KUY4DMXLVOTxFzHDxHq17Uxrw7mq92Dof-fMant8rtwp8hmdlDVkGkCL85HJmTbOm-yYu-YPDzuGgAZ5_sqqgb_KPpmu9NBWT5VYu5cvl1L0s/s320/Sculpture.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those with an interest in architecture and engineering, this easy walk allows you to traverse 183 metres over the 8-arched Slateford Aqueduct.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cobbled pathway across is narrow and uneven, which creates the vision of a comical tumble into the water every time you need to pass someone walking or cycling in the other direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When I started the walk, it was with my ipod playing. However my impulse to drown out any sounds from the nearby city was overwhelmed by the many flurries of natural sounds that vied for my attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon the pressure of birdsong made any man-made clutter a nuisance, and I removed my earphones with grateful relief.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oS2-lTmMzqXlVWczj026FmGHZGUKZhSAegew8vRnP4ilvG7d00Z61lrPoAU98nJHbZorPTR7UEPKt9roqN9EDoREgz9O9Qh7warlgLMBT5FzTFS6rCg_qiZFD6wvx2sYmZmZ1-MbML8/s1600/TakeASeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oS2-lTmMzqXlVWczj026FmGHZGUKZhSAegew8vRnP4ilvG7d00Z61lrPoAU98nJHbZorPTR7UEPKt9roqN9EDoREgz9O9Qh7warlgLMBT5FzTFS6rCg_qiZFD6wvx2sYmZmZ1-MbML8/s400/TakeASeat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE5IcHMk1VqMjonyshXPFDzFEvcdXh2wrQwPiLbPVNK-N_svht9LPf7IGSjYfcb8Gn3Kv00oMV68fvOr_vpLW74dDhPBDrgefoUWrOtJLS6YYaS8yun1wCUSsLEW6UAXCLt6mDf2rYhk/s1600/WaterFlowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqE5IcHMk1VqMjonyshXPFDzFEvcdXh2wrQwPiLbPVNK-N_svht9LPf7IGSjYfcb8Gn3Kv00oMV68fvOr_vpLW74dDhPBDrgefoUWrOtJLS6YYaS8yun1wCUSsLEW6UAXCLt6mDf2rYhk/s400/WaterFlowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWQ8zfdylSihS4l44HAmJRl2bg-UKV8TKOzcNhALzNuXsBiJPYauEIR6ocVZKHFj0GrXnMTvwkbr2MgIum7Dm2JA2M-EL1s91a1FzXC5oZ4AYCv8dLp1lHXaoC9HdKxcSIZTIP_1Ox58/s1600/CanalDucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWQ8zfdylSihS4l44HAmJRl2bg-UKV8TKOzcNhALzNuXsBiJPYauEIR6ocVZKHFj0GrXnMTvwkbr2MgIum7Dm2JA2M-EL1s91a1FzXC5oZ4AYCv8dLp1lHXaoC9HdKxcSIZTIP_1Ox58/s400/CanalDucks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmAdDpINdJ0LFMODgG7-RCVNL2jMy5EZsRUuUemBtPvz_8gx3PUeGsubXSrODhPCLVHSg7SM41EySQz42U5Ti3PAdk3PPvRNVTODE4ag5vSucjvvFwztDfXRrBk_1QRvAmMFpCp5gcyI/s1600/WalkingBuddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmAdDpINdJ0LFMODgG7-RCVNL2jMy5EZsRUuUemBtPvz_8gx3PUeGsubXSrODhPCLVHSg7SM41EySQz42U5Ti3PAdk3PPvRNVTODE4ag5vSucjvvFwztDfXRrBk_1QRvAmMFpCp5gcyI/s400/WalkingBuddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yUtzLmQcT_8VM1Fqhyphenhyphen1RPJ3zw4Q3YPcS4qZIz8_p5V_fUVvtDvDDsG6KL9bmSs8QY9zkhrvuT0o6yAt4WatA81xRqLZ_1zp9tYJPdadbSrUwhEITVr22mWcQUb7rGsgzJC4F3hVLwQg/s1600/BeesThisBig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yUtzLmQcT_8VM1Fqhyphenhyphen1RPJ3zw4Q3YPcS4qZIz8_p5V_fUVvtDvDDsG6KL9bmSs8QY9zkhrvuT0o6yAt4WatA81xRqLZ_1zp9tYJPdadbSrUwhEITVr22mWcQUb7rGsgzJC4F3hVLwQg/s320/BeesThisBig.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Between these bubbles of the wild world, where the fat bees practice their areonautic lumbering from blossom to blossom and the ducks divide their glances between suspicion and the hope of bread, there are people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are joggers, dog walkers, and cyclists with their sudden bell ringing that can cause you to jump out of your skin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Among my favourite fellow canal users are the rowers, often members of the <a href="http://www.standrewboatclub.com/">St. Andrews Boat club</a>. I wonder at their patience as they manage a few pulls on their oars before slight bends in the canal cause them to have to slow down and realign themselves.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxiTKq-11N0PjDC29uuaPlKR-F8HRKN1YEks9W7oRIL-qPa7Dkgo5t2LS2TCKVEb-Gn6diwm2oXwIrMueivpkvuDpr-zTwDg_FA4rbgBUoiTqlafpSm_UR3j4hpSZIoqqOWy2Oa5rntM/s1600/StAndrewsRowing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxiTKq-11N0PjDC29uuaPlKR-F8HRKN1YEks9W7oRIL-qPa7Dkgo5t2LS2TCKVEb-Gn6diwm2oXwIrMueivpkvuDpr-zTwDg_FA4rbgBUoiTqlafpSm_UR3j4hpSZIoqqOWy2Oa5rntM/s400/StAndrewsRowing.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But my most loved sight is that of the canal boats, which in my mind float along as symbols of freedom and an affinity with the natural world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">True, the route is a simple 50 kilometres one way or the other, but it is 50 slow kilometres, with plenty of places along the way to tie up and spend a night or two. The world changes, the world stays the same. Beautiful.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaDWyVAeVgpwgZyzOZpRYuIKdy7ksJhOXbh1FBzSDV5HuAU_n9Iho77DlpqJnTCZm80CXv0cQIVm-pYus4weGzDE9PrAnDHsaf_Y9YZroaWnq3fMX5SSmEXgH_rJVC6qoFvaeEC3sBRM/s1600/TieUpHere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaDWyVAeVgpwgZyzOZpRYuIKdy7ksJhOXbh1FBzSDV5HuAU_n9Iho77DlpqJnTCZm80CXv0cQIVm-pYus4weGzDE9PrAnDHsaf_Y9YZroaWnq3fMX5SSmEXgH_rJVC6qoFvaeEC3sBRM/s400/TieUpHere.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4g4KVslc5rzSpRovyMuSs84dWu8RU_BMO4GeWlKJXH9z_YETpUCQ4Yr_ihdb2TyUi_sDwhDBSMbzaAScuyKRCQZTAMHrT-DqnIJ0T-Edsd8jRQaHt7ipRfIwS42ahbdyDmJlq8LfB_k/s1600/CanalView2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4g4KVslc5rzSpRovyMuSs84dWu8RU_BMO4GeWlKJXH9z_YETpUCQ4Yr_ihdb2TyUi_sDwhDBSMbzaAScuyKRCQZTAMHrT-DqnIJ0T-Edsd8jRQaHt7ipRfIwS42ahbdyDmJlq8LfB_k/s400/CanalView2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBhBPvdRglO1LZbLsN0GxLRHJuubREXCNFq1hgiYkQq0cJBZ9lGqS9m269ZGCzpW-U8LMBAU6j5PnMIT3iFXuZLFNmIQpPZLSPmplI0usRutHMyavPzdiAW117mI38ZL1F28aAaIz484/s1600/CakeAtLoudons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBhBPvdRglO1LZbLsN0GxLRHJuubREXCNFq1hgiYkQq0cJBZ9lGqS9m269ZGCzpW-U8LMBAU6j5PnMIT3iFXuZLFNmIQpPZLSPmplI0usRutHMyavPzdiAW117mI38ZL1F28aAaIz484/s320/CakeAtLoudons.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the end of our walk we emerge at Fountainbridge, an area of Edinburgh that has received a welcome facelift over the past few years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are some charming cafes now, and on a Sunday morning, if you time it right, you can be at <a href="http://www.loudons-cafe.co.uk/">Loudon’s</a> just after opening time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A stack of papers will be waiting, as well as the possibility of a cooked breakfast or just a coffee and a piece of cake. In this case the moist and subtle lime, yoghurt, pistachio and rose water cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for walking along with me. You’ve earned a treat. Tuck in!</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-67021622576671363512011-04-03T20:51:00.000+01:002011-04-03T20:51:46.616+01:00Early spring on the Fife Coastal Path<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get your shoes; we’re going out. Yes, I know our supplies of tea and biscuits are here but they’ll be here when we get back. Yes, I promise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have your train ticket. We’re going to <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/queensferry/northqueensferry/index.html">North Queensferry</a>, and although I am sad to say I haven’t the necessary funds to treat you to a meal at the renowned <a href="http://www.theweerestaurant.co.uk/">Wee Restaurant</a>, I will let you stand beneath the mountainous Forth Rail Bridge and pretend you are a giant who has built the whole thing out of enormous Meccano pieces. Yes, you can do the sound effects.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV9psBqZz8L9K5C6BemiR6GjjkT5kf9s8hN8JH4lSxEhyphenhyphen4Hsk2C8_ANbHFcXzhtBIOKho2hmTlbyJ7Ha-721EGfTUhGS4dVI6DnkfQIouFmk33eTs1RG0NFRbCX8iM861FV3auAfa66w/s1600/ForthRailBridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPV9psBqZz8L9K5C6BemiR6GjjkT5kf9s8hN8JH4lSxEhyphenhyphen4Hsk2C8_ANbHFcXzhtBIOKho2hmTlbyJ7Ha-721EGfTUhGS4dVI6DnkfQIouFmk33eTs1RG0NFRbCX8iM861FV3auAfa66w/s400/ForthRailBridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">North Queensferry is the start of the <a href="http://www.fifecoastalpath.co.uk/">Fife Coastal Path</a> - aren’t you excited?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have barely started the walk and have yet to enter the small but diverse <a href="http://www.swt-fife.org.uk/reserve8.htm">Carlingnose Point Wildlife Reserve</a>, when we have to stop for a bit of house envy. For there, jutting out into the Forth, in all its white-with-terracotta- accents glory, is a home that appears to have its own wee lighthouse. Helpful for keeping an amused eye on jealous tourists, I would guess. Sigh.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Vcq368OngQQDAZCFbjmNa3rmYs_6DBa_mhmRhJJelEAUDEM_kmxeGWQkaBl1NiT6VTUneftPUZddpscfXW-WRHHhn4oD2PpXgn5Fi17kwPr6nVfeN_TfMm23Zy3sPh_pKSaCPj2KuLM/s1600/N.QueensferryHouseEnvy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Vcq368OngQQDAZCFbjmNa3rmYs_6DBa_mhmRhJJelEAUDEM_kmxeGWQkaBl1NiT6VTUneftPUZddpscfXW-WRHHhn4oD2PpXgn5Fi17kwPr6nVfeN_TfMm23Zy3sPh_pKSaCPj2KuLM/s400/N.QueensferryHouseEnvy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dspYGuVfsmqWhdih07Ye_T09BgYcDlv28dOC6w4ACRxzsOIP290qcLWyzWOfhRi_iDlkwh8nFZGfUS5AQNfi83fHjbThjmYvMg9Zb_MFLq9H-c0pgsOmFB_S4uvoM-hzgTsdJWbvoWs/s1600/FifeCoastalPath2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dspYGuVfsmqWhdih07Ye_T09BgYcDlv28dOC6w4ACRxzsOIP290qcLWyzWOfhRi_iDlkwh8nFZGfUS5AQNfi83fHjbThjmYvMg9Zb_MFLq9H-c0pgsOmFB_S4uvoM-hzgTsdJWbvoWs/s320/FifeCoastalPath2.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A moving tangle of birdsong follows us as we walk, while the sun glints off the water and the slow-moving boats hulk past.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we reach a small beach, we turn our backs to the posh houses and admire instead the view of tall grass and soft sand, and the sound of the waves speaking in wet whispers to the shore.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX76wqhx-DWY49oC8stS_GpCCcmTNyrQC7JoiZz8ptgbi9-pHUI-7OouMsoVBDY9mQDeggqBuZHBL0-AnuwE83NBnrl-Ay9BDxuhSUh1hVhxJl02dE9yDPHHds_5-YLFcx5FQz5SxW4U/s1600/FifeCoastalPath_beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtX76wqhx-DWY49oC8stS_GpCCcmTNyrQC7JoiZz8ptgbi9-pHUI-7OouMsoVBDY9mQDeggqBuZHBL0-AnuwE83NBnrl-Ay9BDxuhSUh1hVhxJl02dE9yDPHHds_5-YLFcx5FQz5SxW4U/s400/FifeCoastalPath_beach.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIcv_8RsJitmrvqd0lTTJ7JycQyjamr64uNTYGLpj7a1Wxsf7OXDGWZl0ZYz2Vu_LyJfndE6dvdmSW-YKU67gWfRop8OfZz_zjj5z5slWTLtLhe6KgevOF9gdhQxBINCQiTarWCeXNvY/s1600/ClawofDoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxIcv_8RsJitmrvqd0lTTJ7JycQyjamr64uNTYGLpj7a1Wxsf7OXDGWZl0ZYz2Vu_LyJfndE6dvdmSW-YKU67gWfRop8OfZz_zjj5z5slWTLtLhe6KgevOF9gdhQxBINCQiTarWCeXNvY/s320/ClawofDoom.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon however, things start to change.The natural world is slowly erased by scenes of industry and our trail passes right by a rather massive scrap metal recycling facility.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over and over the giant claws come down, heaving chunks of cars and old refrigerators onto a conveyor belt. The pieces ride the belt into THE MACHINE and are spat out again as smaller pieces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In terms of tourism jargon, the section of the trail leading into the town of <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/inverkeithing/inverkeithing/index.html">Inverkeithing</a> could be marketed to those with an interest in seeing what a post apocalyptic Scotland might look like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Luckily, Inverkeithing’s town centre possesses more charm, including St. Peter’s Kirk and Fordell’s Lodging, the latter of which dates from 1670. As we cut down from the town towards the water again, there is a quirky wee house that looks like a thermos stuck onto the side of an 1980’s haircut.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_Eqm-2Y9gG-UW2zCkquBmpObqHAlRdbf0YbBy0dDT5mKdY9lJMNm3BZmY4-AizzlZWeODX_RqqtUMtMM9yTpyhSW-yjNyknKKEvd6jzEkySser7TPJCDuBHTVs9A374E8ML9zqW_LDM/s1600/InverkeithingSt.PetersKirk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_Eqm-2Y9gG-UW2zCkquBmpObqHAlRdbf0YbBy0dDT5mKdY9lJMNm3BZmY4-AizzlZWeODX_RqqtUMtMM9yTpyhSW-yjNyknKKEvd6jzEkySser7TPJCDuBHTVs9A374E8ML9zqW_LDM/s400/InverkeithingSt.PetersKirk.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCQVGKs-QbXg1bMtjiu2LIpZYHAfzstK2IOuIJc5v938ozlQkQQwjLkyTRyYoGXIUBMn4fA6S_ZPqfQa3gc5UOQm5vyHcICkUcnRZ3lAbTs8aoAhSJN3tPr2a83Tzx43WwuBuPqKA-vw/s1600/InverkeithingFordellsLodging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibCQVGKs-QbXg1bMtjiu2LIpZYHAfzstK2IOuIJc5v938ozlQkQQwjLkyTRyYoGXIUBMn4fA6S_ZPqfQa3gc5UOQm5vyHcICkUcnRZ3lAbTs8aoAhSJN3tPr2a83Tzx43WwuBuPqKA-vw/s400/InverkeithingFordellsLodging.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3_7Ru71eeYE4VpQy_LxUn4re9SkEW48L90YzU94TkAYyigZ7Jzz2co9EfoJfV2lEXKKEESC6EEzMttCiPjgY5tEkMbRyPfFGpmO8rnxIbl_Oh8yEDbz_9f57X42TfIKUtMO0imJ8fYY/s1600/InterestingArchitechture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3_7Ru71eeYE4VpQy_LxUn4re9SkEW48L90YzU94TkAYyigZ7Jzz2co9EfoJfV2lEXKKEESC6EEzMttCiPjgY5tEkMbRyPfFGpmO8rnxIbl_Oh8yEDbz_9f57X42TfIKUtMO0imJ8fYY/s400/InterestingArchitechture.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RT13xnjXlvRXLSXwo3dS4TAP6yYMdCVAmgNC9LVz8SsU4T_w0bsrAZ3xAt4BL3Yy-zZfX7RJ6Bu0p84ifWpfD_lEZ3rSXwX1HryK6GjWyfwJwMZIImAiel-8juSQ8EWlgXAQeM0wzvQ/s1600/StDavidsHarbour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_RT13xnjXlvRXLSXwo3dS4TAP6yYMdCVAmgNC9LVz8SsU4T_w0bsrAZ3xAt4BL3Yy-zZfX7RJ6Bu0p84ifWpfD_lEZ3rSXwX1HryK6GjWyfwJwMZIImAiel-8juSQ8EWlgXAQeM0wzvQ/s320/StDavidsHarbour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You're not tired yet, are you? Come on, one foot in front of the other.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As we first enter the suburban stretch of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalgety_Bay">Dalgety Bay</a>, we pass through the eerily pristine world of St. David’s Harbour Village, which looks a great place to film a Scottish version of The Stepford Wives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Where we may be suspicious of the new and almost too-perfect, we are charmed by the area around Donibristle Bay, with the beautiful 18th century wings of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donibristle">Donibristle House</a> and the sight of boats bobbing in the small harbour.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP__hUMXVSXVtV_kzB8qUNm0Z638w6-F_g6FkHE6Wi-jvzbeHIJ66JAHYaN7AC-VbkS8lpnptVhoN_Uky0N8J_w9BikqBEjLhcjJxm7Rr_Z2Mn7DUilHWJfCMfE0NW4TB9ZsGJQYu_74/s1600/FifeCoastalPathDonibristle+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbP__hUMXVSXVtV_kzB8qUNm0Z638w6-F_g6FkHE6Wi-jvzbeHIJ66JAHYaN7AC-VbkS8lpnptVhoN_Uky0N8J_w9BikqBEjLhcjJxm7Rr_Z2Mn7DUilHWJfCMfE0NW4TB9ZsGJQYu_74/s400/FifeCoastalPathDonibristle+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuemWY2ZiLyq0j6MgTaDegsi5WDRx6nDS0UmOthGTSp9rYSJk6l3sHvO3qVpRGArBTbT9zea0Vgiq-3qt_hsiHwWvj58kv6vum5-YrMmtHVkDH96YYMHWzR3PuRP4kBzQnQkAOy1DjVA/s1600/FifeCoastalDonbristleBay2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuemWY2ZiLyq0j6MgTaDegsi5WDRx6nDS0UmOthGTSp9rYSJk6l3sHvO3qVpRGArBTbT9zea0Vgiq-3qt_hsiHwWvj58kv6vum5-YrMmtHVkDH96YYMHWzR3PuRP4kBzQnQkAOy1DjVA/s400/FifeCoastalDonbristleBay2.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time to stop for a rest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sorry, I forgot to bring sandwiches. I do however have an organic, gluten-free seed bar in my bag. No? I didn’t think so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Never mind. Have a seat on the bench, just for a wee minute or so:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuvDdJJ7XYXGOyx0MNPzpoukIOFbO8UbP7BgAU7yvZ8-sz_6IA8urWdAuqI8x9BGzpjMpm0mTmU-FmtVdFzK28c2Jhc5EWmODQmcbuCrWLrCChWPwEIPQj-lhdKXxO66UE5BA74hGlzk/s1600/FifeCoastalDonbristleBay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYuvDdJJ7XYXGOyx0MNPzpoukIOFbO8UbP7BgAU7yvZ8-sz_6IA8urWdAuqI8x9BGzpjMpm0mTmU-FmtVdFzK28c2Jhc5EWmODQmcbuCrWLrCChWPwEIPQj-lhdKXxO66UE5BA74hGlzk/s400/FifeCoastalDonbristleBay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DnBcQyYTThw0wxeHj0aQV6nl38aTXrzIKEPckSHL-CKcsK45pfMhPi0fbWBDacpdvw-BZISL8q7Bv6QCy-hhSe-fMKFIRavGFpj5xe_xyUOvi0BYV2IS3-425uS54PuKDl7LpuNyKLA/s1600/StBridgetsChurch4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8DnBcQyYTThw0wxeHj0aQV6nl38aTXrzIKEPckSHL-CKcsK45pfMhPi0fbWBDacpdvw-BZISL8q7Bv6QCy-hhSe-fMKFIRavGFpj5xe_xyUOvi0BYV2IS3-425uS54PuKDl7LpuNyKLA/s320/StBridgetsChurch4.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continuing on, we reach the highlight of our walk: a roofless rectangle of ruins that are made all the more mysterious by their location overlooking the bay.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There was a time, more than 800 years ago, that <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/aberdour/stbridgetschurch/index.html">St. Bridget’s Church</a> would have been the centre of village life for the community. Here the dead lie parallel to the shore, but time has caused the stones to sink crookedly, the wind and rain gradually scrubbing the names away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can wander this stone shell as long as we want, wondering at how the sun seems just as happy to warm abandoned walls. We take care to close the gate behind us when we leave, taking with us the ring of indifference the quiet click makes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDMlw0OETTMw-2TwXTNLLKqoej0bBV7O4qXTOWYWE6-xPAJAkfOZYQh0FYiGGLb6As-78omI8a7B2KLBnikVg1PmlTetDOq7NdbnK3VK397E1-rBvC5tXbA-FkevoGXyhPSGmp2gmqps/s1600/StBridgetsChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGDMlw0OETTMw-2TwXTNLLKqoej0bBV7O4qXTOWYWE6-xPAJAkfOZYQh0FYiGGLb6As-78omI8a7B2KLBnikVg1PmlTetDOq7NdbnK3VK397E1-rBvC5tXbA-FkevoGXyhPSGmp2gmqps/s400/StBridgetsChurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt5UCrvniiTAjWXE0XRSVqbF7BhkXZCOtzRyDqbSpP_FJj5IU_eH9zpvovIaBK0Pp0aRTO5fVLkUtW9v39vADLtWKleHNrDklcf0ZzkrUTjLJuuABt3h9YbJ09uQSRPH3C8OFyv_F3kY/s1600/StBridgetsChurch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt5UCrvniiTAjWXE0XRSVqbF7BhkXZCOtzRyDqbSpP_FJj5IU_eH9zpvovIaBK0Pp0aRTO5fVLkUtW9v39vADLtWKleHNrDklcf0ZzkrUTjLJuuABt3h9YbJ09uQSRPH3C8OFyv_F3kY/s400/StBridgetsChurch2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uyBbK1RrgNsZuUIiTlLCGKXZFS2-faZq9HDOZa_knYceXW1fUd_pbF8eAp9ThUqSB0zSShU7xUQ-vCQx4JVQE-WnCOi5Wb5G0ab7tVAci1v22Bit97F5Ap7L5-zHNGQ33G9sj8s0UwQ/s1600/StBridgetsChurch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0uyBbK1RrgNsZuUIiTlLCGKXZFS2-faZq9HDOZa_knYceXW1fUd_pbF8eAp9ThUqSB0zSShU7xUQ-vCQx4JVQE-WnCOi5Wb5G0ab7tVAci1v22Bit97F5Ap7L5-zHNGQ33G9sj8s0UwQ/s400/StBridgetsChurch3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPnFDcHoIUGNHgwNaCvy064V9tURDsiqcDxITbSdgZSkgdVXLGC0MReAJ-UVRPsjVwJLzwxhTFuYqgIl8WqOxA-WNYObRew-mvDiC1FmvYJWidcXGPYjZxFQ32IsDvt7XKi285sXvi40/s1600/StBridgetsChurch5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPnFDcHoIUGNHgwNaCvy064V9tURDsiqcDxITbSdgZSkgdVXLGC0MReAJ-UVRPsjVwJLzwxhTFuYqgIl8WqOxA-WNYObRew-mvDiC1FmvYJWidcXGPYjZxFQ32IsDvt7XKi285sXvi40/s400/StBridgetsChurch5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now we have just to reach Aberdour and the train home, for that is as far are we are going today. Unfortunately we have missed the opening times for <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/aberdour/aberdourcastle/index.html">Aberdour Castle</a>, but we shall try this another day because the gardens are meant to be lovely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But before Aberdour, one last, grand view out to <a href="http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertydetail/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_155&PropName=Inchcolm%20Abbey">Inchcolm Island</a>, home to Scotland’s best preserved group of monastic buildings. The island and the abbey sit like a postage stamp, enveloped by the busy Forth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGb2ZCtoJYqUZJmwTwvJKwiToxEp03fm2rPLixqaTC5JM03eQKnoT5lClLa12CnFldE00QLf8Z-3nuyv3hPpEZ63NXAzGpWJcNvxYLjMM9IA3-6H7Khr24FOLwFCOSK9UkYQGhh3ekhs/s1600/InchcolmAbbey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGb2ZCtoJYqUZJmwTwvJKwiToxEp03fm2rPLixqaTC5JM03eQKnoT5lClLa12CnFldE00QLf8Z-3nuyv3hPpEZ63NXAzGpWJcNvxYLjMM9IA3-6H7Khr24FOLwFCOSK9UkYQGhh3ekhs/s400/InchcolmAbbey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There - you’ve done it. You’re lucky I didn’t make you walk all the way to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burntisland">Burntisland</a>, which had been my original plan. But I can see that you’re knackered and could do with a cuppa and a biscuit or four. I’ll boil the kettle and you dig the digestives out of the cupboard. Deal? </span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-50856962308870067722011-03-31T07:50:00.000+01:002011-03-31T07:50:29.317+01:00Giveaway winners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheonCI13MhGnIsAyD9DpSSxSP0DVlUA8odYJ5-dXFJXWyFzn5A32zG3PDz5FS0N5Nz8zzi-GAz552dtCu6Jra8kOB_Ossg2ZQ3hqCBhKSoBy2OJ3wV5Z7Mm7tCjfVYJ-ZC2Ak87jZP3SI/s1600/TartanFlowersZoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheonCI13MhGnIsAyD9DpSSxSP0DVlUA8odYJ5-dXFJXWyFzn5A32zG3PDz5FS0N5Nz8zzi-GAz552dtCu6Jra8kOB_Ossg2ZQ3hqCBhKSoBy2OJ3wV5Z7Mm7tCjfVYJ-ZC2Ak87jZP3SI/s200/TartanFlowersZoom.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank to everyone who has taken part in my latest giveaway! Going to a new home are three adorable wee pots with tartan flowers, made by the lovely and talented Tracey at <a href="http://www.pebbleheart.co.uk/">Pebble Heart</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emerging from the hat of treats, the winners are…</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://kayhaleartist.blogspot.com/">Kay</a>, who would love to travel the north of Scotland with her sons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://anniesquilting.blogspot.com/">Annie</a>, who lists a visit to Edinburgh with her daughter as her first choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, lover of all things Scottish <a href="http://ajb47.wordpress.com/">Journeys to Scotland</a> would take her mum to Perth.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Could all the winners email me their addresses and your wee flower pots will be landing in your mail boxes in no time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you to Tracey for sponsoring this giveaway. More of Tracey's work can be seen on her <a href="http://www.pebbleheart.co.uk/">website</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big squeeze from rainy Edinburgh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sxx</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-51439516278940595692011-03-28T18:26:00.002+01:002011-03-28T21:17:50.273+01:00Scottish cheese: An introduction to Orkney Grimbister<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Simple pleasure of the day: stopping by <a href="http://www.mellischeese.co.uk/MellisHome.asp">my favourite cheese shop</a> on the way home and being the only customer. Normally there is a queue out the door and there is no chance to allow the cheese experts to guide you through the hills and valleys of delightful dairy morsels of make-me-swoon deliciousness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But today, no queue. I walked right in and exclaimed to the man behind the counter, “I LOVE CHEESE!” To which he replied with equal verve, “NOT AS MUCH AS ME!” Immediately I knew he would not let me down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I requested to try some Scottish <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdie">Crowdie</a>, because it has been on my list of cheeses to explore in more depth. Alas they didn’t have any, so instead he recommended the Orkney Grimbister, which he says is like taking crowdie and squishing it until it is hard and less crumbly.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1IzSF4s_3VDYM9F54xeM0QIw2eo6bP_Uw-389tscjvljtmHOmKktGNyOqbnkzF66f_tHHrprHsCRQ-Ksdwfw6lTY6KvPOswNUpg5eis_wSgScR-4RrHkWB0o0HmppZpp0F4zS0Kf2Qw/s1600/GrimbisterCheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1IzSF4s_3VDYM9F54xeM0QIw2eo6bP_Uw-389tscjvljtmHOmKktGNyOqbnkzF66f_tHHrprHsCRQ-Ksdwfw6lTY6KvPOswNUpg5eis_wSgScR-4RrHkWB0o0HmppZpp0F4zS0Kf2Qw/s400/GrimbisterCheese.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like crowdie it is mild and lovely with oatcakes. There is a whisper of nuttiness but the main impression is its freshness and cleanness, if that makes sense. Scottish cheese is known for the influence of the deep, rich grass that the cows eat. Orkney Grimbister certainly has that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re mostly fond of powerful cheeses, the Grimbister (like crowdie) may not be the one for you. My Scotsman wasn’t keen on it, saying it just didn’t have enough punch. But I like the lightness and subtle creaminess. It would be perfect to have along for a picnic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When in Scotland, buy cheese. From a proper cheese shop. The cheese here is remarkable. It will make you groan while you are eating samples in the shop. Just roll with it. Everyone will be jealous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks for everyone who has entered my wee giveaway for the tartan flowers in the pots. There’s still time to <a href="http://scotland4thesenses.blogspot.com/2011/03/touch-of-tartan-for-mothers-day.html">pop over</a> and leave a comment to enter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now…more cheese….</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-68879619236559785382011-03-26T14:17:00.004+00:002011-04-01T07:19:22.133+01:00A touch of tartan for Mother's Day (giveaway!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e8HbYZlWC3UnuWaHEEj6WJNyn00yZYxjj5OQ93LLmd13ZSJCbmsA4KQyVvvR7-qf4U3kCmFN_Q6lYTqA2TT0NXI8MQl4OlqbQNCJXlbHCAGRstbgtHHlYkwuMfXkGJbfgjN2fOUrYLE/s1600/TartanFlowers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4e8HbYZlWC3UnuWaHEEj6WJNyn00yZYxjj5OQ93LLmd13ZSJCbmsA4KQyVvvR7-qf4U3kCmFN_Q6lYTqA2TT0NXI8MQl4OlqbQNCJXlbHCAGRstbgtHHlYkwuMfXkGJbfgjN2fOUrYLE/s320/TartanFlowers2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s been a while since I’ve done a giveaway! With Mothering Sunday coming up, I was thrilled to hear from <a href="http://beadspaperglue.blogspot.com/">fellow blogger</a> Tracey, a local Edinburgh crafty mum who wanted to give a little piece of Scotland to a few lucky moms out there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of Tracey’s most popular creations is a small flower pot containing a paper bouquet of kusudama flowers (kusudama is a form or origami).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tracey has used three colours of tartan paper to add a Scottish twist (or in this case, fold) to these darling wee pots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As usual this giveaway is airmail friendly. The flowers are slightly delicate but I promise to be very careful when sending them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks07zplcyf2JJi9A40bq1pc7AGTHZ4Y_zQbuc9N1_tKD6okiM59rjquMQGI-61-g-mJgd1p0s_ohyphenhyphen7Wurx5BK7Qi6CwWdBoEhMttVl16qHMP7MHybgChfwsO13pRzQy-k5-njFeDFS-c/s1600/TartanFlowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhks07zplcyf2JJi9A40bq1pc7AGTHZ4Y_zQbuc9N1_tKD6okiM59rjquMQGI-61-g-mJgd1p0s_ohyphenhyphen7Wurx5BK7Qi6CwWdBoEhMttVl16qHMP7MHybgChfwsO13pRzQy-k5-njFeDFS-c/s400/TartanFlowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3QRzgIvQF1nOmuVNwz2zhccRCT5mpU8yip4cowPoKLxiZsYqX4y4rMEQg2mp-vG57c3DkWEt9z9oWCGT7BPHg0nYdWJg8BTToE5_jaAKLRpP6mJxqUR3jEl7lOZASZ-6qlXsBQ_sZ8Q/s1600/TartanFlowersZoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3QRzgIvQF1nOmuVNwz2zhccRCT5mpU8yip4cowPoKLxiZsYqX4y4rMEQg2mp-vG57c3DkWEt9z9oWCGT7BPHg0nYdWJg8BTToE5_jaAKLRpP6mJxqUR3jEl7lOZASZ-6qlXsBQ_sZ8Q/s400/TartanFlowersZoom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are three pots to win! <strong>To enter simply comment below with your answer to one of the following questions:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Where in Scotland would you love to visit with your mom? (if you have a beautiful mother figure in your life, this counts too!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Or</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. If you’re a mom yourself (or if there are children you feel close to, who you love to nurture), where in Scotland would you most like to visit with them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can also enter by emailing your answer to </span><a href="mailto:scotland4thesenses@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">scotland4thesenses@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and including “Tartan flowers” in the subject line.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <strong>deadline</strong> for entries will be <strong>Wednesday, 30 March</strong>. I will draw the names and announce the winners on Thursday 31 March.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can also show Tracey some love by paying her a visit on her blog: </span><a href="http://beadspaperglue.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://beadspaperglue.blogspot.com/</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQMi6oVkQhKfiuPKsuDn_2B9zUPNwfxgJSVmo6Rk4BG_1KAY9Lp1ppsXN-oMsXDPVd3tPajgIMQkfUTqJB2ppZResshioyvylzPcNulfV6diMi0BDZ7QCWWrZkJJJVVZnLE238zQq74/s1600/TartanFlowers3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgQMi6oVkQhKfiuPKsuDn_2B9zUPNwfxgJSVmo6Rk4BG_1KAY9Lp1ppsXN-oMsXDPVd3tPajgIMQkfUTqJB2ppZResshioyvylzPcNulfV6diMi0BDZ7QCWWrZkJJJVVZnLE238zQq74/s400/TartanFlowers3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">********Update*******</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This giveaway has now finished. Congratulations to the winners! </div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-20392204268515004842011-03-24T22:35:00.000+00:002011-03-24T22:35:00.189+00:00Not quite starstuck on Blackford Hill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiEiSSvA-wAnRI6RUdV-1LSpjYcy5syKZ0wPKF7omrc02_uA9RismWrP9vgU11CHY63UIzN6NAjPQah6HHLUyXsxsHhR2IrITvEOgin_otHirwLrb5ED3KUqeF5YNjmCoCNApYYGs-Mk/s1600/ObservatoryTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiEiSSvA-wAnRI6RUdV-1LSpjYcy5syKZ0wPKF7omrc02_uA9RismWrP9vgU11CHY63UIzN6NAjPQah6HHLUyXsxsHhR2IrITvEOgin_otHirwLrb5ED3KUqeF5YNjmCoCNApYYGs-Mk/s320/ObservatoryTower.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Continuing on with our Pocket Mountain collection of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Edinburgh-Country-Walks-Pocket-Mountains/dp/0955082218/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301005899&sr=8-1">Edinburgh walks</a>, I can’t help thinking that the height of summer would have been a better time to make the walk to Blackford Hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the moment the leaves at Cluny Gardens, which lie at the foot of the climb to The Royal Observatory, are just starting to squeeze out of the branches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The world still looks dull and washed out, waiting for that strong push of life that comes when the earth begins to warm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In 1928 Scotland’s largest telescope was lugged up Blackford Hill in pieces, which is how I felt once we reached the top. The wind took over and battered us with every step, although the higher we climbed the better the views over the city.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kXTISEqxARz7J0YNINHI9uxJPyMB56AVqbE_JcudRaoPk6Cw5_K7eeTdeYOCRmQgJQ-JuV7cCcvAReGC4sFun6-Lm45192Z2X0QSzMkU7VX9IilMbmbuXG5WvbBfnS7aJPWujuomCZc/s1600/Observatory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-kXTISEqxARz7J0YNINHI9uxJPyMB56AVqbE_JcudRaoPk6Cw5_K7eeTdeYOCRmQgJQ-JuV7cCcvAReGC4sFun6-Lm45192Z2X0QSzMkU7VX9IilMbmbuXG5WvbBfnS7aJPWujuomCZc/s400/Observatory.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The blackened stones of The Royal Observatory make the building look like the perfect place for an isolated mad scientist to conduct his experiments, all alone atop a dark and windy hilltop. The observatory was built in 1892 when pollution was affecting the original site on Calton Hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite the views we didn’t linger long at the top, given that I had to hold my hood around my head so I looked a little like Kenny from South Park. But I imagine on a warm summer’s evening it would be just the right place to watch the sun go down.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4ZIiBV9LdIs0ojol5NZ1Nb1GA9IeCxIylVpVH8B8o9h3sPkLQJxAhfONX2oXnZBFChOxRta6L7GYIuC2uGDhy5E6hXpSfHsUUYSbBsmLb30upfWw3k26WHHdS-wYFOOM2BJofNSCTE0/s1600/BlackfordHillView2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4ZIiBV9LdIs0ojol5NZ1Nb1GA9IeCxIylVpVH8B8o9h3sPkLQJxAhfONX2oXnZBFChOxRta6L7GYIuC2uGDhy5E6hXpSfHsUUYSbBsmLb30upfWw3k26WHHdS-wYFOOM2BJofNSCTE0/s400/BlackfordHillView2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxjAsu8SiW3BEL1urIIxUWCMS8uAVNZjJKo-8_9QfEJuYBrm6mcc4Ws2hHvy9tC9WJ6qWAb4EWl16YX2T5TSa4hCv03XQIPsOB3bG1XdmWaIuhnVEl43j0jPnMNZX_HZ0Ahw4kKfaHxc/s1600/BlackfordHillView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxjAsu8SiW3BEL1urIIxUWCMS8uAVNZjJKo-8_9QfEJuYBrm6mcc4Ws2hHvy9tC9WJ6qWAb4EWl16YX2T5TSa4hCv03XQIPsOB3bG1XdmWaIuhnVEl43j0jPnMNZX_HZ0Ahw4kKfaHxc/s400/BlackfordHillView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let’s pretend it is one of those warm lovely evenings and the dark has closed over us like a thin blanket, the lights of the city glowing like grounded stars. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We can lean our backs against a stone and stay as long as we like. Or at least until we get peckish and head down for a curry.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMStX0iJGeOl1HuYSnFEeMYwy0FEW7mwETPNuGjo8tp3tZUm1Wq0ck59mRY3f3Oa4Fno1BstTOEtg3iaUt7ChjVFVWCd-aecEL_U60mOSXZODxlJ1Zb87XHSxT7CDlpFNluADYyhYVPU/s1600/EdinburghNightView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMStX0iJGeOl1HuYSnFEeMYwy0FEW7mwETPNuGjo8tp3tZUm1Wq0ck59mRY3f3Oa4Fno1BstTOEtg3iaUt7ChjVFVWCd-aecEL_U60mOSXZODxlJ1Zb87XHSxT7CDlpFNluADYyhYVPU/s400/EdinburghNightView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-44386687563631795142011-03-20T17:48:00.004+00:002011-03-20T18:01:21.224+00:00On the road to Duddingston<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blogging can often surprise you, taking you on adventures you had never expected. It’s especially rewarding when you get the chance to meet and even work with folks you admire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’ve long been a fan of the <a href="http://www.pocketmountains.com/">Pocket Mountains</a> books, a series of handy wee guides to Scotland comprised mostly of town and country walks in various areas of the country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The publishers are aiming to refresh their <a href="http://www.pocketmountains.com/product/edinburgh-40-town-and-country-walks">Edinburgh edition</a> next year, so I’m going to be doing the walks, making notes and just ensuring the routes are still open and clear. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, if I have to go on 40 town and country walks, you’re all coming with me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our first foray is walk #14, “Radical Road from Duddingston,” which starts at the foot of the hills in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyrood_Park">Holyrood Park</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS2R0B_1Ge88XlYEw4AKugB698uy9BBqUwlil9Htx6ch89npAUiLyRSSf5cyPR7zb-FNTxEEMji3qg2UlYh5BsWIo2633iJIaulvUdjTZy61tNhUb_L0imQq6O4caNiojhtqx66FRb48/s1600/ArthursSeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS2R0B_1Ge88XlYEw4AKugB698uy9BBqUwlil9Htx6ch89npAUiLyRSSf5cyPR7zb-FNTxEEMji3qg2UlYh5BsWIo2633iJIaulvUdjTZy61tNhUb_L0imQq6O4caNiojhtqx66FRb48/s400/ArthursSeat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNnI6j6lXG-1IKZ8eHTsfZw2A4fYREyDh2PnK33tjFhASgMO5PNkYny8_uKISH9KZBgC1QHsHNgnCcXo2dCzG15LKB4dTbAjHxjsxeo5cdxeHT1mFU59M7cuINnyyLabiJ9x27GIOOgk/s1600/QueensDrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNnI6j6lXG-1IKZ8eHTsfZw2A4fYREyDh2PnK33tjFhASgMO5PNkYny8_uKISH9KZBgC1QHsHNgnCcXo2dCzG15LKB4dTbAjHxjsxeo5cdxeHT1mFU59M7cuINnyyLabiJ9x27GIOOgk/s400/QueensDrive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5n1XIihxv1bUVyvqcdqu0dtBxckzL5UmmhDGla4Af7ta4nN995NqMtVSltVFTrtnBBf2Vfx1BW11M-fiW5yeAX0Hr5NK4vqwJUNMbc-4D2SxuNP6VN__bntZ1hPvTb6njhlwF6b-1vs/s1600/HolyroodPark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5n1XIihxv1bUVyvqcdqu0dtBxckzL5UmmhDGla4Af7ta4nN995NqMtVSltVFTrtnBBf2Vfx1BW11M-fiW5yeAX0Hr5NK4vqwJUNMbc-4D2SxuNP6VN__bntZ1hPvTb6njhlwF6b-1vs/s400/HolyroodPark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU2CmH26nwwi0afusxmFloOqcB9rTTwxRg68Esctta9s6A9-VjaGX18nCviEWsdizg0smavgysmsj5pnxyySklupU-P3wgK0NP12_DrcvCVMboqHSZYIGQx0YNKlk1HCje1Wes36UAuA/s1600/StairsToDuddingston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGU2CmH26nwwi0afusxmFloOqcB9rTTwxRg68Esctta9s6A9-VjaGX18nCviEWsdizg0smavgysmsj5pnxyySklupU-P3wgK0NP12_DrcvCVMboqHSZYIGQx0YNKlk1HCje1Wes36UAuA/s320/StairsToDuddingston.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our route is a combination of trails through the park and pavement along Queen’s Drive, while taking in grand views of the sombre Arthur’s Seat and the platform-like Salisbury Crags.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our half-way point and the highlight of the trip is the quaint village of Duddingston, home of Scotland’s oldest surviving public house.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The welcome glow of green is starting to show through on the hills, and on the trees the buds seem to be desperate to burst. All the same, the long descent into Duddingston brings a welcome break from the sometimes chilly wind that continues to whip over the open areas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first thing that is likely to draw a visitor upon entering Duddingston is the Kirk, which sits on a high slope overlooking Duddingston Loch. Founded in the 12th century by a Norman knight, it has undergone a number of changes over the centuries.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This included the addition of a separate gatehouse meant to keep out 19th century body snatchers, who were intent on selling fresh corpses for medical research.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFvdW1vvEqX5m7-JbEXUG9lVXP2NFtAsR17-31uqO0B32uUgIamrTUPsNCuvSEpd9z0uMjIvRBSj59nfRNwpwROPHB_u1kTTPGRSFi8XZTtDvb1hJsp_JloG3dMmzIE6L5Oq7MwxBJk0/s1600/DuddingstonChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFvdW1vvEqX5m7-JbEXUG9lVXP2NFtAsR17-31uqO0B32uUgIamrTUPsNCuvSEpd9z0uMjIvRBSj59nfRNwpwROPHB_u1kTTPGRSFi8XZTtDvb1hJsp_JloG3dMmzIE6L5Oq7MwxBJk0/s400/DuddingstonChurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslHnRfYJhUqTSqOhQahzJRC5mZpJYHdQb5_6p0fcXEbPcoOZVJbv2vcS6AuHTCKuK-u4Fuu5UxyLRKwPlCpfU0z_jZLq_YK3x-szsrmMKduIPaBo27JOSPCjeOPib_IbOWPB7wwUVMIg/s1600/DuddingstonLoch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslHnRfYJhUqTSqOhQahzJRC5mZpJYHdQb5_6p0fcXEbPcoOZVJbv2vcS6AuHTCKuK-u4Fuu5UxyLRKwPlCpfU0z_jZLq_YK3x-szsrmMKduIPaBo27JOSPCjeOPib_IbOWPB7wwUVMIg/s400/DuddingstonLoch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf2jHNbcUiLybBU2o_qtOacTskP1_keEZveKYxZtQ2N6PHSuIa9EEKl9tQHadtPoasxp2632JeJFV0t0W_WuvSIdj4jOoShKM96fN126PdzNJf8osdKi2tb1xcjBSOVq1dPNC9SmCp1c/s1600/WeeJim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghf2jHNbcUiLybBU2o_qtOacTskP1_keEZveKYxZtQ2N6PHSuIa9EEKl9tQHadtPoasxp2632JeJFV0t0W_WuvSIdj4jOoShKM96fN126PdzNJf8osdKi2tb1xcjBSOVq1dPNC9SmCp1c/s320/WeeJim.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still attached to the stone wall outside the Kirk are “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jougs">jougs</a>” or stocks, where criminals suffered the punishment of being held by an iron collar, on display for all the faithful to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you’re like me you’ll wander the yard at least once, looking for unique gravestones. Against one wall, a small Celtic cross bears a sad, simple proclamation in memory of “Wee Jim.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leave the Kirk to take a stroll down to Duddingston Loch and try to imagine the Reverend Walker, balanced and stoic on his skates in what has become one of Scotland’s most <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skating_Minister">famous paintings</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfuWXfVm2s0V9S90-E3_SGt7NHlUzPZ1sFAZo_YIpxZtG2w8zbP6hyphenhyphenKV2prJMAmpH9ApEEIgF_b4WlSg3WUw9O4D8ufs-fyyVhf0xfB84JLNxetLnkxhiZzDaIFzzXg-M28tlJPAfBYo/s1600/DuddingstonLoch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfuWXfVm2s0V9S90-E3_SGt7NHlUzPZ1sFAZo_YIpxZtG2w8zbP6hyphenhyphenKV2prJMAmpH9ApEEIgF_b4WlSg3WUw9O4D8ufs-fyyVhf0xfB84JLNxetLnkxhiZzDaIFzzXg-M28tlJPAfBYo/s400/DuddingstonLoch2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, I think we’ve earned the right to hoist a pint in the spot which has been home to a pub since 1360. We’re off to <a href="http://www.sheepheid.co.uk/">The Sheep Heid Inn</a>. The story goes that King James IV of Scotland gave the innkeeper an ornate ram’s head snuff box in 1580, giving the inn its name.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The light was too dim for indoor photos, so you will just have to imagine the dark wood, the low, heavy-beamed ceiling and the walls cluttered with old clocks all stopped at different times, brass pots and pans, and of course, a collection of mounted sheep heads.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU265YfPagmBZFtI9U5EOQXoRe4Vzp-KZY3GpOLR0EF2yCxY95lHC9tV1frZ_pqu4TpaRz5ckMZ-eTOZKQGe-Z3206FNIi0XpgCPLb_as3rS6PqrMDzyW8xiiYJczk2TAtuJU6528g3k8/s1600/SheepHeidInn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU265YfPagmBZFtI9U5EOQXoRe4Vzp-KZY3GpOLR0EF2yCxY95lHC9tV1frZ_pqu4TpaRz5ckMZ-eTOZKQGe-Z3206FNIi0XpgCPLb_as3rS6PqrMDzyW8xiiYJczk2TAtuJU6528g3k8/s400/SheepHeidInn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those with a love of the macabre, take yourself back to 1724. You’re tucked in at a table at the busy inn, where a fire is roaring and a closed coffin is on display. This is the funeral of Maggie Dickson, who has just been hung for infanticide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you sit nursing your drink, the room goes silent as banging and scratching sounds start to come from inside the coffin. The lid is lifted and Maggie is found still alive. She goes on to make a complete recovery and becomes known as “Half-Hangit Maggie.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The downside to surviving her hanging? Since she had been pronounced dead, she had to remarry her “widower” husband.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We both loved The Sheep Heid Inn. This is one of the best things about Scotland -these small local places which have been central to village life for centuries. This is the kind of place that can change a visit to Edinburgh from simply pleasant to truly memorable.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt72L_lOWPFMZWBCQgMx_dK22xiW1H8m9CuTOjhSxjqL0sk2r04VFaf_QarjZ39H3zj_4niTzsHXbgD28mnz5eW5n43UAD33JYjC2Dlw9YHbJQUwSmYl7EkH6n1VNl3pT1sBt4bKAeJs/s1600/SalisburyCrag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyt72L_lOWPFMZWBCQgMx_dK22xiW1H8m9CuTOjhSxjqL0sk2r04VFaf_QarjZ39H3zj_4niTzsHXbgD28mnz5eW5n43UAD33JYjC2Dlw9YHbJQUwSmYl7EkH6n1VNl3pT1sBt4bKAeJs/s400/SalisburyCrag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that you’re sloshing with food and drink, you’ll have to haul yourself uphill over The Radical Road, a stony path built by unemployed weavers in the 1820s. The project was made at the suggestion of none other than Sir Walter Scott, and the reward for putting one foot in front of the other are the magnificent views of Edinburgh Castle and an opportunity to get up-close to the unique geological features of Salisbury Crags.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeokPY4Wd10J1JmKL6rIeX6bm27Ko-_TxLNOSpcRuVeQWYeuIJrSnhRt6xF5yZEuywRi6aGgJee9pjxox0wWQ7RIXXCxi0A4SLp_elEi2eYd3k-V8fR2OyZ8uixlU3NWMMIfe8r1dxVo/s1600/EdinburghView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQeokPY4Wd10J1JmKL6rIeX6bm27Ko-_TxLNOSpcRuVeQWYeuIJrSnhRt6xF5yZEuywRi6aGgJee9pjxox0wWQ7RIXXCxi0A4SLp_elEi2eYd3k-V8fR2OyZ8uixlU3NWMMIfe8r1dxVo/s400/EdinburghView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, I thought this walk was excellent. Keep in mind the trails can sometimes be muddy and I would caution those with bad knees that the final descent down Salisbury Crags can be a bit sore. However, for ease of access from the city centre to the variety of natural and historical features, I would give this an enthusiastic 9/10.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Only 39 walks to go!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">**************</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Blog news:</strong> Some of you may have noticed the addition of a wee donate button in the sidebar of this blog. For the past two years I have kept this blog advert free, but this is something I am currently considering to help keep me going on these adventures that I love. “The bacon buttie fund,” as I have named it, is there to give people the opportunity to support me if they value the work I am doing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks again for reading. Squeeze.</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-11558519368160673942011-03-18T23:20:00.000+00:002011-03-18T23:20:23.920+00:00A first attempt at Scottish Sticky Gingerbread<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When was the last time you popped the lid on a jar of black treacle and watched it ooze over a stack of butter? Welcome back to the world of Scottish baking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first time I visited Scotland I was in my 20s and travelling Europe using a hospitality exchange programme called <a href="http://joomla.servas.org/">Servas</a>. It was a great way to meet people and learn about different cultures. When I was in Edinburgh I stayed with a lady who made me a full Scottish dinner of haggis, neeps and tatties. For dessert she made a glorious sticky ginger cake, which she served with vanilla ice cream. I had never had anything like it and loved it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJFtlw3kflyF18Pe1jgEYE5R4vqF41DbRMRBQpcRqMJ65nY9ELOSPZejoQf3V-_vLfiD1Bj2f4Cq0IYK8bo4E0qFuLLj3OPiJgwCxOetF6C1HzP5MrQZ_-2reF5W5kc_OFFhNJ27m4pU/s1600/StickyGingerbread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJFtlw3kflyF18Pe1jgEYE5R4vqF41DbRMRBQpcRqMJ65nY9ELOSPZejoQf3V-_vLfiD1Bj2f4Cq0IYK8bo4E0qFuLLj3OPiJgwCxOetF6C1HzP5MrQZ_-2reF5W5kc_OFFhNJ27m4pU/s400/StickyGingerbread2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday I was flipping through my Scottish recipe books looking for something that would replicate the deep, dark gooey cake I had eaten so long ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I happened upon just such a recipe in Catherine Brown’s <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Classic-Scots-Cookery-Catherine-Brown/dp/1903238404">Classic Scots Cookery</a>, a book which is quickly becoming my go-to reference when I’m feeling peckish for something that gives my arteries a trip to the Celtic carnival.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the butter that does it, all 250 grams of it. You combine this with 275 grams dark brown sugar and a small, slow river of black treacle (to the tune of 175 grams), and warm it all up to a lava-like soup on the stove along with a wee spoon of ginger and cinnamon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take your lava off the stove and wait for it to cool a bit. Then mix in 4 eggs and a wee scoop of baking soda that has been sifted with 275 grams of plain flour. Finally you can add several tablespoons of finely chopped crystallised ginger and about 200 ml of natural yogurt or milk that has been soured with lemon juice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bake this runny mixture in an oven pre-heated to 350 F (Gas 4) for about an hour (less if it’s a fan oven).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRffzcTtQNMR_CRwG7lfEP23WUy-lCWg1NNoAUELd4uRtT3R4ww6NLPUdvbBCAdsX0cPSJfHeZMw52zERUE88JTrBYbmhw6IvR9x4GtGMOYCUF5RpZoqsl2n8QvCj5mnBofbER57F87XI/s1600/StickyGingerbread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRffzcTtQNMR_CRwG7lfEP23WUy-lCWg1NNoAUELd4uRtT3R4ww6NLPUdvbBCAdsX0cPSJfHeZMw52zERUE88JTrBYbmhw6IvR9x4GtGMOYCUF5RpZoqsl2n8QvCj5mnBofbER57F87XI/s400/StickyGingerbread.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The result is especially dreamy when served warm with vanilla ice cream. All the wee ginger pieces will have sunk to the bottom, which will be extra sticky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are several other recipes for sticky gingerbread around the web, so you’ll be sure to find one that entices you. Just get yourself some black treacle and start pouring.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqj3o7btlW1PzBXpEv_zxkxRoCbpr5l9S9l_N7BSfBepJGeZySPdMok4yIswE8f5sgN0Ud_wagVTVeKiier_h8XFiwwkBBsHHha27EU-FEHmMArRYdddIBj_0CjHDhFkCHJaTxgYcWNA/s1600/StickyGingerbread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdqj3o7btlW1PzBXpEv_zxkxRoCbpr5l9S9l_N7BSfBepJGeZySPdMok4yIswE8f5sgN0Ud_wagVTVeKiier_h8XFiwwkBBsHHha27EU-FEHmMArRYdddIBj_0CjHDhFkCHJaTxgYcWNA/s400/StickyGingerbread3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-1325054762240651452011-03-13T21:56:00.000+00:002011-03-13T21:56:47.526+00:00Steeples, stones and a bit of imagination<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in my somewhat younger days, my experience of travelling began on a small scale. I fell in love with the idea of local exploration, of taking a limited area and highlighting the details until they glowed with their own magnificent mystery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my 20s I spent several months backpacking around Europe. I remember wandering through Bruges with my best friend, with our only aim to follow the sound of the various church bells. It was a brilliant way to get lost.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38qAKR79JaeJhtiZmcNXNYXepp0vrhdXwuMJtneomRZCOP3MawsHpBNjmPXi83qnfCoKMJbOCk7hUjjwRrbBcX6SqhSjVO24k31YMZmIZrZ81M7LiwlePGoJyWXMYpCQGoekZAbyZVUQ/s1600/ChurchTower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38qAKR79JaeJhtiZmcNXNYXepp0vrhdXwuMJtneomRZCOP3MawsHpBNjmPXi83qnfCoKMJbOCk7hUjjwRrbBcX6SqhSjVO24k31YMZmIZrZ81M7LiwlePGoJyWXMYpCQGoekZAbyZVUQ/s320/ChurchTower.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With the atrocious winter we just suffered, it has been awhile since I took one of my random walks. But today, with the skies only partially threatening to dampen my spirits, I headed out for a bit of an aimless adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I set off from Gorgie and managed to take in Polwarth, Merchiston, Morningside, Bruntsfield and Fountainbridge. It proved to be just as uplifting and inspiring as it always does.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, I like to look for buildings that I can imagine being haunted. I have certain criteria that must be satisfied, including stones which are at least slightly blackened, and preferably as dark as a crow’s wings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Church steeples with either very small or boarded up windows also causes a delightful shiver to slink down my spine. Or in the case of the church in Polwarth, some jaggy gothic spires and ghoulish gargoyles does the trick.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJZX92-G5v6av8hc2VSx3ZPXS1OkFN2B7lZZ2pDhW6yn85s6uZY9w_wUy12cc1hpk2OGp_17sVKsXWhtZ4sdscPqQKXJtVlcvu22WwRidA3oDnAW8ZSUvP58gLdNoyyq0atzV8xtU-ww/s1600/PolwarthChurch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJZX92-G5v6av8hc2VSx3ZPXS1OkFN2B7lZZ2pDhW6yn85s6uZY9w_wUy12cc1hpk2OGp_17sVKsXWhtZ4sdscPqQKXJtVlcvu22WwRidA3oDnAW8ZSUvP58gLdNoyyq0atzV8xtU-ww/s400/PolwarthChurch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being of German heritage, when it comes to potentially haunted houses I am admittedly drawn to a bit of symmetrical architecture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Giant bay windows through which I can imagine some shadowy figure lurking behind heavy curtains is also a plus.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dOAuZWeF24Q04hKugMxJ4Ef0N-_-5dr12invjdaiokQTUa76S7e6T1mO_q9Y4x4rwpHP1bqa5jESDmRt1PHV-gj3fqqffinf5XlHAt5hxV38z3VdIXS3O_gb90FcSbSYO9yYpTVyLYE/s1600/HopefullyHaunted2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dOAuZWeF24Q04hKugMxJ4Ef0N-_-5dr12invjdaiokQTUa76S7e6T1mO_q9Y4x4rwpHP1bqa5jESDmRt1PHV-gj3fqqffinf5XlHAt5hxV38z3VdIXS3O_gb90FcSbSYO9yYpTVyLYE/s400/HopefullyHaunted2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAt_cSrPp0bd_hK3GeO5z9mGXaCs2S9RtVhnlZtOvMF8PKPj3b_5esLZA18cPq0cwoMD6P72lYDipj3TTFX-kV7f1w6pd2ciaJ8hl3CAcW42fhdsuFHtyCSEEtMOwS6ay5RaNf0fXsn0/s1600/HopefullyHaunted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAt_cSrPp0bd_hK3GeO5z9mGXaCs2S9RtVhnlZtOvMF8PKPj3b_5esLZA18cPq0cwoMD6P72lYDipj3TTFX-kV7f1w6pd2ciaJ8hl3CAcW42fhdsuFHtyCSEEtMOwS6ay5RaNf0fXsn0/s400/HopefullyHaunted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAuhlnaypeoFxk6pvU8kkEn0KTSPkCPcXv-FtJeYmVfQbg9_wymdtC08ljgH8N_q1nsuX550t1LoSjTbOytv-8qZihw7dmEQks23FEm_EJdksuW8b6jwJRAlAy0p0YllpncBMjwBwkoo/s1600/TurretLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAuhlnaypeoFxk6pvU8kkEn0KTSPkCPcXv-FtJeYmVfQbg9_wymdtC08ljgH8N_q1nsuX550t1LoSjTbOytv-8qZihw7dmEQks23FEm_EJdksuW8b6jwJRAlAy0p0YllpncBMjwBwkoo/s320/TurretLove.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course I am not alone in my deep and complex love of a nice old fashioned turret.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even better is a turret with either shuttered windows or dusty slats that you know would cast the most brilliant lines of light on the inside walls. Top the whole thing off with a creaking weather vane and I couldn’t be happier.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the house-of-the-day was one I couldn’t even get to properly in order to photograph it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All around it there were high stone walls and hedges, so I had to stand across the street just to get this photo.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgQAYHCqYcyH2Gkqpv34zOvJmWQVbull0mzZIlDL-nm75sRd4xtbX_BBku9AxYLem5rwGFy_q1cUvg0fmblFXhmlSruOnt_AbYPge9-BP2X4CqHrPAXY04leuITBkJriBbHqjie9Bjdg/s1600/QuirkyHouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgQAYHCqYcyH2Gkqpv34zOvJmWQVbull0mzZIlDL-nm75sRd4xtbX_BBku9AxYLem5rwGFy_q1cUvg0fmblFXhmlSruOnt_AbYPge9-BP2X4CqHrPAXY04leuITBkJriBbHqjie9Bjdg/s400/QuirkyHouse.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quirky window accents, vines climbing up the walls and gnarled mushroom-top chimneys made the building look like something from Grimms fairy tales. I bet the floorboards are wonderfully uneven and squeak in that slow-motion way like they do in horror films.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It was a good day. I’m looking forward to a lot more aimless wandering as the spring slowly (very slowly) begins to emerge.</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-37840730499399851482011-03-11T19:52:00.000+00:002011-03-11T19:52:54.818+00:00Salute to The Black Watch Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFAB7d6JtcLzqcOowpgCH95zokuhVa0UvE0jngm7l94BUpy7Riqtoj8guDl2mXiz5iO99bTUPgRyOnD7EJN-8yPRWOclOPZPUQS1w0OPvFTlkiMBByIt-BaFh2LlIrIW6mpmn3V5rvkY/s1600/Kilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCFAB7d6JtcLzqcOowpgCH95zokuhVa0UvE0jngm7l94BUpy7Riqtoj8guDl2mXiz5iO99bTUPgRyOnD7EJN-8yPRWOclOPZPUQS1w0OPvFTlkiMBByIt-BaFh2LlIrIW6mpmn3V5rvkY/s320/Kilt.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The kilt in the glass case looks heavy, a sleeping pleated quilt. The mud that is crusted in large smears and droplets has faded to the hue of desert sand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A black and white photo of Captain WD MacLean hangs on the wall above the cabinet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the photo he is seen in the same kilt, which he was wearing when he fell in Flanders in WWI. High on another wall is a cross that bears his name.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v7WlvSP94BRWQcJJAFGjImua2PxZ6EOzCLzRRQZOFt82kEoQRPFgfIyzZNc9dEkWRn-A7PMh0Fbi1Kh9nro18DncGDFxcLsenwt0Z-wHUGl8vieSCr8ALQvw3X_JpcB6ss5j8PCXu5Y/s1600/BWatchMuseumMemorabilia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v7WlvSP94BRWQcJJAFGjImua2PxZ6EOzCLzRRQZOFt82kEoQRPFgfIyzZNc9dEkWRn-A7PMh0Fbi1Kh9nro18DncGDFxcLsenwt0Z-wHUGl8vieSCr8ALQvw3X_JpcB6ss5j8PCXu5Y/s400/BWatchMuseumMemorabilia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbFTEyFe_KkfFL8tG6tYMVB4PnoOTtOPuxcdlRu4zz9fVX1j9mz-I94dwc9EvKIKhyhOJGacR6esjhG5y4m38yM6d7VHJFoN9Npa_p6ATtQGmrgol-0iI7U3RrbHiKAOuKRtOXYtJKpg/s1600/BWatchMuseumWW2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbFTEyFe_KkfFL8tG6tYMVB4PnoOTtOPuxcdlRu4zz9fVX1j9mz-I94dwc9EvKIKhyhOJGacR6esjhG5y4m38yM6d7VHJFoN9Npa_p6ATtQGmrgol-0iI7U3RrbHiKAOuKRtOXYtJKpg/s320/BWatchMuseumWW2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of the ten rooms which tell the chronological story of <a href="http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/castle-museum">The Black Watch</a>, Scotland’s oldest regiment, it is this room which holds my fascination the most. I think it is the multitude of personal touches which makes the difference.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While you look around at the artefacts, the voice of veteran <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_veterans_of_World_War_I_who_died_in_2002">Gilbert Crossland</a> follows you, his stories of life in the trenches bringing to life the silent relics of his dead comrades.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just outside the room a life-sized model of a WWI soldier stands in a sandbagged trench, his gun poised and ready to fire. The frozen look of worry on his face and the fine details of his hands around the rifle add a sense of distant sadness to the scene. It is like a postcard for so much human regret.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Black Watch Museum is housed in <a href="http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/index/balhousie-castle">Balhousie Castle</a>, which itself has a long and varied history, from its start in the 15th century to its use as a convent in 1926 and later as the Auxiliary Training Service as officer’s quarters during WWII. Located just outside central Perth, the grounds of the castle roll close to the banks of the River Tay.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOlSedeP8Q0N9MCJwI805araTIN9cJIAcZ8qAsjuy5-9G4JU5pSHRT3YoqZ3PL-N6tInwq_mbc00KwE4hmZM73P3lLf3akrXc3hoG0tCwcUtYfp600gWeADCM9VNsFMty9S-JrcJruTI/s1600/BlackWatchMuseum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjOlSedeP8Q0N9MCJwI805araTIN9cJIAcZ8qAsjuy5-9G4JU5pSHRT3YoqZ3PL-N6tInwq_mbc00KwE4hmZM73P3lLf3akrXc3hoG0tCwcUtYfp600gWeADCM9VNsFMty9S-JrcJruTI/s400/BlackWatchMuseum.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUcHQFknHHMnBSVUmvv0eapdj-vB3SIYpUMMBv5jqAa0VGrUiMCpogZ6uW19ZBdFafHlfhpPQg8bzOhUf8Ja5qugCzHUhN4tEWMzXXlDn8nivD80k83w5maKkGMkzTvA8JdBELbsx9Hg/s1600/BlackWatchMuseum2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUcHQFknHHMnBSVUmvv0eapdj-vB3SIYpUMMBv5jqAa0VGrUiMCpogZ6uW19ZBdFafHlfhpPQg8bzOhUf8Ja5qugCzHUhN4tEWMzXXlDn8nivD80k83w5maKkGMkzTvA8JdBELbsx9Hg/s320/BlackWatchMuseum2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those with a penchant for facts and a fascination with military history, The Black Watch Museum is a gold mine of information. Starting with the regiment’s formation in 1739 through to modern warfare in the Middle East, there are endless lists of battles and dates, rows of medals and military equipment on display.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But while it may be easy to appeal to those who could happily absorb every strategic battlefield manoeuvre, it can be difficult for historical attractions like this to attract those who find it harder to maintain attention through reams of dates and facts. Most teenagers for example. Or (and I have narrowed this down in order to avoid casting any vast generalisation on my gender)…me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is necessary in these situations is the inclusion of story fragments. Take one day, one hour, one person, and pluck them out of the quagmire of history. Hold the spotlight on just that one moment and you will find you deepen people’s understanding of the wider narrative.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89stlx0xasFR4mLv5_-Sz8Iu-v-f8UgcGFb7gAajPufKgoQRk4YL-Yp_IzdO7hBwKNG7qaHh61SfIn2ZgsmsZTq7ioek3xZgeg15t8pEoW1xNbiwjdSNrvLzbWIe06Se9OyN6ZQUdWMA/s1600/BWatchWW2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89stlx0xasFR4mLv5_-Sz8Iu-v-f8UgcGFb7gAajPufKgoQRk4YL-Yp_IzdO7hBwKNG7qaHh61SfIn2ZgsmsZTq7ioek3xZgeg15t8pEoW1xNbiwjdSNrvLzbWIe06Se9OyN6ZQUdWMA/s400/BWatchWW2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So when you sit down to view the model street scene set on the Dutch-German border in February 1945, a recording will talk you through a one-day experience of the 5th Battalion Black Watch, the sound of gun fire and small glowing lights moving your mind through the action. Small details, like the tiny burned bike leaning abandoned against the charred building, will stay with you as if they were life-sized.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VBIuwluoD4QEMeYQLNt-lNQhQsSzXrsROlzAeFH3UT_HpGMX0BHluyEDDOIkalbdQEIJ_4x94Kpe8FDOr3HNdwW0jaeAoPpvRHLkyJ9Q0mukcLR2UpLfkEPFc0hjiC4jS5aZ3IBi-VI/s1600/CanadianPipes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1VBIuwluoD4QEMeYQLNt-lNQhQsSzXrsROlzAeFH3UT_HpGMX0BHluyEDDOIkalbdQEIJ_4x94Kpe8FDOr3HNdwW0jaeAoPpvRHLkyJ9Q0mukcLR2UpLfkEPFc0hjiC4jS5aZ3IBi-VI/s320/CanadianPipes.jpg" width="191" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sometimes a single item is the loose thread from which a timeline of history can unfurl. On one floor a model of a piper holds a set of bagpipes that were played by Piper Smith of the 42nd Battalion The Royal Highlanders of Canada during the Retreat to Mons and at Vimy Ridge during WWI.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Later in WWII it was Canadian officer Jack McBride who played these pipes when he served as a Canadian Loan Officer with the 7th Battalion The Black Watch in Northwest Europe.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In another room behind the glass of a simple frame is the cracked black and white photo of a smiling Private W Lambton, MM 1st Battalion The Tyneside Scottish. There is so much innocent pride in his expression, telling the story of so many young men with grand ideas of war and glory.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBhVB7dFPPTtm0TH_xpHLx0IA5kxaZJJkxvu-EPHbbqVLeZDfAUabNRO9Ib9oRdsNCyN0O_9ToXBspH3kGdwJNMMZmn_JtBambXAzmaIlc_Nv206qunHkZulSYgmJGUTVjAcC5zb4_Wk/s1600/PrivateWLambton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCBhVB7dFPPTtm0TH_xpHLx0IA5kxaZJJkxvu-EPHbbqVLeZDfAUabNRO9Ib9oRdsNCyN0O_9ToXBspH3kGdwJNMMZmn_JtBambXAzmaIlc_Nv206qunHkZulSYgmJGUTVjAcC5zb4_Wk/s400/PrivateWLambton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUy1IHeoVMzf31WbKHT9ayQi16l_DvQTIlVdUMWgUyL8qH4iuxHnNOx1sXpg9fgR0H-W9Y1B4FirMtnCloQjOALMQb2BjtvIpoNTgcuGCfxTbeBFDbur1yFwv4bV0SDgzmxnoYVGZxLg/s1600/StainedGlass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUy1IHeoVMzf31WbKHT9ayQi16l_DvQTIlVdUMWgUyL8qH4iuxHnNOx1sXpg9fgR0H-W9Y1B4FirMtnCloQjOALMQb2BjtvIpoNTgcuGCfxTbeBFDbur1yFwv4bV0SDgzmxnoYVGZxLg/s320/StainedGlass.jpg" width="232" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perth is famous for its natural beauty and outdoor lifestyle, but this unique museum offers a new understanding of Scottish history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For £4 you can wander the halls of a castle and either pour over dates and facts or lose yourself in the stories of the men and women whose own histories are forever entwined with this famous regiment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For more information on The Black Watch, visit the <a href="http://www.theblackwatch.co.uk/">official website</a>. Undiscovered Scotland also features an <a href="http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/perth/blackwatchmuseum/index.html">excellent article</a> about the museum.</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-66405487661133233632011-02-26T17:34:00.001+00:002011-03-14T07:55:22.915+00:00A touch of Italy in Perthshire<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are ways to will spring to arrive in Scotland. One way is to turn the consumption of ice cream into an event. Yesterday we did just that when we hopped in the car and drove more than an hour to Perthshire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Down a beautiful country road between Perth and Dunkeld, a bright pink and white sign advertises a café and ice cream parlour built in a converted farm building.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnrfoYgY8TV4gWMBp9A9qe39xPf1l6Zo5oTFPRsO8VWuq8osoU1u0iNt6e9PpFCxhf0mhphKPmmaKvgXGc7MNOyO0qPiD87R82ASSdIffm8TlZyxp5TsqKjtNDANDLnL1idJ4G1dG5YY/s1600/StewartTowerDairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnrfoYgY8TV4gWMBp9A9qe39xPf1l6Zo5oTFPRsO8VWuq8osoU1u0iNt6e9PpFCxhf0mhphKPmmaKvgXGc7MNOyO0qPiD87R82ASSdIffm8TlZyxp5TsqKjtNDANDLnL1idJ4G1dG5YY/s400/StewartTowerDairy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb1Lz3PBgdBTSNbdIqB8GhOU7pZ-c3L3BKCidE__szCTZY9lvuhWHEFjaSpfE8Ae1qCR62RGMTOLQWo8eNDwNCQGRUr1hbktUJvvWLCikwi_eQVnmuLdxxcvbmwFAB5A3KjaXTiAF0EQ/s1600/StewartTowerDairyRoadView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb1Lz3PBgdBTSNbdIqB8GhOU7pZ-c3L3BKCidE__szCTZY9lvuhWHEFjaSpfE8Ae1qCR62RGMTOLQWo8eNDwNCQGRUr1hbktUJvvWLCikwi_eQVnmuLdxxcvbmwFAB5A3KjaXTiAF0EQ/s400/StewartTowerDairyRoadView.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The ice cream in Scotland is staggeringly good. Plentiful rain makes for rich grass for the cows and this translates into the high quality of the milk and subsequently, the ice cream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://www.stewart-tower.co.uk/index.html">Stewart Tower Dairy</a> is the kind of place that can make a day trip feel like a holiday. This is due to the obvious nature of their business; it is first and foremost a farm, with wide fields stretching out to the horizon, a tractor waiting in the yard and hay bales stacked in an outbuilding across the road. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bit of family friendly charm comes in the addition of small pens containing a group of mischievous goats, who hop onto boulders and even a feeding trough between nibbles of hay.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEwcljgdRg_iC_OKXb0hUX0dwXyoP5ylvygcEFhQbFBL06jMxXo0sCENOKNc1Mg39T9czR4F9Aa3tv8RoXZQfEzvnxxwDQ1rcOkefFj2WyNlIoG241KbYnHUHl-fEXGfaMO9NBYNgqnk/s1600/StewartTowerDairyFarm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnEwcljgdRg_iC_OKXb0hUX0dwXyoP5ylvygcEFhQbFBL06jMxXo0sCENOKNc1Mg39T9czR4F9Aa3tv8RoXZQfEzvnxxwDQ1rcOkefFj2WyNlIoG241KbYnHUHl-fEXGfaMO9NBYNgqnk/s400/StewartTowerDairyFarm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVV2z3hGfYRb_S2x_uuEEOcGoavcGD2uddKL9LzPxUyHwYVhkQyj3xefyW-RwXQ-Ga7VQm9j0HQDtui4TzivrT624gNoDgZ-0bdxxHZNJJtrHL-l72kyoKoWjx-l8GQWh6ezlIMN63VY/s1600/StewartTowerDairy-Goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVV2z3hGfYRb_S2x_uuEEOcGoavcGD2uddKL9LzPxUyHwYVhkQyj3xefyW-RwXQ-Ga7VQm9j0HQDtui4TzivrT624gNoDgZ-0bdxxHZNJJtrHL-l72kyoKoWjx-l8GQWh6ezlIMN63VY/s400/StewartTowerDairy-Goat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite being just on the cusp of the lunch hour, miles from a main town on a weekday, there were already several cars in the parking lot when we arrived. Within 15 minutes of taking our seats in the café three more groups joined the growing throng of the hungry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After years of dessert-eating practice, I have come to understand that I cannot dive straight into the sugar. The trick is to have a little something savoury before you begin your homage to glucose gluttony. Queue a lovely bowl of leek and sweet potato soup and some homemade herby scones.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5a4doNRuKcFr5r5So181SkcWcCNybdqeJ7cwTsuG0cxz3Gy1LDpHbhIK2M5EeQyekbqnAFBIeDowu5HFA-h79hTy6m9v0Q4NyQ64j0nxJfpnYcMTyGseflXpuecl4OKEL9E8bk7Nl0Tw/s1600/LeekandSweetPotatoSoup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5a4doNRuKcFr5r5So181SkcWcCNybdqeJ7cwTsuG0cxz3Gy1LDpHbhIK2M5EeQyekbqnAFBIeDowu5HFA-h79hTy6m9v0Q4NyQ64j0nxJfpnYcMTyGseflXpuecl4OKEL9E8bk7Nl0Tw/s400/LeekandSweetPotatoSoup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that we can prove to our mothers that we’ve eaten our vegetables, let us move on to the main event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Using milk from their herd of Holstein cows, the ice cream at Stewart Tower Dairy is inspired by Italian gelato, which is frozen quickly in a batch freezer and mixed while it freezes, giving it a smoother texture than ice cream that has been frozen assembly-line style. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When you enter the building you immediately find yourself looking through a wide window into a room where one of these machines is at work. (Don’t lick the glass - they don’t like that).</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDi3rjspG_j__4uQJj0UE-g9AQoPYEzwBrsZ9mP0imFXyh-lb1bEtGWoSq_IZ3ZzUd9S9idTae3VpYqe5P-rBG7hLohZ3b_iwpyQLc4YL4Db3HCkU9TBw0bKEkkfkV4mQA6yrU8HnWBs/s1600/Icecream1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTDi3rjspG_j__4uQJj0UE-g9AQoPYEzwBrsZ9mP0imFXyh-lb1bEtGWoSq_IZ3ZzUd9S9idTae3VpYqe5P-rBG7hLohZ3b_iwpyQLc4YL4Db3HCkU9TBw0bKEkkfkV4mQA6yrU8HnWBs/s400/Icecream1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOPim709rQqLpNl1iU07QiESRAkgR6shcDyq7DIRw8QDy8X61uHZkecdoQj2vmUWyEHZRNOEbQElDofFNCljlwacZNn17WYp2sRMdkp0YKICOG5r_bPqz95-J608mki9bVlEV4uqlK9Y/s1600/Icecream2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFOPim709rQqLpNl1iU07QiESRAkgR6shcDyq7DIRw8QDy8X61uHZkecdoQj2vmUWyEHZRNOEbQElDofFNCljlwacZNn17WYp2sRMdkp0YKICOG5r_bPqz95-J608mki9bVlEV4uqlK9Y/s400/Icecream2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Their website lists more than 40 flavours of ice cream, 16 flavours of frozen yoghurt and 13 flavours of fruit ices. A small rotating selection of these is on display in the café.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alas neither the chilli chocolate nor banoffee were available during our visit, so I went for a double scoop combo of rum raisin and creamy hazelnut. Of the two the creamy hazelnut was particularly glorious, not too sweet and also wonderfully smooth.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDb9qI3iTXWtD1r6ipjI7iiTrwrKcxPdO6O8h1N-nYhlk7dR0Ffmc5HrC5cdm4GzBDb_BtnSUQeU1rqkvdbdjSjW6KIbE1VEEsp6kW6YjqvRuvsMhpqRecyxrkxtqVlVQFnDN-ECriD4/s1600/StewartTowerDairyIceCream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDb9qI3iTXWtD1r6ipjI7iiTrwrKcxPdO6O8h1N-nYhlk7dR0Ffmc5HrC5cdm4GzBDb_BtnSUQeU1rqkvdbdjSjW6KIbE1VEEsp6kW6YjqvRuvsMhpqRecyxrkxtqVlVQFnDN-ECriD4/s400/StewartTowerDairyIceCream.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxvIcvWfXzFTtSCpQ2NkXSrLIo_zPNkn6iKj6nN8DiL_ulJ-cWRnAvndJ2x3Rm05_C6gsUz-O7FOPid9w2ny4GS3Y3WdAHEcfkSswTFr_mGdOAjrW5TODPEyppnCkm4hFThWFrr7srZg/s1600/StewartTowerDairyIceCream2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdxvIcvWfXzFTtSCpQ2NkXSrLIo_zPNkn6iKj6nN8DiL_ulJ-cWRnAvndJ2x3Rm05_C6gsUz-O7FOPid9w2ny4GS3Y3WdAHEcfkSswTFr_mGdOAjrW5TODPEyppnCkm4hFThWFrr7srZg/s320/StewartTowerDairyIceCream2.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The menu also lists a selection of more dramatic ice cream desserts, and my beloved went for the Chunky Toffee Fudge: <em>vanilla and toffee ice cream, clotted cream, fudge cubes, covered in toffee sauce and finished with fresh whipped cream and a toffee finger.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The toffee cubes and sauce made this much sweeter and I loved the addition of the clotted cream. However, one of the biggest pleasures of this ice cream is the texture, so in some ways all the little extras are in danger of hindering the experience. On the other hand, you can’t have an ice cream parlour without the option of those great 1950s sundae-style desserts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before you leave make time for a wee wander around their farm shop, which has everything from local eggs to made-in-Scotland jams and salad dressings. Next to the door is a freezer highlighting the Stewart Tower Dairy's other passion of ice cream cakes. If our car had a mini-freezer I would have had to take this one home:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Jk_X5df2ZBLs6vefKHsYg0BLBqPCX_qbBsY3Z8t35jtmH6AKIbiNd9tAW9YTpDrs0LyvF5tmkjifGjPDa5i8ciOFPQEzazkmFrLGv1iM4UcfjqQ8wDN5LmpGgtb-Vd5Ezqhtwezz6Ks/s1600/StewartTowerDairyCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Jk_X5df2ZBLs6vefKHsYg0BLBqPCX_qbBsY3Z8t35jtmH6AKIbiNd9tAW9YTpDrs0LyvF5tmkjifGjPDa5i8ciOFPQEzazkmFrLGv1iM4UcfjqQ8wDN5LmpGgtb-Vd5Ezqhtwezz6Ks/s400/StewartTowerDairyCake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja5rvnqfF9RUU1Qxba5iC9D4oLR4P5EK8M6LGHLKKrApJX5yqIKCtrYEoNbSNpkZ2RQeIUzJ0c2vHC720hoj9t-De3CqgQ9uXfNfeKFglqLmkE7T3hmc2-rLichyphenhyphenEWpKuLK36JsTfwtw/s1600/StewartTowerDairyShop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhja5rvnqfF9RUU1Qxba5iC9D4oLR4P5EK8M6LGHLKKrApJX5yqIKCtrYEoNbSNpkZ2RQeIUzJ0c2vHC720hoj9t-De3CqgQ9uXfNfeKFglqLmkE7T3hmc2-rLichyphenhyphenEWpKuLK36JsTfwtw/s400/StewartTowerDairyShop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I still regret not being able to sample every other flavour which taunted me with obvious deliciousness, particularly the strawberry cheesecake and the raspberry and white chocolate. I can’t imagine visiting Perthshire in the future without stopping here for ice cream. Somehow I will manage to work my way through the entire selection, even if it takes me years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our ice cream adventure has obviously tricked spring into showing its face, because today the sun shone strong between banks of high cloud and the breeze had lost its icy edge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I’m dying to know, if you had a <a href="http://www.stewart-tower.co.uk/ice-cream.html">larger selection</a> to choose from, which one would you not be able to resist? </span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-9633841987335985032011-02-20T18:39:00.001+00:002011-02-20T19:08:57.931+00:00Inside Edinburgh University's Anatomy Theatre<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am under strict instructions not to tell you about what went on during Saturday night’s <a href="http://edinburghsecretsociety.wordpress.com/">Edinburgh Secret Society</a> event.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I can say how remarkable it was to sit in Edinburgh University’s Anatomy Lecture Theatre, with steep rows of red seats curved around where the old dissecting table once sat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, cadavers were wheeled out before an audience of young medical students and taken apart in full gory detail. This is a building that is not often open to the public, a silent bowl of history that our secret group had the opportunity to fill for a few hours.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsEvffAZ41PK4odBxdWO9qTBV9_9qu0wbK0ahs4YzPL_zE4KpT9haQ8dOv63N_OCQxmQIibVAQK__fpvstt-winzk5-cVymjUn9ddQ6IIh_YaVRtdv8EfSWlAYMZEnagzycECc1aM7vE/s1600/AnatomyTheatre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhsEvffAZ41PK4odBxdWO9qTBV9_9qu0wbK0ahs4YzPL_zE4KpT9haQ8dOv63N_OCQxmQIibVAQK__fpvstt-winzk5-cVymjUn9ddQ6IIh_YaVRtdv8EfSWlAYMZEnagzycECc1aM7vE/s400/AnatomyTheatre.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Upon departure from our “evening of death” (additional details are forbidden), I was wowed by the elephant skeletons in the lobby of the anatomy museum. The stone surroundings and the subtle lighting brought out the shadows in the room.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQlIdPA2fue0mol5hXzKHs3XRJ5yms9cmPLgLrUveuWo4ez0IubAfOyVrsxpzWA-1GfmLDcYfxN50OD6iRyMlKKwzheFdA_MnMkkJc4jdQyjygo6sO9Sc-fnwm8qB2TbtIr2DmS7j8PQ/s1600/ElephantBones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQlIdPA2fue0mol5hXzKHs3XRJ5yms9cmPLgLrUveuWo4ez0IubAfOyVrsxpzWA-1GfmLDcYfxN50OD6iRyMlKKwzheFdA_MnMkkJc4jdQyjygo6sO9Sc-fnwm8qB2TbtIr2DmS7j8PQ/s400/ElephantBones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u0nfcqqJ_Whvu6nQ1tKTI_tiyjQk-CBDWkmfu2im-oMu1uTQhU6qCGREgsGc1S3McjRAm3B3LVVHGWinDt8E_njJoycG84jA0veWDUF6N7BYqjJUZnUajZyVWOo7Ug9ml51B1meEj50/s1600/ElephantBones2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-u0nfcqqJ_Whvu6nQ1tKTI_tiyjQk-CBDWkmfu2im-oMu1uTQhU6qCGREgsGc1S3McjRAm3B3LVVHGWinDt8E_njJoycG84jA0veWDUF6N7BYqjJUZnUajZyVWOo7Ug9ml51B1meEj50/s400/ElephantBones2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a strange place and an exceptionally strange evening. I know I’m sworn to secrecy, but perhaps just one photo from this sold-out event? I’m sure this shot will cast aside the veil of mystery. Excellent.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3ZjydNPX0eSUgbtAuzdLM0CXqqa4HvmiX5kzVdGxXSSOjROoIzfrEL1FIdXZH5TgwsMKZw-T-u8_6vPlVvRi8omKxwmgN_Q5PVIFN1mti-ZoNA8ZAq85AIWh_Y9ZzO_fsn_1-LXZhtY/s1600/Secret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3ZjydNPX0eSUgbtAuzdLM0CXqqa4HvmiX5kzVdGxXSSOjROoIzfrEL1FIdXZH5TgwsMKZw-T-u8_6vPlVvRi8omKxwmgN_Q5PVIFN1mti-ZoNA8ZAq85AIWh_Y9ZzO_fsn_1-LXZhtY/s400/Secret.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-46581725937580384832011-02-12T17:00:00.000+00:002011-02-12T17:00:54.916+00:00The Saturday pleasure report<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been remiss in my blogging duties. Each day the amount of light stretches itself a little further and I hope this will bring me out of the shell that is still cupped around my creative self.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I did wander far enough to pick up one of the best desserts I have sampled in a very long time. I present the remarkable, smooth-as-a-dream creation that is the white chocolate and passion fruit mousse from Edinburgh’s <a href="http://www.patisseriejacob.co.uk/">Patisserie Jacob</a>. Wishing cake lovers everywhere a delicious weekend.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYl4LM26N6V7BTi4olaPNmcEj-URTtR5e9DKxV4O1eqBJFx6g_uecjBf5FyUL0E5W0nsgv5uGa77jS21WOUsLQcXuHPbqJvkCaon3LiUYyl0sBFP-MwYHJ8i6KLYK0-IU9FevFmD78jWY/s400/WhiteChoc%2526Passionfruit.jpg" width="308" /></div>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-473528606413302079.post-67979456203014714312011-02-02T21:48:00.001+00:002011-02-02T21:49:48.293+00:00A Royal oops (instert scone photo here)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Has this ever happened to you? You visit a tourist attraction and the thing that remains burned into your memory is the very thing you neglected to photograph when you had the chance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For example, imagine being chilled to the bone, your fingers raw and aching. Just as your mood is about to tip towards grumpy, you enter a blissfully warm room and sit down to the most splendid cup of tea with a fresh, perfectly fluffy scone with jam and clotted cream. It is the best scone/cream/jam/tea combination you have ever experienced. Ever. And the moment you finish your last sip you suddenly rouse from your blissful state to realize your camera is still in the bag.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57blmDJfjEEGwN2YUpPQIgUAOyS-i9mplvg2UrxZMtp8Ioxop0cwPmagNJD9Fs5sk0wjYNnSPoat3Scm0tZWuahZPgsKl28Ut8yGr0QsdqJIPtP6zwqoBY_VvlOWxwzwzDr93mf_JETA/s1600/BritanniaBell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57blmDJfjEEGwN2YUpPQIgUAOyS-i9mplvg2UrxZMtp8Ioxop0cwPmagNJD9Fs5sk0wjYNnSPoat3Scm0tZWuahZPgsKl28Ut8yGr0QsdqJIPtP6zwqoBY_VvlOWxwzwzDr93mf_JETA/s400/BritanniaBell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqyK_zDhxD2myBDvb1tdU6Kk2X4WU11HxZJSuji0QWgOqQJjRqvsf8oJk7kVMxviRKiCafKHXXyGaPqU6eW_Z7V0yHBKW8v5N_VPEOASelpAmgpDX7ayqDu5oi6QXt_toMEB84QmnYBU/s1600/FullSteamAhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqyK_zDhxD2myBDvb1tdU6Kk2X4WU11HxZJSuji0QWgOqQJjRqvsf8oJk7kVMxviRKiCafKHXXyGaPqU6eW_Z7V0yHBKW8v5N_VPEOASelpAmgpDX7ayqDu5oi6QXt_toMEB84QmnYBU/s320/FullSteamAhead.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This happened to me when I visited the <a href="http://www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/">Royal Yacht Britannia</a>, which is permanently moored in Ocean Terminal in Leith in Edinburgh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The yacht is an Edinburgh must-see for anyone with a fascination with the Royal Family. You get to wander the entire ship, from the deck to the crew’s quarters and the polished-to-a-shine engine room. It’s a strange combination of rooms that feel frozen in time and areas which are just holding still between corporate dinner parties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoyed the small flourishes best, such as the portholes, the gleaming drinks cabinet and the single button from Admiral Nelson’s coat in the Wardroom. Also, the recording I listened to as I walked from room to room informed me that one small area near the kitchen had once been the place there the “Royal children’s jellies were stored.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCz25-FHe3r5HlsUHWhksVgU-KftNgKCL4TPUS7VAYycMEJSb-GCnVqA44Z049JhbHbb0R3p4YKLVYX_Lq0I5sHQXDZAc9BjYysSBglUhCW9uW8RwH2PCN0D5Sy-5jFFk9f3Vr9jJeTc/s1600/Britannia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCz25-FHe3r5HlsUHWhksVgU-KftNgKCL4TPUS7VAYycMEJSb-GCnVqA44Z049JhbHbb0R3p4YKLVYX_Lq0I5sHQXDZAc9BjYysSBglUhCW9uW8RwH2PCN0D5Sy-5jFFk9f3Vr9jJeTc/s400/Britannia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH0eDPqDRRNVEeSea6z3jx_DX-_Q123tJTaSGFrCNgxt9cvmEws7fxzJWo8-tStdUGwR1wnPagwzX8dvi9j5TVFejf6xhOyCXI7njgu4us5Lc7b81OrCn1Ao2981-LwgT23tHzEqKE0Q/s1600/Don%2527tJump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghH0eDPqDRRNVEeSea6z3jx_DX-_Q123tJTaSGFrCNgxt9cvmEws7fxzJWo8-tStdUGwR1wnPagwzX8dvi9j5TVFejf6xhOyCXI7njgu4us5Lc7b81OrCn1Ao2981-LwgT23tHzEqKE0Q/s400/Don%2527tJump.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI90KxlxwFv5vx9WdYNxOgMc0P0mPGF-tXAiYyUCQ8ssTYXyUm6OmPAwDylWP9rWreObXuh68dWW7qgTIoR7PK2-dUwYVou6Y0LuI53NGJv_zecYYkvzlCP4B-4dQCGtmTYKCYQsp45pU/s1600/Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI90KxlxwFv5vx9WdYNxOgMc0P0mPGF-tXAiYyUCQ8ssTYXyUm6OmPAwDylWP9rWreObXuh68dWW7qgTIoR7PK2-dUwYVou6Y0LuI53NGJv_zecYYkvzlCP4B-4dQCGtmTYKCYQsp45pU/s400/Flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VFjmP_J_FL41qg9kzb4QGIXtkDdqwoDyxX_QLhrudNe8pJzbAfWB1O_2zHKhiFgCht0dO1zgqJY6cBHU89GLzJT4xIXTQmjBgO9tkxxVQXloQ-Sy60j-sL5eQc5fU32eLeB9RwKfKA4/s1600/Hmmmm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VFjmP_J_FL41qg9kzb4QGIXtkDdqwoDyxX_QLhrudNe8pJzbAfWB1O_2zHKhiFgCht0dO1zgqJY6cBHU89GLzJT4xIXTQmjBgO9tkxxVQXloQ-Sy60j-sL5eQc5fU32eLeB9RwKfKA4/s400/Hmmmm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdCqdP_s5yq2YmbdFOiWlcbKLtEHG9aUvEIjkOQYDQW0__xukNp1cBKG7hK-ZRnml9XBB-BHUmtH1iDTfrBoVBTcWLwjFuN1PQMo5FV5ywuoluQqA8RLTn9mUgLldVahZbnjSXKWgWak/s1600/Porthole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdCqdP_s5yq2YmbdFOiWlcbKLtEHG9aUvEIjkOQYDQW0__xukNp1cBKG7hK-ZRnml9XBB-BHUmtH1iDTfrBoVBTcWLwjFuN1PQMo5FV5ywuoluQqA8RLTn9mUgLldVahZbnjSXKWgWak/s400/Porthole.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DyHWlZK_hsf3oRY-Gx9s9OtKjqCJ9_HW-FNFwjVl2-QUvYHEp6AHZHYgZ6MEXzFE9Tmb5Zc4ZZAckv9y2C4W9LTFB1sCI8MNlj0I1c0PfGMwfk3K-oTsAbKbaOgJM83IcuMzTElbEQM/s1600/Walkway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DyHWlZK_hsf3oRY-Gx9s9OtKjqCJ9_HW-FNFwjVl2-QUvYHEp6AHZHYgZ6MEXzFE9Tmb5Zc4ZZAckv9y2C4W9LTFB1sCI8MNlj0I1c0PfGMwfk3K-oTsAbKbaOgJM83IcuMzTElbEQM/s320/Walkway.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The era of Britannia is long past, a jigsaw piece permanently separated from the rest of the puzzle which is the Royal Family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are paintings of the yacht at sea, surrounded by lively waves. Now it is frozen, a funny-shaped apartment just kissing the water. The captain’s quarters harks back to the 1950s. Charles and Diana honeymooned on board, their early life together now broken off and sewn hastily into history. For me this leant a slight eeriness to the experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I mentioned, my favourite place is the café. Even though Britannia is permanently stuck to the wharf, the café can only be accessed once you have paid for your tour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps it was that feeling of exclusivity, or perhaps it was the idea that I was eating something so quintessentially English while aboard a Royal vessel. Maybe I was just plain cold and so relieved to be warm again. But it really was the most splendid scone and cup of tea. I would happily skip the tour just so I could eat there again. I want another scone!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdK1i7dNGMscDVTr790hhEWjpzUn7XRIM_Cge_mfdbjsu04QNfg8lrOatKIONRRxUepz06S9SgAPefwdbOiCyMTbSz-sijNhu_RMt5CBShYLUnx-IgVtzKjP0jG4uhoBFNZAGZFiRLCI/s1600/FloralLounging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdK1i7dNGMscDVTr790hhEWjpzUn7XRIM_Cge_mfdbjsu04QNfg8lrOatKIONRRxUepz06S9SgAPefwdbOiCyMTbSz-sijNhu_RMt5CBShYLUnx-IgVtzKjP0jG4uhoBFNZAGZFiRLCI/s400/FloralLounging.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDQZJUaCoPz01gXvVXPRjQ-b7bPy9-XFMVPBTe_R3r4r8X5pxOLha6NTAIsbFFwkI3dU-_LluWTGuuvUaWlQYOhGfBgQ1OesnVVKOveVUE1OT1UZbrXvsbS-8rXfyYPn69feWVfeVags/s1600/Nelson%2527sButton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDQZJUaCoPz01gXvVXPRjQ-b7bPy9-XFMVPBTe_R3r4r8X5pxOLha6NTAIsbFFwkI3dU-_LluWTGuuvUaWlQYOhGfBgQ1OesnVVKOveVUE1OT1UZbrXvsbS-8rXfyYPn69feWVfeVags/s400/Nelson%2527sButton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yQSahRpgnQNLcR-pMaMioO6KXg3_2I-ore-O4QByXVxOG7ueelM6vCJlgHD6QCFe8y_228KwE4f3mE6yvfHxr-y9_VtyQHxiWtkEyCuW5wGqtuUwvrQ8ttUIPxOa3tEnAbCdBUpgPFo/s1600/RoyalDrinksCabinet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yQSahRpgnQNLcR-pMaMioO6KXg3_2I-ore-O4QByXVxOG7ueelM6vCJlgHD6QCFe8y_228KwE4f3mE6yvfHxr-y9_VtyQHxiWtkEyCuW5wGqtuUwvrQ8ttUIPxOa3tEnAbCdBUpgPFo/s400/RoyalDrinksCabinet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVoX_Z5WQcHuSosudHY3bqkEBgPA-z0tm5ktmOHH12RYJTXLNr-2sbQuAdiw8sariXfGU1tP0FLAL7YTq7KT0RmF11DNjChGrMP4wVjpi2T3ZjdE5SVQTvgOJVlnse0LzjTLNmxXWAKk/s1600/DinnerIsServe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVoX_Z5WQcHuSosudHY3bqkEBgPA-z0tm5ktmOHH12RYJTXLNr-2sbQuAdiw8sariXfGU1tP0FLAL7YTq7KT0RmF11DNjChGrMP4wVjpi2T3ZjdE5SVQTvgOJVlnse0LzjTLNmxXWAKk/s400/DinnerIsServe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiGKjEsZ-m9v8Uz2CG_qLoxmW_lserE7g6VyMQEBlQkoApSIW6y0R0VFe2Lc_DK7AvgUKOGwjp4n7kn_mIH4-p7BWcbxsKA_ojryCYe3w2qk8ycxDLI9SmQK8xqcx3MnfpoAMl76coZs/s1600/BritanniaWheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUiGKjEsZ-m9v8Uz2CG_qLoxmW_lserE7g6VyMQEBlQkoApSIW6y0R0VFe2Lc_DK7AvgUKOGwjp4n7kn_mIH4-p7BWcbxsKA_ojryCYe3w2qk8ycxDLI9SmQK8xqcx3MnfpoAMl76coZs/s400/BritanniaWheel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEapbD2ouVwldbQNVkH0D87RU3QYChEXneRDJvb6CgJO2zowLP_7AxOjMx1P9NmhPu_MCWgi7db1X0WCFaxDI_wG7zkGYon5QD5G01z98OG1sneGGHqzICk95CF2tpo_yvQl9S7daPiBQ/s1600/Hallway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEapbD2ouVwldbQNVkH0D87RU3QYChEXneRDJvb6CgJO2zowLP_7AxOjMx1P9NmhPu_MCWgi7db1X0WCFaxDI_wG7zkGYon5QD5G01z98OG1sneGGHqzICk95CF2tpo_yvQl9S7daPiBQ/s320/Hallway.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In some ways the memory serves me better than a photo could. It has allowed me to mythologise this small meal in a way I never would have otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Has anyone else had this experience? Forgotten to take a photo of what would become the most important element of the holiday?</span>PurestGreenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10860331983741242940noreply@blogger.com16