Fall Arrived Along with Company in the Scottish Highlands

If you are like me, the ancient history of kings and queens of England and Scotland are a bit muddled in your mind.  While in Scotland I have been reading about Mary, Queen of Scots and a few others trying to have a better understanding of this unique history.

A favored residence of Scotland’s kings and queens was Stirling Palace near Edinburgh.  History came to life as we visited the palace where knights, nobles and foreign ambassadors once flocked to the Royal Court. At the heart of the castle was the Royal Palace of James V with the Stirling sculptures along the outside of the building. The Archangel Michael, cherub heads, a laughing woman, animals, Venus, Saturn, and King James V grace the building.  It is visually amazing. Especially when you realize they were painted with color in the past.   The recently renovated great hall is a great sight with a stunning “hammerbeam” ceiling modeled on the ceiling of the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle and does not contain a single nail.  The William Wallace Monument is nearby.

 Mary was crowned Queen of Scots in the Chapel Royal at just nine months of age.  She much later gave birth to her only child in Edinburgh Castle and he became both James VI of Scotland and James I of England – see how confusing it can be?

My sister Betty and brother-in-law Lee and I often travel together and they were here for a week to enjoy Nethy Bridge (where they have also rented over the years).  We met at the London airport and traveled back to Edinburgh together.  They had been on a Mediterranean cruise and came here after docking in Rome.  

We stayed with Barbara Henderson and ate out at a lovely Italian restaurant. Barbara visited us in both Atlanta and Fairhope  and it is always good to see her.  She also traveled by train to Nethy Bridge for a few days while they were here.  It was nice to have a longer visit with her. We visited some nearby sights with her.

Having Betty as a sister and Lee as a brother-in-law is one of my most treasured blessings in this life. As a slightly older sister, Betty has always been there for me and provided guidance in my life. We visited several sights I had not gone to which were of interest and went out to eat at the Muckrack Hotel Restaurant.  We took a couple of nature walks between cold and rainy weather and other activities. The more I am here, the more I find of interest.  

 

We also spent a few hours in Inverness.  The Scottish Episcopal Church near the River Ness was a nice visit.  We had a nice lunch in the church parish hall.  The embroidered kneelers reminded me of the amazing work for St. James done by Beverly Clark and her group a few years ago.  You can see the Inverness Castle from the river walk.  

If you are caught up in the mystical Outlanders saga and want to be swept away to Jamie and Claire’s world, come to Scotland.   Standing stones, breathtaking landscapes, castles, old kirks (churches) and historic villages abound.  

 

Replicas of 18^thcentury turf-roofed Highland crofts in the Highland Folk Museum near Newtonmore was worth a visit, where we learned how Scottish Highlanders lived, built their homes, dressed and more. The unique replica 1730’s “Baile Gean” Township or community of rural tenants  were used for period scenes in the Outlander Series.

A 1937 school where school age visitors were briefly under the tutelage of a headmaster, a Church, an 1890 “Blackhouse” where smoke filtered out through the thatched roof, a tweed cottage, tailor’s shop, and people preparing flax for oil and to weave was interesting. 

 

Another highlight of our time this week was a visit to a nearby Sheepdog demonstration by a true native highland shepherd.  It was a chilly day mid-week and we were surprised when we drove up to find about 20+ people waiting.  Neil Ross owned 12+ trained sheepdogs and noted that each one had his own commands and that you should keep all commands to a minimum with each dog.  

He had a herd of sheep in the distance and one dog soon brought them to our viewing area.  He showed how simple whistles, voiced commands, and a series of sounds could result in a dog going to the left, right, slowing down to a crawl or walk, waiting, speeding up or even separating the sheep into two groups was possible with just a few commands.  Even when he almost whispered, the dog heard the command!  

 

The other dogs sat obediently until he called them each up with their own commands.  He showed how this was done two or three times in the demonstration.  

Savan shearing a sheep!

He then pulled a sheep out of the flock and showed how they shear it using a pair of manual shears in the winter months. They use an electric pair in the summer. He stressed none of this is stressful to the sheep. The sheep actually looked very comfortable and trotted away soon after.

I even had a turn shearing the sheep with a few others.  We ended up with a huge pile of fleece and enjoyed this experience very much.

As we were leaving after the demo, Barbara looked at the sheep in the pasture and said, “I’ll bet when they see the cars coming at 4:00 each day, they say to each other ‘Oh, here we go again!”  It was a fun day.

Today, Betty, Lee left for Edinburgh and their plane back to the USA after we ate a farewell breakfast at the Nethy House coffee shop. Barbara was able to ride back with them.  It was a delight for them to all be here.  The weather turned out better today, so I may just need to take a woodland walk!

 It is Fall in the Highlands of Scotland!

Highclere: Visit of a Lifetime

I was at a loss for words or even anything but total elation as I walked up the drive to see Highclere Castle.  I kept thinking “I am really here!!!” The 1.5 hour tour of the castle was worth every pence and the tour guides were lovely older ladies who were informed and entertaining.  We even had a complimentary light lunch and a gift bag in our package. No photos allowed inside, but you may want to join the free “behind the scenes” blog done by Lady Carnarvon. www.ladycarnavon.com   
  
I happened to see her walking some new pups and she said she was going to do something on the filming of the movie in her next blog.  The "Downton Abbey" movie people have caravans in a pasture and are filming each weekday. She was personable and down to earth and even did a warm intro to our large tour group.  The home has at least 250 rooms and over 1,000 acres of beautiful landscape and pastures.  It was truly a fantastic afternoon. We had about 45 in our tour and divided into two groups. During summer they can have up to 1,700 visitors a day!

Newbury was the closest town to stay in and I knew the Dolphin Hotel in Newbury was unique when the 3 printed sheets in the room had the most unusual verbiage of any hotel I have ever seen.  An example: “ Its lovely having you to stay so please relax, unwind and make yourself at home….if you need anything, just pop down stairs and ask….if we have time we love to have a chinwag, but equally, if you want some peace and quiet just tell us.”  It was the perfect place for me

It is a “market town”.  I enjoyed the long walking street and I was surprised to see the major stores found in London.  I enjoyed looking as I have absolutely no room left in my luggage! I even had time to take in a new movie  and smiled at the “Sweet Home Alabama” music playing when I walked in – don't you love it when that happens?

I next returned to London where I enjoyed a few 2018 London Film Festival movies and was next to the red carpet waiting forever to see Hugh Jackman.  He was a "no show" but I did see the Director.  Interesting anyway.  Do not forget the Fairhope Film Festival coming soon!

Near the end of my stay, I was able to obtain a ticket to Hamilton.  It is rare for one person to write the book, music, and lyrics of an original musical, but Lin-Manuel Miranda's amazing hip hop musical in the newly redone Victoria Palace was an experience. Unique casting.

I was delighted to attend a communion service at Westminster Abbey and take a tour of it and the Queen's Gallery.

I am looking very forward to seeing my sister and brother in law at the London airport on Wednesday when we all fly back to Scotland for their too brief visit.