under 10-mile touring

So, London called last weekend, but THIS weekend was all about the Shire!  On Saturday, John picked me up for a wee tour of some of the lesser-known gems around Oldmeldrum.

I woke up early to hang out my laundry, as it was going to be a sunny and windy day.  The windy part I underestimated, and had to use twice the number of clothes pins to secure my sheets.  But I knew it would be worth it when I crawled into my clean and fresh-smelling bed.

John arrived at 9:30 a.m.  First stop, an 800-year old church in the town of Bourtie.  This was a sweet church that had undergone significant changes in its many years, from a catholic space to a protestant one (and of course all the severity of the reformation too).  The building was small and locked, so we wandered the graveyard and enjoyed the names of the residents.  My favorite surname was Lumsden; it was also the most frequent name we saw.  The second most interesting surname was Duguid (pronounced Ju-ked), although I wonder if it was originally "Do Good"--a distant relative of Dudley Doright, perhaps?   Innes was the best first name.  Coincidently, I just read a book with a character whose name was Innes, so that was fun.  (I would recommend The Hand That First Held Mine, by Maggie O'Farrell as a pretty interesting read).  

Simple stone face.  Note the patch work under the 

spherical ornamentation?  I would guess it once

displayed a cross.  

Then John had a flash of recollection (or he was channeling Nicholas Cage from National Treasure) and remembered something about a key being stored outside.  A little searching and voila!  He found the key in a crook of a tree.

Yep, right in this tree.

John is so excited for finding the key!  I was too!

Check the size of this key.  My hands are really large--yet note

 the comparison

And we were in!  

Inside was a small square hall, big enough to seat maybe 100 people.

We also discovered this couple, set up as if they were taking registry of

visitor's names.  They were Sir Thomas and Lady de Longneville, friends

of both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce!  This may be a small 

community, but it was well connected, for sure.

View of Bourtie Kirk from the road

Then we visited two stone circles.  The first one in a farmer's field with a stunning view of Bennachie (reputed location of a Roman/Scots battle) in the distance.

The second circle, called the Loanhead  of Daviot  was along the edge of a field, but in area designated just for the circle.  I love walking through the sheep-gates, by the way.

Part of the circle, one standing stone and the recumbent stone.  Bennachie 

in the distance.  

Loanhead of Daviot Recumbent Stone Circle

I love the stunning, visual contrasts of the rolling fields 

     of Aberdeenshire. 

Finally, we visited a Pictish marker called the Maiden Stone--so called because it depicts among other interesting carvings one of a mirror and a comb.  I certainly know many a man who spends more time coiffing his hair than I do, but I will keep my unwelcome feminist-opinions to my self.  The stone carvings have suffered in the wind and the rain, some gone completely, others with only a hint of the outline.  Even so, the carvings were stunning--elaborate, intricate, inventive, and skilled!

 

This is the Maiden Stone. The mirror and comb are 

in the bottom panel.

So we saw all of these feasts-for-the-eyes  in under a ten-mile radius from my little home.  I totally I enjoyed the local tour guide's commentaries as the best part.  Thanks, John.  

After all the wind and the sun, we had worked up an appetite so we headed to the Red Garth for a hot meal and a pint.  The Thrappledouser from the Inveralmond brewery was the winner--hoppy, flavorful, and creamy.  delicious.  Sorry, no pictures of lunch or the beer.  I was too busy enjoying.

After my nap, I wrote two letters of recommendation for students back in the states, did a little travel research for Andy's big Scottish Adventure (I cannot believe he will be here in less than 14 days), and did some house work.   All in all a pretty successful Saturday!

 

Oh, and I was right.  My sheets smelled like the sky and lulled me to a very peaceful sleep.

London calling

I was invited, along with my fellow USA Fulbrighters and recently returned UK Fulbrighters, who have just completed their exchange year, to attend a reception at the United States Embassy in London.  A weekend in London?  Twist my arm.
Friday the 21st and Monday the 24th were days off in Scotland, called the September holiday.  I am not sure why, but I happily took advantage of the holiday.  So to London I traveled on Friday.
Here is my weekend in brief:  Friday, arrival--then off to the Embassy.  Embassy reception.  Dinner with USA Fulbrighters at a nearby pub.  We were brought in the back door of the embassy and through the garage to avoid the Muslim protests of the tasteless movie, so I have no pictures of the facade.

But I DO have a picture of my lovely hotel room.  One of the bigger ones, 

I was assured by the receptionist.  This is the view from the door.  

I almost got lost, it was so palatial.

This is the view from the window.  What I did not photograph was
the bathroom.  I was TRULY pleased to find this room came with a tub.
I think the goddesses of travel smiled kindly on me.  I was treated to
my first tubby in almost two months and experienced sublime bliss.
Yes, right here in this very room.

On Saturday, the Fulbrighters posted to England had a day of meetings, which meant that I got the day to tour around London by myself.  So of course, I went to the British Museum to see the Shakespeare's London exhibit called Staging the World.  I am such a museum junkie.  It is a treat to get lost in an exhibit and consider all the artifacts without apology to anyone for taking my own sweet time.  This one was really worth the visit--artifacts to explain some of the more puzzling lines in the plays as references that contemporary Londoners would have understood as popular-culture allusions.  The exhibit captivated my attention for almost four hours.

But first, I stopped off in Covent Gardens to shop at the Doc Marten store.  

Happiness is a new pair of comfy boots, especially for long museum visits!

Saturday evening five Fulbrighters attended a show, called the Cantina at the London Wonderground event.  The Palace performance venue was located right beside the London Eye.  As it was a lovely day, the queue for the ride stretched long and far.  I will have to ride another day.  But it did make for very pleasant photographic angles.

Cabling to support the London Eye

Self-portrait while waiting to grab a seat for the Cantina show!
Without a doubt, this was one of the most spectacular and eye-bugging
shows I have ever experienced.  Incredibly gorgeous performers
achieving incredible feats of balance, strength, and showmanship.

Famous view across the water--Parliament and Big Ben

I did not have to drive, so I enjoyed a Magners or two at an 

outdoor pub under heat lamps-- part of the Wonderground experience.

The London Eye and more juxtaposing angles

Just another happy, lubricated tourist pausing to say "Cider" (not cheese)
during our walk back to the London School of Economics--the very
affordable dormitories, where we moved to for our second night's stay.

Sunday walking around a rainy London, lunch with Stephanie, and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Iconic sight.  I wonder if they keep these around for their
nostalgia, since everyone seems to have cell phones?

Elegant lines in a statue near to St. James Park accented by the rain

My favorite (or should I type favourite?) display from the V & A Museum.  

Some Raj hated the British and had this wind up "toy" created.  

See the handle at the side?  When wound up, the tiger rears and bites; 

the man writhes and suffers.  The tiger also growls and the man

howls in pain.  We did not get to see it in action, but the description of the docent was quite vivid. 

Close up of handle and impressive tiger teeth tearing flesh

Close up of the stunned soldier, having one of those
this cannot be happening to me moments in life.

As all lovely things must come to an end--on Monday, I had a 4 am wakeup and start of my car, train, tram, plane, car trip back home to Oldmeldrum.  In case you are feeling jealous, I did catch a cold and spent that afternoon at home curled up under covers drinking tea.  

One final musing to share with you--after my nearly two months living in a small and quiet little village, I stepped off the tube into the bustle of the city and stared, mouth-agape at all the big buildings, the people, and the noise.

I was the country mouse in the big city this weekend.  

Having a life

Yesterday, I entertained my first local visitor.  I served tea.
I have to hem a leg of my trousers and replace a button on a shirt.
This Wednesday is wheelie-bin day (trash collection).
Aberdeen has a beach.

Aberdeen's beach

When it is not raining, it is sunny in Scotland in September.
Sunsets make me happy and warm.
I helped students write coherent essays this week, figure out patterns in prime numbers, answer algebraic questions, conjugate French verbs in past tense, and make better decisions about classroom behavior.
Talking with friends on the telephone feels old-fashioned...and like a vitamin C boost.
Nobody gets it like a Fulbrighter (looking forward to seeing the ladies).
I jogged on the treadmill today.
I mopped the kitchen floor on Tuesday.
Tomorrow, I fly to London for a visit to the Embassy and a welcome reception.

I have plans to see a Panto in November and to attend a Burns supper in January.  

Rainbows make me misty-eyed.

Students call out to me in the hallways, wave, and smile. 

I am counting the days until I can hold my husband.

I got a package in the mail on Wednesday.  I had to pick it up at the post office.

I moo when I drive past cows. 

I have read two books this month.

I enjoy the quiet.  

I get lonely in the evenings.

I love my life.

Another beach shot

Mercat Cross in Aberdeen

 beauty in partial existence

Details make all the difference

Patterns of stone and light

Touring but not a tourist (Holyroodhouse)

Arthur's seat.  Greens and linear space

A Study in Sunsets and Edinburgh Buildings 1

A Study in Sunsets and Edinburgh Buildings 2

A Study in Sunsets and Edinburgh Buildings 3

The Queen trumps all

So I had a relaxing and productive Sunday.  It was a lovely sunny day-- ALL day.  So after I dropped off friends to the airport and the train station, I came home to start my laundry and take a nap.  I washed three loads and hung each out to dry.  This took almost the entire day (not just the drying part, as one load in the washer takes over an hour to finish its cycle).  I sat in the sun for a while, read a bit, cleaned the kitchen, straightened up the house.

But on SATURDAY, now that was a different story. 

Indeed, all of the happy housework happened…but the highlight of the weekend was the Highland Games at Braemar (pronounced Brae MARH), hosted by the Queen.  Yep, Queen Elizabeth II was in attendance, as were her husband the Duke, Prince Charles, and Camilla, along with a bunch of other not-so-important royals who had really rocking seats.

The royal bower

Close up of the Royal box seats.

Now a Highland Games is essentially a big track and field meet with the addition of dancing and better food and drink.  The events have different scheduled times, but much like a three-ring circus, several events occur simultaneously.  This continued throughout the day.

The track events are on grass.  Painted lines create an oval field complete with lanes.  Sprints on super-thick grass were interesting to watch.  It must be an added challenge for the sprinters.  There was also a long distance run—up a mountainous hill and back.  When they got to the top (so far away I could barely make out a figure) they shot off a smoke plume so that the spectators could know the race was halfway over.  The fastest time was just over 26 minutes.  The distance is 5.3 km.  THIS WAS IMPRESSIVE. 

I borrowed this picture from an on-line sight

The field events had some elements of similarity to my days-of-old high school competitions.  There were putting events (as in shot put, but the Scots use big rocks).  One event used a 26 pound-semi-circular river rock.  Another difference, the shoes had little knives sticking out of the toes to ensure grip. 

There were two different sizes/weights for the hammer toss.  And an event called weight over a bar.  In this event the competitor bent forward to pick up a large, square weight (56 pounds), which he then threw up and over a bar set up like a pole vault.  The weight must clear the bar without knocking it down.  The bar started at 13 feet and the final competitor of the day cleared over 16 feet.  During this event three bars were broken. 

The games began over 1000 years ago and have been used by Kings and Chiefs to identify the fastest runners for messengers and the strongest men for bodyguards.  Then the dancing was added for females to compete.  Now, the events are open for anyone and in the running events girls and boys compete in the same heats.  There were no women who competed in the field events, but this is not surprising to me.  The men were HUGE. 

The highlight of the field events was the tossing of the caber.  The pole was 19’9,” with a slightly thicker end.  The pole weighed 132 pounds.  The competitor squats down and puts his hands under the thinner end, then stands, balancing the pole, then runs forward to the line.  He then abruptly stops and heaves the pole up and forward.  The object is for the pole to turn 180 degrees, land on the thicker edge, and fall forward toward the 12-position (as in a clock).  Any other direction (and especially back toward the competitor) is not acceptable.

The finest event was a non-competitive one: Queen watching.  She was dressed in a feminine, mauve coat, wearing a white hat with a matching scarf band.  She sat with the Duke and Charles, who both wore kilts.  Camille was also in attendance and wore a maroon hat.  The royal party seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves.  At the end of the gathering, we lined the exit route and were able to see the Queen passing by in her car.  I was so excited that I forgot to take the picture!  She really does do a little Queen-wave.  Thanks to Stephanie Keagle for this great shot!

This is her vehicle.

Isn't she so cute?

 

My terrible shot of her face, but a pretty good look at the QE2 Wave.