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RIP Edward Woodward 1930-2009

A look back on his time on film.
And not to forget....

Livio De Marchi’s House of Wooden Books

Message in a Bottle

I found this handsome sailor at a car boot this weekend. It seems a Glenfiddich Bottle has made its way home.

Dufftown Rabbit Headed Cat

Different from a Kellas Cat, the above specimen was found on the Revack estate near Dufftown. Note its pronounced roman nose and and long skull. Here's more information on Kellas cats and 'the rabbit headed' Dufftown Cat plus a little fellow I photographed earlier....

Sunnydale

A Traveller in Time

Here's a lovely Inside Out program about Alison Utterley a Derbyshire author who wrote A Traveller in Time.

Enid Blyton's Illustrators

The fabulous Eileen Soper





Phyllis Chase










Betty Maxey

Dr Simon Sparrow

Traincards

Masquerade

Earlier today on Radio Four there was a great follow up documentary on Masquerade, the illustrated puzzle book from 1979 by Kit Williams (above). 30 years since it was published, it is still a huge source of inspiration and delight - some gardens in the Cotwolds are even holding their own treasure hunt this summer for a charm bracelet its the Cotswold Garden Charm Offensive Treasure Trail. Go forth with marmalade sandwiches and dig yourself up some finds!

The Train Drivers Lunch

On Sunday we went on the Keith and Dufftown Railway, crossing the river Isla seven times on its way to Keith. We also had to stop on the return journey to let some chickens pass out of the way and off the tracks! Also spotted on the line was a black cat and some deer. Thank you Bella for the pictures.





The Train Driver had his lunch on the way. Nothing like a nice cup of tea on the job!

Dark and Lonely Water

Secret Life of Machines

Part one of a 1980's educational series by Tim Hunkin and Rex Garrod.

Auchindoun Castle

Derelict by 1725, stones from Auchindoun Castle were taken and used to build Balvenie and other buildings in the area. The burning of the castle inspired a traditional song, 'The Burning of Auchindoun',

As I cam' in by Fiddichside, on a May morning
I spied Willie MacIntosh an hour before the dawning

Turn agin, turn agin, turn agin, I bid ye
If ye burn Auchindoun, Huntly he will heid ye

Heid me or hang me, that shall never fear me
I'll burn Auchindoun though the life leaves me

As I cam' in by Auchindoun on a may morning
Auchindoun was in a bleeze, an hour before the dawning

Crawing, crawing, for a' your crouse crawin'
Ye brunt your crop an' tint your wings an hour before the dawning

Weirdstone Walk

Emma Kunz

Emma Kunz, was a spiritualist, visionary, artist and healer who founded the healing properties of the Wurenlos healing rock that she named AION A. For more information here.

Neighbours

This humble dwelling , once known as Mortlach is my neighbour. It was built in the 12th century by the Black Comyns and extended in the 15th and 16th centuries. The castle fell into the ownership of the House of Douglas in the early 14th century when the Comyns were reduced by Robert The Brucs. In turn King James II wiped out the Douglases and it was granted to John Stuart the first Earl of Atholl. Balvenie Castle served as a garrison during the Jacobite Rebellion. It was abandoned in 1720s but was last used by the Hanovarian forces of the Crown (under the Duke of Cumberland) leading up to the Battle of Culloden.

Companions

Highlandish

The Ministry is out and about and has left London for Moray! Dufftown to be precise, Malt Whisky Capital. Here are our colours.

Boundaries

On Ascension Day every year the members of St Michael's congregation process through Oxford marking out the parish boundary in a traditional ceremony known as Beating the Bounds. Good for community moral this is an ancient custom which may be attributed to the Romans Festival Terinalia, in honour of Terminus god of landmarks and boundaries.

How do they make it?

Jaunts