Wandering close by

My life consists of wanderings, both far away and close by. Weekends, when I'm home, usually finds me exploring my immediate environs. The restaurants lining the small craft harbour, Naval Island or the CBD are. Though I am by no means a foodie, I know what I like. My food must be prepared with enthhusiasm and served with, if not panache, then at least some respect. In this regard I have a few stalwarths such as Maritino's on the Bay and The Elephant and I in the Boardwalk, that never fail to deliver. But today my grandson and I decided to try out a new place. To wit: Le Cuisine in Richards Bay where we ate twice for the price of one: the first time and the last time. It's predecessor , the Fish Eagle, served a fair meal. Not exciting, but wholesome enough. This one was a disaster from the word go. Should we have been warned by the lack of visible patronage (Yes!)

After a while of standing around we were shown to a table. ordered capuchino, my grandson a coke. First warning. My cup, of very questionable quality, was also not level. Which meant that if you stirred it half the coffee slopped over the windward side

Hunting the Stones #3

On 10 July 2006 we visited the delightful village museum of Dornoch. Unfortunately it was near closing time, but we were still in time to pick up a map of the Pictish Trail. Since it was midsummer and still sunny we decided to embark on a Stone Hunting Expedition.

# 16

St Demhan's Cross at Creich near Bonar bridge. The Fair of St Devenic was still held there until 1630 AD.

#14


Clagh Biorach or 'The Sharp Stone" at Eadar Dun (Edderton) Still has Pictish Symbols

#13

Churchyard Stone at Eadar Dun (Edderton) No Pictish Symbols left - Overcarved with Celtic and Latin Symbols. What is surprising about all the stones is that, even though they stand in full view, it is not easy to find them.

#12

Following our map we came upon the Village of Tain. Here we had a Brigadoon moment. Very much off the beaten track, it's inhabitants seemed to awaken just long enough to observe us. We encountered some very inebriated teeny boppers, eye-candy for some equally inebriated middle-aged men. As we found our quarry and were excitedly hanging over the barrier fence protecting the Ardjarghie Stone, one of the girls shouted suddenly "What are they looking at? That's just fooking rock, for G*d's sake!" And so it was. I wonder if she realised that if it wasn't for this fookin rock nobody from the outside world would probably ever visit Tain at all! Pictish symbols are faintly visible.

#9

The seawards Clach a' Charaidh (Stone of the grave plots), or the Shandwick Stone, is a landmark for passing boats. It is now protected by a glass shelter and the Pictish scenes and symbols are still intact.

#7

Clach a' Mheirlich or Thief's Stone at Alness on the Invergordon Road. By now it was becoming quite dark. It was around 11pm, but my camera, still in SA mode, recorded it as the next day.

Pebble Beach at Ardersier 2006

Among the rubble (Philip de Bruyn)

Today the holding on became
Too much - bedevilled mind let go
Of will, and heart let slip its wants
I fell to what seemed nothingness......
But landed - soft - and found to my
Surprise, my fall arested by
A dear green, single shoot of love.

Sign in a loo at Avebury

As one travels the highways and byways of the world you often need to make use of some really decrepit facilities. Avebury was no exception, but this sign put a humoristic slant on it.

Hunting Stones #2 Avebury 2005

The "Stones" series will not be sequential. I must, perhaps write in the dates, but that may not be so important.

In September 2005 my sister and I travelled off the beaten track from Bath to Windsor, when suddenly she noticed a Standing Stone. We looked around and we were indeed surrounded by standing stones. We had stumbled by some intervention (because I don't believe in coincidence!) on the mystical town of Avebury, and that on the most of auspicious days: the autumn equinox. It was a mystical, wonderful day.

We first noticed the Travellers, with their colourful caravans.

Terry Dobney (Keeper of the Stones at Avebury) Although the stones are much older than Druidism, and Druidism is actually a tree religion, The Arch Druid Terry Dobney is nonetheless seen as the most knowledgeable person regarding the Stones.

A panoramic view of the Avebury Stones

The houses of Avebury are set amongst the stones.

Most of the stones have faces.

Hunting Stones #1 Balnuaran of Clava

Balnuaran of Clava. The Clava Cairns.

In a book about hidden Scotland I found in our lodgings at Ardersier it was written that it was a brave soul indeed who would enter the haunted grove of the Clava Cairns on a late summer's evening. Which is exactly what we did, and, although no bravery was required, the experience was mystical and the memory lasting.

New Days

At some stage I should start to write something, but I know that, comes the next, I'll just wipe the slate clean again, as I do in real life. I exist neither in past or future. Every day is a new beginning........ Every sunrise is an opportunity to start afresh and even if I make soup of the whole shebang today, that too will pass. The sun will set, the night may be long and wakeful, but with a new dawn starts a brand new day. To mess up. Ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

A little Tinker Barbet has heralded the dawn outside my bedroom window for many years now, long before the sun rises. I often hear it after a wakeful night and know the new day will start soon. Is it the same one? I'd like to think so. Some continuity at least!