A Day to Reflect

Village War Memorial

    Seventy years ago today, most of us are aware is the anniversary of D-Day. A day that many soldiers and civilians alike, lost their lives in a fight for freedom.

    Unfortunately, there has been and still is bloodshed going on throughout the world; however this day in 1944 changed the course of the world in which we live in today and the map of Europe.

Korean War Memorial, Bathgate, Scotland

     Many of the villages and towns in Scotland have memorials to commemorate the courage of their young men and women who have never returned from war.

    Whether, they died in the First, Second World Wars, somewhat forgotten wars such as the Korean, or more recent conflicts; it is a day to pause and reflect on what these individuals sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for us.

Lists of those who died in Korea

Emotional Gain

   

    Yesterday I went to lay some flowers on the grave of some dear relatives, their deaths spanning over a number of years back. Now, I'm not planning to get all morose on you, because that's not how the individuals I'm telling you about would want me to feel when I think of them. 

    Each and everyone of them impacted my life greatly and their influences throughout the times I was able to spend with them, played a huge part in making me the person I am today. And gloomy by nature, I'm not.   

    It was a muggy day, the thundery clouds were posing a constant threat as they hovered over the nearby hills. However, the time I spent at the graveside was rainless and it didn't start to fall until I was safely back into the car and on my way home. This I was truly thankful for, as rain always wants to gatecrash the celebration of life party that I would rather have for my departed loved ones.

    Of course being human, my emotions were naturally stirred and as I wasn't driving I decided I had time to examine the emotions that I had felt in the prior twenty minutes or, so. It was at this point I thought about how important this type of situation is to writers or, budding writers.

    Everyone tells you to write about what you know when you start out and although I haven't stuck to that rule of thumb rigidly, I do believe that we can only gain creatively by taking note of our feelings in times of sadness, anger, disappointment and joy. Whether it is how we feel when our pet dog dies, or when we realised our first love wasn't really love, all these experiences can all be used in our work, after all it is something we know.

Feliz Dia de Canarias

Amarilla Bay, Costa Del Silencio, Tenerife



 

    I can only apologise for my rather erratic blogging over the last couple of weeks, but I was visiting Tenerife, one of the seven islands that make up the Canary Islands. Although the language, climate and culture is different from Scotland, it's a place that many of you will know has captured my heart and soul. 

 

Mount Teide

 

        Apart from my affection, Scotland and Tenerife do have other things in common, such as beautiful scenery, including mountains, a rich historical past, the drums and pipes also feature in their traditional music. The tabor pipe being their choice, rather than bagpipes.



A rich historical past

        The old towns and villages there, bear some similarity to those in Scotland, the narrow streets are sometimes cobbled; the doors and windows of the houses also demonstrate that the population of today is considerably taller than it used to be.


Example of narrow streets; Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife

       They too in the past had communities that depended on fishing, but as stocks and quotas now dictate this industry, the individuals being supported by this occupation is slowly dwindling. The harbours of Tenerife have been able to diversify and many now moor luxury yachts rather than the fishing boats that once was. Nevertheless, the small fleets that still manage to exist in both countries, provide a quality catch that can be sampled in the fine restaurants throughout.



Las Galletas, Tenerife

        Our flags, the white cross on a navy background, symbolises that both countries have chosen, St Andrew as saint protector and today the mutual flag will be flying high, along with the Canary Island's flag, on the official buildings of Tenerife. Because today is, Dia de Canarias, a day the populace rejoice, the people and culture of the Canary Islands and observe the day that the islands received autonomy from Spain.

    Whilst I'm back in Scotland, my heart is there. So, Feliz Dia de Canarias, amigos.

Fine Dining  in Tenerife



Winging My Way Back

        By the time you read this I'll be on my way back . See you Friday.

It's that Time Again

   
            I'm having a couple of days away. But I'll see you Monday. Yipee!

Deleting our Legacy

  

Sample of Robert Burns

    We are all using more and more technology, therefore we put pen to paper less and less. Because of this handwriting and spelling is deteriorating according to a recent study done by BIC, the pen manufacturer.

    But, I also believe we are gradually erasing any written legacies that we may leave behind for future generations to learn about and understand the world that we live in now; as our thoughts, beliefs and emotions are regularly communicated clearer when we write by hand.

    In recent years handwritten notebooks, pieces of paper containing the manuscripts of books and the lyrics of songs, have been sold for millions at auction. For example, J K Rowling's, The Tales of Beedle Bard, did so in 2007 and only this month, Bob Dylan's, Like a Rolling Stone sold in New York for $2 million.

    Online, in the section Romantics and Victorian Manuscripts section of the British Library, we can view the diaries of Queen Victoria, the original works of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and Emily Bronte. Everyone of the pieces exhibited give us an insight as to how the Victorians lived and the opportunity to read some of the most celebrated writers manuscripts in their own handwriting.

    We can also visit places like Chan Chan in Peru to interpret the hieroglyphics and construct the world of the caveman in our own minds. However I can't help but worry that all of our present and future greats, whether politicians, writers, world experts, or the records relating to destined extinct races, maybe deleted and lost forever, as they will only exist on hard drive, or USB memory stick.

Life and Liberty by Robert Burns in his own handwriting

Best Foot Forward

Linlithgow Loch

     In the UK it's Walk to School Week, May 19th-23rd, which is part of  the National Walking Month campaign. While I'm a little too old to be going to school, I do like to slip my feet into a pair of comfy shoes and put my best foot forward a couple a times a week.

Oban Promenade

 

         So I've put together some photographs to let you see some of my favourite haunts.

The Promenade, South Queensferry

 

From the south bank of the River Forth, Boness

 

Callendar Park, Falkirk

 

Callander, Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park