What do Golf, Religion, Education and Royal Romance have in Common?

St Andrews, Links Golf Course

         For most of this week the sun has been shining, with temperatures reaching heights that we in Scotland normally associate with overseas. So, I decided to make the most of the good weather and I made 120 mile round trip to St Andrews, Fife.

Golf Course, Club House to the right

       Many of you will have heard of this wonderful city, famous worldwide for its challenging links golf course; the course where Jack Nicklaus, sank a putt on the 18th hole in the 2005, British Open,

St Andrews University

    But, in more recent years its university which was founded in 1413, has shot to fame because it's where Prince William and Kate first set eyes on each other, fell in love and there meeting will now have its place in history.

In the campus of the university

     The city, in medieval times found itself playing a decisive role in the Scottish Reformation.  Both Protestant Preacher George Wishart and Cardinal Beaton, the last Catholic Cardinal prior to the Reformation were casualties in a  bloody conflict between Catholics and Protestants, that saw Scotland break away from the Catholic Church.

St Salvator's College Chapel (university chapel)

     George being burnt at the stake in the Sea Tower of St Andrews Castle and the Cardinal assassinated in the castle, in revenge for the death of George.  
 

Plaque Commemorating George Wishart

    

    However, on Tuesday there were no championship games, sizzling romances, or battles to be had; only gorgeous weather and beautiful scenery.

St Andrews Castle

    


     

Walk on By

Ethical Traders



    We may enjoy tucking into prawns in salad, sea-food cocktail, or biryani, but it's time for us to take note of where this popular shellfish is being sourced. Following an investigation it's alleged that our love for these shrimp like crustaceans are fuelling the slave labour market in Asia. 



    Men are said to be traded like live-stock and held against their will to work on the trawlers that catch the marine-life that we love. Some supermarkets have already stopped purchasing the product from one main supplier in Thailand. Others, are a little slower to react because from a business perspective they want to buy at the cheapest price possible, in order that they can both make a profit and satisfy the customer.

    However, the consumer has to take a portion of responsibility and the way we can do this, is by checking the label before we leave the store. If our supermarket isn't guaranteeing that the produce is from an ethical supplier we shouldn't buy. We need to walk on by and choose something different for the menu.

Please Don't Take the Fun out of Storytelling

     Are fairy-tales damaging our kids, because they're anti scientific? This is a question an eminent scientist has been asking himself and a thought that he shared with an audience at a recent literary festival.

     The statement itself has caused some controversy and may, or may not have been reported out of context; however it does give us something to ponder over.

     Okay, we all know that the frog turning into a prince, Cinderella going to the ball in a pumpkin carriage, Hansel and Gretal finding a house in the wood made of gingerbread, are fanciful tales. So, why have generations of parents read them to their children?

     I believe that it's a manner in which the sometimes harsh realities of life can be explained to a child in a way that they can more easily understand. It may also even cushion the blow, when they find out that there really are people who are wolves in sheep clothing.

     But, forgetting the underlying morals that the tales often try to teach and the important stimulation that the child's mind receives; to me it's also about the fun that is enjoyed by both the adult and child in the telling of a tall tale.


   

   

100 Days Left

Entrance to Visitor Centre at Bannockburn

    There are one hundred days left before the people of Scotland vote in a referendum that could change the political landscape of the whole of the United Kingdom.   

Scottish flag

    We will be asked to vote either, Yes to Independence or, No to Independence.  Now, while I am very patriotic and love the country where I was born and bred; I think this separation could be somewhat like a messy divorce.
   

Exhibit at Visitor Centre

    You know the scenario; the parties involved continue to argue about who gets this, or who pays for that, inclusive of the children. There's a real power struggle going on between the parents and the one who thinks they have the upper hand comes up with the idea that they should ask the kids, "Which parent do you want to live with?"



Telling the history of the battle

    Now, one of the kids is finding it difficult to choose between his parents, he loves them both. Each of the adults are using their persuasive powers full on, short of promising the kids the World. However, the parent who promised that nothing would change in the kids day to day lives, suddenly announces that they will be moving to another town after the divorce.

Stirling Castle in the distance from Bannockburn Centre

    The undecided kid knows that things will change if he chooses this parent, he'll after all be leaving all that he is familiar with. He is ultimately being asked by this parent to give up the things that help make his life a little more safe and secure, in this already uncertain world.
    He wishes it was within his power to stop them divorcing. But, he's realistic and he knows that the divorce is going ahead whether he likes it, or not. He needs more time and his parents have given him one hundred days to make up his mind. What will he do?

Robert the Bruce





    Seven hundred years ago, the question that now faces Scotland, as a nation wasn't decided at the ballot box, or divorce courts; axes were wielded and blood was spilled. Unlike the kid in the story though, we do have the power to stop the divorce going ahead.

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