Small but Perfectly Formed

River Tummel

    The sonic boom of jet-aircraft flying overhead, reverberates along the valley as they leave their Scottish base.

Pitlochry

  The attention of the tourists walking along the main road, is momentarily interrupted, as  they raise their eyes towards the blue summer sky, to try and identify what's causing this unexpected noise.  They only catch a fleeting glance of the two Royal Air Force crafts passing overhead, before they can once again immerse themselves in the picture perfect surroundings and  absorb the Victorian beauty that Pitlochry has to offer.

    Outside the library the wicker female golfer swings her club amid the pretty flower bed, only one of the beautiful displays that fill this town in the Highlands.

Suspension footbridge

   Stopping at a sign-post, I choose to follow the sign that leads me to Port-Na-Crag. At the end of the steep path I step onto the suspension footbridge that replaced the ferry in 1913, as a means to cross the River Tummel. However, the gentle swaying makes me feel rather uneasy and I decide against carrying on. The flowing water below adds to my insecurity and I only want to be suspended mid-air long enough to take a couple of panoramic photographs.

View from dam, back towards footbridge

    Upstream from the bridge I could see the dam and hydro power station, which is my next stop. Built in post World War ll , it was feared that this man made water collection point would hamper the journey of the thousands of fresh-water salmon who travel this course each year to breed.

Fish ladder

    But, taking this wonderful feat of nature into consideration, the design incorporates a fish ladder, which allows them to leap onward, as they have always done.

Pitlochry Railway Station

    Taking a shortcut back from the dam through the railway station, I pause on the non-swaying footbridge to take a few more snaps. Looking around from this unlikely vantage point, I wondered as to how much the local area had changed since the railway first brought visitors, including Queen Victoria here 150 years ago.

     Things will have altered for sure, however when the passengers alight now they too will be delighted by  the town that has remained small but perfectly formed.

The Power of the Word

           I read with interest over the weekend that a school in London is looking to replace teachers with computers in some day to day lessons. The academy school which hopes to have things in place by 2016, believes this is the way forward in teaching. I know it has been already tried in the USA, and with a certain amount of success, however I do have a few reservations.

    The lack of human interaction, whether it be simply in the form of encouraging a students progress, answering a child's questions which enables learning, or generally maintaining discipline within the classroom situation, are just three of them.

    Of course, I believe in the power of the written word and the findings of a recent study found that children respond better to instructions if they're written down, so it's possible that my hesitancy to accept the idea is unfounded.

    Therefore, the picture I have in my mind's eye of an android teacher, a type of Stepford teacher, teaching class is maybe a number of years off and using computers is right up the next generations street.

Salutations

River Tay, Perth

    Sitting on the west banks of the River Tay, the longest river in Scotland, is the ' Fair City' of Perth. So known after, the publication of Sir Walter Scott's novel, 'The Fair Maid of Perth', in 1828.    

    This week I made the 45 mile trip north, to have a look around. I was employed in the city's Scott Street for around a year and I was eager to see what had changed in the thirteen years since leaving my employment.

Salutation Hotel

    After parking the car, I decided to go for lunch and walking by the Salutation Hotel, I couldn't help but smile when I looked at the two ornamental pipers standing guard over the entrance. It's unlikely that they've been there since the hotel first welcomed its guests back in 1699, however they did look a little tired.

    Following lunch I made my way to the AK Bell Library in York Place, it's just the place to settle down with a good book such as Scott's, or familiarise yourself with the city's fascinating history.

AK Bell Library

    Trading with France in medieval times, in items such as fine silk, linen, leather, wine and whisky made the city affluent. Albeit that this business has long ceased, the impressive buildings that can be seen all over the city demonstrate its rich past.

Perth City Halls

    It has also played a significant part in the history of Scotland, as a Royal Burgh it has hosted the coronations of the Kings and Queens of Scotland; the ceremonies taking place at nearby Scone Palace.

    Although, for one King, James 1 of Scotland, his visit was not welcoming and whilst lodging in Perth's Blackfriars Monastery in 1437 he was unfortunately assassinated.

St John's Kirk

    By the end of the day my feet were weary, but I didn't mind because I had a lovely visit and I hope not to leave it so long before I return.  

Pedal Power

Holmfirth, Yorkshire

    The UK over the last few years has become bicycle crazy and more and more people are getting into the saddle. For some it's to keep fit, for others they're making a conscious effort to save our already over polluted environment.

    Therefore the news that, The Tour De France, one of the largest sporting events is starting their 101st  road race in Leeds, Yorkshire on July 5th, has bike enthusiasts and locals spinning with excitement.

York Minster

    Although I've never cycled the route I have visited the area several times and the roads over the hills will certainly be a challenge for the competitors.

    But for those of you, who like me would rather admire the wonderful scenery from a car, I can recommend two places, York and Holmfirth, both of which are included in Stage Two.York of course is known for the Minster and Holmfirth is renowned, as the location where, Last of the Summer Wine, a BBC popular sitcom was filmed.

Holmfirth

     So if you're in Yorkshire this week, it's all about pedal power. However, you could just park up the car for the night and watch the race going by, whilst supping a pint of Yorkshire Bitter.

 

 

Keeping out of the Way of the Coconuts

    

    I've been struggling the last couple of weeks to juggle my work in progress and maintain a presence on social media, due to family commitments.

    Normally at a weekend, I plan ahead for my biweekly blogs; I jot down ideas, do outlines, maybe even go out and take some photographs. This means that the rest of the time I can get on with writing my book, or tweeting.

    But, this has been impossible of late and being someone who is an organisation fanatic, I've had to admit to myself that writing, daily tweeting and regular blogging is not achievable. I'm throwing all of the coconuts up in the air and some of them are likely to crash down on top of my head, sooner rather than later.

    Therefore, I've had to sit down and reorganise my workload. My book had to remain my number one priority, staying at the top of my 'Must Do List'. So, Twitter friends I apologise because I will only be tweeting to you sporadically. Yes, I'm planning to neglect you and I'm afraid I may continue to do so for an indefinite period. However, I most definitely won't completely forget you.

    Blogger friends I will endeavour to blog twice a week, that means see you Monday, if a coconut doesn't get me that is.

Johnsmas Eve

 

 

The coastal bonfires are lit,

  the flames spark and spit.

    We'll touch the water and jump through the fire,

    build an effigy to top the pyre.

    The scent of fennel, rosemary and rue, waft through the breeze.

   To ward off the witches, warlocks and fairies, who dance and tease.

    Because there is no room for evil here to decieve,

    on this 23rd of June, Johnsmas Eve.

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