With a Sprinkling of Fairy Dust

Magical Areas will be created

    Like Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott, author and playwright, J. M. Barrie spent many years in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland. The creator and writer of Peter Pan, the Little White Bird, Margaret Ogilvy and Better Dead, was schooled in Dumfries and graduated from Edinburgh University before moving to London.

River Nith, Dumfries

    But, his time in Scotland was never forgotten, it was the gardens of Moat Brae House, in Dumfries, where he played as a child that inspired his creation of the character Peter Pan and his land of make-believe, Neverland.

    Finally, the derelict building and grounds are being restored in honour of J. M. after receiving £5.3 million pounds of funding and once again they will bring joy to children.

    When completed it will house a children's literature centre and play areas. Now, they too can have their lives enhanced by story-telling and of course I'm sure there will be a sprinkling of fairy dust for all.

Neverland, will include gardens

Common Sense At Last

    Libraries in the UK are being chopped and squeezed with every austerity measure the Government inflicts upon the population. Something they have been doing over the last few years and yes, I have written posts on this subject before and I make no apologies for mentioning it again.

    But, elsewhere in the world there are Governments who recognise that libraries and the reading of books is important, if we want to educate children and adults alike.

    One such country is Spain, and like the rest of the world  they don't have lots of money to go around, however they know that accessibility to literature is key to the future of their country.

    So, thanks to promotion by the Spanish Ministry for Education, Culture and Sport, the library in Adeje, South Tenerife, Canary Islands, has seen increased numbers of students using its facilities including the usage of study rooms and Wi-Fi connections also rising sharply.

   
    Thank goodness, there is some common sense being used by Government and of course that means, those year round sun worshippers can also take a book to the beach.

 

 

 

The Chinese whispers of Greyfriars Bobby

Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh

    There are stories, whether true, or myth that pull at our heartstrings. One such story that does it for me every time is that of, Greyfriars Bobby. Boxes of Kleenex in abundance are needed when settling down in front of the 1961, Disney movie, Greyfriars Bobby and the 2006 film, The Adventures of Greyfriars Bobby. Both based on, Eleanor Atkinson's, book of the same name it tells the said to be true story of a Skye Terrier who watched over his master's grave for fourteen-years.

    Like any story that is passed down through the ages initially by word of mouth and then Atkinson's book in 1912, the story varies. His master, John Gray, in one version was said to be a local, Edinburgh policeman, or bobby an informal name used for the police in the UK and in another he was, John Gray a shepherd.  

Greyfriars Bobby Bar, Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh.

   
    In Edinburgh's, Candlemaker Row a statue was erected in 1873 opposite, Greyfriars Kirkyard where his master was buried in 1858 and then Bobby, fourteen-years later. True, or myth I don't really care. I believe it's a story that will last forever and of course this little Skye Terrier can watch over his master for eternity too.

Please, Please, Mr.Postman

Postbox in Dunblane, Scotland.

    They've been around since the 19th century in all the villages and towns throughtout the UK; some are built into walls and some are free-standing. No matter what shape, or size they come in, they're part of the British culture. What am I talking about? Postboxes.

    However, due to the decline in the art of letter writing, an old favourite of mine, this rare breeed is in danger of becoming extinct, which is kind of sad.

    The Post Office says that it isn't thinking of scrapping them just yet, but I've got a sneaky feeling that they'll soon be as rare as an dodo or a pterodactyl.

Please, Please, Mr. Postman keep taking my letters for me. 

P.S. Gold postbox to commemorate Andy Murray's Olympic win.

Copies in Noir

 

    I was watching a re-run of an old, Colombo, movie the other day and the shabby, much-loved detective was enthralled by a facsimile machine in one of the scenes. In fact the whole scene and explanation of how a fax machine worked amused me.

    While faxes are still used the Internet has pushed this piece of equipment, into the sidelines. But, watching the film made me wonder what the TV viewer in forty-years time will think of tablets, notebooks, laptops, cell-phones, or even social media when they sit down to watch re-runs.

    Even my old cell-phone could feature in Film Noir!

 

   

A Man's a Man for A That

Inside Burns Cottage, Alloway, Ayr

    January 25th is the night the birth of poet and writer, Robert Burns will be celebrated throughout the world. I will be out this evening joining up with friends to pay homage to the great man and if you can't find a supper near you sit back with a small libation (if allowed) and toast the most celebrated writer in the world.

Burns Cottage, Alloway,Scotland

        Here are a few facts that you might find of interest:

• The original spelling of Burns was actually Burnes. 
• Burns toured Scotland and the North of England giving talks on his travels and discussing his views on subjects such as politics.
• Words of poems and songs were used by the British Army in WWI to recruit soldiers from the whole of the UK not solely Scotland.

Found on Burns house in Dumfries

• Burns fathered at least 12 children.
• Burns skull was said to be bigger than the average man's.
• July 2016 will be the 220th anniversary of his death.

• 'Catcher in the Rye' John Steinbeck's novel title was based on 'Comin Thro The Rye' a poem by Burns.   
• 'Of Mice and Men' was taken from a line contained in the poem 'To a Mouse.' 
• There are more statues in the world of Burns than of any writer.
• The first Burns Supper was held in his Cottage in Alloway approximately five years after his death.

Time Tables Can Be Nuts

    It's Squirrel Appreciation Day this week and I couldn't allow it to pass without mentioning my lovable rascal, or rascals as I have now found it to be, again.

    There are no fresh goodies for them to dig up at present, therefore I put a supply of monkey nuts out for them to munch on regularly. I can't help but laugh at their antics and I've found that they keep to a strict timetable which never really changes from summer to winter.

    Even although in the UK we turned back our clocks by one-hour in October they are still coming into my garden and leaving for the woods nearby at the same time as they did in the summer.

    I'm no naturalist but I can see why wildlife is so interesting.


#SquirrellAppreciationDay January 22