Loch Earn Scotland

Just another Scottish heatwave ... (If it doesn't cool down soon, I might move to Australia)

On a recent tour of the Highlands the Emperor was fortunate to stop by the sun-drenched shores of Loch Earn - looking very good indeed.

Seeking The Right Direction

[Weather vane - Linlithgow]

It can serve us all to pause and reflect, before deciding on the right direction. 

What feels like the right way in life can indeed lead us far from our true path and what feels unsure can in turn emerge as out most authentic destination.   

Getting Ready for Scottish Independence ....

Up At The Front: The Antonine Wall

This Emperor recently went up to the front to make inspection of the Northern defences.

(Well,  .... its the kind of thing that's expected of an Emperor ... )

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I must say I found the defences of the Antonine Wall to be somewhat degraded since their original construction in the 140's A.D. I suppose its not surprising really, but that's certainly not to say that they don't remain impressive.

[Looking North over the Antonine valum, in the outskirts of modern Falkirk]

Indeed, you can still clearly discern the impressive valum and ditch carved into the landscape at many points of the site and which, on the Southern flank, would have supported a major stone, timber and turf wall; reckoned to be palisaded on top and perhaps up to four meters high from ground level.

The Antonine Wall can lay claim to being Rome's most Northerly static frontier; although in almost every other respect, the Antonine is the historically lesser known, less materially intact and altogether, less sexy little sister to the more celebrated Hadrian's Wall (located in Northumbria, England).

[A well preserved stretch of the defences just West of the modern town of Falkirk. The foundation rise - of the now degraded wall - can still be seen on the reverse defencive side]

The Antonine's relative obscurity was dictated by virtue of its limited operational life cycle: c. 140's to 160's AD. Commissioned on the orders of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, the wall runs 37 miles from East to West, right through central Scotland - linking and making good use of the natural obstacles of the major Clyde and Forth estuaries.

[Excavated 'lilia' pits on the advance slope to the Antonine wall. Anti-personnel defences in modern parlance]

Sited only 70 miles to the North of Hadrian's Wall, the Antonine may have represented an attempt to extend Roman rule, or at least military control, into a difficult and rebellious region (Caledonia Major - not Falkirk).

Or it may represent an expression of imperial ego: Antonine seeking as it were, to 'go one better', from his immediate predecessor Hadrian. And of course, one can never rule out an overt imperial attempt to fashion a martial persona; from an Emperor who by all accounts was not an overtly military man.

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Within the imperial context, it was indeed the duty of any Roman Emperor to protect the boundaries of his Empire.


Less obviously - though of critical import -  Emperors of Rome were obliged to  define themselves as ostensibly 'military' men. Commanders in Chief of the large professionalised and peace-time forces that held down their Empires; preventing unrest and guarding against sovereign incursion.


Form a political perspective, those armies could, paradoxically, be dangerous to imperial rule and it was essential for any Emperor to maintain meaningful connections with the garrison troops of their frontier provinces; if for nothing else, to minimise the risk of rebellion, mutiny and of course militarily backed usurpation. After all, it had not been lost on the historian Tacitus that even by the 1st century AD:

"A well hidden secret of the Principate had been revealed: it was possible, it seemed, for an emperor to be chosen outside Rome."

[Tacitus, Histories, I.5]

The defied Augustus, had dictated a policy of restricted empire expansion and thus static defence. It became therefore not at all uncommon for Emperors - if not actively to campaign - then to at least to make military reviews and expeditions to the provincial and military outreaches of their territories.

Thus by the early Principate had Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero all established precedents for imperial expeditions of varying scale to the frontiers; visiting the major garrisons and launching regionalised campaigns; providing military, economic or reputational gain.

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For the Antonine Wall, World Heritage Site, see: http://www.antoninewall.org/

See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Wall

and
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/antoninewall

Rumbling Bridge

The Emperor recently had cause to re-visit Rumbling Bridge, just outside the village of Crook of Devon.
 

Its a most beautiful spot with its own distinct history and a favourite place to take foreign dignitaries and guests of the Imperial court.
Actually comprising two bridges that span a dramatic gorge, the Emperor is reminded of the local history of the area:

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"Rumbling Bridge is so named from the rumbling or violent noise that the water makes, as it rushes, swells, and thunders among the rocky fragments that oppose it progress downwards. The bridge consists of one arch, wide, safe and strong, and erected above an old bridge, which was built by William Gray of Saline in 1713. This old bridge is placed eighty feet above the Channel of the Devon, and the span twenty two feet. It was very dangerous, for, while it was narrow, it had no parapet and it stood thus for more than a century, and was crossed by equestrians as well as by those on foot, at all seasons, by night as well as day, although a wrong footstep or the least stumble would have precipitated the passenger into the frightful abyss below. It is now covered with ivy. The new bridge built in 1816 stands 120 feet above the river. "

Text from, "A Run Along the Banks of the Devon", as published within the Fife Herald. and cited in 1864 extract of, The Annals of Kinross-shire, p.91

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Strange Trees

[A distinclty gnarled tree in the forrests around Oban]

Wall Art: Leith, Edinburgh

[I think they are moving house ... doing a flit in the Scottish tongue]

Cherry Blossom Explosion, Dollar Glen, Scotland

 

[The annual explosion of pink Cherry Blossom in the town of Dollar Scotland]

Into the Frozen North

Pentland Hills, Nr Edinburgh

Loch Leven Castle, Kinross-shire

Ok, so this emperor has an obsession for visiting castles .... and I've never denied it.



Our most recent foray, took the imperial court to my home of Kinross-shire on the beautiful banks of Loch Leven. The small ferry boat carried us to the historical Castle Island; site of the famous stronghold that once served as a prison to the unhappy figure, Mary Queen of Scots .

Queen Mary's imprisonment (for a period of 288 days) was only broken by a dramatic night-time escape on 2nd May 1568. She was spirited away by boat, with the surreptitious help of the youth William Douglas, who stole the castle keys and locked her captors inside before discarding them into the loch.*

Its fair to say that Mary's stay at Lochleven Castle was an unhappy one and her later web posting on Trip-Advisor was less than complementary of its amenieties; a fact that must surley have led to the castle's current decline as a recreational retreat.

This Emperor's visit was lucky to catch a sunny day - one of those 'Last Days of Summer' gems that only September in Scotland can offer.

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*On the issue of the stolen castle keys: the 'Annals of Kinross-shire' make an interesting note that a rusted set of ancient and mighty keys were discovered by a local boy - William Honeyman - in the Autumn of 1805, during a period of particularly low water level for the Loch.

Dunnottar Castle

The spectacular Dunnottar Castle, perched on its own cliff-top promontory on the North East, Angus coast: a favourite site of this Emperor.

In sunshine or rain, the dramatic location of Dunnottar, makes for an invocotacive and atmosoheric experience.

For Dunnottar Castle and its history, See: http://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/

Cramond Island, Edinburgh

A striking summer sunset; off Cramond Island in the Forth Estuary, just outside Edinburgh.

For Cramond and its Island See: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/cramond/index.html

One of my esteemed antecedents, Antoninus Pius (86 - 161 AD) built a fort at Cramond in the 140's AD. Its nice to pop back on a Summer's evening to view the old place. Its funny to muse that the northern most limmits of Antonius's old empire are now at the very centre of mine.

South Queensferry

[The Jubilee Clocktower. South Queesferry, Midlothian. Scotland]

For more info see:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/queensferry/southqueensferry/index.html

As Old As the Hills

The flight of years cannot affect the natural beauty of Kinross-shire, nor efface the memories inspired by its historical and romantic associations. In the dim and distant pre-historic ages, when Lochleven was dotted with lake-dwellings, the Lomond, Benarty, Cleish, and Ochil Hills, looked down upon our County in the same friendly spirit with which they do to-day, and their messengers, the streams flowing into the loch, gurgle the same old song:-

"Men may come and men may go,
But we go on forever."

[Extract from the Kinorss-shire Advertiser - 12th July 1912]

In Search of Scottish Cowboys

[Chaotic scenes from East Lothian, Scotland]

OK, so don't all stampede at once, but the advert below is a genuine posting that I found on the Edinburgh Gumtree network this week.

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Date posted: Wednesday 8th July Ad viewed: 52 times
Location: East Coast

Hi,

United Casting are currently looking for people to be extras in a film shooting on the east coast of Scotland.

We are looking for men and women who have access to cowboy outfits and/or line dancing outfits for a western scene.

If you are interested and you own the necessary costume please contact Murray at info@unitedcasting.co.uk ASAP

Please attach name, contact number and a photo if possible

Thanks,

Murray

United Casting
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Its just this kind of random post that makes Gumtree great - if only for the entertainment!

Sheesh, if my good chaps were not in at the dry cleaners just now - there would be no stopping me! lol.

In Search of Scottish Oatcakes

Even the most casual traveller to Australia, could not fail to notice the liberal application of Scottish place names that punctuate the maps of this vast country. Towns, cities, rivers, roads and forests all echo familiar and emotive Scottish names. Names that were brought by early Scots explorers and pioneers; set down in romantic homage to the old country that many must have known they would never see again.

Campbelltown, MacDonald, Scone, Aberdeen, Hamilton, Lithgow, Invergowrie, Glencoe, Apin, Lorn, Melrose, Dysart, Bannockburn, Argyle, Dundas, Esk and Stirling, are just a few of the many names that remind one of home.

So with such a deep Scots connection, you might think it would be easy to get hold of that most fundamental of Scottish savoury cuisine, the humble Oat Cake?

And yet, its really not that easy, let me tell you!

[The Elusive Scottish Oatcake]

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I have now searched for oatcakes in three Ausie states and with very mixed success. Most of the big supermarkets do not have them and only the occasional health food, or import store, even knows about them.

I have spent much time explaining what oatcakes are to bemused and uncomprehending store assistants. I quickly learned that the term 'cake' confused them immensely and invariably directed me down the 'sweets and deserts' aisle of any store. The realisation that it was most effective to describe my desire as, "a sort of savory oat biscuit", helped somewhat, but did not improve my ultimate success.

I do not believe that Queensland knows the simple pleasure of the oatcake at all. Similarly Victoria is not overly familiar, though I did find them in one city centre store. New South Wales was perhaps the most 'oat friendly' state, but only in Sydney and they were not easy to find. Yet they could be found - usually occupying some obscure corner of the special import sections - surrounded by fancy European pastas.

When I did find them, my happiness was unbounded. However, they were expensive and I was forced by their very scarcity to buy in what may have appeared as suspicious bulk.

[Ahh, the promised land at last!]

Ok, so searching for oatcakes may have become something of a sad obsession, but as everyone knows, a good Scotsman needs his oatcakes at least two or three times a week to maintain a happy disposition. What else can one do?

The Bass Rock

[The Shimmering Bass Rock. East Lothian. Scotland]

For more info see:
http://www.north-berwick.co.uk/bassRock.asp

Chrichton Castle

[Chrichton Castle, Midlothian. Scotland]

For info see:
http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/pathhead/crichtoncastle/index.html

Marwick Head

[The Dramatick Marwick Head. Isles of Orkney. Scotland]

See:
http://www.orkneypics.com/webpage/page/page054.html

Just in Passing

[A lonely passing place, Scottish Borders]