Castle in the Ayr...

This house near Pauline's mum's house wouldn't look out of place within the Loire Valley.

More reminiscing...

While walking through the village of Alloway near Ayr the other day we passed by the village hall and a memory came back of a trip many years ago (probably 50). I (Jim) was born in Kilmarnock about 11 miles away where my mum was a 'clippie' (bus conductress) with the local bus company. Every year they would take their employees and their families on a summer trip to a nearby resort. At that time Ayr was a popular destination and although it was a short distance it was a big adventure for us! Sadly on the day the weather was abysmal (ah... Scottish summers) so a bit of quick thinking meant a visit to Burn's cottage (Robert Burn's birthplace) in Alloway.

After the visit the village allowed us to cram into the hall to take our packed lunches that should have been had on the beach under the sun! The hall had a stage and none of us had ever been on one so it was soon filled with kids. The janitor of the hall asked if we could be cleared off the stage as there was a danger of someone falling off. He then suggested that if anyone wanted to 'perform' on it then that would be ok. I think it was my elder brother Billy who organised the 'Craig brothers', 5 of us ranging from 2 to 8 years old, into a quick rehearsal and had us up there singing 'Standing in the need of prayer' - he even had us harmonising -don't know where it came from but it went down very well . Not exactly the Von Trapps but great fun - I remember loving the applause - happy days!

Here's a real choir doing it...

"Nae man can tether time or tide"

The above quotation is from our local hero (we are in Ayr in Scotland) and much loved poet, Robert Burns.
It's from his poem 'Tam o' Shanter' (more of this later) how true it is, it does not matter your position in life or  your wealth there is no way you can halt the march of time.

As we visit old haunts here in Ayr this becomes abundantly clear...

This building on Ayr's shore-front used to be 'The Pavilion' dance hall and it's where Pauline and I met on the 16th December 1972!! where have the years gone? As we reflect back we have packed a fair bit into them, being lucky enough to have had opportunities that others don't get. There are of course things we could have done better, roads we should or should not have gone down but even though looking back it seems to have flown by we know there is still a lot we can do and experience if we have the correct attitude to what is, after all, our 'one shot'.





This is the telephone box where I proposed to Pauline (after 8 months) in a pathetic " If we could get the money together and everything was ok what would you say if I asked you to marry me?"  Why were we in a phonebox?...it was a privacy thing. By the way, it is located by the gents toilets...big romantic or what!!!

Footnote: We didn't spend the 8 months on the shore-front or the phonebox!!

Santa in a campervan...

Spotted these Santas (or should that be Santae) in a garden around from Pauline's mum's here in Ayr - don't know what the significance of Santa in a campervan is ...(Colin, I know you want one.)

...but it's not the first time!

Second pic, from http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/santainslo/ which shows a very active Santa.

Church on Sunday...St Andrews

Well a cathedral actually...well what's left of it anyway!When we were over at St.Andrews we took a walk through the town to the site of the cathedral. The size of the cathedral can be seen from the remains and it must have been an impressive place 700 years ago.

It was in its day, the largest and most important church in Scotland 

It was built between 1160 and 1318 

You can still see good evidence of where the main altar stood...

and the bases of the main support pillars.

There had however been a church on the site since the 8th century but the current site's oldest remains are that of  'St Rule's tower' which is located in the Cathedral grounds. It served as a church to up to the early 12th century. It continued to be used during the building of its much larger successor.

 Inside the tower.

 St Rule (or Regulus) is credited with bringing the relics of St Andrew to Scotland.

The cathedral ruins are surrounded by a graveyard...

and by the most complete and imposing monastic enclosure walls in Scotland.

The ruins look out to the north sea whose winds and rain have added to the deterioration of the remaining stonework but it was the Reformation that really brought its demise.

 Where's Joan.?

She's not here obviously but there is a connection in that the town of St Andrews is twinned with the Southern Touraine town of Loches which Joan passed through on her way to Chinon.

                                
View Larger Map

No jacket required...

We spent 4 days visiting family up in Fife this week at Peat Inn and Balmullo (great names don't you think) the seat covers are in Mitchell's Cafe on Market Street  in St.Andrews which is furnished with what appears to be recycled items,like the scaffolding board floor! An interesting place which also has a great deli counter.

They take great delight in letting you know nearly all their produce is sourced locally.

You can visit their website here...

Well done to John & Penny, who holidayed with us last year, for almost instant recognition!

What's this?

What do you think this is a picture of ?

Only in Scotland...

Pic.BBC

Last week the fire station at North Berwick burned down with the fire engines still inside!!!

Church on Sunday...L'Ile-Bouchard

At first glance the parish church of St Gilles in the Touraine town of L'Île-Bouchard seems quite innocuous but there is more to it than first meets the eye.

.

From the 8th to the 14th of December 1947 at a time when the country was being affected by general strikes and even the threat of civil war, a series of apparitions of the Virgin Mary and the angel Gabriel appeared to four young girls of the village and asked them to pray for peace in France. The apparent result was a cessation of hostilities and the beginning a more prosperous period for the country. You can read more here... 

There is a 'grotto' in the church depicting the 'vision'

The church which dates from the 11th century was altered in the 12th and 15th centuries before a major renovation towards the end of the 19th  century.

It has an impressive organ and fresco.

Where's Joan? She is here and indeed was here...

There is plaque on the outside wall telling us that on the 6th of March in 1429,  Joan stopped there to pray on her way to Chinon, to seek out the Dauphin Charles. Joan is said to have spent several hours in prayer  in front of the Altar of Our Lady.

So, miraculous visions and Joan - quite a church!

                                  
View Larger Map

Expect the unexpected...

Among the Christmassy things going on in Edinburgh at the moment you'll find a floating Jedi Master on the Royal Mile. Though judging by the 'zip-up' it would appear even Yoda's powers can't protect him from the Scottish chill. Too cold even for you, Master, is it?

Lights fit for a princess...

The lights on Princess Street and Princess street gardens, Edinburgh.

Sorry about the quality of the pics..

Indie music from Scotland...

Pauline and I went along to the 'Electric Circus' in Edinburgh on Friday night to 'Cancel the Astronaut's'  album launch, our son Michael plays synth in the band.Their self-produced album (debut ) is called 'Animal Love Match'. Now all they need is someone to sign them to let more people hear them!

The stage setting was impressive.

They were ably supported by good sets from 'Letters' and 'Shooting Stansfield'.

They were in good form and we all had a good night.

It was better live, my camera sound doesn't do them justice.

You can see more of their videos here

Church on Sunday...Notre Dame,Louans

Today we visit the church of Notre Dame in the small village (pop.600) of Louans, a church dating from the 12th century. The original nave of the church was destroyed by fire in 1897 and rebuilt in 1904. 

There has been a place of worship on this site since the 10th century.The current church is of generous proportions given the size of the village.

 It has a fine main altar...

...and some interesting side altars...

This one has a touch of 'Sound of Music' about it!

Don't know who this colourful lady is.

There are some nice examples of stained glass windows in the church.

Where's Joan...she's immortalised within one of the windows.