The baker was a more colourful character though ..
Where the mountains reach the sea - and the wind blows wild and free - at the edge of reality - thats where I will be.
Showing posts with label Stirling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stirling. Show all posts
Monday, 10 January 2011
Stirling and the castle kitchens
I guess if you were lucky enough to get a job in the castle kitchens, it would be a lot warmer during the winter, but as the kitchen was tucked away in the basements, it didn’t get much sun so the workers seem to look a bit pale ? In fact they looked bored stiff if the display is to be believed.
The baker was a more colourful character though ..
The baker was a more colourful character though ..
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Stirling and its Castle
No trip to the “Top o’the Toon” could be complete without a visit to the castle. I love visiting these ancient monuments to our past history and think the entrance fee worth it as it ensures these monuments are preserved forever. Of course, because I’m a resident of Stirling, its even better value as I get in for free.
Stirling is surrounded by the history of our national hero’s. The view from the castle esplanade looks towards the Wallace monument built in 1860 high on the Abbey Craigs. Stirling Auld brig is in the foreground and is not far from the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297
Robert The Bruce, another of Scotland’s heroes also stands on the Castle Esplanade looking towards Wallace’s work.
The Palace buildings within Stirling Castle (to the left in this photo) were built around 1540. The Forework Gate (In the centre of the photo) was constructed around 1500. And the great Hall ( The light coloured building to the right in the photo) was built around 1503.
The cannon batteries were added to the defence of the castle during the Jacobite uprisings around 300 years ago
Today the castle was plastered in ice and snow. A reminder of how cold those huge halls must have been in mid winter long ago. I guess our ancestors were far harder than us. I doubt the common people of old, got heating allowances from the Palace and its government.
Stirling is surrounded by the history of our national hero’s. The view from the castle esplanade looks towards the Wallace monument built in 1860 high on the Abbey Craigs. Stirling Auld brig is in the foreground and is not far from the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English at the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297
Robert The Bruce, another of Scotland’s heroes also stands on the Castle Esplanade looking towards Wallace’s work.
The Palace buildings within Stirling Castle (to the left in this photo) were built around 1540. The Forework Gate (In the centre of the photo) was constructed around 1500. And the great Hall ( The light coloured building to the right in the photo) was built around 1503.
The cannon batteries were added to the defence of the castle during the Jacobite uprisings around 300 years ago
Today the castle was plastered in ice and snow. A reminder of how cold those huge halls must have been in mid winter long ago. I guess our ancestors were far harder than us. I doubt the common people of old, got heating allowances from the Palace and its government.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Stirling and the old town cemetery
The thaw didn’t last for long before the snows of winter repainted our landscape again. Another four inches fell last night so I decided to keep off the hills today. Instead took a walk up the back walk of Stirling to the dead centre of the old town.
The sun shone brightly as I walked but I doubt if it had enough warmth to raise the temperature above freezing point. My mood was just as cold as I thought back to this time last year.
I took a walk up Stirling Back walk then too. My mind wasn’t really on the scenery , I was thinking of my father.
As I stood at Lady’s view, overlooking the carse of Stirling and Ben Lomond on the horizon, I recalled how cold it was then too.
I have always enjoyed walking among the stone memorials of old cemeteries and the one at the “Top o’ The Toon” has always been a favourite of mine.
Not because I am morbid or ghoulish or anything , but because I think it is nice to remember the people that came before us. They built this land and they gave us our life.
I was please to see the money spent recently repairing the cemetery and its memorials made it look so much better.
As I wandered around the cemetery, I thought back to how ill my father was at this time last year. I remembered the last time I saw him.
The sun was beginning to set on his life during that cold spell last January
I hope its a bit warmer where you are now dad.. but not too hot .. and also know you are remembered.
The sun shone brightly as I walked but I doubt if it had enough warmth to raise the temperature above freezing point. My mood was just as cold as I thought back to this time last year.
I took a walk up Stirling Back walk then too. My mind wasn’t really on the scenery , I was thinking of my father.
As I stood at Lady’s view, overlooking the carse of Stirling and Ben Lomond on the horizon, I recalled how cold it was then too.
I have always enjoyed walking among the stone memorials of old cemeteries and the one at the “Top o’ The Toon” has always been a favourite of mine.
Not because I am morbid or ghoulish or anything , but because I think it is nice to remember the people that came before us. They built this land and they gave us our life.
I was please to see the money spent recently repairing the cemetery and its memorials made it look so much better.
As I wandered around the cemetery, I thought back to how ill my father was at this time last year. I remembered the last time I saw him.
The sun was beginning to set on his life during that cold spell last January
I hope its a bit warmer where you are now dad.. but not too hot .. and also know you are remembered.
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