Tag Archives: Scotland

Book Review: Hunter’s Chase by Val Penny

Posted on 7 June 2020 by

Hunter’s Chase by Val Penny My rating: 4 of 5 stars As you’d expect from the first book in a crime series, there is plenty of character development. I must have met about twenty characters in the first four chapters … Continue reading →

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What’s the Truth behind Historical Fiction?

Posted on 8 April 2019 by

I have always loved historical fiction ever since I read Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff when I was about eight years old. This interview by Leslie Tate with Ali Bacon is fascinating. The St Andrews connection particularly resonates … Continue reading →

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Scatter my Ashes

Posted on 4 March 2019 by

This is a poem that I wrote last year and recited during the Poetry Open Mic Evening at the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School 2018. It is about the scattering of my Mum’s ashes. I posted it on my blog, but … Continue reading →

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Film Review: Mary Queen of Scots

Posted on 26 January 2019 by

This is a very good film but it is not a great film. Perhaps I am being unfair, as it is only natural that I make some comparison with the film that I saw last week, The Favourite, which is … Continue reading →

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Granny’s Wealth

Posted on 18 February 2018 by

When my grandmother moved to the Fair City of Perth, she believed that she’d arrived in some great metropolis. Any reader who knows Perth in Scotland will be puzzled by this statement, as they will know that we are speaking … Continue reading →

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Posted in granny, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Uncle Norman is a Legend!

Posted on 21 February 2016 by

All over the world, when I meet people from the North East of Scotland, I ask them if they have heard of Lawrence of Kemnay. For those of you who don’t know, I am referring to a large and well-established … Continue reading →

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Happy St Andrew’s Day!

Posted on 30 November 2015 by

I’d like to wish all my blog followers a very Happy St Andrew’s Day. It’s time to enjoy a grand supper of haggis,  neeps and tatties and a wee dram of single malt. I have so many very happy memories … Continue reading →

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Posted in Scotland, St Andrews Day | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Review: Whisky Galore

Posted on 14 November 2015 by

Whisky Galore by Compton Mackenzie My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is very amusing, and it is based upon a true story. It gives a great insight into why the simple lives of Highlanders and Islanders are to … Continue reading →

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British Stereotypes

Posted on 28 January 2015 by

My mother was from Sutherland in the far north of Scotland. My father is from South Yorkshire. BUT….. I deny that I am either a Wildling or that I am Fighty! If you want to argue about that, you can meet … Continue reading →

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Posted in British, Humor, Humour, Personal | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Review: If History Was Scottish

Posted on 27 January 2015 by

If History Was Scottish by Norman Ferguson My rating: 4 of 5 stars This was a gift from my dear sister, Kim. It was a really great gift and I appreciated it. The concept is very simple. It consists a series … Continue reading →

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