Friday, November 30 is St. Andrew's Day.
Sigh.
Scotland.
This coming week, we'll countdown to St. Andrew's Day with pictures from my family's visits in 2005. We drove from the Netherlands, through the Chunnel, and onto Scotland.
Scottish law allowed for "irregular marriages" if the couple declare themselves in front of two witnesses. The Old Blacksmith's Shop, built in 1710, was the first building across the border. The blacksmith often performed "anvil" weddings!
The Marriage Room is the first house in Scotland ... and last house in Scotland ... depending upon which way we were driving!
My children pose with an eternal piper!
Above is the Low Green in Ayr, the common land remaining form a 14th century Royal Charter. Great place to fly kites!
Ayr is also home of St. John's Tower - the last remaining building of the church where the Scottish Parliament met on April 26, 1315, one year after the Battle of Bannockburn.
Above is Greenan Castle. From the Maybole home page (at this link),
Dramatically perched on a sheer coastal cliff south west of Ayr is the lonely ruins of Greenan Tower. Built in 1603 by John Kennedy of Baltersan on the site of an earlier castle raised by the Davidson family, though nothing remains of this castle.
One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash. This giveaway is open to all readers. Comments are open through Saturday, December 1, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 2.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
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