Dusty Tomes

Had a brilliant, impromptu night out last night. Headed to Stirling (of silver fame) to buy a hoover, then swung back via Paul's daughter. Had pizza, went out for a quiet drink with her and her husband at the Settle Inn. Ended in town, via two other bars, at around 1am.

Much fun had by all. A great night made even more surreal by the appearance of Bookstore Greg dressed as a Pokémon.

To explain...

Before we bought the hoover, we did a bookstore recce. My library wouldn't even fill one shelf of Paul's. Below is a corner of the living room. Every other corner is similar, and there's an entire room, floor-to-ceiling, of occult works out back. Grof, Devereux, Michell - if you can name it, you'll probably find it. Everything from the Celts and ancient etymology, through to transpersonal psychology and psychedelics.

Most of these come from scouring charity and second-hand shops. Paul introduced me to Stirling Books. It was love at first sight. If you're ever in Scotland, go. They also sell a lot on the web, and they're guaranteed to find most titles if you drop them a line.

I ended up on my hands and knees, scouring the poetry section. Left with the following:

Canterbury Poets Collection dating from 1884/5, including: Blake, Byron, Campbell, Chatterton, Coleridge, Hogg, Keats, Marlow, Meredith, Poe, Shelley, Spencer and Wordsworth.

I just couldn't resist. I bought for resale, but it's very difficult to let go of something like that once you have it. Well, it is for me. There are two copies of Byron, so perhaps I'll keep one. I'll certainly read them all first. Maybe by then I'll have changed my mind.

Unfortunately, by that point, I'd rather caught the bug. Picked up another couple:

Top left: 

Rhymes of a Rolling Stone, Robert W. Service. No publishing date, but dedication date of 1931. Looking forward to reading this one.

Bottom Left: collection of Longfellow, again no publication or dedication date. Signed A or Q. W. Besh. Lovely inner cover art. Guessing late 1800s.

Top right: leather bound collection of Milton. Again, no dates but thinking early 20th century.

Bottom right: (moment of madness) Words of Peace, Oxenden. Dedication I can't make out, May 1888.

Wonderful chapter on God's Purpose in Afflicting You [with illness]:

You are convinced, I hope, that God chastens purposely and lovingly. Affliction comes from Him, and He afflicts, not as a stern Judge, but as a Father and a Friend.

This one is definitely for resale.

Finally, blue on top, the smallest but perhaps best return on investment: Scenes from the Andria of Terence, F. W. Cornish M. A. (back in the day when those two letters meant anything - said the disillusioned academic). Made out to M. C. Robb VIA (?), publication date 1924 reprint. Love plays, will have a read through before saying goodbye.

I absolutely adore Stirling Books. It's a proper bookshop. One of those places where you have to roll up your sleeves and go hunting for what you want, and where you will stumble across a hundred other titles you never knew you wanted until you saw them.

Plenty of dusty old tomes with frayed hardcovers, from the days when books were books. Not so much of this pulp fiction paperback trash. It evokes a sense of place and purpose. Leafing through the mildewed mystery of times past.

That's where we met Greg. He served us. Then ended up in the Settle Inn on a mate's birthday bash - theme of Pokémon. With ping pong balls. 

Nice end to a lovely day.

Although, talking of pulp fiction paperback trash, I did indulge in a charity shop a few villages down. 12 paperbacks for £2! Went a bit wild. Now have my reading list sorted for the next couple of months.

Pleasantly colour co-ordinated.

Paul has now been banned from taking me anywhere near book shops ever again.

Castle Campbell & The Witch's Hill

After Clackmannan yesterday, we headed to Castle Campbell.

It is an ancient ruined castle dating from the 1400s, situated in the Glen of Glume (Gloom).

The view from the top is superb.

Even found nesting swallows.

Before we left, we took a walk up the road to The Witch's Hill. Spooky evergreen woods on a steep mound, with some interesting rocks scattered about. Very Blair Witch. Interesting feel to the place.

Seat Stone

Upright Stone

Faces in the Rocks

Dragon Branch

Lone Panther Cap

Very entertaining day out. Came home via the Indian and gorged ourselves whilst watching movies. Introducing Paul to the joys of Ghibli: Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke.

Also managed to catnap next door's moggie, who followed us in for a bowl of milk and some take-out.

Cat Verses Keema Naan

Skulduggery

Today, we went in search of the biggest phallus in Scotland.

It's 'The Stone of Mannan', which gives Clackmannanshire its name.

It sits in the village centre, next to the remnants of an ancient cross.

Mr. B demonstrating what the stone
may have represented in ancient times.

We found a church over the road. This one was open to the public. A really lovely lady welcomed us in, provided us with free coffee and biscuits, and told us all about the place.

For the 40th anniversary of the Queen's coronation in 1992, the church commissioned a new window, thought to be the only church to do so. She visited to see it in 1997 and signed the guest book.

Anniversary Window

The Queen's Signature

It was an impressive church with a balcony, which reminded me of one which is housed at The Museum of Welsh Life. It is rare to see churches with upper tiers. 

The church is built on top of an older place of worship dating from around 680 AD. This one is thought to date from around 1815.

There are six impressive stained glass windows on the lower floor.

My favourite is top-middle, for the colours.

I really enjoyed frobbling around the graveyard outside. Some more unusual carvings, like those in my Headstones post.

Jester Skull?

Curlicue

Heart

Lichen has turned the nose and
eyes bright green

After bumbling about Clackmannan, we headed off to Castle Campbell.

Adamnan’s Cross

Whilst up in Glen Lyon, Paul and I went for a wee amble.

Some pictures of things we found...

 Dam...

It's Glen Lyon.

 A big ol' cairn.

Never quite seen Kitty from that angle before!

Mist coming down yon mountains.

Adamnan’s Cross - I'll let Paul explain that one if you follow the link.

The story begins: "A terrible plague swept through Scotland in the seventh century. It reached the Vale of Fortingall and so violent was its ravages that all the inhabitants were wiped out.."

The landscape surrounding it is beautiful.

We stumbled upon quite a few ancient sites. You can read about them on The Northern Antiquarian, but one that was particularly interesting was a ruinous rubble once supposed to be a fort belonging to none other than the great giant Finn McCool!

Those of you who know of the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, will know that he was the famous giant who built it. Yet it would seem that he also kept holiday homes in the glens of Scotland. This being one.

It's called Caisteal Mhic Neill - read about it by following that link.

It sits by a river.

On the other side of the road is an old kiln.

In the shadow of a rather large hill.

And a little way up the road, a field which I spent some time exploring due to a large cave formed by several boulders.

It doesn't look as impressive in pictures, but you can crawl inside and up through the rocks. I managed to stand on top of the one on the left, where there was a ledge. I lay there, looking up at the sky...

The views of the glen were lovely, too.

That second one is back down towards Finn McCool's Castle, by the river to the left.

There were some other impressive boulders in the field.

One of which I've dubbed the Psychedelic Stone. It's covered in thick waves, unlike any other there.

There's one in the Valley of the Black Goddess that is completely covered in garnet. Again, unlike any other stone around it. On a normal day you wouldn't even know, just a rock with chicken pox. Apparently though, when it rains and the sun hits it, it glows red like rubies.

Finally, a drive home down a very bumpy road, past a pipe that stretched an entire valley, and some lovely skylines...

Finn McCool's Pipe?

Adamnan’s Cross