Skywatch - Rosslyn Castle

Another wee day out on Wednesday, this time for a walk in Rosslyn Glen.  We had visited the (in)famous Rosslyn Chapel before, but had never made it any further.  This time, we passed on the chance to fight our way through the hordes of visitors vying to stand in the place that Tom Hanks stood in the DaVinci Code film, and headed off down the glen, eventually finding our way to Rosslyn Castle .  It was a lovely late winter day, with just a faint hint that warmer weather could be on its way back.
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Skywatch - Sky, snow and stones

A wintry view of the 5000 year old Callanish Stones against a pale blue sky on the Isle of Lewis, taken on Wednesday 3rd February. 
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Freedom - a view from the North

For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.
From The Declaration of Arbroath 1320.

Quite a controversial quote here, especially as the majority of wonderful people who read my blog are in fact English. I mean no offence here friends. It is just that I have been reading so much about the appalling plans by the UK government to take away the freedom of English parents to home educate their children, that I find this quite apt in the circumstances. It is a frightening prospect. Everyday I find more and more to worry about. Information can be found here and here, and here.
Fortunately for me, I live in Scotland, where these measures will not apply - our SNP government have said they have no plans to implement a similar review. Hopefully Mr BrownBalls will take some notice of the huge response to their 'proposals' If, as is supsected, they do not, I look forward to welcoming any home educators and their children to this land - there is plenty room to grow here. Its a sad day for democracy though when people are forced to become refugees in their own country over doing the best for their children.
I was in the National Museum of Scotland the other day. The entrance to the ground floor exhibition contains one of my favourite items - The Monymusk Reliquary. On the walls are inscribed the names of all the Kings of Scotland, and also the above quote from the Declaration of Arbroath is highlighted in beautiful calligraphy. As I read these familiar words, my eye travelled down to the long bench below. Sitting there looking very tired and subdued was a group of children from a daycare nursery wearing their high visiility vest uniforms and all strapped together with one of these. Ironic? Poignant? Or a warning?
Well - there are still 5320 of us at least!

Shadow Shot Sunday - UFO in Edinbugh?

No - it is Edinburgh Napier University's Business School campus - stunningly redeveloped a couple of years ago - or not - depending on your views on modern architecture. The original
Victorian building is still attached. This was built as a Hydropathic institute, but during WWI it became a psychiatric hospital; war poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon were both patients there. Later it became a teacher training college.
The egg shaped structure houses a lecture theatre. Interesting building and shadows. See more at Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday.

Shadow Shot Sunday - after the shopping

We have to travel about 10 miles to get to our nearest wholefoods shop, but we don't mind because it is in the lovely historical town of Linlithgow. After our shopping we did some touristy things, so come and join us.

First stop is our favourite organic cafe next door to the shop. James always has an apple juice and a giant freshly baked chocolate chip shortcake, while I just have a plain water (haha). I love how someone's shadow is reflected in the back of the perspex chair.

Then we head up to the Palace - birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.

A rather blurred shot of the Palace entrance, but I liked the shadow here.

Down to the lochside to visit the swans.

And then a good run around under the trees.

Window shop for more shadows at Shadow Shot Sunday.