Scotland
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Diana’s Virtual Tour of Fife ~ The story so far
For each book I’ve written so far, a sense of ‘place’ has been vital to my writing. On each occasion I have wished to capture the essence of these locations by writing posts in the form of virtual tours. So far my virtual travels have explored Alderney, Guernsey, Southampton and Bedfordshire, but more recently I have…
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Diana’s Book Review ~ The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine
I picked up The House Between Tides by Sarah Maine at Waterstones since it was Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year. Although not a Scottish author, her setting for this and Women of the Dunes, couldn’t be more Scottish, based on the north west coast. In House Between Tides Libby is left a falling down…
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Diana’s Virtual Tour of the Fife Coast ~ Crail ~ The Jewel of East Neuk
My first awareness of Crail was as a jigsaw puzzle, the harbour being so full of character with its wee fisherman’s cottages and boats bobbing in the water inside the protective harbour wall. When you first stumble across Crail you usually park in the village, with ample off the road parking, a neat tree lined…
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A Birthday Party al fresco in the January Sunshine
On Wednesday we went back to the roots of our Scottish adventure and our total change of life’s experience. A little bird told us that it was Moira’s birthday and though The Wee Shoppe is not usually open on a Wednesday there were whispers that there was going to be a wee celebration. The Wee…
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Scottish Book Review ~ CORRAG by Susan Fletcher
Although Susan Fletcher is not Scottish, this last review of 2018 is so entwined in the heart of Scottish history and tragedy, that it holds a special place in my admiration. (added to which it is well researched.) Corrag, called ‘Witch’ by some, fled Hexham in England and headed north, to avoid capture and almost…
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Scottish Author ~ Book Review ~ Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
Today’s book review takes us back in time to an author who has long left this earth and yet her compelling words live on in the mountains of Scotland which she called home. Scottish Author Review ~ Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd What magical prose! This little white book caught my eye whilst browsing in…
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Scottish Author ~ Book Review ~ The Queen’s Grace by Nigel Tranter
I was introduced to the works of Nigel Tranter when discussing Scottish Literature with Alex at The Wee Shoppe in Kinghorn; if fact I borrowed several of Nigel Tranter’s books from Alex. The Queen’s Grace, is but one of those books, which I have recently reread. Tranter was proficient in the skill of weaving credible and…
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Glen Clova ~ a gem of a journey for creative inspiration
We were talking about trips to the mountains from Fife with our local artist and friend Douglas Gray and he mentioned Glen Clova and described how to reach it via Dundee. Douglas returns there frequently for inspiration for his painting, but for me it was a taster day to reinvigorate my ‘little brain cells’. Around…