Visit to Glamis Castle

Well on Sat, 5 Sept we visited Glamis Castle (pronounced Glams Castle). We were told there was the annual country festival that weekend and it seemed a great opportunity visit a castle and see some of the country workmanship/activities too... so off we went.

It was about an hours drive south from Aberdeen - the countryside was an interesting patchwork of brown fields, green paddocks, fields with lines from ploughing and forest...we also had the coast in view for a while and saw what must have been whales surfacing in the ocean - nice.

We arrived at the castle and the gates are impressive to begin with - not surprising as the Queen Mother used to reside there and Princess Margaret was the only member of the royal family to have been born there - so it has an important history. The castle was given to the Lyons family in 1372 (they added to the original buildings over the years) but some parts of it are still original and have the musty/damp smell that you read about.

We actually went to the fair first and that was a mistake because the grounds were wet and muddy - so muddy that at times my shoes (far from suitable for the situation) remained in the mud when I lifted my feet...I nearly feel over (the family would have loved that) but managed to balance using one hand in the mud!

The first stall we went to had wellington boots for sale and we debated about buying some but by that time our shoes were already well and truly covered.

We watched some terrier racing - any of the public at the fair who brought their dog could enter the races (free) and it was a very friendly atmosphere...the kids really enjoyed watching the dogs chasing the 'rabbit' on a string...a couple of the terriers wouldn't let go of the 'rabbit' and the chap picked them up by the scruff of the neck and carried them off.

After that we went for a wander around the whole fair (there were over 150 stalls)...the kids saw some small quad bikes and were desperate to have a go...so they had a go and loved it - they really enjoyed taking the corners and trying to overtake each other...there are a few photos to show their smiles.

Next we returned to the main arena to watch a group of riders called 'The Devil's Horsemen" - they are some of Europe's best stunt riders on horseback - featuring in films such as Braveheart (and I can't remember the other 6/7 films)...anyway they were very impressive...galloping along and falling back in the saddle as if shot, falling sideways in the saddle, jumping off to one side and then back over to the other, running/swinging along beside the horse as it galloped - you can imagine how it would be used in films...one of the guys was able to ride two horses standing up - one foot on each horse saddle. There was a couple of girls and four men..

Later in the day the same group performed some choreographed medieval jousting and the it was pretty well done - obviously very safe and carefully performed - but they still managed to use their stuntriding to good effect with people 'falling' back in their saddle as the lance hit them and other similar things - they played up to the kids with a 'Black Knight' who didn't follow the usual knight chivalry...Jo really got into the booing at this point.

We tried some Scottish fare - stovies (mashed potato and steak mixed together onion and oatmeal) served with an oat biscuit. The choice of food was pretty ordinary - chips, chips and gravy, chips and ketchup, jacket potatoes, tatties (potatoes) and mince, fish and chips, beef burgers (roll, onion and sauce - no salad) and chips...you can imagine I was wondering where some real food was...there wasn't :)

Later on we found a fruit and yoghurt smoothie stall and we had a really nice berry smoothie there.

While Mase and the children went to look at the kids rides, I snuck off to the jams, preserves, cheese, wine and homebaked foods marquee...I tried all manner of interesting things - delicious curry bases (bought a red curry), some cakes (mine are nicer to be honest), different cheeses, bought a mixed game pie (wild venison, pork, pheasant, bacon) with a warning that 'there could be shot' in the pie, also tried gooseberry pie (pastry was awful and filling was way to sparse and sweet)...tried some spring oakleaf wine and strawberry wine (both very tempting), jams and preserves.

Mase tried clay pigeon shooting and was quite pleased with himself as he got 5 of his 6 shots on target...I've never been up so close to rifle fire before and now appreciate why they wear earmuffs...

We also saw (and heard very clearly) a Scottish pipe band and some girls peforming various Scottish dances. Jo was entranced and would have spent all day watching the girls.

They had some Angus cows on display - which are very hairy (obviously well suited to cold conditions here). When we toured the castle they told the story about a brown bear cub that one of the young Lyon's boys had cared for and was tame. Apparently it would shake visitors hands if they visited the castle. Anyway, one day the bear went too close to the cows and they stabbed it (fatally). The bear was taxidermied and is on display in the castle. Along with heaps of other animals which were hunted - including a huge variety of birds such as turkeys, spoonbills, wading birds, ducks, also deer, stags, stoat.

After lunch we went over to the castle and toured the section of the castle that's open to the public (about 1/3). The Lyon family (became Lyon-Bowes) who were originally given the castle in 1372 still own the castle and the current living Lady Lyon now resides in a small residence on the castle grounds and is quite active around the castle on a daily basis.

When the Lyons family renovated the castle they had a lion engraved, sculpted into every room of the castle (except for the chapel - which is a place meant for all people to share, not belonging to their own family)....the lion was a symbol of their family surname...the ceilings are amazing works of art.

The other interesting feature of the castle is the intertwining of the Rose of England flower with the Scottish Thistle which symbolised the joining of the Lyons family (Scottish) with the Bowes family (English)...the royal family fit in this picture too as the Queen Mother is a descendant of the Lyon-Bowes family...the Queen Mother's bedroom (and her husband's) are open to the public. The quilt on her bed was embroidered by the Queen Mother's mother and also features the Rose of England and Scottish Thistle - it's a beautiful piece of work. Her room and sitting room have been left as she last used them (by her request).

Another room which impressed me had tapestry curtains which took one of the Lyon Ladies 14 years to make...they didn't just sit around drinking tea and ordering the servants about I guess.

In the crypt we saw some pieces of iron armour, a full knight's armour and other weapons...including some very, very long knives behind bars..

We weren't allowed to take photos inside the castle but you can easily view some on websites if you google 'Glamis Castle' (if you're interested).

Sam and Jo really enjoyed the tour - they were given a brochure with hints of things to look out for and questions to answer and they had lots of fun...Matt was very quiet (but as we found out that night, he was coming down with an ear infection).

We didn't look around the gardens/walks of the castle but the pictures on brochures make them sound really impressive.

Well that's about all I can remember from Saturday - I hope I've managed to capture and convey some of the interesting parts of our experience...

Sunday we met with the Aberdeen Ecc and listened to a really powerful exhort based on the greatest gift we've been given - life. The analogy was made to a person awaiting a heart transplant donation and the relief, gratitude and appreciation for one when it does arrive...we all need a heart transplant in spiritual terms - we need to become a new creature in Christ with a heart/mind loyal to God. Do we appreciate what we've been given? Do we live each day aware of the change in our lives, making full use of the benefits of that new life? Ps 116 says 'how can I render unto God thanks for all the benefits He gives me?'...the answer is to 'take the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord'....we need to accept the gift and call upon God in our lives.

Monday/tuesday took us back into the realms of home schooling....we're going along alright - not easy at times but it certainly brings some great opportunities. Matt had his first day of being well today and he really enjoyed doing his school work and took great pride in charting a graph and colouring it in - I was impressed with his work and enthusiasm..

The other thing I've been meaning to say is that when we first arrived at the house and looked around we were absolutely amazed to find a PIANO - the last thing we expected to find (it certainly wasn't listed on the website) so Jo and I'll be able to play now and then...

By the way, I'm sitting in the kitchen using the ironing board for my desk to get an internet connection on our mobile broadband (which drops out now and then) and I'm in short sleeves - that's the first time since we've been here that I've been that warm at night.

The other thing we've done since we've arrived is to join a family gym nearby - this means the children are able to join in some supervised soccer/basketball/multi-sport activities with other children everyday for an hour or more. It also means Mase and I get to do some exercise..the place has a pool, along with running machines and lots of other things...I've never really been into the gym thing but it's certainly meeting a need for the children at the moment and I'm appreciating the chance to keep up with some exercise...

Anyway, it's time to close...take care all of you...we think and pray for you all often and trust that by God's grace we'll see you soon....love all of us