Dunchraigaig Cairn, Kilmartin

Taken on 2010 tour of Scotland and Outer Hebrides with Megalithic Tours.  I fully intend to return to the Kilmartin area to explore the historical sites and spend some time at the wonderful Kilmartin House Trust Museum.

Three Stones of a circle located on Machrie Moor

A picture taken on a tour of the west of Scotland with Megalithic Tours in 2010.  One of the many stone circles of Machrie Moor on the isle of Arran.

Candle

 

An experiment in night photography.

Bonus

This year I was fortunate indeed to get a bonus from my employer.  Most of it has been used sensibly, but there has been one thing I have always wanted to own.  I don't need it, I just want it.   For years, I had coveted others who owned similar pieces and, when I finally had the money to purchase a copy, the person making them had gone out of business.  Recently though I found one that caught my eye and when the bonus was announced, I secretly kept an eye on it and thought if I could manage to do so I would purchase it.  

Well, the bonus was paid and it was more than I expected, so I took the plunge.  Today, it arrived in the post and here, dear folks, it is.   It's very heavy, but so comfortable I hardly know I'm wearing it.   Yes, it's entirely frivolous, but I love it.

A Thought for Others

It is winter, it is cold and with the holidays approaching many find themselves in crisis, for various reasons.   There are a myriad of charities out there who help others, especially at this time of year.   I wonder though how many people take the time of think of others who need our help. 

There was an article this year stating that women, in particular, spend more on themselves at this time of year then they do their friends, which was not particularly shocking to me, given how many people (mostly women) I see out shopping and the amount of responsibility that traditionally falls to women over the holiday season - presents, cards, cooking, decorating.   However, I find it odd that we spend so much money on our family, friends and having a good time but some appear to forget how hard this time of year can be for others.

Being on my own, I tend to think of this as a peaceful time and a time for reflection, and nearly every year since I have been separated from my family, my thoughts inevitably turn to those who find winter and the holidays particularly difficult to endure and those are not alone by choice.   To this end, it at this time of year I take particular care to find a local charity who helps those in crisis.   Usually I choose a homeless charity: some ask for parcels (many supply lists of essential items to help with creating beneficial gifts) or ask for volunteers, either unskilled to help with general matters, or skilled especially therapists, counsellors, advisors prepared to offer their services and skills at the temporary shelters set-up when shops and other businesses shut down.

This year I am thinking of contributing to a charity that assists people who are dealing with mental health issues which can become worse as the holiday period, full of cheer for most, approaches.  I am not sure who or how I can help, but I will be spending the next few weeks finding something appropriate.

Just to be clear, I regularly contribute to my chosen charities throughout the year; however, in winter I feel I must try to do more, as I have a roof over my head, central heating and access to everything I need and even though I am alone over the holidays, it is by choice, not enforced as it is for so many others.

I wonder, does anybody else indulge in more charitable acts over the Yule/Christmas/Winter Holiday period?

Megalithic Tour 2010

Ballymeanoch IV

This is a photograph, the first of hundreds, which I took on my tour of the north-west of Scotland with Megalithic Tours. I hope to process all my photographs soon and publish an account of my experiences at the various sites here on these pages.

I truly enjoyed my time with the group and in Scotland and I hope to return many times to Scotland, and, gods willing, move there permanently. I feel so much more connected in Scotland, without even trying, and the pull is strong.

I made a few offerings as discreetly as I could, and I believe they were well received. Certainly, the tour went without a hitch, despite weather forecasts threatening the crossing to Lewis. I would have been disappointed indeed had I not seen Calanais again.

So, back in the south-east of England again, but aready thinking of next year's journey north.

White Dragon Magazine

Once upon a time, I used to read a magazine called White Dragon.  In fact, I was a subscriber, so I always received the magazine through the post at least one or two days days before it would arrive in the local shop.  Since Samhain 2009, however, I have not received the magazine and my emails have not been responded to.  I see that the forum is down, not that they were ever that active but, even so, it's another sign that the magazine is no more.

I have searched on the internet, in vain, trying to ascertain what happened, but, alas, all is silent.  If anyone does have any news about White Dragon, please let me know.  I especially want to here that it is to return.  I certainly hope that the website is not lost, as there are some interesting articles and reviews to be found there which indicate the kind of quality that will be lost if the magazine has indeed folded.

Britain BC

Author: Francis Pryor
ISBN: 9780007126934

It has actually taken me two years to read this book. I started it in July 2008, and I remember finding it hard to comprehend. It seemed all over the place and I had difficulties with the way Pryor went into long, confusing descriptions of various archaeological dig sites. I felt extremely stupid as I just could not visualise that which he attempted to illustrate with words in detail. I became frustrated and, instead, found other books to distract.

This year I have made a concerted effort to finish those books I struggled with in the past. I picked up Britain BC again, but instead of returning to the beginning, I continued from where I had left off in order to distance myself from the earlier frustrations. It worked! I was able to read this book somewhat more comfortably and actually absorb most of the information.

The detailed and wordy descriptions of various artefacts and archaeological digs sites still left me reeling, but pictures and illustrations are provided (more frequently in the second half of the book) which help to clearly demonstrate what Pryor is tries to describe in words. In some cases, I still skipped the details in favour of understanding how the site/artefact furthered the understanding of a particular time, people, community or way of working.

Britain BC did provide me with insight in the world of archaeology; its progress over the years; and an idea of how archaeologists work today both in terms of learning about our past and in preserving it for the future. I marvelled at the amount of speculation involved in seeking to put finds into context, giving the impression that the purpose of a site or artefact can never be certain where archaeologists are involved. This was quite a lesson for me. I found it disconcerting that as Pryor dismantled the ideas of others, he sought to replace them with his own imaginings, a few of which I thought less credible than those he had just rejected. Still, what do I know?

I was taken by the idea that, immediately prior to the arrival of the Romans, British society was not necessarily a cohesive whole but rather made up of small community groups, some of which had banded together to form larger societies. Pryor also speculates that some of these communities did not have a formal structure, but were loosely banded together, and there may not have been an elite class as previously thought or imagined by rich burial sites.

Prior to reading Britain BC, I was unaware the Iron Age extended into the early part of first millennia CE with crannogs and brochs being in use in 600 CE, but only in those areas where the Romans had not tread. Although I have gained some insight into what is known about the various “ages” of prehistory, I might have assimilated more if the author had refrained from flitting between archaeological dig sites, with a quick tangent into the future of one or another site "... but we will explore that further later in another chapter" (to paraphrase) and back again. As a reader, I felt disconnected from the finds or how they corroborated what was known about the people and/or communities of the age and how they lived in the landscape. I was lost quite a bit of the time; I needed lots of breaks from reading this book in order to take my bearings. I know the author is enthusiastic - I can read it in his text - but I think more careful editing might have made the evidential information more accessible.

Overall, the book did provide me with a basic knowledge of prehistory in Britain and it's all in one place instead of the myriad of bits and bobs floating around in my head from reading news updates from various archaeological websites. I have definitely learned more than I ever did at school about the subject. It's just Britain BC is not a book I would, or even could, use as a reference to with which to check my understanding.

I am not sure what is says about the book when the first thing I can say about it is: "I now know the difference between pre-history, proto-history and history".

Rating: 4/5.

Submissions Sought: Pagan Poetry Pages Summer 2010 Edition

The Pagan Poetry Pages are now accepting submissions for their Summer Edition. All writers of poetry and prose are invited to submit their work, either by posting on the fora at the Pagan Poetry Pages website, or by emailing the editor at editors(at)paganpoetrypages(dot)com.

Writers do not have to be pagan, but if the piece is pagan themed, or related to paganism in some way, please consider submitting your work for publication to the Summer edition of the Pagan Poetry Pages.