Today we headed back to England through “the debatable lands,” where border reivers refused to have their killing hand baptized, so they wouldn’t feel shame when they raided and murdered their neighbors. These clans include Armstrong and Nixon…. Yes, those two guys, whose ancestors were caught and tried and chose to be exiled to America rather than be hanged. Very interesting…
The land north of England was called Caledonia until the rogue Irish Scots invaded, conquered, and changed the name to “Scot’s Land.”
The pouch-like bag on the front of the kilt is a place to store food. Scotsmen herders might carry dry oatmeal there, then let blood from the neck of an animal to mix their breakfast. Personally, I’d rather eat Scottish Shortbread cookies!
The plaids, the tams, the kilts, the bagpipes, the whiskey I’m not drinking… What a country! Am having a ball, and would like to bring back a lovely Scottish brogue, if only they could package it for me! Such an interesting-sounding spin on “English.”
Naturally, the woolens here are fabulous. Stopped in Jedbrugh (pronounce it as you will!) at a “woollen mill” and bought a few lambs wool scarves in a variety of colors and plaids. So soft! But I’d really, really like to take home one of those hardy Herdewick sheep, those “tough little cookies” who could eat the brush pressing in around my house!
Hadrian’s Wall ran for 73 miles. It was built by the Romans at the northern boundary of the Empire in 55 AD. On one side was a deep ditch, like 20 feet or better, and full of sharp, pointy sticks, on the other, sloping land up to this 15′ high massive structure. Not much remains, but we stopped to see a short, low section of this 2,000-year-old achievement.
Am frequently amazed at all the cultural references that have crept into our own vernacular. “Taking coals to Newcastle” is one. Saw Newcastle today, and it was a front runner in the industrial revolution, which ran on coal, so therefore, taking coals to them was utterly ridiculous.
Durham is another castle/cathedral middle-ages town. The castle was closed today for a private function, but the cathedral was ok. Had a portion of a saint’s body to make it all officially blessed. Liked the street fair even better and wished we had more time just to mess around on the high cobbled streets.
Spending the night in York… “Oh, the noble duke of York, he had ten thousand men, he marched them up a hill, and he marched them down again…”. Used to sing that with my kids, marching them in place to warm up for PE. Another example of cultural literacy “jumping the pond.”
Vikings settled here a long time ago, and there are lots of chocolate shops… Are those connected? We’ll find out tomorrow during the city tour!