#Especially Caithness and Wick

[jalshristovski]

Drawing Scotland in my family’s tartan (my mom’s side is Scottish) is what I call reconnecting

[chelsie-carson]

Downton Abbey’s Phyllis Logan on a sequel, feminism protests, the struggle facing theatres, and her love of animals 

Like most in-demand actors, Phyllis Logan’s diary has been unusually bare these past few months. When the coronavirus lockdown was introduced, it immediately closed down film and theatre productions across the world.

But the Downton Abbey star says no matter how busy her future schedule might be, if a sequel is announced to the period drama’s movie spin-off, she would clear the decks to be part of it.

The actor, originally from Johnstone in Renfrewshire, has been in the primetime series since it started 10 years ago, playing housekeeper Mrs Hughes.

She said: “The will is certainly there with everybody – the cast, producers and writer Julian Fellowes – but no one knows what will happen, especially with this lockdown.

“We’re ever hopeful, so fingers crossed. When it could happen, I don’t know – we could all be in our graves by then if this goes on much longer! But if people are given enough warning then I think most of us would make it a priority, no matter what is in the diaries. I think we would be happy to clear our diaries.”

Phyllis has grown used to fans approaching her to talk about Downton, which saw her character wed Mr Carson, played by Jim Carter, in the final series.

“I enjoy it when people come up and say they enjoy the show, or they like the characters together,” she continued. “It’s wonderful to think so many people have been touched by it in some way. It’s given a lot of pleasure to people and I wish it would continue.

“Although, I do like to think I don’t look like Mrs Hughes off-screen, I’m not quite as fuddy-duddy as her. A lot of people say it’s not me, but my voice they recognise.

“Perhaps that’s why I was given the job in Highland Vet – because of my voice.”

Highland Vet is a new documentary series on 5Select, following the team at the most northern mainland vet practice in Britain. D.S. McGregor and Partners cover Thurso, Wick and Caithness, dealing with farm animals, equine, domestic pets and wildlife.

For animal lover Phyllis, who has had a long association with the SSPCA, being asked to provide the voice-over narration for the series was a perfect job. And, as it turns out, it has kept her occupied during lockdown.

“I didn’t have to think about it for very long when I was approached to do it, because it’s right up my street, and it being filmed in the north of Scotland was the icing on the cake,” she admitted.

“You can tell the vets have great heart in dealing with the different animals and their passion and dedication is lovely to watch. It’s heartwarming, exciting and also sad at times, but you look at it and think how lovely it would be to know a vet like that.

“I recorded the first episode in the studio and then work on the next episode came on the day of lockdown. When I went into Covent Garden it was like a ghost town, a bit spooky. It was just me and the engineer in this vast studio, and from then on I was told they would send equipment to my house for me to record the voice-over from there.

“Thankfully, my husband is good with that sort of thing – he’s been very useful, I have to say. It’s been a blessing to have been able to do this – apart from anything else it’s kept us from going mad and a bit stir crazy. It also means I’m still doing some work and being paid for it into the bargain, which is a real blessing.”

Phyllis lovingly recalled Carlos, the rescue lurcher from Battersea that she and her husband, Pirates Of The Caribbean actor Kevin McNally, rehomed.

“He was a lovely fella, so chilled out and laid-back,” she said. “I used to take him walks to Chiswick House, which had beautiful grounds and a big dog walking park. He would run around with all the other dogs and when he went into fifth gear it was a sight to behold. It would make your heart soar to watch it.

“I was lucky to get to do that for the 10 years we had with him. He was quite irreplaceable. We went a bit mad when he passed four or five years ago, and had a small bronze statue made of him. It looks like he’s flying through the air. It’s very tactile.”

Phyllis has been sharing lockdown with Kevin and their son, 24-year-old David, who is a musician.

Just days before the country shut down due to Covid-19, the 64-year-old celebrated the release of her latest film, Misbehaviour, which became a victim of cinema closures.

The film, also starring Keira Knightley, Jessie Buckley, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Greg Kinnear, is based on the true story of the 1970 Miss World competition, which saw protestors disrupt the contest that was eventually won by a black woman for the first time.

“We had a small premiere in a Covent Garden hotel which we all went along to, and it was in the cinema for five minutes before lockdown started, so not a lot of people saw it there, which is a shame because it’s a good film,” Phyllis said.

“I remember watching the real thing back in the day. I would have been 13 or 14, and I used to love watching Miss World. I remember vividly Bob Hope being pelted on stage. It was quite a shocker but now I think I’d be right up there with the rest of them, throwing bags of flour – although if you were trying to throw bags of flour now you’re liable to be mugged, it’s in such short supply!” she added. “It became a much bigger movement but that incident put it on people’s radar.

“I’m looking at what is happening now and I think it’s brilliant everyone is out protesting, even during lockdown. If I wasn’t such a stick in the mud about keeping to my own area then I’d be up there myself.”

Phyllis – who has another film, The Last Bus, awaiting release – is also an accomplished stage actor and fears for the future of theatres.

“They struggle to survive at the best of times and if they can’t open at full capacity you do wonder how they can keep going,” she said. “It’s not feasible unless there is proper government investment to see them through the worst of it.”

While the long-term future of theatres remains in limbo, in the short-term, TV and film production will return, and Phyllis says she’ll be watching on closely.

“It’s going to be a bit daunting for the first ones out the trap, they’ll provide the litmus test for how it’s going to go, and everyone’s eyes will be on it,” she said.

“I’m sure companies will be all over the health and safety aspect. I don’t have any worries – I’d be happy to dive straight back in.

“I’m champing at the bit to return and it’s good that Highland Vet is made, because it gives something new for people to watch rather than the endless repeats of whatever’s on.

“Except for re-runs of Downton Abbey, of course, people can watch that as much as they like because hopefully I’ll still get some residuals from it, which will keep me going while I’m not working!”

Phyllis left Scotland in her mid-20s to successfully crack London, having quickly made a name for herself after graduating from the RSAMD in Glasgow.

Having worked on stage in Dundee and Edinburgh, she won a BAFTA for Most Outstanding Newcomer To Film for her role as Janie in her first film, Another Time, Another Place, in 1984.

Other film roles include the Mike Leigh movie, Secrets & Lies. Prior to Downton Abbey, she was best known for playing Lady Jane Feisham in Lovejoy, opposite Ian McShane.

And while it’s been many years since she last worked in Scotland, she does return as often as possible.

“It’s impossible just now, but I try to come back regularly,” she said. “My sister is in Prestwick, my nephew is in Broughty Ferry and I have relatives in Johnstone. I’m looking forward to when I can come back.

“As far as working on a Scottish production, I’m always open to offers. I’ve been speaking to people working in the production side who had moved to London from Scotland for work, and they’re now heading back to make their lives there because enough is happening in Scotland to make it viable.

“That’s encouraging that there’s work to be had, and hopefully that will continue once we’re over this.”

(x)

[singofsolace]

The Proposal, Chapter 19

Read it all here on Ao3, or check out this excerpt below!

The Kiss

“Pippa, you wicked witch, you!” said a familiar voice as someone knocked Pippa hard on the back, causing her to spill her champagne.

Dimity Drill was wearing the biggest smirk Pippa had ever seen, and stuck out like a sore thumb in the crowd of aristocrats.

“Dimity? What are you doing here?” said Pippa. It wasn’t that she wasn’t happy to see her—quite the opposite, in fact—but Caithness was a long journey to make on such short notice.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were engaged?” said Dimity, swinging her hands out in exasperation and nearly knocking over a whole tray of champagne glasses in the process.

“Hecate wanted to keep the circle small,” said Pippa, trying to locate her assistant in the crowd but failing.

“If it weren’t for Helli-boring stalking around the office all of yesterday like somebody had pissed in his morning coffee, I wouldn’t have even known to get on the next flight to Scotland!”

Pippa’s eyes went wide. “You took a non-magical plane to get here?”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world!” said Dimity, hitting Pippa on the back again. At least this time, Pippa was ready for it. “I knew there was something going on between the two of you.”

Finally, Pippa spotted Hecate having a conversation with several members of the Witch’s Council. She whispered a spell to let Hecate know she should come find her. Hecate visibly jumped when the spell hit her, which shouldn’t have amused Pippa as much as it did. Her assistant immediately excused herself from the conversation and turned towards them. The look on her face was comical when she spotted Dimity, who was waving so enthusiastically, a number of the other guests had begun to stare.

“So, did I miss the story?” said Dimity, as Hecate walked towards them.

“The story?” asked Pippa, her confusion clear on her face. Hecate had come to stand beside her, and completely on a whim, Pippa reached out to slip her arm into the crook of Hecate’s elbow. This startled her, but Hecate relaxed into the touch almost immediately, as if remembering that this was all a part of the show.

“About the proposal?” said Dimity, winking at Hecate. “How a woman proposes says a lot about her character.”

Pippa looked to Hecate, uncertain. Hecate just stared back, completely out of her depth.

“We haven’t told the story. It’s…private,” said Hecate, hoping that would be sufficient to end this line of inquiry, but Dimity’s grin just got wider.

“Oh, come on,” Dimity’s voice was way too loud. More and more of the guests were pausing their conversations to stare at them. Even the Duchess and Miss Bat were making their way towards them, as if pulled by a string to the spectacle that was Dimity Drill. “Which one of you proposed? At least tell me that much?”

Pippa took a deep breath before saying, “I did.”

“And was it everything you ever wanted, Hecate?” said Dimity, her tone far too teasing to be considered entirely polite.

By then, the Duchess and Miss Bat had come close enough to be a part of the conversation.

“Yes, we’d love to hear the story as well,” said the Duchess, eyeing Hecate curiously.

“I—well—um,” Hecate floundered. “Pippa would love to tell the story, so I’ll let her…do that.”

Pippa wanted to elbow Hecate in the ribs for the way everyone was now staring at her expectantly, but she couldn’t very well do it without people seeing.

Dimity, to make matters worse, grabbed a glass of champagne and a spoon to hit it with, drawing the attention of everyone in the garden. “Speech! Speech!”

“No…there’s no speech,” said Pippa, but now that all eyes were on her, she realized that they ought to have thought this through a little better. She couldn’t very well tell the crowd that she had proposed to Hecate on a busy London street, after going to the Office of Magical Immigration and Relocation.

“Come on, Pentangle! I know you love a good story,” Dimity said, smirking. Pippa had to fight the urge to threaten to fire her if she kept this up.

Just then, Pippa noticed the Duke, who was standing off to the side of the crowd, looking absolutely murderous. Well, if there was one thing she wanted more than anything in the world, it was to “flaunt her lifestyle” just to spite him.

Pippa forced herself to chuckle, leaning in closer to Hecate with what she hoped to be an expression of pure adoration. Hecate’s eyes were wide, but there was a level of trust in her gaze that nearly robbed Pippa of all breath.

“Where to begin?” Well, we…um. We had just celebrated our first anniversary—”

“Bloody hell! You’ve been together a year?” interrupted Dimity Drill. “How did I never realize…?”

“That was my choice,” Hecate said, suddenly, which surprised Pippa. “I asked Pippa if we could keep the nature of our relationship…private.”

“Yes,” said Pippa, “and let me tell you, it was a hard secret to keep, especially when you love each other as much as we do.”

Hecate looked completely baffled by this, which prompted Pippa to squeeze her elbow just a bit. Hecate shouldn’t be surprised by any part of this story; it was important that she just stand there and smile, or at least not do anything that would make the tale suspicious.

Read more

[celticbarb]

Book: Highlander Pledged

By JAYNE CASTEL

Series: Stolen Highland Hearts, Book #4

Publisher: Winter Mist Press, 135 pages

Release Date: 10 /19/2021

Overall Rating: 5 Gold Stars

Blog Rating: 5 Saltire Flags

Castle Gunn

Caithness, Scotland

Winter, 1429

Tavish Gunn had wanted his brother’s fiancé Robina Oliphant, since the day he first laid his eyes on this bonnie lass four long years ago. He was finally going to get his wish come true. As Alexander, his elder brother stepped down from being his father’s heir to marry the woman he loved, Jamie MacKay. Alexander never wanted Robina thinking her nothing more than a meek mouse. Yet this shy, reserved, lass was exactly what Tavish desired. Except now that he was the new heir, his harsh and cruel father refused him to allow him to have the only woman he wanted to wed! On top of that all his four younger brothers Roy, Blaine, Evan and Will all wanted his position, but it was Roy who was the most wicked of the bunch who wanted it the most. He was an exact copy of their brutal and black hearted father, George Gunn. So Tavish had to watch his back constantly plus wait until his father died to make his wish come true and make Robina his bride.

The problem is Robina barely remembers Tavish Gunn, the new Laird, who soon would be her husband. Plus the last thing she wants to do is to marry Tavish or anyone else from the Gunn clan, as they all terrified her! She even begged her father to allow her to join an abbey to become a nun, which he absolutely refused. He claimed her duty was to make a strong alliance through marriage, as that was a privilege after-all to strengthen their clan! In her mind Ramsay Oliphant was finally getting what he always wanted: uniting with the Gunn Clan, as he desperately desired a piece of their land for his new sheep. On top of this her mother had always been cruel to her, as if she was her competition not her loving daughter! Both her parents didn’t seem to have any maternal feelings for their daughter Robina and used her like an animal to the highest bidder. The only thing that gives Robina comfort is animals-especially her two goshawk’s Moth and Thistle, she had raised since they were born.

So Tavish will soon have a wife that both despises and fears him. How will he handle and overcome this? The one thing they do have in common is love for animals especially hawking. Yet even Tavish is afraid to trust completely due to his past. As Travis lost his mother as a child, so they both have trust issues due to being raised by soulless and manipulative fathers. Will they overcome their fears and allow love into their hearts? Read and find out in this wonderful novella.

Again Jayne Castel pens a wonderful novella following Highland Forbidden which was Alexander and Jamie’s story. I was very much looking forward to this story, which had hinted in the last book. This did not disappoint and it was long for a novella being a hundred and thirty-five pages long. So you definitely have a chance to identify with all the characters and I loved her maid Fiona and her austringer lover too. I could see a future book about them too. Sometimes I think a book about someone other than a Nobleman or woman is refreshing too. You can read this as a stand alone book, but I highly recommend every book in this spectacular series called Stolen Highland Hearts. Every book is absolutely brilliant in this riveting awe-inspiring series that that will keep sweep readers away in another extraordinary read! I for one have loved every single book in this exhilarating series from start to finish! I also read this in one sitting as I definitely could not put it down.

Stolen Highland Hearts

#1 Highlander Decieved

#2 Highlander Entangled

#3 Highlander Forbidden

#4 Highlander Pledged - to be released on October 19, 2021

Disclaimer: I received an advance readers copy from the author and agreed to do an honest, fair, review and blog. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

[northernsaintstrails-blog]

More Background Information

From the Classical Sources

Donald Sage ‘Memorabilia Domestica or Parish Life in the North of Scotland’

‘Here the river receives an addition to its waters from the burn of Suisgill, which rises six miles to the NE, in a deep morass, on the SW shoulder of a hill situated on the borders of Sutherland and Caithness, called “Cnoc-an-Eireannaich” (or “the Irishman’s Hill”), from a tradition that an Irishman had there perished in the snow’.[1]

‘Surrounding the wood … is a fairy-like plat called Achahemisgach, at the upper end of which is a rock with the form of a cross engraved upon it. This evidently must have been some place of sanctity in popish times, especially as the name of the adjoining wood is Coille Chil Mer or ‘the wood of the cell of Mary’. Learabail, on the opposite bank, was a township of considerable extent.’[2]

Calder, James T. History of Caithness from the 10th century 2nd edition. Wick: William Rae. Thurso: John Malcolm and Miss Russell; 1887. Re-published 1973 by Stansfield Fortrose. Reproduced photolithographically by Aberdeen University Press.

This is mainly a secular history. The following notes are relevant to our topic.

p. 73 ‘Much about this time [1160], Earl Ronald was basely murdered at North Calder, in the parish of Halkirk, by a villain of the name of Thiorbiorn Klairke, whom he had banished for his misdeeds from Orkney. He and Harold, his colleague in the earldom, had come over, as was their usual practice, on a hunting excursion to Caithness. It was this Ronald who, in conjunction with his father Koll, founded the cathedral of Kirkwall. He was a nobleman of many excellent qualities; and on account of his eminent piety, and the share which he had in erecting that splendid edifice, was canonized by the Pope. Klairke, the assassin of Ronald, did not escape with impunity. After committing the murder, he fled to a place in the neighbourhood called Assary, where he was overtaken and put to death by some of the Earl’s retainers. The body of the Earl was conveyed from Thurso to Orkney, and buried in the church of the holy virgin in South Ronaldsay. His remains were afterwards transferred to the cathedral of Kirkwall, and were among the first that found a resting place in that celebrated northern minster.’ (A slightly different version of this tale is to be found in Crawford p. 220, where it is described as a battle between two groups, not an assassination attempt by one man. A saga was written of the event which describes Rognvald’s blood staining a boulder and the stain remaining fresh.)

p. 75 Chapter IV includes the story of Bishop John, who lived near Scrabster by Thurso, and had his tongue cut out and both eyes put out. Calder does not mention the bishop’s miraculous cure when he was taken to the resting place of St Triduana at Ballachly, Achavanich. He does give the story of Bishop Adam, Bishop John’s successor, who lived at his palace at Halkirk in 1222 and was burned alive by the people when he tried to increase the butter tax. (A more detailed description of the events surrounding this event can be found in Crawford p. 268.

p. 102-103 describes the link between the Sinclairs of Caithness and Roslyn Chapel.

p. 216 mentions the introduction of the penny tax raised from every household, first by Earl Harold in the 12th century and continued by the various bishops, which was sent to the pope. Could this be the source of the name ‘Pennyland’ for that part of Thurso so called? At the time, the bishops owned land at Scrabster, Lythmore, Stemster and Dorrery; also Durness.

p. 219 Calder gives an account of the drowning of Rev Merchiston after he destroyed the statue of St Fergus in Wick. In a footnote, he gives the following information on St Fergus ‘St Fergus … came to Caithness about the middle, it is supposed, of the eighth century, and did much to convert the natives… to Christianity. His residence would appear to have been in Wick, or its neighbourhood. After labouring for some time in that district he went to Buchan, in Aberdeenshire, and thence to Glammis, in Angus, where he died. His remains were deposited in the Abbey of Scone. “The great house of Cheyne,” says Cosmo Innes, “so much connected with Caithness, was proprietor of the parish in Buchan, which derives its name of St Fergus from the Caithness saint”.’

Some more modern sources

Houston, Anne. (ed) Lest We Forget: The Parish of Canisbay. The Congregational Board of Canisbay Parish Church; 1996

p. 62 ‘The oldest part of the village [of Canisbay] lay around the present pre-Reformation Church built on the site of an earlier church dedicated to Saint Drostan’

p. 101 ‘Another structure of interest is the chapel with fine round windows which was built about 350 years ago on the site of St Modan’s (10th century?) Roman Catholic Chapel [Freswick]. Old customs die hard and one can sympathise with parishioners for crossing themselves and going on their knees around the ruins, but this was very much frowned on by the ministers and elders of Canisbay Church.’

p. 318 ‘The present church [Canisbay] stands on top of a prehistoric mound, the site of an earlier Celtic church dedicated to St Drostan. Drostan headed a mission to Pictland in the sixth century. There is mention of the church in an ecclesiastical document of 1222.’

p. 343 ‘St Drostan’s Chapel, Brabstermyre. The site of the chapel dedicated to St Drostan lies on the West side of the road and to the North West of Brabster House. It was excavated and showed a small building of the chancelled type. The nave was 19 feet by 11 feet and the chancel eight feet by eight feet and it was said that the baptismal font was taken to Brabster House. The ruins are now entirely covered over.’

p. 370 gives a detailed description of the location of St John’s chapel on St John’s Point and the results of the excavation of the chapel in 1919. A carved slab from the site is now kept in the Northlands Viking Centre.

Barbara E. Crawford, The Northern Earldoms: Orkney and Caithness from AD 870 to 1470 Edinburgh: John Donald, 2013.

p. 220 the murder of Rognvald by the exiled Thorbjorn.

 Caithness Field Club Archives

These archives are well worth investigating. Of particular interest here is the work by George Watson and David Glass on possible walking routes through Caithness. We quote a small sample here:

‘Perhaps the most surprising and interesting result arises when the many chapel sites are plotted on the reconstructed road map. If we look in detail at the road from Rumsdale to Spittal, 'n' to 'o', then as the road crosses Rumsdale Water at St Ciaran's it divides into Thurso and Spittal branches. The next sizeable burn to be crossed is Allt a'Mhuilinn at Dalnawillan where there is a burial ground of uncertain age. The track follows the North bank of the river Thurso to Dalnaha (Dale or Meadow of the Ford) and within a short distance, on the South side of Loch More, is St. Bridget's at Achscoriclate. Continuing along the South side of the Loch and river, the next ford called Ath nan Leac (Ford of the Slabs) lies between Strathmore Lodge and the small cemetery at Acharynie. The line of the track runs on to Westerdale, where St. Trostans, near Balantsionnach, lies a short distance below the road-bridge. Some maps show a second un-named chapel near Dale House, immediately opposite St. Trostans. There are no further water hazards from Dale, over Achanarras Hill to Spittal. The pattern which emerges is that there is a known chapel site, or a graveyard which could be a secondary development of an earlier chapel, at or close to each of the larger fords.’

J.B. Craven, ven. D.D. ‘Journals of Bishop Forbes’ London: Skeffington & Son, Ltd., 1886.

p. 57 ‘The earliest notices of Christianity to be found of Ross and Caithness are connected with the name of Lugadius, or Moluog of Lismore, who founded a Columban monastery at Rosemarkie, on the North shore of the Moray Firth. Saint Maelrubha, who was of the race of the northern Hy Neill, in the year 673 founded the church of Aporcrossan, now Applecross, from which he evangelised all the region lying between Loch Carron and Loch Broom, as well as parts of the Isle of Skye, and from the numerous dedications of churches to his memory, his missionary labours must have been most laborious. The church of Dornoch, for many generations the Cathedral of the diocese of Caithness, had associated with it the name of S. Bar or Finbar. The Aberdeen Breviary appears to identify this saint with one of that name who was the disciple and an intimate friend of Columba. Thus the whole of the Northern regions of Scotland, now comprehending the counties of Ross, Cromarty, Sutherland and Caithness, were brought under the sway of Christianity by the missionaries of Iona or their associates.’

[1]At the 13th page of 21% of the content of the Kindle edition. There is another ‘Irishman’s Hill’ near Reay which is assumed to refer to St Donan. This Irishman may well have been another missionary.

[2]At the 7th page of 22% of the content of the Kindle edition