#James Barrisdale

[forensicated]

Ah. The culmination of one of the worst PM plots, finally. Usual rules apply, no Gina but it's the conclusion of a huge plot both are involved in so it's being covered despite not officially having both parties of Smiffina in. Also, I will forever hate that she's not involved in the end of the TFG (The Fake Gabriel) plot because she was so instrumental in it. Bloody Prosser.

As you all know - TFG - The Fake Gabriel, TRG - The Real Gabriel.

Sometimes I think back over the TB plotlines and history and wonder if certain parts were actual fever dreams rather than real. Can you imagine Roy, Mike and Ted dealing with the shitshow of TFG?

TRIGGER WARNINGS: ABH, Huge history of controlling and abusive behaviour and discussion of rape, a murder attempt and a depiction of suicide.

Strap in, it's a long one because it weaves across the entire episode.

Smiffina Episodes - Episode 353

TFG is angry Sheelagh went through his things. Sheelagh demands that he tell her who he is, she thinks everything he tells her is fake and lies even when it's the truth, especially as he insists he's an only child. He recounts what happened when TRG was adopted, they never asked him if he wanted a brother or told him he was coming - it was just a surprise one day. His father told him that his brother had a rough start to his life where as he (TFG) had everything so he should be grateful and get on with it. I have to admit, if it's the truth, and you never can tell with TFG, it is a horrendous thing to have happened suddenly one day - wallop, here you go. This baby is moving in and he's your brother and you have to put up with it without any preperation or discussion. He insists it was easier just to push people away and be a loaner as he felt they never loved him. He hated it and hated them, and often hated himself. So then the choice came up to be someone else... and he took it. And he doesn't regret it because it meant he met Sheelagh. He tells her he loves her... she tells him she can never believe a word he says.

June rings the hospital to find out how TRG is getting on. There's been no change after he opened his eyes. She wants to tell Adam everything as it's eating her alive but Smithy manages to reassure her and get her to agree not to. He insists that it's not enough for him to just lose his job for lying about who he is. June sighs and tells Smithy that she thinks she made 'the mess' so she should be the one to clear it up... Smithy tells her she doesn't know the half of it - and takes her into the Sgt's office to tell her about what Kerry alleged Gabriel did. June confides that before Kerry died she came to see her and wanted to tell her something but couldn't get the words out. June puts a time limit on it. If they don't find anything out by tomorrow, she's going to tell all to Adam.

June has to return to the hospital to collect TRG's clothes for a media appeal. She goes to tell her son how sorry she is for everything, standing with him for as long as she can before she has to return to work.

Sheelagh can't trust TFG or believe anything he says. TFG insists they can leave but Sheelagh insists too many people know the truth to be able to just run away. He insists only they know the truth and they're the only people who matter. He'll 'take care of his brother'. "What do you mean?" Sheelagh asks, wide eyed. TFG says it doesn't matter but she won't be calmed and asks again. He tells her he'd do anything for her - whatever it took. "So how far would you go?" "My brothers already in a coma. You're too important to let go." Sheelagh tries to escape and he lashes out, slapping her round the face.

Laura is worried about Sheelaghas she hasn't been seen. Dean says she was at the hospital and might have gotten chatting. Laura 'casually' asks about TFG who was apparently dealing with a domestic. She asks him to try and call him and he doesn't answer.

TFG tries to apologise to Sheelagh, telling her that sometimes his anger gets the better of him and he needs her to help him. He tries to do the right thing but it always backfires. People don't understand him... but she does. Sheelagh swallows and tries to reassure him so she can keep safe, forcing herself to touch him and comfort him to calm him down so she can get out of the room. She eyes the door, promising him they're a team. He calms at her touch and she finally makes a break for it, managing to open the door but he forces it close and drags her upstairs.

Laura goes to Smithy and tells him neither Sheelagh or TFG have been seen, nor at they responding to their radio calls. He tells her not to jump to conclusions... she has to tell him she's told Sheelagh the truth about TFG and TRG. He tells her to go to Sheelagh's house with Tony but to be discreet - only for TFG to bundle through the doors beside them. He claims he had a dodgy battery and he was at a domestic in Mercy Lane.

Laura heads off to go to Sheelagh's and Smithy has to tell June that Sheelagh knows. She asks if he thinks TFG might have done something to Sheelagh and Smithy replies it depends how far she thinks he might go to protect himself. Ah.. if only you knew, Sgt! June posts TFG with her for the day so she can keep an eye on him and keep him out the way. Smithy's not happy but June is incharge of postings and he can't override her decision.

Smithy lets Sam know that they have the clothes and he notices the label, googling it as it's an American brand that isn't available in the UK. He tells Sam to get onto the FBI as they use different security for people entering/exiting the US so they could have his prints on file and stop her wasting time on the local press where he potentially won't be known.

TFG wangles a visit to the hospital by influencing the victim of an RTA that she needs to go in, despite her insisting she's fine. June gets asked to go help a female patient by a nurse and TFG takes the chance to look for his brother, but there's a nurse with him so he can't get near. He forces his way into the nearest toilets, staring at his reflection before breaking a fire alarm and triggering the fire alarm.

At Sheelagh's house, Laura and Tony have broken in with Laura being told off by Tony as she 'needs to brush up on her section 17 as they're only supposed to break in if they believe they'll be saving life or limb.' "What do you think we're doing here?" She hisses at Tony, rushing upstairs. Sure enough they find Sheelagh trussed up and gagged in the main bedroom. She tells them it's TFG and he's threatening his brother. Tony is shocked and surprised but Laura calls it in immediatley.

As the hospital evacuates, TFG marches into ITU, standing over the prone body of his brother, TRG. He puts on a pair of gloves and removes his breathing tube, and finally smothers him with a pillow before replacing the breathing tube and turning off the whining monitors. TFG dumps the gloves in the medical waste and looks back at TRG.

Smithy finds out the TFG is at the hospital with June dealing with a minor RTC and dispatches Steve to attend at the hospital. TFG returns to June and tells her he went to the toilet and then got evacuated to the carpark because of the fire alarm. A nurse and Steve rush into ITU and find TRG and shout for help as he's had a cardiac arrest. June questions him further and he tells her that he got talking to a paramedic. Steve watches as TRG is resucitated. Sam has been brought up to date about TFG and TRG - but not all details. She doesn't know about June's involvement so suggests that they put out a bogus message that TRG died of natural causes. Smithy tells her they can't - because TFG is out with June - but tells her he can't get into it now. He hurries to comfort Sheelagh as she's brought in and warns Tony to stick to her side and not to let her out of his sight until TFG is brought in - in cuffs.

Sam updates Smithy that TRG's monitor and breathing tube had been tampered with and they involved the crime scene examiners. Sam wants to involved the Superintendent and arranges for CID to arrest TFG - but Smithy refuses, he wants to be the one who arrests him. Sam sighs - but agrees.

TFG tells June she won't have to put up with him for much longer. She asks him what he means by that but they get a call through the radio before he can answer. They get called to a girl who is burning the clothes of her fathers girlfriend who is abusing her mentally. She tries to close the door on them but TFG over reaches and boots it straight in. "If the mountain won't come to Mohammed..." he shrugs when June asks what he's doing. The girl is terrified and picks up a knife that she'd been using to make a sandwich, holding it up as protection. Jess is unstable and wants to kill herself, holding the knife to her wrists. She wants to join her mother who died from stomach cancer and June tries to comfort her but TFG keeps over stepping and almost getting stabbed.

TFG is on the edge, spotting the officers gathering outside the flat block after hearing a radio call from Smithy. He knows the game is up so starts to wind the girl up more, insulting her and insisting she's just pitying herself. He grasps a bottle of vodka on the table and drinks from it. He compares himself to Jess and tells her that her dad doesn't care - just like his didn't and that they are the only people who can look after each other as people only let you down. She runs to June who tells her to lock herself in her bedroom.

June tells TFG he is a disgrace to the uniform and she will personally see to it that he has the book thrown at him. TFG just scoffs, "It's already over." He tells her. "You're my nightmare you are, trying to destroy my life one way or the other." June yells that it's never his fault and he always has to blame someone else. "Aren't you man enough to take responsibility for yourself?" TFG shouts at her to shut up and he throws the bottle at her, causing it to smash on the wall which Smithy overhears.

Smithy orders officers to cover each exit and tells Laura to get him more back up as they rush in. TFG forcibly cuffs June, telling her he wants her to suffer like he has and forces her up to the roof. Smithy isn't far behind, reaching the floor that they were on. He locates Jess who is sobbing and terrified. He asks her if she's okay and promises that he'll leave her for a few minutes but someone is coming to her and will look after her. Smithy stalks up to the roof in time to hear TFG preaching at June, claiming she takes his happiness away everytime he finds some. He insists June robbed him of his entire life. She tries to calm him down, telling him it can be gotten over and to let her go. She'll pretend it hasn't happened and get him help. "It's too late for that. I'm a lost cause." "No, nobody's a lost cause. Not even you." "You don't know what I'm capable of. Andrea does, so does Kerry. My brother, he found out too." June begs him to tell her what has happened to her son and he remains ominously silent whilst she cries.

"I couldn't take the chance he'd tell people who he was. I'd lose Sheelagh." June swallows, telling him it wasn't TRG's fault, he wasn't driving the car that killed them but TFG still is adamant that he did because they were arguing over his decision to look for June. That, in TFG's head, makes it June's fault "for inflicting him on his family." June glares at him. "You always find someone to blame." "Not someone, June." he replies calmly. "You." TFG continues to berate her as June spots Smithy behind them. Smithy gestures for her to play for time and looks around him for ideas of how to restrain and arrest TFG.

Sickeningly, Gabriel blames June for being raped and mocks her that it's happened twice, claiming she has 'victim' tattooed on her forehead. "You are a monster" "You made me what I am."

June takes the opportunity to ask him what he's he has done, reminding him he mentioned Kerry and Andrea. TFG smiles, telling her The Sniper's death wasn't an accident and that he forced him over the edge and then let go because 'he would have pointed the finger at me'. He admits he left Andrea to die in the fire because she'd worked out who he was and that Kerry knew he was too - claiming all roads lead back to June. June spits that he raped Kerry and TFG insists that it takes two to tango. Having worked his way closer, Smithy loses his temper on hearing Kerry spoken about like that and launches at TFG and the two fight. With TFG on the floor, Smithy helps June out of her cuffs only for TFG to go back for more, striking him on the back with the ASP. Smithy turns, yelling in pain and they fight, with TFG kicking Smithy in the face, knocking him out cold for enough seconds to try force Smithy over the edge. Smithy fights back with both men strangling each other. TFG punches him out cold again and approaches June. "It's over." she tells him, which Gabriel agrees with. But he tells her it ends now... and he climbs into the top of the rails. "See what you've done to me." he spits at June before jumping off. June can hardly watch and Smithy comes round just in time to look over and see Gabriel's body. "Let's get out of here." he says gently, uncuffing June and leading her away.

Smithy is told that he needs to get his statement in and he tells Laura he knows the score. She smiles and asks if she can buy him a drink later. "I hope you've been to the bank!" he replies, before literal Super Sarge is wrapped in a red cape blanket.

Laura reassures June that her son isn't dead and that he is still in the hospital in a coma but TFG did not succeed in killing him. She rushes to his bedside as Sam reassures her the doctors don't know how long he was starved of oxygen but to stay positive.

Side note: well done to the drug addict arrested for telling Dan that whilst Rochelle might not be an addict anymore she is still clearly chasing that high for kicks hence taking stupid risks with him but not making time to see him when it's safer/Ian isn't around or in the building etc. She's using him and he can't see it. Woe :(

Shoe horning a Dan reference in? Me? Never.

[scotianostra]

On September 20th 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie leaves Scotland for France at Loch nan Uamh near Arisaig.

For around a month before he finally left, a number of French ships arrived on the West Coast to collect the Prince but his whereabouts remained unknown and the vessels left without him.

That September, the Prince was deep in the Highlands and spent a spell hiding out in Cluny’s Cage, a well-equipped mountain shelter in the face of Ben Alder, which sits between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean.

After leaving there he spent around a week working his way towards the coast, arriving at Glencamger at the head of Loch Arkaig, where he spent his final night in Scotland with loyal Jacobites Cluny Macpherson and Dr Cameron before boarding the boat the next day.

Robert Chambers, in his History of the Rebellion, 1745-46- wrote how a “considerable number of skulking gentleman” and others had gathered before the Prince’s arrival to board the boat to France.

Meanwhile, Macdonald of Barrisdale was being held captive on the vessel given suspicions that he had made a “pact with the enemy” to give up the Prince, according to the account.

The Prince finally boarded L’Hereaux accompanied by Lochiel, Lochgarry, John Roy Stuard and Dr Cameron.

In all, there were 23 gentlemen and 170 men of “common rank” on board the L’Hereaux and an accompanying vessel.

“The gentlemen, as well as commons, were seen to weep, though they boasted of being soon back with an irresistible force,” according to an account relayed by Chambers.

As the Prince sailed, British Government forces were deep into their campaign to root out traces of Jacobite support with killings, rapes and burning of homes and crops ordered following Culloden.

Recent research by Stennis Historical Association has found that more than 400 Government Army camps remained in Scotland after the battle, with around 11,600 soldiers in place to suppress the uprising and its supporters.

In a bid to quell further revolt, the Act of Proscription toughened up earlier laws against carrying arms and wearing Highland dress, including some tartan items, as the state enacted legal powers to suppress the Highland way of life and clan system.

Despite the fundamental consequences of the rising, a clear devotion to the Prince’s aims remained among many

The Prince visited London twice in the 1750s to try and revive his cause with support for the Jacobites remaining broadly underground.

In 1752, the Elibank Plot was devised to kill or kidnap King George II and St James’s Palace and restore the Stuart line to the British throne. The plan never went ahead given the doubts of some of the key players.

One of the strangest incidents during the hunt for Charlie saw the Royal Navy  warships arrive at the remote archipelago of St Kilda.The islanders ran from their homes and hid in the hills.When the government soldiers finally tracked them down, they quickly realised that the islanders had never heard of the prince, and that he was not hiding on the islands.

The pics show The Prince and a memorial cairn by Loch nan Uamh.

[paulwhitewriter]

The title of this post is the response I usually get when I say I went to Kinloch Hourn.

Where..?

Exactly.

To be honest, I would like it to stay that way, along with a few other places which we, (my wife and I) have adopted as ‘ours’.

You see, too many tourists visiting these ‘special’ places spoil them; even the very best, most conscientious, environmentally aware and careful of us.

It is one of the cruel ironies of life.

So, I hear you ask again, where is Kinloch Hourn?

According to Wikipedia…

Kinloch Hourn is a small settlement at the end of Loch Hourn, in the West Highlands of Scotland. The name comes from the Gaelic, Ceann Loch Shubhairne, for “the head of Loch Hourn”.

While this may be factually correct, it is a cold and bland description which does nothing to attract the traveller and does not reveal its location.

Undiscovered Scotland phrases it a little better. I quote…

In his wonderful book ‘A Dance Called America’, James Hunter says: “There are few more scenically spectacular journeys to be made in Britain than the one that takes you from the Great Glen through Glen Garry to the edge of the Atlantic.

In this, as in much else, he is right.

Yet it is a journey made in its entirety by very few people: for nowadays it is a journey through a largely uninhabited landscape to an even more deserted destination visited only for the joy of being there.’

It is to share that, ‘Joy of being there’, why I write this post.

First, let me tell you about the route you must take. I say ‘must’ because there is just the one road, a single-track route which runs for 22 miles by mountains with such enchanting names as Leac nan Gaidhseich, Sròn Lice na Fearna, Sgurr a Chlaidheimh and Buidhe Bheinn.

I started this trip at Invergarry, a small town with a namesake castle on the banks of Loch Oich, from where we took the A87 westwards as if we were starting out for the Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye.

However, as the A87 climbs north away from Loch Garry, there is a small road sign at a junction which points to Tomdoun. This is the start of 22 miles of spectacular single-track road heading more or less westward, following the north shore of Loch Garry before passing the tiny hamlet of Tomdoun, complete with its Sporting Lodge and the beautiful little Tomdoun Church.

As with many places in Scotland, I found this road has several ‘sculptures’ along the roadside. I must say, I have taken to these oddities and now keep a keen eye out for them photographing them whenever possible.

This is one of a salmon.

We were not far past this village, heading to Coille Mhorgil, when we encountered some deer wandering from the gates of one of the few houses along the route.

The deer were in no hurry at all. Our presence did not unduly disturb their meandering across a small meadow and into the cover of the trees. At first, I was a little reluctant to get out of the car, but as I wanted to try and capture a photograph I slowly opened the door, walked to the edge of the road and started to snap away. Besides a casual glance towards me, the deer carried on as if I was not there.

copyright images

copyright images

copyright images

copyright images

Then this small unnamed road climbs to the imposing Glen Quoich dam. It is a large structure, 1050ft long and 105ft high. The dam was built in 1957, as part of a series of major hydro-electric schemes in the Highlands. The waters of Loch Quoich were raised by some 100 feet or so, increasing the floodplain of the Loch from three to seven square miles.

The raised waters submerged the grand house, Glenquoich Lodge, where the likes of Edwin Landseer and King Edward VII stayed when on stalking trips. This is why, once passed the dam, the road winds onwards weaving its way through a mass of naturalised rhododendron plants on the north shore. These plants once formed part of the gardens of the house and led to the excellent stalkers’ paths that climb the mountains of Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach to the north. 

Glenquoich Lodge

floor plan

All you can see of the lodge today

How Glenquoich Lodge looked

Once passed the rhododendrons and over the bridge, the journey becomes a little more adventurous. The road here displays its lack of use by the strip of moss that runs along its centre. There are extreme gradients, sharp bends and intrusive stone walls and rocks. It is an interesting ride well worth the reward of many amazing scenic vistas.

Eventually, you will arrive at a small farmhouse and car park. This is Lochhournhead tea rooms and B&B, run by Harriet & John Gordon. 

However, this does not have to be the end of your journey.

The attraction of Kinloch Hourn is not only its spectacular beauty, but it also lies in the

The footpath from Kinloch Hourn

old footpath which runs along the southern shores after the road stops. This track can only be negotiated on foot and runs for a further seven miles to the beautiful Barrisdale Bay. 

This has long been seen as one of the two main gateways to Scotland’s most remote and challenging mainland region, Knoydart. For those who venture this far, Kinloch Hourn is often not the end of the journey, it is simply the beginning of the next. 

For ourselves, we saw more deer, particularly a young wild stag, who we helped to scrump a few apples he could not reach alone from the farm’s orchard. I suspect this deer has learnt of the generosity of visitors to Loch Hourn and plays the tourist for some extra food and who can blame him? This is still a wild deer; they can be a bit unpredictable, so should you have the fortune to encounter one, even this one, be cautious.

However, on this occasion my wife and I had another destination we needed to reach by evening, so we re-run the 22 miles back to Invergarry… and beyond but that’s to be told in another story.

At some time, I would like to return and make the 7-mile Lochside walk from Kinloch Hourn to Barrisdale Bay.

One of the many wonderful views on the way to Kinloch Hourn

To finish this post; If you like to drive slowly, stop frequently take photographs, brew up a pot of tea at the roadside, love the Scottish landscape and wildlife, then this is a most worthwhile adventure and one I highly recommend.

Even more highly recommended than that.

Keep Happy, Paul.

Please take some time to browse my website.

I am an author, so you may find the book you ‘really’ need to take on your next trip. At least I hope you do.

I am also a photographer, you can browse some of the images from my travels.

Lastly, I am a digital artist. I mainly focus on portraiture and social pictorial comment. Feel free to contact me with your views and insights.

                      Where? I’ve never heard of it. The title of this post is the response I usually get when I say I went to Kinloch Hourn.

[scotianostra]

On September 20th 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie leaves Scotland for France at Loch nan Uamh near Arisaig.

For around a month before he finally left, a number of French ships arrived on the West Coast to collect the Prince but his whereabouts remained unknown and the vessels left without him.

That September, the Prince was deep in the Highlands and spent a spell hiding out in Cluny’s Cage, a well-equipped mountain shelter in the face of Ben Alder, which sits between Loch Ericht and Glen Spean.

After leaving the cage, he spent around a week working his way towards the coast, arriving at Glencamger at the head of Loch Arkaig, where he spent his final night in Scotland with loyal Jacobites Cluny Macpherson and Dr Cameron before boarding the boat the next day.

Robert Chambers, in his History of the Rebellion, 1745-46- wrote how a “considerable number of skulking gentleman” and others had gathered before the Prince’s arrival to board the boat to France.

Meanwhile, Macdonald of Barrisdale was being held captive on the vessel given suspicions that he had made a “pact with the enemy” to give up the Prince, according to the account.

The Prince finally boarded L’Hereaux accompanied by Lochiel, Lochgarry, John Roy Stuard and Dr Cameron.

In all, there were 23 gentlemen and 170 men of “common rank” on board the L’Hereaux and an accompanying vessel.

“The gentlemen, as well as commons, were seen to weep, though they boasted of being soon back with an irresistible force,” according to an account relayed by Chambers.

As the Prince sailed, British Government forces were deep into their campaign to root out traces of Jacobite support with killings, rapes and burning of homes and crops ordered following Culloden.

Recent research by Stennis Historical Association has found that more than 400 Government Army camps remained in Scotland after the battle, with around 11,600 soldiers in place to suppress the uprising and its supporters.

In a bid to quell further revolt, the Act of Proscription toughened up earlier laws against carrying arms and wearing Highland dress, including some tartan items, as the state enacted legal powers to suppress the Highland way of life and clan system.

Despite the fundamental consequences of the rising, a clear devotion to the Prince’s aims remained among many

.The Prince visited London twice in the 1750s to try and revive his cause with support for the Jacobites remaining broadly underground.

In 1752, the Elibank Plot was devised to kill or kidnap King George II and St James’s Palace and restore the Stuart line to the British throne. The plan never went ahead given the doubts of some of the key players.

The pic shows The Prince's Cairn by Loch nan Uamh