It's the school holidays, and Son-in-Law1, the Edinburgh grandchildren and I went up Calton Hill, something I haven't done for years. Thought it's in the middle of the city, it used to be very quiet, but it's now a tourist destination - coaches parked at the bottom - and there were lots of people wandering around. The weather was beautiful, which no doubt encouraged lingering.
This is Edinburgh's Disgrace. The plan was to build a replica of the Parthenon, with stones exactly the same size as in Greece, in honour of the Scottish dead in the Napoleonic Wars. The money was to be raised by public subscription, but only half of the £42,000 was produced so this is all that got built. It's still quite striking.
It looks as if this leads straight on to Arthur's Seat in the distance, but there's actually quite a chunk of town in between.
You get a good view of the Castle and the east end of the main part of town.
Littlest Granddaughter and Daughter 2 have been staying, and this sort of thing has been happening.
Littlest has more or less taught herself to knit and made this, with some other creations.
But they've gone now. It was a beautiful day again today - looking this way.
Looking the other way, though - the Great Book Purge has begun. So far, we've succeeded mainly in making a Great Mess, but we have hopes to continue the death cleaning in this area. There aren't that many books that I actually want to part with, but facts must be faced, one of which is that we probably won't live long enough (ie to our 150th birthdays) to reread them all (as well as using up all my fabric stash; but that's another story).
Oh Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat! I climbed both of them 40ish years ago on my first (and only) trip there. Both were pretty deserted back then, but time marches on. Youngest grand daughter is quite a creative soul! I hope you are enjoying some of the benefits of getting rid of stuff and that it isn't too melancholy a task.
ReplyDeleteI now keep just one book from each of my favourite authors, I still have too many, as a bookworm, the need for books is high. Lovely photos its year ago we were so far north.
ReplyDeleteHalf a Parthenon is better than none, I suppose, but what a shame it was never completed.
ReplyDeleteSummer term is now starting, so the children will be back to school and longing for more holidays.
Death cleaning. I call it purging and am in that process, too. But not my books. I'm taking those with me.
ReplyDeleteChortle!
DeleteWow, youngest is a better knitter than I am! I tried to learn at least three times. I love the beautiful weather and the wonderful sights of Edinburgh. I should get into the purging; although I'm not a collector, I've certainly accumulated too much stuff!!
ReplyDelete