It may come as no surprise to some of my (ahem) new readers that I'm not in Belfast.
In fact, I'm in Bonnie Scotland today and I got to have a bit of a walk around Stirling. And because I'm in Bonnie Scotland I had to look up my Scottish clan and tartan. My grandfather was a Williamson and our clan is "Gunn." Our tartan looks like this:
Our crest with motto looks like this:
The motto is: "Either Peace or War." Clearly, we are (or were) not fussy.
After breakfast and a bit of shopping (needed better,thinner layers for the upcoming cold days) I saw this gentleman serenading all who passed by. I took some snaps and gave him a pound for his music.
Rock that kilt!
Saw this above a shop and really liked it. I tried to find out the quote, but nothing clear came up. Anyone?
After a lovely slow lunch, I walked up to Stirling Castle, knowing it would be closed, but just wanting a bit of a view. I walked into the large cemetery and up to a good spot to look over at the castle.
I passed this guy on the way. I dig his style.
This was my favorite corner:
And if you stand awkwardly in my hotel room, you can see the Wallace Monument.
Now it's time to go down to the bar, have a wee glass of wine and consider dinner.
Next time I am stowing away in your luggage.
Posted by: Annika | October 25, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Love your clan's tartan! Mine is Farqharson - apparently our motto is "Fide et Fortitudine ("By Faith and Fortitude")". Ambiguous, but apparently we're religious and sturdy. Very Scottish.
Posted by: Lynn | October 25, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Thanks for sharing! I need to visit Scotland badly! I'm a Wallace and I want to visit my grandfathers hometown & see our Clan monuments :D
Wallace factoid: Our tartan is used in the branding of Scotch tape. All of their standard red packaging uses our tartan pattern!
Posted by: Adri | October 26, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Never leave an unsolved question where straying WiC posters can see it, especially not if it involves a wolf..*s*
the building with wolf is the Wolfcraig
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/236/460047735_50d8706c68.jpg?v=0
at the junction of Dunbarton and Port street, built in 1897 by architect John Allan(1847-1922) who "worked in an idiosyncratic idiom with a fondness for incised inscriptions" so the inscription is probably his own.
The Stirling tourist office should have a brochure of "The John Allen trail" walking trip, which might have more information, but it was not downloadable.
The wolf on the crag is from the arms of the burgh of Stirling; see page 48&49 at
http://www.archive.org/stream/auldbigginsofsti00drys#page/48/mode/2up
on the story see:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/stirlingshire/chap20.htm
http://www.stirlinglife.com/stirlinghistory.php:
And all done by google, the internet is indeed wonderful
which brings me to
My condolance on your loss.
at which I can only point you to better words than mine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretius
for what comfort or calm they may bring
Posted by: The poster formerly known as Thoros of Myr | November 01, 2009 at 03:48 PM
Thank you T of M! I appreciate the info very much!
Posted by: Julia | November 01, 2009 at 09:13 PM
BTW the stylish guy you showed above is not sporting his personal style, he is a Journeyman in traditional threads
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2006/jul/15/careers.work5
which enrichens your pics a little...?
Posted by: The poster formerly known as Thoros of Myr | November 02, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Upgrading on Journeymen, which I somehow think an american might find a bit exotic,
http://www.mail-archive.com/futurework@scribe.uwaterloo.ca/msg02966.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29936458@N05/3569363114/
http://www.swissnexboston.org/activities/blog/wanderschaft
http://blog.moorejen.com/2008/06/geselle-spotting/#comments
Posted by: The poster formerly known as Thoros of Myr | November 02, 2009 at 02:37 PM