Authority always wins

Magnet#1274 - James I (1603-1625)

Meet James I.

As in King James Bible, which is apparently 400 years old this year.

One wonders what someone's thinking when they say..."Oh, you know what? I think I'll just issue my version of the Bible."

King James (who, as son of Mary Queen of Scots, was the King of Scotland for 36 years before he ever sat on the English throne) was a theologian as well, and had some issues with how the Puritans had interpreted the Bible, and so decided to do his own. It was only the third English version by 1611, and he used almost 50 translators to get the job done.

They must have done a good job, given that the Authorized Version became the one widely accepted.

Or, at least, accepted in hotel rooms worldwide, anyway.

I'm a MacDonald

Magnet #585 - Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle

Picked a Scotland magnet, because today, in 1829, the Bobbies started operating as the Scotland Yard. And, even if Scotland Yard is really London's Metro police who just took their name from Great Scotland Yard (a street in Whitehall, London), I'm still using this magnet my sister brought back for me. Because I can.

Urquhart Castle was once the largest castle in all of Loch Ness, and because of its strategic importance, it's been the site of many historic battles. She can't help it, methinks. I mean, the castle's been around since the 13th century, before ultimately getting blown up in 1692.

Now, you can run around the ruins, climbing the five-story tower to get the best views of the loch. Or, check it out, if you don't get motion sickness, there's a 360 virtual tour of the grounds. Pretty neat.

By the way, I'm totally not a MacDonald, but that's part of David Tennant quote from an old radio interview. Three major historic families owned this castle over the last 500 years - the Durwards, MacDonalds and Grants. They didn't tie him to this castle in his episode of Who Do You Think You Are?, but when have I ever passed up a chance to mention David? Even with as thin a thread as this one.

Anyway, to close out this rather silly and somewhat all over the place magnetpost, supposedly, Urquhart is near the castle where the Loch Ness Monster's usually sighted. Personally, I think Nessie's totally nestled underneath, deep below the castle.

Totally.

Now see if you can dance...

Magnet #548 - Scotland

I got this magnet from a friend of mine who took about a month to live in Edinburgh, so that she could perform at the Fringe Festival. Cool, no? Well, the piper not so much, he's kinda scary lookin'.

Anyway, I picked this one for today, because in 1305, Scottish leader and national hero, William Wallace, was executed in London.

I think of two things when I think of William Wallace: The first is my former chairman who could trace his tree back to William himself. That's kinda cool. And the second, I think of scrawny Pacey dressing up in that Dawson's Creek beauty pageant episode, and doing the whole "You'll never take our freedom!" speech.

I do so love Scotland, and plan on going back at some point. And for more than 36 hours. I had gone up to Edinburgh with some friends for a weekend trip. Only, I couldn't stay the weekend.

Without getting into too much detail that will be forever hazily seared into my brain, we took the train up, did some touring around Edinburgh, tried some haggis pancakes, checked into our B&B, took a Ghost Tour, and then proceeded to go out that night.

In the words of William Wallace, they brought me to the ring, to see if I could dance. And dance I did. Oddly, without any real dancing. After several pub games, some other shenanigans with the locals, and a night that ended up with me sitting with a friend in the middle of a deserted Edinburgh street in the middle of an Edinburgh night - it was the funnest night ever. Followed by the worst rest of the night and morning after.

Rather than meeting my friend at the train station to travel around other parts of Scotland the next morning, I ditched him and got on the train with the longest travel time and furthest destination to sleep it off.

The train back to London.

Just terrible. And, one of my biggest regrets to this day. The one experience that's taught me about having too much fun while you're on the road.

So, to make up for it, eventually Scotland gets its own trip - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and every castle in between. The works