Category Archives: History

Guest Author: Audrey Driscoll – Weird rabbits…

Posted on March 21, 2017 by Sue Vincent

A while ago it occurred to me that when humans become extinct, unless aliens arrive on Earth to dig up and appreciate our music, art and writing, it will become meaningless. The animals that survive our presence on this planet … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, fantasy, fiction, Guest post, History, writing | Tagged Herbert West, Lovecraft, Richard Adams, storytelling, Watership Down, weird rabbits | 22 Comments

The Henge Within a Housing Estate from Walking with a Smacked Pentax

Posted on February 17, 2017 by Sue Vincent

During the late 1970’s, when excavations were being dug for a new housing estate just outside Stirling in Scotland, a prehistoric henge* was discovered. Work was stopped whilst the archaeologists examined the site – and the housing estate was eventually replanned and … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient sites, History, Photography, Sacred sites | Tagged henge, Scotland, standing stones, Stirling, stone circle | 8 Comments

Guest Writer – The Birch Maiden by Paul Andruss – Illustrated by Donata Zawadzka

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Sue Vincent

Reblogged from Smorgasbord: The Legend The Birch Maiden is a Scottish folktale about a beautiful fairy inhabiting a birch tree. One evening she is tempted by a basket of apples left on the ground by soldiers sleeping in the grove. … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Mythology | Tagged Finn Mac Cool, Myths and legends, Paul Andruss, Thomas the Rhymer | 4 Comments

Guest author: Paul Andruss – MOTHER OF GOD

Posted on January 13, 2017 by Sue Vincent

The final post in the series by author Paul Andruss… for now… Last year the National Geographic Magazine ran a cover story about ‘The Most Powerful Woman in the World’. It was Mary, the mother of Jesus. A woman, who … Continue reading →

Posted in History, longreads, mankind, Motherhood, mystery, Mythology | Tagged horus, immaculate conception, Isis, Mary, religious belief, set | 9 Comments

Guest author: Paul Andruss – MISTLETOE and WHINE

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Sue Vincent

The fourth post in the series by author Paul Andruss… In Norse Mythology Baldur was The Shining One. He was possibly a sun god as his twin brother Hodur is both dark and blind. Baldur was the favourite son of … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Humour, mystery, Mythology | Tagged legend, Loki, norse myth | 6 Comments

Virginal #midnighthaiku

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Sue Vincent

It is a good many years since I last climbed Ingleborough and that was in springtime, not in snow. The last time I walked its slopes was in winter, a few years ago, the first time I had been out … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Photography, Poetry | Tagged caves, haiku, memory, mountain, mystery | 8 Comments

The Gingerbread House

Posted on December 22, 2016 by Sue Vincent

The big house in my village is Waddesdon Manor, a magnificent French chateau nestled in the fields of Buckinghamshire, built for Baron Ferdinand de Rotschild in the 1890s. The Manor and its contents were gifted to the National Trust in … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History | Tagged baking, Christmas, icing, sugarcraft | 27 Comments

Of Ash and Seed – A room with a view

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Sue Vincent

Holyhead Mountain rises beyond the cliffs of South Stack. At a mere 722 feet, it is only a small mountain, but then, Holy Island is a very small island of just over fifteen square miles. Yet there would be enough … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Photography | Tagged Ancestors, Anglesey, consciousness, druids, history, Holy Island, hut circles, Neolithic settlements, Photography, sacred sites, spirituality, symbolism, The Silent Eye, Wales, weekend workshop | 8 Comments

Of Ash and Seed – Facing fear

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Sue Vincent

Jan arrived in time to share breakfast with the rest of us. She was joining the party for the day and was kitted out to cope with almost any weather. She need not have worried… it was to be an … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Photography | Tagged Anglesey, consciousness, druids, fear, Holy Island, sacred sites, spirituality, symbolism, The Silent Eye, Wales, weekend workshop | 5 Comments

Of Ash and Seed – Contrasts

Posted on December 11, 2016 by Sue Vincent

It had been forty years since I last crossed the Menai Strait to the Isle of Anglesey and beyond, to the Holy Isle. I had fallen in love with the place back then and my memory has painted the island … Continue reading →