16August2008
Posted by Alison under: Antique; Costume; Photos.
Some of you may have noticed a little while ago I mentioned that I purchased a Victorian photo album. I’m going to try and photograph it carefully to show you all, but it is in a very sorry state, and has been robbed of all but a few of its original photographic entries. Sad, and I felt sorry for it, which is why I bought it in the first place!
I’d forgotten, until I was searching for it, that as a bonus I got a random envelope of photos and postcards with it too. Probably no-one loved these either, some are quite faded, or have seen better days.
My question is, I am going to keep one or two of them, but could you love any of my motley collection? I don’t want these to be re-sold, I’d like to find them a home. Please see the first set. I’m going to do a few more another day, including postcards.
14August2008
Posted by Alison under: BlahBlahBlah.
It’s no secret here about my great love of castles. Well, never mind that, my great love of the majority of historic buildings!
When I’m not doing the day job, I’ll be researching something. It could be my family history, then again it could be an historic topic of the moment that intrigues me for whatever reason. Or, more probably at the moment it will be the Frasers of Castle Fraser. Hey, that’s not a bad thing.
My new trend, if you will, is to discover new castles. ‘New’ castles you say? Well, off the beaten track ones. Neglected or fairly unknown ruins, mutations or even suggestions of castles (i.e. isn’t that a wall? (Consulting map) well it says here it’s …… castle).
Oh, the pure joy of hiking across fields, hills, gates, barbed wire, etc. etc. in search of castles. We managed 5 this week! Roll on the next 
11August2008
Posted by Alison under: Genealogy; History; TV.
Hello fellow genealogy fans! Those of you based in the UK, or with access to BBC TV will be pleased to know that the programme ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ is back this Wednesday 13 August, BBC1 at 9pm (repeated the next day). The first episode is about the family of the actress Patsy Kensit.
For those of you that haven’t seen it before, it is a programme tracing the genealogy of celebrities. The last few series have been very high quality indeed, so I am looking forward to this one.
More details about the show can be found here. The BBC website also has some handy tips and tools for the beginner. Why not start tracing your family tree?
8August2008
Posted by Alison under: BlahBlahBlah; Photos; Places to go; Travel.
As I posted a week or so ago, in the second week of July, my family and I disappeared for nearly 3 weeks on holiday. We went to Kitzbuehel, Tyrol, Austria (staying just outside the town) in a rented traditional style house.
It was huge, entirely made from wood, with bedrooms for around 7/8 people, a kitchen, bathroom, huge lounge and own balcony. I think we felt very spoilt indeed when we arrived! As we travelled over to Europe by car, we were able to tour around to a few different places, and I’ll include a selection of photos here. We had mixed weather, unfortunately more rain than we would have liked, but we did have some very hot days too. I had a great time, but was very tired when I got home.
I nearly forgot to mention, my Mum and I also got awarded at a small champagne reception our certificates for 10 (bronze) and 20 (gold) visits to the town. We got presents and VIP passes too! Extra nice to be spoilt by the Tourist Board!
Here are some views, I will probably post a couple more once I’ve identified which ones in a few days. I also met an interesting character whilst shopping in St. Johann…watch this space.
The view looking out to the left of our balcony of the Kitzbueler Horn mountain with TV aerial on top.
The town of Zell am See, which as the name suggests is set next to a beautiful lake. The weather was gorgeous here, there were paragliders out on the lake as well as boaters. Some of the family went out on the lake, but I hate boats, so I ate my lunch and waved 
There are also some fantastic old hotels from about 1903-1905 set at the side of the lake.
We also journeyed to the city of Salzburg, which has many interesting historical places and museums to visit, though I didn’t get to see too many! We had a long walk about the city, and stopped in at the Catherdral, from where I took this picture. The sell donut pretzels here too, you would have liked them 
Achensee, also obviously, set around a huge lake, is very beautiful, but sadly the weather was absolutely terrible, and quite cold on the day we visited. I was able to capture the lovely colour of the lake here though.
The church of the town of Soell. This is a lovely, but reasonably remote place, which has some lovely walks to take around it.
Please note as always, these images are copyright 2008 belonging to me. Please do not use/re-produce without my permission.
6August2008
Posted by Alison under: Awards.
I must thank the very lovely Mrs Mecomber of New York Traveler for the Arte y Pico Award and Rhonda aka Chuck from Foster Me Up for The Perfect Blend of Friendship Award.
I am posting slightly belatedly, as these lovely awards were given to me over the last couple of months. I always feel very privileged to be chosen.
Thanks guys! As always, they are dedicated to my lovely readers, please take one if you will.
3August2008
Posted by Alison under: BlahBlahBlah; Costume; History.
So it begins! Victorian month at Castle Fraser started in earnest this weekend, my quiz is up and running, and we had a local re-inactment group who I’ve mentioned before (Medieval Realm, being, well, not Medieval) to come in dressed as Victorians to speak to visitors and circulate around different rooms in the castle.
The weather was slightly uncertain, but on Saturday some of the members were showing their swords skills in the Courtyard, plus fighting with walking sticks, pocket watches and handkerchiefs! Believe or not, these can all be lethal if wielded properly. Our ladies spent much time sewing and playing cards in the Library, we had a cook in the kitchen, plus a chimney sweep, handily. You should see how big the chimney is in the Great Hall!
On Sunday, the displays were kept to the Great Hall due to yet more showers. We had lots of visitors over the weekend, so that was great, thanks to all who participated and visited. Roll on the rest of the month! Medieval Realm will be back in September for the Battle of Harlaw on the weekend of 13/14 September.
In the end, I decided not to take photos, as much of the displays were inside the castle, so it is not ideal, hopefully I will capture the battle instead.
30July2008
Posted by Alison under: Books.
I’ve already inflicted my Georgette Heyer laden burbles on you (now there’s a sentence for you, heh), but lately, aside from my re-reading her novels I’ve been tempted back to reading historical novels and those of the romantic variety.
For those of you that may be interested, here’s some of my favourites (including series), and a few that I’m reading now:
Sylvia Thorpe After I’d more or less finished reading the Heyer novels I was desperate for more fodder. Thorpe is excellent, her detail is on par with Heyer’s I think. I think her books started being published in around the fifties, though it could be slightly earlier. She is thoroughly out of print to my knowledge though, so you will have to search second hand book shops. I also love Alice Chetwynd Ley, who is similarly excellent, though slightly more romantic, dare I say it… Honourable mention goes to Mira Stables, and the only novel I can find written in the Georgian/Regency period ‘The Marriage Mart’, which was written by Patricia Burns.
All out of print, though not too hard to find. If you want lists, do let me know. I have also just begun to collect another out of print author - Patricia Veryan.
For the medieval amongst you, that includes me, I absolutely adore Elizabeth Chadwick. I’d recommend any of her books, but my favourite, which is just being re-printed is ‘The Wild Hunt’. If you like these you will probably also like Sharon Penman (Sharon Kay Penman in the US). My favourite: ‘The Sunne in Splendour’. Slightly further on in time, or maybe not is Diana Gabaldon. Have you read her Outlander series? It begins in the 1940s and time travels to a Scotland at the time of Culloden. Since I have a soft spot for Frasers, I’ve had a copy of Cross Stitch aka Outlander to read for ages.
An old, but new, favourite of mine springing back once again to Regency is Stephanie Laurens. I came upon a collection of her stories by lucky accident some years ago. She has since gone on to write the Cynster family novels, which at the beginning are excellent, especially ‘Devil’s Bride’, but peter off a bit for me with the current stories. I particularly like her early novels that have just been re-published about the Lester family.
Which leads me to Eloisa James. She is, in the nicest possible way, my problem child. I started to read her novels, which I loved, but have been unable to connect to any since. She is on my must try again list, though the original books I read the ‘Pleasures’ trilogy I highly recommend. It was the second book onwards of the ‘Essex Sisters’ books that I got bored with.
It was a stroke of second hand bookshop fortune that lead me to Mary Balogh. I have read all of the ‘Slightly’ books, and am now making my way through the ‘Simply’ ones, which are loosely connected in places. I find her stories a little hit and miss though, some I love, some I don’t. I particularly liked ‘Slightly Dangerous’ and ‘A Summer to Remember’. But then, I do love my Alastairs. (Bonus points go to those of you who get my reference!)
A little spicier, but no worse for it, is Nicole Jordan. I don’t have them all yet, but I’m really enjoying her ‘Paradise’ series, and plan to get all of her books in time. Quick mention also goes to Gaelen Foley, I’m very new to her books, but have just started the ‘Knights Miscellaney’ series and hope to read more.
Last, but not least, my current reading pleasure (not guilty) is Julia Quinn. I’ve just realised I read her earlier series some years ago, but came upon one of her ‘Bridgerton’ series of books by accident. I am now reading my way up and down the series as my local bookshops haven’t had all of them for me to read in order, the swines. I also like ‘The Secret Diary of Miranda Cheever’. Quinn writes with a great sense of humour.
More? I’m still reading my way through the world. I will recommend more authors as I remember and discover them. What are your thoughts? Do comment or email me, especially if you want to hear more.
29July2008
Posted by Alison under: Places to go; Videos.
I have, yet again, Elinor to thank for the link to this most excellent video. When do I get my go?!
29July2008
Posted by Alison under: BlahBlahBlah.
Well, some of you might have guessed that I have been away on holiday for the last few weeks, though I did attempt to leave some timed posts. I say attempt, because:
I updated some files on my computer the day before I went on holiday and then it refused to allow me to use the internet. As I didn’t have any more time I had to leave it and hope that re-starting it when I came back would sort it out. But no, it didn’t so I finally fixed the damn thing today.
I have some posts to write and over 300 pictures to sort through from my trip, so hope to have some more interesting stuff up soon. Will also be replying to emails and comments. I must also apologise to anyone who dropped an Entrecard or asked for an advert recently, as it was part of my plan to leave a message to say I was offline for a couple of weeks. I have approved them all now, so sorry for the delay.
So, how are you all? Did I miss anything (apart from Doodle Week)?
26July2008
Posted by Alison under: Uncategorized.
A quick reminder that August is Victorian month at Castle Fraser. There will be a children’s quiz (written by yours truly) and other themed events for the Victorian Weekend 2/3 August.
There will also be costumed guides on certain days and other themed events I’ll update on when I have more information.
Check out (and join!) our Facebook page for more details.
