Category Archives: BlahBlahBlah

Good grief, it’s that time of year already!  Unfortunately, it being that time of year I may also implode from my studies.

Be that as it may, let’s celebrate Eleanor and I’s blog still being here four years later

So what makes this blog?  Well, there’s Eleanor and I of course, then a dash of Mr Darcy (costume dramas and novels etc):

Lots and I mean LOTS of pets, some photography (when I have times these days), musical and video interludes, and don’t forget the humour – we like to laugh here:

Not to mention the art and the history (and study):

Stir briskly with some moans and observations – and you might have a better idea.  But anyway, the important thing?  That’s YOU.  Thanks for visiting.

Ooops *shameful face* I completely forgot to update on my study/exams.

I am pleased to say that I passed all my exams, and was offered and accepted a place on the MA History of Art, starting this September!  Scary times!  Looking forward to it though!

Wow, it’s that time of the year again – and the castle re-opened on the 1 April for the 2010 season.  I can’t believe that it has come around again already!  The Winter has been very long, and the castle unfortunately suffered its fair share of snow and associated leaks.

We had a pleasantly busy Easter with lots of egg hunters inside and outside the castle.  Here are the updates/changes for this year:

• We have a new Great Hall carpet, the money for which was kindly donated.  It looks fabulous and has a lovely bouncy underlay!
• We received new blinds to replace broken ones, and for rooms that had never previously had them.  Existing ones that could be fixed, were also.
• The old film on the windows has now been replaced after many years with fresh UV film to stop nasty light coming in to spoil the collection.
• Furniture has been put back to original positions in some of the rooms to improve visitor experience.
• More items are again on display after repair etc.
• We have also been updating information for visitors.
• The Dining Room ceiling has finally been fixed, yay!
• We have more heating, also donated – extra yay here from experience
• We have some new stuff in the shop along with old favourites
• The castle restaurant is doing really well, phone to book.

That’s all I can remember for now!

In my research world, I was fortunate after three years of searching to finally find a living Fraser of the line.  We had previously thought that the line had died out, but it turns out the younger brother’s line is alive and well!  I have been happily updating records for this.

My next project is for the estate, and I am currently documenting all that I can find about the castle estate workers and house servants.  This will be really useful for enquiries, and give us a much better bigger picture of how the house the castle and estate were run.

Don’t forget to visit us!  I will post any event news as soon as I have it.

Sadly not for me, but for Claire’s postcard collection.

Yes, Claire decided to set them free around the world to different blog friends.  I was lucky enough to receive one, this lovely illustration by Beatrix Potter.

It’s well known that I love my rodents, but I think Claire’s trying to tell me something with this lizard…answers on a postcard what that is (arf).

P.S Claire – it was actually franked ‘Free’ advertising for something.  Thought that was very appropriate, and loved the doodle.  Say hi to the Willy family from me! 

Just a quick one.  I’ve been going through some old sites and services that I joined when I first started blogging.

I might delete a few more of them yet, but whilst weeding one I noticed just how many blogs that I added between mostly 2007/2008 had disappeared.  I’m not just talking about changing sites, names, announcing a break etc etc, just disappeared without a word.

I have to say, if I ever decide to close up shop here, I will tell you.  It seemed kind of sad to me that many people I followed and spoke with had gone from the blogosphere altogether.  Especially those that I ‘met’ via Wordless Wednesday.  What a pity that meme got spoilt by being overdone daily.

Anyhow, moving on from the maudlin – is there anybody out there that follows this blog that hasn’t said hello yet?  Just a quick one will do!  It would be nice to see who is following.  Same goes for my faithful readers, be nice to see you too.  On that note, and new blog recommendations?  What do you think I should be reading in 2010?

Well it certainly will be…

What’s been happening around here?  Too much frankly.  I have now completed my exams, and am waiting to hear if I have passed them – fingers crossed for that one.

For Philosophy the exam involved writing two essays from the areas of Knowledge, Ethics and Religion, there being two choices from each, and the areas were roughly what we studied in sections throughout.  For History, we studied six different areas throughout the course, to name a couple, Scots in the British Empire and the American War of Independence.  The exam involved writing three essays from a choice of roughly the six areas.

I am now looking ahead to the next part of my course, which will involve me studying English Literature and Modern Art.

In English, I will be looking at the texts of King Lear, Pride and Prejudice, The Garden Party and Other Stories and The Glass Menagerie.  There will also be poetry (gasp) in the form of William Wordsworth and Seamus Heaney.  For Art, all I know at the moment is that is will be the period from 1820 to the present day, so sadly misses out a lot of the art that I like, however I will know more when the course books are sent out to me.

Work at the day job is speeding up, and ploughing on.  Even now a lot of thought and work is going on behind the scenes to ready the castle for the new season starting in April.  To that end, I will be going on another Collections Care course this year to learn more cool things.

Now I have a little time again before study part two begins, I am taking time out to have an early Spring clean – also handy as I will probably be too busy for it when Spring gets here!  I also have a few historic and photographic projects on the go.

Some of you already know that back in the Summer I decided to go back into studying.  In fact, I’ve been wanting to for quite some time.

Since September I have started at University on a part-time certificate course, which will take me up to May 2010 to complete.

At the moment I am studying Philosophy and History, and once I finish exams for these in January, I will then take two more subjects.  I am hoping to do well (I’m told I am at the moment!) and go on to study something else in September 2010, but one day at a time.

I know that you guys will be out there cheering me on, and as you have seen already I’m still here blogging when I can.  I’m also still doing lots of things as well as studying.  Still found at the castle, doing photography etc etc.

Sometimes there will be gaps when I post as I will probably be writing essays, but I’m still here and so is Eleanor.  In fact Eleanor and I are plotting a few updates on the site too, so watch this space…