What is in a name?

When I was at University again in London, studying the Middle Egyptian it was pointed out to us the ancient belief in the power of a name, especially your own. Egyptians and others believed that saying a name out loud protected the eternal soul from oblivion and that is why it was important to memorialise the king, to name the gods and build memorials of all kinds where the name was carved or written. This no more important than the Song of the Fat Harper, where the harper sneaked a prayer to the soul of his departed lover and sneaked it into the burial chamber of the king, propping it up in a corner to be discovered in the 20th century, and the name of the lover recited, meeting the criteria the ancient Egyptians were after.

I think since I am the last of my line, there will be nobody to remember me or mine in the generations that follow, so I think there is some desire still in me to see my name remembered in places, whether that is the list of grand priors of England and Wales or of the UK, to be remembered as a writer of an obscure Gann book, or to be remembered with Anthony as a provider of necessary equipment to various causes across the country and beyond. In the centuries ahead my name will appear in lists of Fan Maker, Bonnetmakers and Dyers of Glasgow, and of course as leader of the Knights Templar and I hope the latter memorial of a lasting administration will still be a market of good governance of a voluntary organisation.

To be remembered is fine. To be recalled is more important and to avoid oblivion as my atoms fly through space in the millennia ahead, some genetic or sub-atomic memory is illuminated by my name.

Trip to Ireland

I was invited to OSMTH Ireland's first stand-alone event taking place in Derry/Londonderry at the end of November. What a warm welcome making up for the freezing and sub-zero Scotland I left earlier in the morning! As I drove down through Perthshire and into Fife the thermostat on my car dropped from the amber colour (0C-4C) on to the red (minus 4C) and lower! I was glad to get to the airport for a heat up!

I was met at Belfast by one of the members and we had a great drive northwards through wonderful countryside, with much laughter on the way as we anticipated the day ahead.

All round - a great day meeting up with enthusiastic members looking forward to lots of charitable activity in the years ahead.

Night out with Neighbours

Old Faskally teams were out and about for dinner and theatre, having a wonderful time. We started off by the side of the River Tummell and enjoyed a feast before heading to the Festival Theatre for the excellent "Sunshine on Leith" which was great. Such a clever idea to put Proclaimers songs in sequence to make a good plot. Oh there were tears all around!

Village Hall Qui 2

An excellent turn out for the second Killiecrankie Quiz, where topics debated and argued ranged from the age of the local church bell to the flavours of sub-atomic particles. Nothing if not an education in this village! Indeed one team came very close to passing the 50% mark, but not quite! As usual, complaints and almost divorces from several teams!

End of an era

Last day at work for me as my position is deemed unnecessary. What a great time it has been since 2005, traveling the world and meeting such wonderful and interesting and sometimes challenging people!

My most unusual place to visit has to have been Beirut, and having that destination on my passport for years and thus struggling to get in to the USA without some serious conversations at the Border!

Once upon a time I left London in May and got back in October, doing a double loop of the world and meeting up with FJT for a wonderful holiday in the Turks and Caicos half way through. Such memories and possibilities!