Hi. Welcome back.
Yesterday we took a trip to Elgin, the nearest large city. It is also where we have to go to get the bus to go to Edinburgh and other places UK. It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine. There was, however, quite a brisk wind. We catch the 9:40 bus just across the road from our house. Then it takes about 1 and 1/2 hours to get there.
My grandmother used to say that travel by train showed you the back yards and travel by bus showed you the front yards. I have included here the view of some pretty front yards and houses we saw.
Elgin is a city with a long history, dating from 1040. The story is the norm: sometimes up and profitable and sometimes down and destitute. But a good place to visit. And shop.
The most famous statue in Elgin is of Dandy Lion.
Dandy Lion
He is dressed in his best estates tweeds and fine cashmere cardigan from Johnston’s Mill, founded on the banks of the River Lossie in 1797.
His top hat, monocle, mustache and cane represent the dapper fashion from the early 1800’s when Andrew Anderson and Andrew Gray gifted the Elgin Institution and Gray’s Hospital to the town on their successes with the East India Company.
His fishtail is for the vendors and the fisher folk who brought their produce here to sell at the market.
Last, but by no means least, his name and personal from the ‘feeing marts’ where in Springtime men and women looking for agricultural work would carry a Dandelion, which he wears in his buttonhole.
Now you know everything I know about the Dandy Lion.
We’re invited to the church this afternoon to participate in the Guild. Sometimes they have speakers. This week they have a “fun” quiz. They said of general knowledge. I’ll let you know how that goes.
Have a fine day. I hope to see you later.
I’m loving it so far. I do get cold just reading about it and it’s still Fall.