Just about to start a talk to Collin SWI about folklore and the @cruckcottage.bsky.social

Hello. We're new here. 👋 Wondering what devil's porridge is? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle coined the phrase to describe the explosive materials he saw munitions workers at H.M. Factory Gretna mixing in large pans. They were making cordite. Please don't eat devil's porridge. 💥 #DevilsPorridge #WW1history

The Twelve Apostles on a frosty morning.

Winter solstice sunrise at the Twelve Apostles, Holywood, Dumfries

Happy St Andrew's Day. Saltire over Lincluden Abbey, Dumfries

Reflecting on some of the fantastic community projects I've been lucky to be involved in during my time with D&G Museums. It's been a pleasure to introduce young people to their local heritage, work with our Ukrainian community settling in the region, help families learn together, and lots more.

Just thinking how grateful I am to the @museumsassociation.org for all their support when I needed it, the learning opportunities, and the chance to be part of a wonderful network of inspiring and progressive people. www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RNq...

Heading home from an absolutely brilliant day today at the @museumsassociation.org reps meeting in Birmingham. I'm really pleased to be a part of this wonderful organisation and helping to support our members in Scotland. It was great to explore the new Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery too.

It's that day again... Happy Bastille Day with bagpipes.

Summer solstice sunrise at the Twelve Apostles.

As it's National Volunteer Week, a big thank you to all who volunteer their time and efforts to make this world a better place. Appreciating you year round, not just this week.

If you're a Museums Association member in Scotland, do try to join us for a @museumsassociation.org members gathering at The Hunterian in Glasgow on Monday 30th June. You can get details and book a free place here... www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/museums-as...

Just realised this was 15 years ago today, at the lovely medieval church beside Hailes Abbey with my friend Richard York. Sometimes I forget how long I have been sharing medieval pilgrimage living history, piping and storytelling.

Thrilled to have my article on using objects in live interpretation featured in the new Journal of the Association for Heritage Interpretation especially as the AHI celebrate their 50th anniversary.

I've just been sent the pictures of me and fellow AMA awardees as we received our certificates at last year's MA conference. I'm already looking forward to this year's conference at the lovely St Fagan’s National History Museum. Hope to see you there! www.museumsassociation.org/events/confe...

Happy St Patrick's Day with bagpipes.

Happy International Bagpipe Day!

A wee snippet in the Museums Journal. The AMA was such a fantastic process, really changing my outlook on life as well as developing skills. Totally recommend this to anyone working in museums. The @museumsassociation.org have been so supportive throughout, it's great to work with them.

A World Book Day reflection. I've always enjoyed tales of fools. This is the only one of Alan Garner's books I remember reading as a child. Many years later, I was honoured to be given an original hardback edition by Alan after we talked about how the book had sowed the seeds of storytelling in me.

Had a brilliant day at the @museumsassociation.org Scotland members gathering in Perth. Lovely to be among so many progressive colleagues and to enjoy lots of inspiring presentations. In difficult times with lots of challenges for the sector, I left feeling positive and hopeful.

A clyack or corn dolly by the hanging lum in the cottage. The Scots word clyack is derived from Gaelic cailleach meaning hag. These woven straw figures were thought to keep the spirit of the corn safe through the winter. We're exploring lots of folklore throughout this year at the Cruck Cottage.

We continue to stand with Ukraine. We've been so pleased to welcome Ukrainian friends several times in recent months. We will always be in solidarity.

No to bullies. Always in solidarity. No to appeasement.

Out at Sweetheart Abbey today, volunteering with the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust to tell the story of Devorgilla, Lady of Galloway.

Something cheery for this dreich day... Here's our volunteer Bob playing tunes at our New Scots kitchen ceilidh in the cottage for our Ukrainian friends last weekend.

I'm very honoured to have been chosen to be one of the @museumsassociation.org reps for Scotland. Such a great organisation, their campaigns truly do change lives for the better. I'm really looking forward to getting started on getting more people involved and supporting museums across the nation.

Wow! I was only expecting about a dozen people for my medieval tour of Dumfries Museum today, but 71 people turned up! Clearly a lot of interest in the Robert the Bruce in Dumfries story.

Much joy to you all this St Werburgh's day. May we all find ways to work with the natural world and restore what has been destroyed.

For this week's #StandingStoneSunday, here are some of the Nether Largie stones in Kilmartin Glen. Duncan Williamson said his Traveller family believed the stones would protect you when staying nearby, so long as you didn't touch them.

For #StandingStoneSunday, here's one of the magnificent Clava Cairns.

Yesterday was the wassail at Norton Priory. Always a wonderful event to be part of and a highlight of the winter.

@tomtelltale.bsky.social for the 10th year running has started the year at Norton Priory Museum with the traditional Wassail, stories and dancing. The apple trees are all ready to bear lots of fruit!

For this #StandingStoneSunday, here's the row of four at Ballymeanoch in Kilmartin Glen.

Just popped over the bridge to the post box. Everywhere looks lovely in the frost. Swans, goosanders and mallards swimming together on the Cluden.

The Reader's Digest 'Folklore, Myths and Legends of Great Britain' is rightly a classic for folklore fans, but don't hear much of their 'American Folklore and Legend'. More historic tale and doses of racism, rather than customs and traditions. Anyone else have this one or indeed other RD folklore?

For this week's #StandingStoneSunday, the Twelve Apostles in the snow.

A new year's day wander to Lincluden Abbey. Light has shone through these windows for over six centuries, and here's some of the first rays of light and hope in 2025. Wishing everyone a joyous new year.

Worked out I've read 93 books this year, perhaps be 94 when the bells ring. Also visited 63 museums and 17 medieval monastic sites. Kept me occupied counting that up anyway!

For #StandingStoneSunday, pictures from this week's trip to the Girdle Stanes at Eskdalemuir. Half the circle has been washed away by the river. An eerie feel to this visit with the mist, a sheep skeleton strewn about, a hare darting from the stones and a decaying clootie in the thorn tree.

Anyone else feeling this way?

Happy Christmas! This picture of Christmas Waits was published on Christmas Day 1886. I found it on a market stall in 2013 and we've had it up year round in our house since then.

Wishing you all a joyous yuletide, a jolly wassail, and a bright new year.

Folk say, a wizard to a northern king: at Xtmastide such wondrous things did show,that through one window men beheld the spring,and through another saw the summer glow, and through a third the fruited vines a-row,while still unheard, but in its wonted way,piped the drear wind of that December day.

For #StandingStoneSunday, here are pictures of the winter solstice sunrise at the Twelve Apostles, near Dumfries, over the past few years including yesterday.

Winter solstice sunrise at the Twelve Apostles.

Getting a folk horror vibe at the National Museum of Scotland...

For this week's #StandingStoneSunday, here's the tallest of the circles on Machrie Moor, Arran. Such a special place.

Enjoyed the latest tour from the wonderful Mostly Ghostly last night in Kirkcudbright. Captivating stories as ever, with atmospheric backdrops around the historic town and a lovely moon halo was an extra special surprise.

Really enjoyed the 'LORE' exhibition at Sunnybank Mill gallery in Farsley. Creating artefacts of contemporary and could-be folklore. Only on until Christmas Eve. A lovely friendly creative place too.

Crow - Stone - Moon A trinity at the Twelve Apostles, near Dumfries for #StandingStoneSunday