14/8/2012
Day
1 Scotland begins
The
camp had indeed been a god send. I hadn't heard much traffic from the
other side of the hedge, so had rested very well. The sun was just
coming out so I made attempts to get as much of it as possible and
removed the legs from my trousers. The bag felt reasonably light for
a change, but then sleep can help with that and I had been rested
longer than usual. The road was calling me to get on with things, so
I set out and was soon coming into a village called Swinton. No
insurance agents anywhere so that was refreshing.
I met a guy out
washing a car and he had several up for sale so I guessed he was a
small business. He quickly offered me a refreshing cup of tea so how
could I refuse an offer like this. Scotland you are doing well, keep
it up....!!
He
was actually originally from Sheffield and had moved here after
several attempt at change of location with his family. Stuart was
also a builder and had built his own home and another close by which
had been recently damaged by high winds and I had noticed that it was
being repaired, so he explained all about that. He also did a bit of
car sales and other handy jobs. He was keen to know why I was so
smiley and why I was walking all over the United Kingdom and the
reason I was called Peaceful Warrior and about my hopes to help peace
on earth by my Imagine walk. He spoke of his own views about the
chances for peace on this earth and Britain closer to home, as he was
a Jehovahs Witness and trusted that God would step in and by divine
intervention we would all be given the chance to live in a world free
from crime and suffering after gods Holy war of Armageddon. Stuart
was a hard working sort of a man, so knew that he would have to do
something to help this along, and he was kind towards me. He made a
very generous contribution to my welfare needs and I was almost in
tears at this sudden and random act of kindness. Like the Goslings at
Lincoln, Stuart was living in harmony with his religious beliefs, but
I also felt that he was pushing the world in the right direction with
regards helping people with needs in the present day. I am most
grateful to this kind Christian man for his attending to the call to
step up and support me with my walk. With people like this in the
world, what is there to fear?
I
had been discussing with Stuart where I would go next, and by my toss
of a coin, Duns had won out over Kelso and Galashields.
Another
mile or so, along a back lane heading towards Duns, I passed a few
houses and a farm and then arrived at a huge acreage of chicken
sheds. There was a lorry outside dropping off chicken feeds and the
man who was there overseeing the operation invited me in to have yet
another cup of tea. I couldn't believe my luck, 2 in two miles, and
still quite early in the day. Graham the manager at the 'Vion FoodGroup's' chicken egg production plant was very kind and gave me a lot
to think about with regards to both the Boarder Reivers of old
Scotland and the current views being banded about by people of the
area. Apparently the town of Duns was becoming used to the
integration now of people who had opened the first Chinese take away
and later Muslim families corner shop, but it had been tough. I spoke
with a young man called Craig, another worker called Paul and finally
David. David was finishing his shift and travelling back into Duns a
few short miles away, so he offered me a lift which I happily
accepted. Before I went, Graham had rang his wife Sharron who was
keen to share all the interesting sites to see in her town, and said
that she would keep an eye out for me in the town later. All these
people stepping up to help a stranger was really impressing me about
Scotland, so I hope it carries on.
On
arriving at the small town I decided to get a hair cut as the thunder
flies were beginning to bother me, and the heat was here to bring
them out in force. I walked straight into Roosters the barbers that I
had just been driven past, and met Shirley Macintosh and her trainee
Rachel. Both lovely and keen to know all about my adventures and even
helped me to raise some funds for the charity collection, so thank
you Colin, customer and generous giver. Also whilst I was having my
hair cut came a local school teacher called Mark. Mark was also a
walker and offered some helpful packing tips for my heavily loaded
bag. He was full of local knowledge and clued me up on a few things
to see and do. I got mark to take a picture of me with the girls and
my new haircut and then I made my way off to get a drink at the
Boarders coffee shop.
It was like a Parisien street with all the
tables and chairs out on the side walk in the square. I had some
lunch and then noticed a banner hanging from a nearby building that
sponsored a local radio station, Generate Radio. I called in and
spoke with a young guy, Oscar MacAndrew, one of the producers of the
radio shows, who was keen to support Imagine by posting some links to
my Blog and website. They are also waiting for their F.M. licences so
are a totally online radio show at present, but will be broadcasting
live via the airwaves pretty soon he assured me.
Check
them out at, Generateradio.com.
Another
of the things I wanted to see was the trophy room of one of Britain's
best loved and most successful racing drivers of all time and
certainly his era, Jim Clark. Friends with Jackie Stewart and
Sterling Moss and hero to the even more famous Ayrton Senna the
Brazilian racing driver famously killed at high speed in 1994, Jim
Clark had amassed a huge room full of accreditation and success. Jim
died in 1968 but it seems his memory lives on still. Mike the man
looking after the rooms was a nice and gentle person who told me all
the history of the man that had been Jim Clark.
Jim Clark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people of the same name, see James Clark (disambiguation).
 Clark in 1966 |
|
| Born | 4 March 1936 Kilmany, Fife, Scotland, UK |
|---|---|
| Died | 7 April 1968 (aged 32) Hockenheimring, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany |
| Formula One World Championship career | |
| Nationality |  British |
| Active years | 1960 - 1968 |
| Teams | Lotus |
| Races | 73 (72 starts) |
| Championships | 2 (1963, 1965) |
| Wins | 25 |
| Podiums | 32 |
| Career points | 255 (274)[1] |
| Pole positions | 33 |
| Fastest laps | 28 |
| First race | 1960 Dutch Grand Prix |
| First win | 1962 Belgian Grand Prix |
| Last win | 1968 South African Grand Prix |
| Last race | 1968 South African Grand Prix |
Clark was a versatile driver who competed in sports cars, touring cars and in the Indianapolis 500, which he won in 1965. He was particularly associated with the Lotus marque.
He was killed in a Formula Two motor racing accident in Hockenheim, Germany in 1968. At the time of his death, he had won more Grand Prix races (25) and achieved more Grand Prix pole positions (33) than any other driver. The Times placed Clark at the top of a list of the greatest Formula One
I had arrived late
and he was about to close up so I made my way off to the Black Bull
local public house as they have internet and a place for me to spend
some quiet time catching up with my blog again.
I
was welcomed by Brenda, who looked after my bag whilst I went
shopping for supplies for my dinner later, and subsequently we
chatted to great extent about many things. She brought up the subject
of being judgemental and making snap judgements about people based
solely upon what she had heard rather than what was later her
discovery to be true. She said that she had chastised herself for
this foray into a type of behaviour that she hated. But like I said
in reply, the whole world is teaching us to do this, and be like this
and rather than get to know the real truth, invent one instead. She
agreed that things needed to be done for this type of negative habit
to be overcome, and I have to say, I agree totally.
Many
customers were pouring in and out of the pub, most of them making the
best of the beer gardens and the sunshine out the back of the public
house. As I was talking with one gentleman, in came a face I
recognised and yet couldn't place immediately, but he recognised me
from the stone circles yesterday. Brendan was the guy I said was a
creator of something. It turns out he is an artist, a painter. We
spoke for a few brief minutes and I passed him a card with my website
details, hoping to regain the connection with yesterday. He was out
in the beer garden with friends, so returned with his drinks.
I
wondered after the young woman who had brought strong energies to the
circle, but hadn't asked and the conversation had been only brief.
I
got on with writing and chatting with Brenda and the new lady who
came to take over, Julie. Brenda was finishing and I asked if she
wanted to have her picture taken for the blog, but she declined. Some
people prefer not to be pictured and that is why I always ask first,
out of respect, but she is happy for me to tell you all about her
participation in helping me with my studies and fact finding project.
With
my head tucked down at the computer I never saw the young woman enter
but I noticed her standing by the bar. I said hello and how glad I
was to see them again and what a surprise it was to see them here so
soon after the stone circles of Duddo, but that it wasn't actually a
coincidence. I'm never sure exactly how people will interpret my
forthcoming nature to say what I see or feel intuitively, so I am a
tad cautious sometimes with revealing what I have thought or felt.
Rowan seemed to have an understanding of this dilemma, so I was
pleased when she invited me to join them in the garden and carry on
with the connection of yesterday.
Rowan
is the director of the Scottish National Mining Museum at
Newtongrange, the old site of the Lady Victoria colliery. She invited
me to go and take a look if I would be passing, and as it is close to
the Rosslyn Chapel I can't see any reason why I shouldn't. Mining has
been a huge part of the history and heritage of our lands after all,
and for over two centuries we have been extracting coal and minerals
and oil from beneath the earths crust.
Brendan
told me all about his project to rebuild a studio at his home and
also shared many stories about his world adventures. He was a
landscape and portrait painter by choice, but more recently a
decorator too, to fill his time productively. I asked him who his
favourite portrait was of. One that he had captured on canvas and
what he had seen when commissioned to create a likeness for the
subject. I was trying to determine if it was the same for artists as
for a poet. Not that I am officially ranked as a poet, by sources
other than myself, but I have written a lot of things and like the
creative side of word play and descriptiveness in visual form.
Rowan
was clearly a clever person and had a lot of things to tell me and
share with the project Imagine. I would look forward to meeting again
and seeing the history of Scottish mining at the Midlothian museum,
and finding out more about the people that had carried so much
positive energy to the stone circles of Duddo.
After
some time chatting they had to leave, chores at home to attend to, so
we said our farewells and I set off to find a home for the night.
I
chose the well trodden paths out onto the grounds of the Duns Castle.
I met another young man who was out walking two dogs. Ross who wore a
body warmer sponsoring something to do with the Olympic team was
involved in a sport to do with vaulting. I don't think that was bank
vaulting either, but must confess the conversation was a little
hurried as the light was fading. He was off home and I had to find a
place to erect my tent. I headed out for the Covenant stone and he
set of in his car for a life in California in the coming months. He
was a carpenter by trade, and said that there was work for him out in
the land of constant sunshine. Oh and the beach life might suit him
too.....!! He was a really chatty guy, and I wished him well, and he
wished me every success with the Imagine project.
I
found my place for the night in the forest beneath trees and where
the wolves and night creatures howled and cooed and shared long
winded stories about visitors from the world of men with green one
man tents invading their habitat.
And
so day 1 of my Scottish adventure came to an end in the protection
and darkness most profound.
Takes one to know one!!!???Nuff sed.
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