Day 72 - Peebles

What a great town in which to have a rest day!?
A relaxing start - much later than planned
The Tontine Hotel, as the plaque outside explains was built in 1808 and financed by the Tontine principle - "in which a group of people invest in a project, but lose their share on death, finally leaving one surviving investor who becomes the sole owner" - to me sounds it could be a perfect plot for Agatha Christie.
Over breakfast I met the current owner
Kate....
Kate described ownership as being more like being a custodian of the building so I hope she's not going to be bumped off too soon though she and her husband are already handing over the reins to their daughter. The story moves on! 

After breakfast I went out on to the High Street to enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine and do some sketching. I met Chris and Ginny.
Chris came up to Scotland to train as a Civil Engineer and decided to stay. He is now a sculptor. Ginny followed her heart from the US and was originally based in Oxford but rightly decided to move north. She is also an artist and she and Chris share a studio. 
On a previous tour of the UK, Chris and Ginny told me they'd been to Llanberis and visited some of the slate quarries, the haul roads and the marvelled at the endeavour, strength and tenacity of our forefathers.
Ginny currently paints flowers and butterflies and used to work in oil but now uses acrylics. We had a great chat over coffee.
I concluded that sitting outside Caldwell's Ice Cream parlour on the High St is the equivalent of the Spanish Steps. Everyone passing seemed to know Chris and Ginny and wanted to stop for a chat. A lovely couple in a lovely place.

Having sat in the sun for an hour it was time to look for shade. I went over to the Museum and saw two exhibitions. Into the Wildwood by Neil Stewart, a collection of woodcuts and words
describing his cycle and wild camping trip from his home to the Highlands. Amazingly detailed with a wonderful evocative description of his journey and experiences.

I was then introduced to Niall Cambell who's exhibition was on the top floor of the gallery - an ideal exhibition space.
Niall explained that he'd painted all the works during lockdown and encouraged his students to use painting as an opportunity to 'explore the unconscious mind' 
He explained how he felt that art teaching too often concentrates on technique and skill to the detriment of 'constructive creativity'.
He talked passionately about how, in his view, the works of Gwen John and de Kooning explored that avenue. 

I like Peebles.

Comments

  1. Anonymous22 June 2022 at 04:49

    Good to have met you David and enjoyed the chat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22 June 2022 at 14:30

      I really enjoyed my day in Peebles. It was great to talk.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous22 June 2022 at 05:50

    Hope you enjoyed your night in the Gordon Arms, though you may have found it rather a change after the Tontine. What a piece of luck to have bumped into you - you’re doing what in another life, another world I would love to have done - aren’t other people fascinating? And with wonderful pen and wash skills, a discipline I really admire. I know what you mean about writing at the end of a long day. I worked and lived in countries such as Libya, The Yemen and Saudi and always tried to keep a journal (though not in Saudi where they were apt to search your apartment and kept your passport anyway!), but I often found just a few key words were enough to jog the memory. All the very best with the walk and with the blog which I will follow with great interest. Ginny Barnes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22 June 2022 at 14:34

      Many thanks Ginny. I really enjoyed our meeting - it would have been very interesting to talk for longer but I suspect we three would have turned into dark roast coffee beans if we'd stayed longer. I'd still enjoy seeing your and Chris' work. All the best to you both. DAVID

      Delete
  3. Anonymous22 June 2022 at 11:07

    Omg Tontines really exist today,!Sounds like Peebles has been a high spot for you. With admiration, Robin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22 June 2022 at 14:38

      Barrie and Sheila tell me that Tontine financing has been enshrined with a thumbs up in the EU. Kate at the hotel told me that it's still an active form of financing in Italy. So Robin, if you feel a book coming on, here's your plot......

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 99 - Golspie to Helmsdale - 18.6 miles

Image
Dunrobin Castle came well recommended - particularly the gardens to which you could get in for free. Well, not today you can't.....unless you want a tour of the Castle as well! Pah! Not being in the mood for a guided tour of a stately home even if it was designed by Charles Barry  - who designed the Houses of Parliament, I walked down on to the beach and watched a busy chaffinch and admired a nice gate catch instead! Much more ME!! Near Strathsteven I met Graham and his family.  Graham is a retired businessman and keen amateur geologist. He was looking for ammonites and particularly belemnites which he told me are the fossilised remains of giant squid that once occupied the sea here. They can be found along this stretch of coast where sedimentary seams meet the coast. Wi th his wife Susan, he'd clearly passed on his enthusiasm  to the rest of his family who w...
Read more

Last few days

Image
Only just a few days remaining before heading North(ish) from Lands' End at the weekend. Having Covid over the last week hasn't helped in the final preps but gradually the T line has been getting fainter so I've pressed the ignition switch and I'm warming the engines!!
Read more

Day 109 - Orkney

Image
Helen dropped us off at the Ness of Brodgar - a live archaeological dig of a large site that was discovered only a few years ago. Because of the risk of weather erosion to the dig and the availability of student archaeologists to help with the back-breaking excavation, the site is only open for 7 weeks before it gets covered again until next Summer. There are valuable finds being made almost every day. You could sense the enthusiasm and excitement in the air at the gradual and careful unearthing of crucial finds. We walked via the Stones of Steness  to catch the bus to Kirkwall. The ferry port has connections to some of the other Northern Orcadian islands - Eday, Westray and Sanday from which there are further ferries to others. St.Magnus' cathedral dates from the 1100s.  In the evening we visited the Ring of Brodgar - 5000 years old. The stones on Orkney provoke all ...
Read more