13 June 2006

Rest and Be Thankful




This is one of my favorite places in Scotland. The winding road that you see takes you across a long glen to the top of a mountain. The point at the top is called Rest and Be Thankful since the trip used to be so arduous that travelers were happy for a break before starting the difficult trek down the other side.

Sometimes you just need to take a break from family, politics, and the world to look at the pretty pictures, sing songs, and indulge in humor. On the right is Birse Forest. This used to cover a huge section of northern Scotland. A small percentage is left and wonderful for a leisurely drive or hike.

One of the wonderful tongue twisting songs of all time is Mary Mac

There's a nice wee lass and her name's Mary Mac
Make no mistake, she's the miss I'm going to tak
There's a lot of other chaps that would get up on her track
But I'm thinking that they'd have to get up early.

Chorus:
Mary Mac's father's making Mary Mac marry me
My father's making me marry Mary Mac
And I'm going to marry Mary
To get married and take care of me
We'll all be making merry when I marry Mary Mac

Chorus:

Now Mary and her Mither gang an awful lot together
In fact you never see the one or the one without the other
And the fellows often wonder if it's Mary or her mither
Or the both of them together that I'm courtin'

Chorus:

Now the wedding day's on Wednesday and everything's arranged
Her name will soon be changed to mine unless her mind be changed
And we're making the arrangements
and I'm just a bit deranged
For marriage is an awful undertakin'

Chorus:

It's sure to be a grand affair and grander than a fair
There's going to be a coach and pair for every couple there
We'll dine upon the finest fare I'm sure to get my share
If I don't we'll all be very much mistaken

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jamie....beautiful pictures...I wondered where that mountain shot on Craig's video was from...

I've never been to Scotland...but we have a great friend...Brian...who's from Edinborough (hope that's spelled right)....I love listening to him talk...a Scottish accent is so musical...

Durward Discussion said...

Renee,

As with many things in Scotland (heck virtually all of them) Edinburgh is pronounced different that it sounds. :-)

If you ever get a chance, go. The variety is incredible from huge cities, to charming towns, to complete wilderness. If you want it, it's there.

I'll put up some more pictures later in between all the politics and family things.

blueINdallas said...

Oooh, I thought the pic in Craig's video was Costa Rica sans his mandaled feet in the foreground.
teeeheeehee

Anonymous said...

I was there in 2001. Loved it! It really is as beautiful as the pictures are.
I love the little place that you can pull of on the road.