an ode

This being Robbie Burns Night, it seems only appropriate for Postcard Friendship Friday that we have

 a (rather tattered) postcard from Postcrosser Jean who lives in Alloway, South Ayrshire, Scotland

featuring his portrait by A Nasmyth, Burns Cottage and the Brig O'Doon

(click on the links to learn more if you are unfamiliar)

and as a bonus here is one that I keep in my 'boring postcards' file. Not because Bannockburn, or Robert the Bruce is boring, but really.... you can barely see the beauty of this statue

The King of Scots and his gallant steed look as if they are saying "my job is done, Scotland is saved from the English, now I am off..."

The battle of Bannockburn in 1314 marked the end of the wars between England and Scotland that had been going on intermittently since king Alexander of Scotland rode his horse off a cliff in 1286, leaving the nation leaderless. The conclusion was that Scotland was to be an independent nation. Bannockburn was therefore one of the most consequential battles in British history. King Edward the Second of England, who lost the battle, was literally chased out of Scotland. The victor of the battle, Robert Bruce, became King Robert the First of independent Scotland.

William Wallace [played by Mel Gibson in the 1995 movie Braveheart]

struggled unsuccessfully in the 1290s to do what Bruce at last accomplished in 1314. To be fair to Wallace, his opponent, Edward the First, was a much more formidable foe than Edward the Second.

You can read the poem Burns wrote here (in old Scots, Gaelic or English - your choice)

and no, there will be no haggis for me tonight
though I have tried it and it really isn't as bad as you might expect.
as a burger would be my preference.

I will, however, have a wee dram (just to keep this winter chill off, mind......)

sláinte