Friday Fictioneers is hosted by the wonderful Rochelle, the undisputed master of what I call Sound Bite Fiction.
She sets the weekly challenge, the standard, and the prompt photo.
The idea, as always, is to write a story of around 100 words based on this picture, below, which this week is supplied by Dale Rogerson.
I blame her puddles for my story.
© Dale Rogerson
Click here to hear the writer read his words:
Scotland
What is Scotland really like?
I get asked this often.
And I tell of the mountains, the heather and the haggis.
Of fast-running rivers, leaping with salmon.
Of our lochs, long and grey, with mist above and monsters below.
Of half-ruined castles, containing legends and ghosts.
Of battlefields, drenched in tears and glory.
Of the spirits who still walk them.
Of the River Forth, spanned by three bridges and three centuries.
Of bagpipes and kilts.
Of Robert Burns.
And the people, the Scots?
That is easier to answer.
Our National Animal is the Unicorn.
And our National Flower, the Thistle.
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You summed this up wonderfully.
I so want to visit, but then again….
Then again what?
Men in kilts, Dawn, men in kilts!
LOL…yes, well, there is that. How silly of me to forget.
You pulled me in with the mountains, rivers, lochs, and castles. Pushed me away with the battlefields, bagpipes, and kilts. Had me wondering if Scotland’s a real place with the Unicorns. I’ve seen it on maps, but I’ve also seen Tolkien maps. Thistles? That made me scrunch up my face in curiosity and confusion.
It isn’t Disneyland, it is an ancient land with a violent, romantic history.
Everything I wrote is the truth, so perhaps it is just a little too real for your taste?
I’m pretty sure Disneyland’s national animal is a mouse. So, how does a unicorn become a country’s national animal and thistle the national flower?
I think it is well recorded (see next week’s blog!) that when the evil sorcerers of Guamnibbon, in jealous rage, set forth to exterminate the wondrous unicorn, this magical creature found sanctuary in the Highlands of Scotland, and survived the initial harsh winter by eating the indestructible thistle.
Coincidentally Amazon prime and netflix have had quite a bit of Scottish themed stuff that I have enjoyed. Probably just plain old tv for you but the views were stunning. Im a glutton for shows like Outlander, Haimish MacBeth, shetland…looks like a lovely place with an turbulent history. Great finish on this one.
I remember Hamish MacBeth, that’s a while ago, Bobby Carlyle before he was the psycho Begbie!
Glad you enjoyed this, Andy
Yes. I found HM to be a very entertaining study in anorexia.Didnt know he was Begbie. From trainspotting. Will have to watch that –though I have a feeling its hard to watch.
Read the book, it’s brilliant
This is again one where your audio reigned supreme.
I am blushing with pleasure and gratitude, dear Sascha.
lovely audio!
Thank you, sir, much appreciated
If asked what my first thought of Scotland is, I would probably reply rain!
Ah, Angie, you Sassenachs have no poetry in your souls!
The murders! You didn’t mention the murders! Or the body snatchers!
But seriously, a nice piece, CE, and I liked the way you summed up the Scots with an imaginary animal and a tough and prickly weed.
Interestingly, Penny, RLS’ Jekyll and Hyde was my last cut to make the word count.
But ‘imaginary’, whatever do you mean?
You should be working for VisitScotland! Many a happy holiday I’ve spent up there 🙂
Delighted to hear it, sir!
A lovely piece, C.E. My dad’s grandfather on his father’s side used to tell him he came from England which he did but dad always suspected there was Scottish ancestry there. I recently found the last name belongs to a Scottish clan. I even found the kilt for that clan. A computer can fill in a lot of blanks. I’m one of those Americans of very mixed ancestry. It’s even more mixed for my children as their father was from India. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thanks, Suzanne, glad you enjoyed.
And yes, we did get around a bit!
This was a love letter to your home and beautifully done. A place I hope to visit in the near future. Matter of fact, a distant cousin just contacted me telling me they had information on my father’s father – a Highlander – I still don’t have all the info but can’t wait to find out.
Still high summer here into October, already 22C at 9.30 am, so I guess your puddles got me thinking.
And I might have guessed there was a bit of the Teuchter about you…
Nice. This picture was taken in mid-August. We are not likely to see anything near a 22C until maybe one day of Indian Summer.
And hey! Be nice 😉
You drew a beautiful picture portrait of Scotland. Had me intrigued, Ceayr.
Thanks, Neel, it’s a beautiful wee country!
Rugged is the word coming to mind as I read your descriptions. Scotland doesn’t sound like a place for wimps.
True, although our thinkers, among whom the best known are possibly David Hume and Adam Smith, led the way in the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries, causing no less a figure than Voltaire, the great French writer/philosopher, to say “We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation”.
Good to know. It expands my view, thank you.
Sweet and nostalgic with just a bit of thorn 🙂
Et voilà!
You summed up Scotland in a sentence…
🙂 Yay!
The burr really makes a difference.
Aye, that’ll be the thistles cause that, Larry!
A lot of love in that piece.
Glad it shone through, Trish
To my absolute shame I have only been to Scotland once, to climb Ben Nevis. Bloody beautiful, really want to go back, hopefully will in the next few years.
You should write for the tourism board.
Excellent that you scaled the Ben, many years since I did that.
Come back soon.
Yeah, well, some of it. On the other hand have you visited the Calton or Craigmiller estates? My view of Scotland lies somewhere in between the romantic idyll and the urban reality!
In 100 words, Iain, there isn’t much room to wax lyrical about Glasgow’s Toonheid, where I come from
Definitely needs more than 100 words!
You’ve set a rather dreamy, but realistic as well, atmosphere. Someday I’m going to see Scotland.
You’ll have fun, Linda, I promise!
Such an atmospheric piece, redolent of all that I remember about Scotland. Lovely. You didn’t mention the rain though.
Where do you think the rivers and the lochs come from, Sandra!
A intriguing introduction … when you say Unicorn and Thistle. Excellent take!
We are a slightly strange breed, Reena
🙂
Hi CE,
As someone with Scottish blood somewhere in the mix, I loved reading this. It’s been hard for me to get my head around what my Scottish origins mean and what it was like when they were there. How they lived. One of them lived in Robbie Burns territory and I have no doubt they would’ve crossed paths, which blew me away. That ancestor came from Sorn.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Thanks, Rowena, glad you enjoyed.
I was in Ayrshire (Burns Country) in August, didn’t see any of your folks around!
They were in hiding. Our ancestor was a John Paton who is appears was from the landed gentry and I’m not sure what prompted him to pursue a life of crime. I only know that he was expected to know better.
It was quite intriguing for me to find out that the mother of Burns’s first child was an Elizabeth Paton. I haven’t found a connection, but the other interesting coincidence was that John Paton’s mother was a Muir and Burns wrote a poem A Epitaph to William Muir”. Not sure if we’re related to him either. However, at the very least these characters were living alongside my people and it provides incredible insights into their community, especially for me as an Australian living by the beach on distant shores.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Oh my heart, the pipes are calling me 🥰💕
Good to see you here, Frewie.
I’ve been watching Frankie Boyle’s Hurt Like You’ve Never Been Loved:
Priceless!
But not for the faint-hearted, folks, a multiple-X rating of foul language and dubious topics.
Do NOT watch if you have any sensibilities whatsoever.
<3 A beautiful view of Scotland!
And more or less true!
I would love if instead of button like there is a button <3 .
Thank you, I am smiling widely here
You summed it up absolutely perfectly. For me, haggis yes, bagpipes NO!
That is because you are an uncultured soulless Sassenach, old pip!
How very dear you! Actually, you could be right.
Dear C.E.
A lovely picture you paint. I can hear the bagpipes calling whilst the unicorns leap over rainbows.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Scotland in a nutshell!
All very Walter Scott until the last imaginary and spikey images. Lovely ending
Laughing.
You know I like to lull, then strike.
Sign me up. A great promotion piece!
Thank you, Tannille