Stoned

01/27/2005

With the effect of the full moon and better weather, light starts to fill the bedroom at about 7.15 am. We know it is to be a good day and we are not disappointed. The airflow is still northerly, dry, mild at 7 degrees, but overcast with only the odd glimpse of blue. Rumours tell of tight little showers on the coast to the south of us. So at last a day of labour in the policies, freedom for both dogs and masters. The telephone is ignored and we try to settle the bed of a new track in the garden plan. Stones of all sizes have to be moved and this brings to mind the Trollaigh Stone, still displayed in the Museum of Scotland. This is yet another stone to test the fitness of youth. However, the lifting of “The Trollaigh” was only attempted by two, or at the most three of the teenage girls living on the estate. A successful lift combined with an undertaking on the virgin state, allowed the girls to enter service in The Tower of Trolliagh. Times have changed and with great respect, I suspect our much admired Mhairi would have failed on several counts. Another stone with Trollaigh connections in the Museum, is the sixth Baron’s perfectly spherical gall stone. As was the custom of the time, this was surgically removed without anesthetic, the sixth Baron kept it with him as a talisman. This proved fortuitous in the Americas, while the Baron was besieged in his plantation house and running short of balls, he discovered that his gall stone was a perfect calibre for his grandfather’s Spencer, allowing him to dispatch his last attacker at close range. History does not recount the tale of the stone’s recovery. Talking of recovery, the Great Fire is lit, Arbeg on the mantle, Yours Aye, Archie, The Baron Trollaigh.