Leopard Magazine
Lindy Cheyne, Editor, writes: This year I visited, for the first time, the burnin o’ the clavie at Burghead, and an impressive fire festival it is. Such a welcoming event, too, its roots firmly in the distant past, with the entire community taking part it seems.
One thing, however, struck me as strange. The long march behind the flaring clavie takes place in relative silence – no singing, no chanting, no beat of a drum – just the odd cheer. I wonder if a historic element has been lost. Was there ever a clavie song?
Snow, though wondrous to look at, brings its hazards. A few weeks ago, as I braved our track for the first time in a while, a fire engine – lights still flashing – lost its grip on the brae, leaving the postie stranded up ahead and me stuck behind. Bring on the thaw!
I don’t think artist Sandy Cheyne liked it much either, as his note explained: “Here’s the latest Swick. As you’ll see, there was one helluva lot of work involved. Next time I’ll ask Buff and Steve to do their own bloody snowflakes!”
Our robin has become so desperate in the freeze that he now comes to my call – once even perching on the dish of scraps I was holding out.
Thinking ahead to Spring, we have planned a Leopard Lunch at the Loch of Aboyne, our 11th. We look forward to seeing you there.
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Recent articles
From the February 2010 edition
The castles of Slains
The gaunt and forlorn ruin of Slains Castle at Cruden Bay is perhaps one of the most recognisable images of the Aberdeenshire coast, still proudly standing on its precipitous cliff edge and dominating the skyline for miles around. But that this is not the original Slains Castle; in fact, it is not even in Slains.
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Even in bare, grim country where the higher slopes have long been abandoned as too poor, too hungry or just too damned difficult to yield a worthwhile return, you can still see the dykes, standing as a lasting memorial to the heroes who made the North-East farmlands out of rock-strewn wilderness.
continued »Filed under: Environment HistoryFrom the December 2009 edition
Frances Walker: About life and living
“You are, by painting, making a very positive assertion that you do not want to die – yet. For painting is about life and living.” – Frances Walker, artist
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In the 1960s a real estate company offered to demolish the Music Hall, suggesting a more modern concept. Fortunately, the public outcry that erupted secured the building for an impressive future.
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