I think Burns Night is one of my very favourite Scottish celebrations. Hogmanay is a blast, but I partied like it was 1999 IN 1999. I’ve done the Edinburgh street party for the bells, Stonehaven fireballs, some epic student house parties that saw in the sunrise on the darkest days, Highland ceilidhs and bonfires, secludedContinue reading “Scots: Cut us, and we bleed Burns”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Reproduction of a Highland Independent Company Short Coat c.1745
Research by Dave Smith and Lesley Smith Seamstress Lesley Smith We were commissioned by the West Highland Museum to make a Highland Independent Company short coat as a part of an ensemble worn by costumed interpreters bringing history to life for visitors. A short distance from the historic ruined remains for Fort William, the siteContinue reading “Reproduction of a Highland Independent Company Short Coat c.1745”
Keeping Abreast of Mothering
This is a special blog post to mark Scottish Breastfeeding Week 2023. Just over a year ago I became a mum. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have married my best friend and that we’ve been blessed with a family. I wanted to share my experience of becoming a mother andContinue reading “Keeping Abreast of Mothering”
Cavalry Camp
I sometimes think I’m missing one of the essential girl genes… I didn’t grow up so much wanting to be the princess in the castle, but in at the stables, knee deep in straw, hay and all the other equestrian delights. Don’t get me wrong, I do love the dressing up and the dresses (andContinue reading “Cavalry Camp”
Battle of Prestonpans Jacobite Museum
We have been waiting what feels like absolutely ages to visit the Battle of Prestonpans Jacobite Museum and at the weekend we travelled down to East Lothian to see it in person. Huzzah! Based at the Victorian Town Hall in Prestonpans, it is lovely to see how this grand old building has been stripped backContinue reading “Battle of Prestonpans Jacobite Museum”
The Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry
The Garioch Heritage Centre in Inverurie have been hosting an exhibtion of The Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry from the 29th April – 8th August 2021. Once the pandemic lockdown rules on travelling had eased, we jumped at the chance to visit, armed with masks and hand sanitiser. There is a £5 admission charge (£4 forContinue reading “The Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry”
Newtonmore Folk Museum 2019
I was so excited to get to my second event at Newtonmore Folk Museum on 22-23rd June, with a big living history and my first season as a reenactor well and truely under my belt. I even had a new hat that was so pretty and had a burgundy ribbon, re-enactment kit for TWO periods.Continue reading “Newtonmore Folk Museum 2019”
A Proper Adventure at Newhailes House
May 2019 was epic. I was six months into a new job and my lifestyle and happiness levels felt a lifetime away from the previous year. I was falling in love and felt expansive about taking on new challenges and grabbing opportunities with both hands. I had said that I would always be happy toContinue reading “A Proper Adventure at Newhailes House”
We only stay in castles…
There was a pretty big gap between our Castle Fraser training weekend and the next event at the end of May, and I’d agreed to try and do some sewing to make a redcoat Officer’s coat for Dave. My friend Emma is a very accomplished sewer (she’s on Instagram @sanitystich) and together we made aContinue reading “We only stay in castles…”
2019 Training Weekend (Castle Fraser) and period walk near Inverurie
The time between our Christmas regimental dinner and the first reenactment of the season in spring somewhat sped by. We managed to meet together in small groups for walks on the beach, pub lunches and scouring reclamation yards for living history things, battlefield walks and even laying the foundations of a new reenactment group toContinue reading “2019 Training Weekend (Castle Fraser) and period walk near Inverurie”
Time Traveller's Guide to Re-enactment 