We Like History - Gifts for the man in Your Life
Have you noticed how men like machines and history, it’s not terribly sexist to say so I don’t think, not that many women don’t too, but we with X and Y chromosomes are especially known for it. Me, I’m an unashamed history buff and I love the skirl of the pipes and a dram of history. So I was interested that they are rebuilding the possibly arson prone replica of an Iron Age village at the Scottish Crannog Centre on the shore of Loch Tay, it burned down in 6 minutes in 2021. Loads of volunteers are slaving away with dark turf and reeds to rebuild the replica. So is this a replica, or a replica of a replica, too confusing for me? Whatever it is it will be welcome back to one of Scotland’s favourite living museums.
Crannogs are houses built on stilts over and by the water’s edge and it’s a remarkable way of life. We live by the water’s edge too, but it is to be hoped that we don’t need the stilts, though we are on a one metre high plinth in case of flooding. The first crannogs in Scotland were built on lochs and firths in the early Iron Age, some 2,500 years ago At the Crannog visitors don’t just walk around the museum, they get to interact with the craftspeople as they weave, make pots and blacksmith. It’s an all round experience, but it won’t be on the same site, it’s a ways across the loch and hopefully somewhere less fire prone. It has had a grant of £2.3 million smackers from the government in Edinburgh. Crannogs existed up until 400 years ago in Scotland and they were a popular way to live and there were 17 on Loch Tay alone.
And like all museums this is the point where you exit through the gift shop and because it’s Father’s Day very soon can I recommend a determined browse through some of the fine gifties we have for dads everywhere, often with savings in mind? And if you want the man in your life to have a real dram to go with the dram of history I mentioned before then take a look at this glassware. It’s a unique and beautifully handmade and hand cut Flower of Scotland Thistle Shaped Large Tumbler and it just happens to be half price for the mo, so get your skates on and get ordering. At half price it leaves a bit of cash for the amber nectar to go in it. So Slàinte Mhath! And you know that’s the first time I’ve ever spelled that, so the spelling came as a surprise as I don’t have the Gaelic.
