A Sense of History.

I loved history lessons at school.  History was my favourite lesson.  My grades in the History O level as it then was, now GCSE, and not all that sure what the Scottish Education System terms them as, but when you were around 15/16 you sat the exam and my grade was  predicted as high.

Whether it was to do with the teacher, the subject, second world war, or what, I actually failed the exam.  Memorising dates of battles was all it seemed to consist of, which to me bordered on Maths, which I was never any good at.

History is about the people, what they did, how they lived, how they laughed.

Golfers. 1950.

Even earlier golfers.

This little known links is perhaps best remembered, if at all, for a match played in 1905 between a team of fishermen representing the club against the great and the good of AJ Balfour and a team of Parliamentarians with the game played at Sandwich. On that occasion the politicians won, thanks perhaps to the fisherman enjoying lunch rather too much and therefore failing to show any form at all in the afternoon games.

These days many of the members still work in the fishing business as is evidenced by the hole sponsors. Its quite appropriate therefore that you can see the sea on every hole (unlike Fraserburgh where you can't see the sea on ANY hole) if you bother to look. While the sea is ever present it never comes into play and neither is their any real attempt by whoever designed it to present any particular views although there are some scenic and extensive views down the coastline.

Inverallochy Castle is a ruined castle near the village of Inverallochy in the Buchan area of north-east Scotland.

The ruins lie a half-mile south of Cairnbulg Castle near Fraserburgh. Walls surrounding an inner courtyard remain, along with one partly collapsed tower. Evidence of a larger outer courtyard measuring approximately 60 metres square to the north and east remains.

The original castle dates to the 13th century built by the Comyn family. It was one of The Nine Castles of Knuckle may be associated with the Abbey of Deer in Mintlaw.

Our history where we live now is based on fishing.  Not only our history of course, but the now and here.  The fact that what happens now and here is linked back and back with history makes it more real.  Part of living history if you get my gist.

Fishermen then.

 The harbour then.

The boats then.  And just look at the wee loon paddling (small boy).

Today the golf courses are still there, and well played on.  The harbour is still there and full of fishing boats.

History is not about dead things or dates it is about life and living and how we got to where we are.  

(I also failed English Literature - at the resit I got a distinction - those were the days.)