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Writer's pictureCathie Rooyen

Ness muse

Updated: Sep 10, 2022

Friday 9 September 2022


I woke up remembering that I didn't have any official plans nor set time to be anywhere so I managed to snooze until 7am. It was dull and cool when I set off along the river Ness with breakfast being my only intention. A lot of shops were closed out of respect to the Queen so it seemed quiet but I found a nice Cafe serving yummy eggs Benedict.



Inverness is an old city, like so many towns in Britain with some relics dating back to 70 years AD. The common factors in all this history are bloodshed and wars, battles for land ownership and the crown but I don't like reading about the fights and losses. I'm a passivist, although it may be bordering on passive aggressive, lol!



Walking through a graveyard I saw information on some of the headstones from the battle of Culloden in 1746. Having read and seen some of the series 'Outlander' I paid more attention to those stones. I also understood why the American author of the books, Diana Gabaldon, found so much material for her stories.  The Highlands have everything - castles, rugged landscape,  whiskey and bagpipes,  it's hard not to be moved by it all.


Walking back to my accommodation along the other side of the river, I recognised it from when we ran on the road towards the finish of the Loch Ness marathon in 2015.  I smiled at those happy memories and wondered if my feet hurt as much then, as they did today.



The walk was stunning and I passed the theater from last night. On reflection I realised that Rabbie Burns taught me a different aspect of Scotland's bloody history - passion and  creativity.  He loved hard and he sought out his poetry muse everywhere. I'm certainly no poet but I do have passion.


My sister asked why I didn't do any Rabbie Burns skits,  I answered that I was too tired. It's true of course, but another possible reason may be that I just couldn't do him justice, especially after last night's show with Alan Cumming in 'Burn'. But there's something brewing in the depths of my soul, it's just a matter of letting it grow.


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