The Scots are famous for a few things.
Okay a lot of things.
Okay, the Scots are famous for pretty much everything of note that has taken place since the birth of Jesus. At least can we agree the Scots are remarkable in their ability to punch well above their weight class?
As soldiers and engineers they have built things like Canada, for example and the British Empire in general. Any cursory study of the wars waged by the Brits throughout the 18th and 19th century will include battles of immense slaughter won, ultimately, by 2 surviving pipers and Sean Bean (yes, I know Sean is from Yorkshire but this is my blog, okay, and my rules). Well, maybe I’m taking my history from selected sources but you know what I mean. .
Back in the winter of 2011/12, when this trip was still in the candy store stage I was trying to determine the London bound route of Stonehenge Bouncy Castle (otherwise known as Sacrilege, a conceptual art piece by Jeremy Deller) when I came across a reference to the wee village of Falkirk, between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Why yes, I am easily distracted, why do you ask? It’s not so much ‘oh look, something shiny’ as ‘what’s that rabbit doing with a watch?’.
Anyway, the reference to Falkirk was in regard to a Millennium project the town completed in 2002 to reconnect Glasgow to Edinburgh by canal. Of course I’m simplifying this a lot because, well, seeing it in action sort of makes all the technical details disappear in a puff of “I don’t bloody believe it…”. Even watching it on a video gives a small dose of gobsmack. Here’s a link to Nigel Turnbull’s website page that shows and tells all about the wheel. Sad to report Nigel died recently but his website carries on and it’s bloody brilliant too.
As you watch Nigel’s video, take note of the people at work. It really is a local project. Going into the cafe
on site, I had the distinct feeling the lad at the till was just there while his mum took her turn as tour guide on the next boat ride. It has a church social feel despite the silver horse head maquettes, representing Kelpies. It’s all part of the Helix project, a plan to turn the entire area into a huge park complete with a 2nd boat lift involving 200 foot Kelpie statues.
In some respects I hope the project doesn’t become fully developed as a portion of it smacks of a tweed and tinsel “Gathering of the Clans” theme world. The scope is ambitious but the glitz might will bury the heart of a true gem.
On the other hand, never tell a Scots ‘it can’t be done’ because they’ll prove you wrong every time.
