Alison M
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alisonm.bsky.social
Alison M
@alisonm.bsky.social
670 followers 200 following 3.2K posts
Editor and lexicographer by day, yarn ninja by night. So, y'know, books and yarn, gardens and language.
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alisonm.bsky.social
Reminds me of one of my favourite James Thurber cartoons from The Pet Department (an agony column for pet-related problems)
A cartoon of a fireplace and a grandfather clock with several cats wandering about. Underneath the text reads: Q: We have cats the way most people have mice. A: I see you have. I can't tell from your communication, however, whether you wish advice or are just boasting.
November 21, 2025 at 10:08 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
Judging by the numberplate, this is a UK advertisement. Can't see which side the wheel is on because the windows are too blacked out (pretty sure that level of windscreen blackout is illegal too)
Text from UK government website regarding the law on tinted windscreens, which confirms that they must allow at least 75% of light through
November 14, 2025 at 9:44 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
Edinburgh on Armistice Day.
An old building with two tall towers, all bathed in red light.
November 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
You know how Bear Grylls tells you to look at a tree trunk if you get lost in the wild and haven't got a compass? Well, that.
Beech tree trunk. The side facing north is covered in moss. The side facing south is not.
November 2, 2025 at 3:41 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
The last day of #31DaysOfGraves 31: memento mori. These symbols seem to be very common here in Scotland. Here are just a few from Stirling and Northumberland.
Thanks so much for sharing all your pictures. I've really enjoyed seeing them. Thanks too to @annaandthedead.bsky.social for organising! 🎃👻🎃👻
Gravestone dated 1696 featuring a skull and crossbones and an hourglass The top of an old gravestone, carved with the words 'memento mori' A skull and crossbones carved on an old gravestone An old gravestone featuring some typical memento mori symbols: a skull, compasses, an hourglass and crossed bones. St Aidan's, Bamburgh
October 31, 2025 at 10:25 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
Another for #31DaysOfGraves : colour. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders World War 1 memorial window in the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling. 6900 soldiers of the regiment were killled in WW1.
Detail of a soldier in highland dress in the stained glass window. He wears a kilt and bonnet and is holding a rifle Detail of poppies at the top of the window Stained glass window. Middle panel shows a soldier in highland dress. At either side are panels filled with gravestones and on each is engraved the name of a world war one battle in which the regiment fought. Above them panels full of red poppies, and at the top, the regimental crest.
October 30, 2025 at 9:27 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves 30: colour. The quiet beauty of old lichen covered stones at St Cyrus Nether.
Lichen on a gravestones. A mottled pattern of pale greens, olive green, bright yellow and silvery grey Another lichen covered stone. Greys and cream coloured shapes, outlined in white
October 30, 2025 at 8:16 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves : tree. Back to Cathcart, a lovely atmospheric cemetery, (if somewhat neglected in places, but that adds to its charm) where nature and memorial have grown into each other. A good place for wandering.
A cemetery in a frosty woodland setting. Ivy covers the ground and various gravestones can be seen among the trees. An overgrown cemetery in a woodland setting. Ivy covers the stones
October 27, 2025 at 9:49 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
For #31DaysOfGraves day 26: figure. The first day after clock change and the first proper chilly weekend here in Scotland, so here's a frosty figure from Cathcart Cemetery here in Glasgow.
A frosty gravestone in low winter light. A woman in flowing robes reaches up towards some flowers that are carved above her head.
October 26, 2025 at 10:10 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
Can thoroughly recommend a bit of this to offset the impending clock change and wintery thoughts. Flippin chilly though
Loch Katrine with a hill in the background and clear blue sky. A tiny house can just be seen at the foot of the hill. Imagine 3 degrees centigrade and a chilly wind, but also clear crisp air, a belly full of food, and good company. Chanterelles and autumn leaves. Looking further down the same loch. Glasgow's water supply right there. The steamship Sir Walter Scott can be seen approaching Stronachlachar pier on the right (source of the food that filled the belly). In the background some hills and a small island. Blue sky and a few clouds scudding by.
October 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
#32DaysOfGraves day 22: landscape.

Uig, a remote corner in the far west of the Isle of Lewis. I have a personal connection to this spot, but even if I didn't, it's not a bad place to lie and face eternity.
A Hebridean graveyard. Low cloudy skies and hills in the background. The vast Uig Sands, next to the cemetery in the previous photo. Miles of empty sand, basically.
October 22, 2025 at 8:02 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 19: social group.Alexander Webster was a bonesetter, who died in 1759. On his tomb we see him working on a patient, watched by his wife and children (this is also their tomb). St. Cyrus Nether.
An old sandstone slab. On the right we see a man working on the arm of a patient. On the left we see the doctor's wife and their two small children. St Cyrus Nether Kirkyard, Scotland. A wider picture of the same tomb. The figures can be seen at the bottom of the stone, which is the shape of a house gable, with a pointed tip At either side of the figures a series of vertical lines are carved to resemble columns. The stone is set in a wild Scottish landscape.
October 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
Delighted to report that this counter-protest to today's #NoKings #NoTyrants protests in Edinburgh seems to have
*Counts on fingers*
3 people. Maybe 4 if the guy talking to the police next to them is included.
Excellent work Scotland.
3 people protesting in Edinburgh. I'm not even going to tell you what the signs say because they're so stupid. They're standing in front of an art gallery with lovely sandstone columns. You should come here and visit that instead of paying attention to these eejits.
October 18, 2025 at 3:45 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day17: relocated. Mary Stevenson died in 1855. One of the gravediggers had a side hustle as a grave robber but was caught red-handed trying to "relocate" her body. On her tomb we see the image of a graverobber with Mary(?) lying on the ground. More here: share.google/K9KL3AGTKGhL...
A skeletal carved figure, looking like the Grim Reaper, with a spade in one hand and a long staff or spike in the other, stands above another figure lying on the ground. The figure on the ground is holding up one arm as if to protect herself.
October 17, 2025 at 8:55 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day15: obelisk. I don't have anything to share today but looking forward to seeing everyone's posts. It's been great seeing all the beautiful photos so far (though ngl, I'll need some persuading on this one, I guess I don't take pictures of obelisks because they're a bit...boring?)
Obélix, Goscinny and Uderzo's wonderful cartoon character. A super-powerful Gaul who gained his strength by being dropped in magic potion as a child. He is tall and very round, with a pair of blue and white striped trousers, a green belt and a small helmet. He's bare chested and wears his long red hair in two plaits, tied with black bows.
October 16, 2025 at 7:30 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day15: damaged. A coastal location and soft sandstone have conspired to erase everything about who lies here. But in a rather beautiful way. I hope their memory is preserved somewhere, in the parish records or just in people's minds. St Aiden's Church, Bamburgh, Northumberland.
A weathered sandstone headstone. The weather has completely worn away the inscription, and the bottom of the stone is now much thinner than the top. A series of small channels has been worn into the stone so that it looks a bit like flames. St Aiden's Church and churchyard, Bamburgh, Northumberland. The North Sea can just be seen behind the church.
October 15, 2025 at 7:47 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
Ah lovely! I went for the Govan Stones today but had considered the similar stones from Kilmartin.
Stone carving of a medieval nobleman, wearing a helmet and carrying a large sword Another similar carving. On this one, the warrior is facing left and is carrying a large spear in his right hand
October 14, 2025 at 6:19 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day14: inside. Govan, better known as the heart of Scotland's shipbuilding industry, is home to one of the country's oldest places of worship and to the Govan Stones, Viking era hogback stones, as well as the magnificent pre-Norman Govan sarcophagus. A brilliant place to visit.
Viking hogback stones. A long carved stone that looks a bit like a corn on the cob Detail of the Govan sarcophagus, a carved stone tomb. The detail shows a soldier on horseback and some carved pattern work to one side Another detail from the sarcophagus, possibly showing a lamb standing on a wolf (perhaps suggesting the triumph of Christianity over paganism)
October 14, 2025 at 8:08 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
Since it's Sunday, one more for #31DaysOfGraves, notable women
- a picture of Haworth Churchyard, resting place of Charlotte and Emily Brontë. It's a beautiful spot, but the photo gives an idea of how crowded it is - apparently somewhere in the region of 40,000 souls lie here, in quite a small plot
Haworth graveyard, Yorkshire. Ranks of gravestones among trees.
October 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 12: notable women. The tomb of Grace Darling at St Aiden's Church, Bamburgh. Grace was the daughter of the lighthouse keeper on the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast and in 1838 took part in a rescue during a storm that brought her national fame.
An elaborate Victorian tomb in a churchyard. The figure of a woman lies inside three arches that support the roof Detail of the head of the figure. Under her mattress the stone is carved with seaweed, a reflection of Grace Darling's connection with the sea. The same tomb in a wider shot. In the distance is the North Sea
October 12, 2025 at 12:13 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
For #31DaysOfGraves, day 11: military, my favourite stone in all of Scotland. I'm not sure if it's really a grave, so much as a memorial, thought to be depicting a battle between the Picts and the Northumbrians under King Ecgfrith, way back in 685AD. The wonderful Aberlemno Cross.
A stone slab containing a cross carved with intricate and beautiful Pictish designs. The same cross standing in front of the church where it lives The back of the same stone, carved all over with a battle scene. There are soldiers in horses and on foot and at the bottom right a soldier being pecked by a raven Detail of soldier being pecked by a raven
October 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
alisonm.bsky.social
I am the rightful queen of Scotland!
A foot standing in the foot-shaped hollow in the rocks on top of Dunadd in Argyll, Scotland, where the kings of Scotland were crowned in olden times.
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 8: Glass. Martyrs' Monument, Stirling. Margaret (18) and Agnes (13) Wilson were sentenced to death in 1685 for their religious beliefs. Agnes was reprieved, but Margaret, and Margaret McLauchlan, in her late 60s, were drowned at the stake in the rising tide of the Solway Firth
A large glass octagonal memorial with a domed roof. Inside are the white figures of two girls. They have a lamb at their feet and an angel stands over them.
October 8, 2025 at 7:49 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
#31DaysOfGraves day 7: angel. One of my favourite stones from one of my favourite graveyards, the remote and lovely St Cyrus Nether, which sits on the beach at the bottom of cliffs, far below the village. The stone memorialises the family of John Well(?), a weaver, and dates back to the 1750s.
A gravestone featuring a simple carving of an angel, with a heart below her. On either side are the initials IW and IF.
October 7, 2025 at 7:58 AM
alisonm.bsky.social
For #31DaysOfGraves today, I offer this very autumnal scene from the grounds of the remarkable Palladian church at Ayot St Lawrence, Herts. I think it's a pheasant (?), but it reminds me of my childhood nearby and the walk through the beechwoods to reach this strange quiet place
An oval-shaped engraving of a bird surrounded by grapes and vines on a lichen-covered gravestone
October 5, 2025 at 9:17 AM