I think the big rugby win of England has gone to mings head.  He’s very jolly posting sheep in the cat free zone of his blog, and I thought I would just balance things out a bit.  Welcome to Cat’s Close in Culross, in Fife, the only Kingdom in Scotland.  Cat’s close is “a long, narrow alleyway on a hill in the little town of Culross.  Culross is an almost perfectly preserved example of a Scottish burgh of the 17th and 18th Centuries, thanks to the efforts of the National Trust. Witches were put on trial there so possibly the alley’s name has a witchcraft connection.”

(All credit for image to Arworks, click on source link for more information) 

Just take a moment to read the words above the leaded window, “Rycharde Dale Carpender Made Thies Windovs By The Grac Of God.”   These windows belonging to Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire, England and installed around the year 1450, still stand today.  I have seen them, admired the craftsmanship but particularly, I feel the deepest respect for Rycharde Dale.  (Although it’s possible, even for his time, he wouldn’t have won a spelling contest.)  My husband works in a similarly old profession, as a stonemason, trained as they have been for centuries.  He also signs his work, albeit more cryptically than the loquacious Mr. Dale with a mason’s symbol.  I like the pride,  the belief that it’s not worth doing if it’s not done well and won’t stand the test of time.  What are any of us doing now that is done well enough to last?  (The answer that popped into my head is really quite cynical but I’ll share it with you - processed food: it’s so full of preservatives that it will likely be around hundreds of years from now.)  

Good on you Rycharde Dale!  Hooray for any of you who have pride and passion in what you do.