Podcasts about buccleuch

Join Ocean House owner and author Deborah Goodrich Royce for a conversation with Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, who will discuss her latest novel, A Most Intriguing Lady. About A Most Intriguing Lady: From Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, a sweeping, romantic, compulsively readable historical saga about a Duke's daughter–the perfect Victorian lady–who secretly moonlights as an amateur sleuth for high society's inner circle. Victorian London was notorious for its pickpockets. But in the country houses of the elite, gentleman burglars, art thieves, and con men preyed on the rich and titled. Wealthy victims–with their pride and reputation at stake–would never go to the police. They needed a society insider, one of their own, a person of discretion and finely tuned powers of observation, adept at navigating intrigue. That person was Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the youngest child of Queen Victoria's close friends, the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Bookish, fiercely intelligent, and a keen observer, Mary has deliberately cultivated a mousey persona that allows her to remain overlooked and significantly underestimated by all. It's the perfect cover for a sleuth, a role she stumbles into when trying to assist a close friend during a house party hosted by her parents at their stately Scottish home, Drumlanrig Castle. It is at this party that Lady Mary also meets Colonel Walter Trefusis, a distinguished and extremely handsome war veteran. Tortured by memories of combat, Walter, like Mary, lives a double life, with a desk job in Whitehall providing a front for his role in the British Intelligence Service. The two form an unlikely alliance to solve a series of audacious crimes and indulge in a highly charged on-off romance. Pacy, romantic, and fun, A Most Intriguing Lady documents one remarkable woman's ability to be both the perfect lady and a perfectly talented detective…and, of course, to find love too. About Sarah Ferguson: Sarah Ferguson is the Duchess of York. She is also a bestselling novelist, memoirist, children's book author, and film producer, and has been a spokeswoman for Weight Watchers and Wedgewood China. She currently campaigns for her Children in Crisis international charity and works on historical documentaries and films that draw on her deep interest in Victorian history. The mother of two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and grandmother of three precious grandchildren, she lives in Windsor. For more information about Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York's books, visit www.amazon.com/Sarah-Ferguson-Book. For information on Deborah Goodrich Royce and the Ocean House Author Series, visit deborahgoodrichroyce.com  

You know how you know someone is ashamed of the area they live in?? When they 'upgrade' their suburb e.g. when they say I'm from Sandton when in actual fact they are from Alex. Maybe you have an aunt that lives in Phoniex, but tells people Umhlanga, or someone who is in Buccleuch saying its Waterfall NIEL VOICE NOTE ‘'Hi Team, I get street names being the same but the one that annoys me the most is when people upgrade tehri suburb because their neighboring suburb is nicer. Now I can't even find your location on uber!” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Jackie Bird is joined by curator Antonia Laurence-Allan and historian Sally Tuckett to discuss all things 18th-century fashion. Recorded inside the Georgian House, just days before the exhibition Ramsay & Edinburgh Fashion opened its doors, the trio talk about the artist Allan Ramsay and the women behind the paintings. What was life like for someone at the centre of the Scottish Enlightenment? Who were his patrons? And what do his paintings tell us about the role of fashion among the Georgian movers and shakers? To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  For more information on the Georgian House, click here. Or click here for more on the 2024 exhibition.  We would like to thank those who have supported the Ramsay and Edinburgh Fashion exhibition, including The American Friends of British Art, NTS Foundation USA, The Real Mary King's Close, Edinburgh NTS Members' Centre, and donors in memory of the Duchess of Buccleuch.

“It's a lot different than going to a museum. You can't touch anything in a museum, you are there for an hour and you probably get bored if you're like me. The cool thing about a lot of our houses - I think 10 out of 12 are owned by the original families and many of them live on site - so there's a good chance that you're going to get to meet Lord and Lady Howard, or The Earl of Sandwich or The Duke of Buccleuch, right? They're cool people, they've got an incredible story to tell themselves and how they grew up running around this palatial estate and the thousands of acres that they're on.” We're in great company with Michael Goldin, Founder and COO of Storied Collection, where he and his international community are building the finest historic castle and estate hotel collection in Europe, granting guests access to unique stays and experiences that will leave lasting memories and a deeper knowledge of history.  Coming from a storied career in hospitality himself, it took a personal trip to his ancestral home in Scotland, for Michael to experience the potential for curating a collection of the most quintessential historic accommodations across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with France and Italy joining his collection in this next chapter. As we ring in the New Year - reflecting on the end of one chapter and the start of another in our own lives - this episode shares the significance of storytelling as a means of traveling through time, visiting places where these stories come to life and where history creates memories for years to come.    Top Takeaways [3:00] How Michael took some criticism and turned it into a challenge, took a trip to a castle that turned out to be his ancestral home and sparked the beginning chapter of Storied Collection. [9:50] A passion for history, genealogy and ancestry, paired with a passion for hospitality. [13:10] If the walls could talk then they would share specific snapshots in time of notable family members, infamous guests, and the events that ensued - just as Storied Collection captures today. [15:20] Whether you choose to stay at an estate for a retreat or a castle for a family reunion, there are many "country pursuits" to keep you entertained - from a game of golf to whiskey tasting, falconry to fishing, foraging to rewilding. [21:20] Interested to hear if you are related to any of the Storied Collection estates? If any of your ancestors lived in a castle that you can now stay at? [25:40] How these castles and estates spread throughout Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales all played their part in their communities' heritage and history and how they continue to share and honor that culture today. [29:30] Gastronomy seekers and culinary travelers get excited...the next chapter of Storied Collection could take place in France and Italy. [31:55] "Where history creates memories," how guests can live a day in the life of aristocrats without a stuffy experience being in a museum or reading from a textbook. Notable Mentions Ancestry.com  Visit For Yourself Storied Collection Website  @storiedcollection  Stay In Good Company Website

The plan to rescue The Madonna gets very real. Contact is made with the agent of Duke of Buccleuch and a crunch meeting brings Robbie and his team to the point of no return.

London's worst executioner was scared of his own axe! Jack Ketch was great at being a butcher but not so great as an executioner. He performed two of the worst executions during the 1600's and his name became synonymous with incompetence. But why was he so awful at his job and who forced him to carry out the profession?Video version: https://youtu.be/mMrM0Ut0-xcPodcast: https://podfollow.com/1180202350Thanks so much for listening / watching!If you are new here, you may not know that Macabre London is a fortnightly podcast and YouTube show that delves into Londons haunted and gruesome history alongside discovering Macabre mini Mysteries from all over the world! In between fortnights we post travel vlogs & other fun content.If you like it here, then come and join our ghoul gang, hit that subscribe button and come to the dark side, it's fun here, we have stories!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PATREON——————————-If you like the podcast and YouTube shows and would like them to continue then please support us on Patreon. You can donate for as little as a price of a cup of coffee and you'll get even more Macabre London.www.patreon.com/macabrelondonThank you to our executive producer patrons - Amy, Christina, Jess, Kate, Kevin, Mary, Sally, Sam, Sarah and VeronicaAnd to all of our wonderful $5 tier patrons...AlexisAndreaAndrewChristineDavidDeniseHelenJenniferJoKathrynKristieRachelRy FrSSabrinaShannonWendyAnd thanks to all other patrons too!ONE OFF DONATIONS————————————————You can make a one off donation to support the show via the PayPal link here:paypal.me/macabrelondonAMAZON WISHLIST——————————————————If you'd like to purchase something that will help the production of the show or help with research then please visit my Amazon wish list.http://amzn.eu/dJxEf1V​​​​​​SOCIAL MEDIA---------------------------------------------Insta: @nikkimacabrelondonTwitter: @macabrelondonFacebook: @macabrelondonEmail: macabrelondon@hotmail.comWebsite: www.macabrelondon.comSources-------------https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment_in_the_United_Kingdomhttps://www.livescience.com/medieval-executioner-life.htmlhttps://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/macaulay/england/monmouth.htmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyHkFIX6Z0o&t=185https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Scott,_1st_Duchess_of_Buccleuchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_II_of_Englandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Scott,_1st_Duke_of_Monmouthhttp://www.executedtoday.com/2014/07/21/1683-lord-russell-whig-martyr/ Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/macabrelondon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are about 65 million people in the UK and 60 million acres of land – almost enough, in theory, for an acre each. (It's not quite that simple, of course, and not all acres are equal.) Yet about two-thirds of the land – 40 million acres – is owned by fewer than 6,000 people. Land is the most basic form of wealth there is, so if there is a more telling statistic about the unequal distribution of wealth in this country, I'd like to know what it is. And it's been that way since 1066.Today, so distorted is our system of taxation, many landowners actually receive subsidies for for land. The rest of us, meanwhile, must pay council tax. The largest landowners, whether families or institutions, exploit tax loopholes. Some families pass land from one generation to the next via the tax avoidance vehicle that is the trust, while the rest of us must pay inheritance tax.The complexity and inconsistency of our tax systems are to blame for so much wealth inequality. One group - large institutions, the super-rich, the government - has the resources to find the loopholes and exploit them, the rest of us don't: and so pay more on a proportional basis. Complexity allows there to be one rule for some and another for everybody else.About the only way the person who starts out with nothing can improve his or her lot is through labour. And yet we tax labour constantly and heavily. The worker pays the vast majority of taxes: 40% of government revenue comes from income tax and national insurance, with another 20% from VAT.The wealth of the super-rich does not derive from their labour, however. It derives from the appreciation in the value of their land, their houses, their stocks, their shares, their bonds, their fine art – what economists call their assets. These go untaxed, unless you sell. So most don't.If you want to redistribute wealth naturally, rather than via the moral minefield that is state re-allocation, the answer lies in changing the way we tax people.Instead of taxing our labour – what we produce – why don't we tax what we use? Instead of taxing the wealth that is earned, why don't we tax the wealth that is unearned? I'm talking about land. Nobody made the land. Nature gave it to us. By building on it, or farming it, or mining it, you have improved it, but the land itself was always there. So let us look solely at the unimproved value of the land. This is easy to assess.Obviously real estate in city centres commands an extremely high value, remote rural farmland very little.If you want the right to occupy a piece of land, and you want the government to protect your title to that land, then a rent should be paid to the community that reflects the value of that land, because it is the needs of the community which have given that land value. The least bad taxWhat I'm describing might sound extremely left wing, but the granddaddy of rightwing economists, Milton Friedman, described it as the, “least bad tax”: that is LVT – land value tax.Who would pay the most if we hand land value tax in the UK? Whoever occupies the most valuable real estate. The Queen (she owns most of it - or rather the crown does), the Duke of Westminster (or rather the Grosvenor Trust, which owns the land), the Duke of Buccleuch, the Duke of Atholl, Captain Alwyne Farquharson, pension funds, utility companies and large government bodies such as the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Defence.The late duke may have been a canny businessman, but he did not invent anything new, he did not bring some amazing new product or service to the world, which we all wanted to use. His ancestors benefited from the corn laws 200 years ago and the estates were built. Now planning laws are such that few can build anything new. The estate, which owns some of the most desirable land in London, was effectively handed a monopoly and the duke made good from the fact that so many people want to live and work in London.There's big money to be made in land banking but there is nothing creative about it. You are not bringing anything new to the world or improving it. It is simply exploiting the restrictive planning laws in this country that prevent progress and money supply growth. It is crony capitalism at its worst.If you don't want to pay land value tax, you don't have to. This is a tax that is voluntary. You simply sell the land to someone who is prepared to.The amounts of tax payable are clear. It's an easy tax to administer. It doesn't require 10 million words of tax code. And there need be no loopholes. The land is here – it is not in the Cayman Islands – and you are the owner.The Green party actually has LVT in its manifesto, but it has it in addition to other taxes. LVT should replace other taxes.Remember the mantra: don't tax labour, tax land. Not only would it make for a much healthier, happier and more productive society, it would make for one in which wealth is more fairly distributed and one in which the relationship between government and citizen is held in balance.This article first appeared here in the Guardian. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

There are about 65 million people in the UK and 60 million acres of land – almost enough, in theory, for an acre each. (It's not quite that simple, of course, and not all acres are equal.) Yet about two-thirds of the land – 40 million acres – is owned by fewer than 6,000 people. Land is the most basic form of wealth there is, so if there is a more telling statistic about the unequal distribution of wealth in this country, I'd like to know what it is. And it's been that way since 1066.Today, so distorted is our system of taxation, many landowners actually receive subsidies for for land. The rest of us, meanwhile, must pay council tax. The largest landowners, whether families or institutions, exploit tax loopholes. Some families pass land from one generation to the next via the tax avoidance vehicle that is the trust, while the rest of us must pay inheritance tax.The complexity and inconsistency of our tax systems are to blame for so much wealth inequality. One group - large institutions, the super-rich, the government - has the resources to find the loopholes and exploit them, the rest of us don't: and so pay more on a proportional basis. Complexity allows there to be one rule for some and another for everybody else.About the only way the person who starts out with nothing can improve his or her lot is through labour. And yet we tax labour constantly and heavily. The worker pays the vast majority of taxes: 40% of government revenue comes from income tax and national insurance, with another 20% from VAT.The wealth of the super-rich does not derive from their labour, however. It derives from the appreciation in the value of their land, their houses, their stocks, their shares, their bonds, their fine art – what economists call their assets. These go untaxed, unless you sell. So most don't.If you want to redistribute wealth naturally, rather than via the moral minefield that is state re-allocation, the answer lies in changing the way we tax people.Instead of taxing our labour – what we produce – why don't we tax what we use? Instead of taxing the wealth that is earned, why don't we tax the wealth that is unearned? I'm talking about land. Nobody made the land. Nature gave it to us. By building on it, or farming it, or mining it, you have improved it, but the land itself was always there. So let us look solely at the unimproved value of the land. This is easy to assess.Obviously real estate in city centres commands an extremely high value, remote rural farmland very little.If you want the right to occupy a piece of land, and you want the government to protect your title to that land, then a rent should be paid to the community that reflects the value of that land, because it is the needs of the community which have given that land value. The least bad taxWhat I'm describing might sound extremely left wing, but the granddaddy of rightwing economists, Milton Friedman, described it as the, “least bad tax”: that is LVT – land value tax.Who would pay the most if we hand land value tax in the UK? Whoever occupies the most valuable real estate. The Queen (she owns most of it - or rather the crown does), the Duke of Westminster (or rather the Grosvenor Trust, which owns the land), the Duke of Buccleuch, the Duke of Atholl, Captain Alwyne Farquharson, pension funds, utility companies and large government bodies such as the Forestry Commission and the Ministry of Defence.The late duke may have been a canny businessman, but he did not invent anything new, he did not bring some amazing new product or service to the world, which we all wanted to use. His ancestors benefited from the corn laws 200 years ago and the estates were built. Now planning laws are such that few can build anything new. The estate, which owns some of the most desirable land in London, was effectively handed a monopoly and the duke made good from the fact that so many people want to live and work in London.There's big money to be made in land banking but there is nothing creative about it. You are not bringing anything new to the world or improving it. It is simply exploiting the restrictive planning laws in this country that prevent progress and money supply growth. It is crony capitalism at its worst.If you don't want to pay land value tax, you don't have to. This is a tax that is voluntary. You simply sell the land to someone who is prepared to.The amounts of tax payable are clear. It's an easy tax to administer. It doesn't require 10 million words of tax code. And there need be no loopholes. The land is here – it is not in the Cayman Islands – and you are the owner.The Green party actually has LVT in its manifesto, but it has it in addition to other taxes. LVT should replace other taxes.Remember the mantra: don't tax labour, tax land. Not only would it make for a much healthier, happier and more productive society, it would make for one in which wealth is more fairly distributed and one in which the relationship between government and citizen is held in balance.This article first appeared here in the Guardian. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit frisby.substack.com/subscribe

"it's not a case of what would you like or what's possible - it's what's needed."Part Three of a podcast by Off the Leash's Charlie Moores made to support the Langholm Initiative, the award-winning community development trust for Eskdale, and a community buy out that is aiming to repurpose a former grouse moor owned by Buccleuch Estates into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. Charlie explained more about the background to the buyout in the introduction to Part One and discussed the incredibly strong community in Langholm in Part Two: it is an absolutely fascinating and inspiring story that is centred around Eskdale and the tightly-knit community of Langholm, a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway just 20 miles north of Carlisle, and the Duke of Buccleuch, one of the richest men in the UK who owns a staggering 217,000 acres of moorland, farms and forestry - including Langholm Moor and the Tarras Valley. Back in May 2019, Buccleuch Estates announced a decision to sell 25,000 acres of Langholm Moor and the Tarras Valley. Local interest in buying at least some of the land grew and the Langholm initiative launched a fundraising campaign on behalf of the community.'The Impossible Dream' as it was termed initially, took off. In just six months the campaign attracted £3.8m in grants and funding, including a crowd funder which raised over £200,000 - and the community now legally owns 5,200 acres of land which includes upland moor, ancient woodland, meadows, peatlands and a river valley.A second fundraiser has now been set up to buy an additional 5000 acres. The money has to be raised by May 2022 or the land could be put up for sale on the open market....and a chance to manage a whopping 10,000 acres could be lost.  Would he like to come to Langholm, Charlie was asked, to make a podcast to help 'spread the word'? Would he ever...In Part One, Charlie visited the reserve with Tarras Valley Estate Manager Jenny Barlow and Development Manager Angela Williams; in Part Two he spoke with Langholm residents, Margaret Pool, Chair of Langholm Initiative, and Mairi Telford-Jammeh, a member of the Langholm Executive, and in Part Three he is talking with Kevin Cumming, who in 2019 was working for the Langholm Initiative and managing the Wild Eskdale project which aimed to promote eco-tourism in the area as well as provide outdoor education for the local community. For Charlie, Kevin was the 'face' of the buyout and it's likely that many of us were introduced to the details and purpose of the buyout through an articulate and thorough blog he wrote for Mark Avery's website in Dec 2019. Fortunately, Kevin happened to come into the Langholm Initiative office just as Charlie was finishing talking with Margaret and Mairi. He looked a little - er, weary (for a very good reason as he explains in the conversation) but immediately agreed to a chat before heading home. He is a remarkable individual - softly spoken with a core of steel if you like...Charlie began the conversation by asking Kevin to both explain the links between the Langholm Initiative, Wild Eskdale, and the Tarras Valley nature reserve and to go back to the beginning when the opportunity to buy the land had first arisen...Langholm Initiative Website and Twitter feedGo Fund me Crowd Funder (Community Buyout 2)Tarras Valley Nature Reserve Twitter feedYouTube Tarras Valley Live Event (December 1st) Mark Avery  Guest Blog | Langholm Moor Community Buyout by Kevin Cumming

Part Two of a podcast we've made to support the Langholm Initiative, the award-winning community development trust for Eskdale, and a community buy out that is planning to turn a 'knackered old grouse moor' into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. Off the Leash's Charlie Moores explained more about the background to the buyout in the introduction to Part One, but it is an absolutely fascinating and inspiring story that is centred around Eskdale and the tightly-knit community of Langholm, a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway just 20 miles north of Carlisle, and the Duke of Buccleuch, one of the richest men in the UK who owns a staggering 217,000 acres of moorland, farms and forestry - including Langholm Moor and the Tarras Valley. Back in May 2019, Buccleuch Estates announced a decision to sell 25,000 acres of Langholm Moor and the Tarras Valley. Local interest in buying at least some of the land grew and the Langholm initiative launched a fundraising campaign on behalf of the community. 'The impossible Dream' as it was termed initially, took off. In just six months the campaign attracted £3.8m in grants and funding, including a crowd funder which raised over £200,000 - and the community now legally owns 5,200 acres of land which includes upland moor, ancient woodland, meadows, peatlands and a river valley - the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve.A second fundraiser has now been set up to buy an additional 5000 acres. The money has to be raised by May 2022 or the land could be put up for sale on the open market....and a chance to manage a whopping 10000 acres could be lost.  Would Charlie like to come to Langholm. he was asked, to make a podcast to help 'spread the word'? Would he ever...in Part One he visited the reserve with Jenny Barlow and Angela Williams, in Part Two he's talking with two Langholm residents, Margaret Pool, Chair of Langholm Initiative, and Mairi Telford-Jammeh, a member of the Langholm Executive, to learn more about the history of Langholm, what Common Ridings are, and the sense of place that Langholm inspires...Margaret and Mairi are obviously experienced interviewees as they didn't even wait for a question before launching into the most wonderful tales about swimming in the Tarras River, 'gurdling', and watching out for Border reivers...As Charlie says in his introduction, he could have listened to them all day...Langholm Initiative Website and Twitter feedGo Fund me Crowd Funder (Community Buyout 2)Tarras Valley Nature Reserve Twitter feedYouTube Tarras Valley Live Event (December 1st) Off the Leash Podcasts  Interview #10  Tarras Valley Part One

Part One of a podcast Off the Leash's Charlie Moores has made to support the Langholm Initiative and a community buy out that is turning - to quote Raptor Persecution UK - a 'knackered old grouse moor' into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. The buy out is a fascinating and inspiring story that is centred around Eskdale and Langholm (a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway just 20 miles north of Carlisle) and the Duke of Buccleuch, one of the richest men in the UK who owns a staggering 217,000 acres of moorland, farms and forestry - including Langholm Moor and the Tarras Valley. in May 2019, Buccleuch Estates announced a decision to sell 25,000 acres of Langholm Moor and the Tarras Valley. Community interest in buying at least some of the land grew (and we'll be discussing just how close the community here is in Part Two). The Langholm initiative launched a fundraising campaign on behalf of the community and 'The impossible Dream' as it was termed initially, took off. The campaign grew quickly, attracting national interest and support from all over the world, and in just six months had attracted £3.8m in grants and funding, including a crowd funder which raised over £200,000. The community now legally owns 5,200 acres of land which includes upland moor, ancient woodland, meadows, peatlands and a river valley which is all being developed into the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve. A second fundraiser has now been set up to buy an additional 5000 acres. The money has to be raised by May 2022 or the land could be put up for sale on the open market, and the chance to manage a whopping 10,000 acres could be lost.  On December 7th - after watching a very instructive video on YouTube about the community buyout and the reserve,  just two weeks after Storm Arwen battered Scotland and northern England ripping up trees and bringing down power lines, and on the very same day that Storm Barra battered Scotland (etc etc) Charlie found himself overlooking the Tarras Valley with Jenny Barlow, Estate manager of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, and Angela Williams,Development Manager at the reserve, before a drive along the track that winds through the valley and out the other side...Langholm Initiative Website and Twitter feedGo Fund me Crowd Funder (Community Buyout 2)Tarras Valley Nature Reserve Twitter feedYouTube Tarras Valley Live Event (December 1st) 

TRIGGER WARNING - This episode contains references to sexual abuse and violence, which some listeners may find distressing. Listener discretion is advised.The murders of Betty Alexander and Emily Mutch may have been separated by 44 years, but they are still linked to this day as they both occurred on the same unassuming street in Glasgow, and both investigations led to firsts in Scotland.Promo by The Great Pop Culture Debate PodcastSOURCES:Please see our website for all source material and photos at https://scottishmurders.com/episodes/buccleuchstreet/SHOW:Website - scottishmurders.comTwitter - @scottishmurdersInstagram - @scottishmurderspodcastFacebook - facebook.com/scottishmurdursPatreon - patreon.com/scottishmurdersLinktree - linktr.ee/scottishmurdersCREDITS:Scottish Murders is a production of CluarantonnHosted by Dawn and ColeResearched and Written by Dawn YoungProduced and Edited by Dawn Young and Peter BullProduction Company Name by Granny RobertsonMUSIC:Dawn of the Fairies by Derek & Brandon FiechterGothic Wedding by Derek & Brandon Fiechter

Welcome to Future Faith, a podcast, newsletter, and publication about living faithfully in an age of democratic destruction, ecological collapse, and economic irrelevance, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Substack:Every morning I go on a walk past a river, beside a centuries-old working millpond, into a graveyard and apple-laden church ground, and through the ruins of a twelfth-century abbey.If you walk around my village, you'll see dozens of houses that are made of the exact same stones as the former abbey.There's a reason for this: When Henry VIII dissolved all the monasteries and started his own church in order to self-bless his murder of innocent women, locals in my village stole the monastery's rocks.The faded tourist sign says that the locals treated the monastery as a “convenient quarry.”A convenient quarry.That's Christianity vs. Secularism in a nutshell, isn't it?Because it's inherently consumerist, post-modernity loves to harvest what Christians first cultivated:* Hospitals* Universities* Human rights* Universal basic incomeSecularism wants the kingdom without the king, the light without the power, the cathedral without the cornerstone.MonasteriesWhat do you picture when you hear the word “monk?”Old men in black robes?Old women in white robes?Why not a young bearded brewer who brews beer for the glory of God?Why not a stay-at-home dad who adores children and wants to adopt a dozen orphans?Why not a working mom who erects houses for the benefit of people who would never qualify for a mortgage?What do you picture when you hear the word “monastery?”A rotting stone building, utterly detached from the world?Why not a vibrant house, street, neighborhood, village, or city?When I hear the word “monastery,” I envision an estate.When Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries, he sold their buildings and land to whichever local elite offered the most cash.This allowed the British aristocracy to amass vast estates, with thousands of those plundered monasteries still owned by those same families to this day. (There are 144 estates over 10,000 acres in Scotland alone.)Michelle and I have visited dozens of estates on various outings around the UK:* Chatsworth (1,822 acres, down from 200,000) invented the banana we all know and love.* Buccleuch (217,000 acres) raises 19,670 sheep, 700 cattle, 32,000 hens, and 117 red deer hinds.* Atholl (124,000 acres) hosts weddings and functions, has a trailer park, and does castle tours.* Highclere (5,000 acres) shot to fame as the shooting location for Downton Abbey.When I picture a modern monastery, I picture a not-for-profit sustainable estate — studded with dozens of villages and hundreds of people — being run by kingdom principles for kingdom purposes.The kingdom economyThe poor will always be among us because the rich will always be above us.But not in the Acts 4 church, where there were “no needy people among them.”And not in today's monasteries, either.For nearly 1,700 years, Christian monks and nuns have practiced Universal Basic Income.In my travels, I've visited monasteries in Greece, Italy, Spain, England, Scotland, and elsewhere. I've been to many of the great foundations, including Monte Cassino, Assisi, Subiaco, etc. Monasteries are the last place in Christendom that still practice koinonia, the ancient and subversive Acts 2 practice that radically set apart the early church from the rest of society.Koinonia is often translated as “community” or “fellowship,” but both are really terrible translations. “Brotherhood” and “communion” come closer, but the best description of koinonia might be “non-political spiritual communism.”From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.This isn't forced or coerced secularist state-implemented communism. We know that doesn't work.This is a Holy Spirit-led sharing of life. It is a communal life the world can never know or re-create. In monasteries, koinonia looks like this: Everyone works a reasonable amount of time (typically 4–6 hours each day, 5–6 days each week) and contributes 100% of the proceeds to the monastery. The abbot and his team then ensure that everyone's needs are provided for: food, clothing, shelter, medical, soul care.No one is wealthy, but everyone is rich.The impossibility of individualityJust like biblical churches, monasteries aren't democracies.The abbot or abbess (from “abba,” meaning father) is in charge.All the brothers or sisters put their faith in Christ and their trust in their abbot, and he is to lead them well — not as coercive politicians do, but as a true servant-hearted leader.That's why most rich Westerners — single or otherwise — will never enter a monastery.It requires submission and surrender to a communal cause.How will they know us?I wish Christians were more like Jews and Muslims.You can always spot a Jew in the crowd.She's the one with gorgeous hair and the husband with the yarmulke.You can always spot a Muslim in the crowd.They're the ones not eating until sundown.I'm not saying we should cover our women or face east at sunset. You know what I mean. Christians are barely discernible.There's only ever been one marker that really separates Christians from our neighbors — unconditional love, even for those who hate us.But are we loving radically enough to make the world take notice in this attention culture?Where are all the disturbing Christians?Why don't people leave our presence feeling deeply unsettled?Being around Christians should feel conspiratorial, revolutionary, even dangerous.After all, we serve a God who wants to change everything.There is some biblical precedence for the concept of monasticism:* Elijah fled to the desert during a time of great persecution, and communed with God until the day he was called the restore the kingdom to their heavenly king.* Yahweh sent Moses and the Israelites into forty years of desert wanderings in order to shake off the mental shackles of slavery and prepare them for life as a free people.* John the Baptist counterintuitively moved to the desert to become an evangelist and prepare the way for his cousin Jesus.* If you study the life of Jesus, note how many times Christ removed himself “to a desolate place.”Notice how all of these “monks” were incredibly connected to God and deeply invested in the renewal of the world? Notice how setting themselves apart actually allowed them to dive into culture and make a greater impact? It's almost as though Christians are supposed to retreat in order to advance.Let's face it: Churches haven't been churches in a long time. Worship bands and motivational preachers and fancy buildings take precedence over sharing our wealth, living a rule of life in community, and housing the poor.It's almost as if the monastery is a place of reformation and preparation for the next move of God in our lives and our culture.First EgyptWhen most people think about monasteries, they assume it's just a retreat from “reality.”And it definitely can be that.But that wasn't the original intention, not by a mile.Inspired by Elijah and John the Baptist, monastics like Anthony the Great renounced the brutality, injustice, and oppression of the Egyptian mega-cities and moved to the desert to practice a Christ-centered life.Pachomius developed the idea of monks living together, and in doing so, creating an alternate social structure to stand in sharp contrast to the rest of the world.In an age before the Internet, social media, and viral videos, more than 50,000 people joined the Egyptian desert fathers and created what became known as Cities of God.From there, the movement went viral, spreading all over the planet.Monasteries aren't retreats— they're just new garden cities where the presence of God is actually welcomed.Because monastics renounce individualism and work together as humans were meant to do, it means they inevitably become places of great art and culture, both attracting outsiders and sending people back out.A nowhere always becomes a somewhere when Someone shows up.Then ItalyA college student named Benedict of Nursia grew so horrified by city life in Rome that he moved to the ruins of Nero's villa at Subiaco. Living by the simple rule of “ora et labora” (pray and work), Benedict founded twelve communities in all, laid the groundwork for Western monasticism, and single-handedly saved Western civilization from extinction.Benedict shapes every single day of our lives, and you can trace a direct line from Benedict's communities to the faith transformation of hundreds of millions of people over the past 1,500 years.A nowhere became a somewhere when Someone showed up.Then GermanyIn 1722, Nicolaus Ludwig Count von Zinzendorf bought a huge estate from his grandmother and invited several hundred Christian refugees to build a village on a corner of his estate.The Herrnhut story is now world-famous, especially the 24/7 prayer meeting that lasted for more than a century and sparked America's Great Awakening.The community sent out hundreds of missionaries to all parts of the world, ministering to slaves in the West Indies and the Inuit in Greenland.They founded a denomination that still has over 1,000 congregations.They played a vital role in the salvation of John Wesley, whose ministry has impacted tens of millions of hearts.One estate — one monastery — continues to impact lives nearly three centuries later.A nowhere became a somewhere when Someone showed up.Monasticism has problemsAs usual, religion crept in, always ready and willing to replace real leaps of faith.The monks in many monasteries I've visited get up far too early, hours before the sun, as though it's somehow “godly” to ignore the natural rhythms by which God saw fit to govern our biological bodies.Many monasteries fundamentally misunderstand prayer, spending four to six hours per day in the recitation of written chants instead of practicing a constant communion with Christ that leads to real action.Many monasteries are self-protective and entirely self-focused, completely ignoring the Scriptural call to go out to the ends of the earth — that we are the hands and feet of Christ who must go to seek and save the lost.Entrepreneurs for JesusWe are living in an age of democratic destruction, ecological collapse, and economic irrelevance.As the hyper-elites execute their Great Reset, the world is headed toward an unprecedented economic crisis. Within our lifetime, billionaires will control the global economy, the average house will cost $10 million, and surveillance currencies will dominate society.This new economy is creating millions of families in need of affordable shelter, climate refugees in need of resettlement, and workers in need of sustenance when they are excluded from the corporate economy.The church has a once-in-ten-generations opportunity to serve an unprecedented number of people in dire economic straights.Throughout history, monasteries have fulfilled the biblical mandate to provide food, clothing, and shelter to people in need. To fund these works of generosity and hospitality, monks and nuns have practiced sanctified stewardship for millennia:* Vatopedi Monastery grows olive oil.* Himmerod Abbey had a museum, art shop, cafe, guesthouse, and fishery.* Saint-Sixtus Abbey brews the best beer in the world.* Caldey Abbey makes perfume.* Ampleforth Abbey presses cider.* Prinknash Abbey blends incense.* Little Portion Hermitage runs a bakery.* Cîteaux Abbey ages cheese and makes caramels.* Buckfast Abbey hosts conferences and raises honeybees.* Lindores Abbey invented scotch.Depending on the skills and passions of the monks and nuns at each monastery, the community soon becomes self-sufficient —  and because they live so simply, don't have a profit motive, and share everything in common, they soon have a surplus to share with a world in need.Questions to prayerfully considerWhere will God show up to meet real needs next?Will we be the ones to welcome Him in?My friend Andrew says that his job in life is to transfer as much earthly money into eternal value as possible.It begs some questions:* If all your needs were met and you didn't have to work a job to pay bills, what would you do for the kingdom?* How would you contribute to the kingdom if you didn't have to waste a moment working to pay rent or a mortgage?* How would you invest your time in eternity if you didn't have to enrich a land-lorder or a banker?Most people miss their calling because they get mired down trying to pay bills.God can and often does use us when we're working those dead-end jobs, but let's not pretend we weren't all made for more.You are unique in all of human history, with gifts and talents and strengths to contribute to the world that no money-hungry business could ever extract.“Vocation” comes from the Latin for “voice.”Does your work speak of who you are and whose you are?You are worth more than your paycheckWe can survive without bankers and landlords, but we can't live without farmers and mothers.So why do the former get paid so much more than the latter?Because we live in an upside-down society:* Insurance salesmen are incentivized to deny claims and let people die, while nurses suffer to keep people alive.* Fart app creators make millions while teachers have to buy their own chalk.* Bankers sit at a desk all day and type fake credit numbers into a screen, while active workers must pay them back by creating and handing over real wealth.Sadly, most of the vocations that really matter, the ones that are incredibly humanizing, are almost entirely devalued by the monetary system:* Caring for widows/single moms* Feeding the hungry* Clothing the naked* Visiting prisoners* Being a mother or father, especially to orphans, foster kids, and at-risk teens* Sustainable organic farming, forestry, and soil production* True education (not propagandizing or teach-to-test)* MentorshipBut these callings matter — really matter — in the monastery system.A vision for a modern monasteryImagine an estate.Hundreds or thousands of organic and sustainable acres under stewardship.Dozens of villages.Maybe even a garden city or two.Hundreds of families, couples, and singles by choice and by circumstance.With everyone answering a calling, practicing a real vocation, working as unto the Lord.Not one land-lorder or banker to lay waste to anyone's time.With all profits to advancing the kingdom of heaven instead of the empire of man.A group of people setting themselves apart in order to advance the Kingdom.Like the monastic movements of the past, this one monastery could serve as a template for hundreds or thousands of others to follow — a platform for launching new and better works around the world.It's time for Christians to make monasteries great again.A call to actionThe church of Christ has been a convenient quarry for secularism for the past century, and as our society now grounds itself to dust, there is an opportunity to rebuild cities of God on firm foundations with the only cornerstone that cannot be shaken.Please pray that God would send radically generous gospel patrons to fund the rebuilding efforts.Some of these city-monasteries will be family condos in high-rise towers.Some of these monasteries will be slums in hyper-cities.Some of these monasteries will dorms in universities.Some of these monasteries will be renovated abbeys and nunneries that have gone belly-up due to religion and a lack of vision.In our case, we sense ours will be some sort of village-packed eco-estate.Each of us needs to seek God's face on the kind of set-apart monk or nun He is calling us to become.We are the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. The harvest has and always will be plentiful, but the workers are few. So let's get to work.Thanks for listening to Future Faith. We are 100% follower-supported, so please head over to jaredbrock.com to partner with us as a gospel patron.If you think this episode is important and adds value to our global church family, please email the link to your friends or share it on social media. Get full access to Future Faith at jaredbrock.substack.com/subscribe

Two historic community land buyouts have recently been agreed in the south of Scotland. The Duke of Buccleuch, Scotland’s second biggest landowner, has sold land to the communities of Newcastleton and Langholm. The land hasn't changed hands in hundreds of years, and signals a gradual shift in the pattern of land ownership in this part of the country. Caz Graham goes to meet the people who made these buyouts happen, and hears how this is a once in a lifetime chance to shape the future of their community. At Newcastleton the local trust has taken control of 750 acres above the village, they plan to develop it with new housing, leisure and tourism, and renewable energy. Just over the hill, 10 miles away at Langholm a second significant community buyout has just been agreed. The Langholm Initiative are set to own just over 5000 acres of moorland, making it the biggest buyout in the south of Scotland so far. They explain their ambitious plans to create a new nature reserve, create new woodland and restore peat to help tackle climate change. They are also passionate about demonstrating that conservation and development can be mutually beneficial, and describe how they will deliver ecological restoration alongside the regeneration of their community. Presenter: Caz Graham Producer: Sophie Anton

When Jesus Prayed for BuccleuchSeries: The Heart of Jesus Preacher: James RossSunday MorningDate: 8th November 2020Passage: John 17:1-26

An ageing singer asks for shelter at Newark Castle, and in exchange performs for his hostess the Duchess of Buccleuch the story of a 16th century border feud...Uitgeven door SAGA Egmont 2020Spreker(s): Peter Tucker

Continuing on our path through the origin stories of the retriever breeds, this episode focuses on two of the most well-known hunting retrievers: the Labrador Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Both of these breeds trace their roots back to the St. John’s Water Dog of Newfoundland, but the similarities end there.   Wealthy, noble Englishmen were importing the St. John’s Water Dogs from North America and breeding them to suit their style of estate hunting. Two men in particular, the Earl of Malmesbury and the Duke of Buccleuch, were especially instrumental in the foundation of what is now known as the Labrador Retriever. These hardy, strong, athletic dogs displayed exceptional skills in the water and were also well-suited for pheasant shoots on land.   Across the Atlantic Ocean, two St. John’s puppies were on a ship bound for Poole, England, at the request of another English nobleman. Unfortunately, the ship foundered and the crew had to be rescued off the east coast of the United States. The rescuer purchased the two pups and kept them along the eastern seaboard. Based on the descriptions of the dogs and of their hard-hunting progeny, these are assumed to be the two foundation dogs of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever breed.   So while the Labrador was developed in England on wealthy estates for gentlemen’s shooting, the Chessie found its roots in the rough-and-tumble world of American duck hunters and market hunters. While the Labrador was expected to be polite and quiet, the Chessie was valued for its boldness and protective instinct.   The Labrador eventually rocketed to the top of the retriever world through its success in field trial competitions. Understanding the key differences between American and British retriever field trials opens up a new understanding of the difference between American and British Labs.   Tune in to hear more about the development of the Labrador and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers and how they came to be the world-class athletes that they are today. As always, we thank you for listening and hope you’ll continue to share the great feedback about this series. We can be reached at HDC@northwoodscollective.com with your ideas, comments, and questions.   Share | Comment, review and discuss this episode of the podcast in our Project Upland Community Facebook group.   Enjoy the show and don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share this podcast. Hunting Dog Confidential is presented by Eukanuba Premium Performance Dog Food

Writer Gabriella Bennett has just published her new book, “The Art of Coorie", inviting her readers to "embrace all things Scottish". Lesley and I cast our sceptical, though not cynical eyes, on her interpretation of coorie and Caledonian cool. We stick with the land and the new twists in the fight of tenant farmers Alison and David Telfer of Cleuchfoot farm to stop Buccleuch estates removing them to make way for planting trees. As deadlines on Brexit loom ever nearer the BBC has suddenly shown an interest in what the Irish government's position on the Irish backstop is. Neale Richmond, who Lesley spoke to last week, and Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney have both made impressive appearances in the past couple of days in the face of "interesting" questioning, in particular from John Humphrys. The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has turned the spotlight on Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and the humanitarian disaster in the Yemen. Will his brutal death prove a turning point in the West's relationship with Saudi Arabia? In addition to all this, Ross Thomson gets telt, twice, Andrew Bridgen gets cut off the knees, and I do anagrams. Here's the link to the Corries version of Coorie Doon.Well worth a wee listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHcdu44vmwU    

We can't ignore the Tory party conference, try as hard as we might, and we kick off this week's podcast with our reflections on Theresa May's moves. Ruth Davidson has been on a PR offensive for her new book while ignoring requests for serious political interviews. Gordon Brewer of the BBC and STV's Colin McKay finally got the chance to grill her, with very different results. Lesley has had a long commitment to justice for Scotland's tenant farmers and her steely gaze turns on the scandal of the impending removal of the Telfer family from their border farm by the Duke of Buccleuch. She also reflects on Nicola Sturgeon's response to Joan McAlpine's question on this in the Scottish Parliament. Historic Environment Scotland have been all over the news and social media with their refusal to allow the All Under One Banner marchers to congregate in Holyrood Park and the Yes walkers entry to Stirling Castle. Who are the HES's board and what influence do the great and good who populate similar civic institutions have in modern Scotland? We return to, Donald Trump, and the DUP's Arlene Foster, and, as they both face serious questions on their future, their recent rallying cries to their base. As usual I shoehorn in some musical and football references. Check out this week's title as well.

It's good to be back after our wee break and, after we ruminate on the weather, I reveal just what that" hockey business" Lesley alluded to last week was all about. Lesley's recent visit to Skye revealed the crisis in housing afflicting the island as more and more homes are turned into short term holiday lets. There are solutions, but will the Scottish Government be bold enough to take them? Despite my being in a sporting bubble last week I just couldn't escape  the latest in the never-ending Brexit saga, the EU'S draft legal agreement, and the impact on  Ireland, North and South. Lesley picks up on this theme with its knock-on effect on the timing of YES2. We return after "ending" to the growing row over tenant farmers being evicted from Buccleuch estates to make way for grant-aided forests. There’s, as usual, other meanderings including my potential career as a local radio DJ and a sneaky admiration for Alex Massie (yup THAT Alex Massie)

After some merry badinage Lesley returns to the major issue of land ownership and the rights of tenant farmers. She examines the complex situation in the Borders on the massive estates of the Duke of Buccleuch and tries to make sense of the conflicting perspectives of the locals and Buccleuch Estates. Lesley also reflects on the potential negative impacts of the Scottish Government's benign reforestation policies and the parlous position of tenant farmers who operate under limited partnerships as opposed to secure tenancies. I, urbanite that I am, contribute little beyond silence for the most part (a blessed relief I hear you cry) until we expand on this specific issue to look at whether big is indeed beautiful. This leads neatly into the collapse of Carillion, what this says about PFI and big state solutions, and the National Audit Office's report on the economic efficiency of Public Private Partnerships. No week can pass without Brexit talk and we discuss the European Union Withdrawal Bill amendment votes at Westminster, the sovereignty of Parliaments and those Henry the 8th powers. Finally, Lesley gives her considered opinion on that Van Morrison album I gave her......    

Police minister, Fikile Mbalula has conceded that the police service has been infiltrated by criminals. He was addressing residents at Philippi East on the Cape Flats this week following the killing of 18 people last week. Meanwhile, Mbalula says action will be taken against the police officer who prioritized sorting out her DStv account instead of helping a member of the public after a video went viral showing the police officer using her work phone to make a call to sort out her disconnected MultiChoice accounts. The video, was shot at the Buccleuch satellite station. The police minister has launched a social media campaign #mypolicestation has has urged the public to report service delivery issues at police station. Elvis Presslin spoke to Police Ministry Spokesperson Vuyo Mhaga

Police minister, Fikile Mbalula has conceded that the police service has been infiltrated by criminals. He was addressing residents at Philippi East on the Cape Flats this week following the killing of 18 people last week. Meanwhile, Mbalula says action will be taken against the police officer who prioritized sorting out her DStv account instead of helping a member of the public after a video went viral showing the police officer using her work phone to make a call to sort out her disconnected MultiChoice accounts. The video, was shot at the Buccleuch satellite station. The police minister has launched a social media campaign #mypolicestation has has urged the public to report service delivery issues at police station. Elvis Presslin spoke to Police union, POPCRU's spokesperson, Richard Mamabolo and IPID spokesperson Moses Dlamini

Roads agency Sanral says it could take as long as two days for engineers to clear debris following a bridge collapse on the N3 freeway in Germiston, east of Johannesburg. Several people were injured when the overhead pedestrian bridge collapsed onto the freeway in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Three trucks and a vehicle fell onto the bridge, with emergency services having to use the Jaws of Life to free trapped people. The N3 remains closed between the Gillooley's and Geldenhuys interchanges. Motorists trying to reach O.R. Tambo airport are advised to use the Buccleuch interchange and the R24. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to JMPD spokesperson, Wayne Minaar

Come with us to Fairyland as we go to our first Fairy Festival This is the first Special Report that we have ever made after going to a Faerie Festival. We camped for three days with some lovely people, saw some incredible bands and browsed among some really great market stalls. In this show, we are going to try and bring you a taste of that Festival with a few little interviews with some of the guests we met, some of the stall-holders but mostly with an amazing 12 pieces of music! This is going to be a monster show - but we hope you have as much fun listening to it as we had at the festival and get a feel for how much fun these Faerie Festivals are! More resources over at our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com Running Order: Intro 0:40 Festival Intro 1:01 The Drunken Drummer by Flutatious 2:06 The Oakwood Song by Willow's Drum 9:09 Interview with Faerie Folk - our friend Emma! Moss - Beck Siàn 15:12 Chat with Spyros of Daemonia Nymphe 20:31 Dance of the Satyrs - Daemonia Nymphe 21:07 A Leaf Falls... - Kim Thompsett 26:23 Interview with Kaos Blacksmiths 29:40 Kuku - Inta Africa 32:16 Sands of Time - Jaime Black 36:29 Interview with Dragons & Unicorns 43:17 Andrasta by Jonathan Kershaw 45:34 Interview with Faerie folk - Gary Andrews of The Spirit of Albion film 52:35 Dou Way Robin - Serpentyne 54:20 Interview with Seventh Heaven 1:00:01 In The Belly of An Ice Giant - Ash Mandrake 1:03:35 Interview with Julia Arts 1:10:00 Gypsy Mist by Spriggan Mist 1:14:02 Interview with Wicca Woman 1:19:55 Celtic Farewell - ROxIRcLE 1:22:02 We hope you enjoy it! Gary & Ruthie x x x It's always great to hear from you! Email us at garyandruth@celticmythpodshow.com, or call us using Speakpipe   Our family at the Festival   The Magical Faerie Festival & the Magical Times organised by Matthew Callow The Festival's 2013 Line-up The Magical Faerie Festival is organised by the Magical Times Magazine and the multi-talented Matthew Callow. This year's Festival took place in Findon, West Sussex but next year's is scheduled for May and is to be sited on a super camping site in East Sussex (click the photo to the left for more details). The Magical Times Magazine is an ethically produced, professionally printed, full colour quarterly publication produced in the United Kingdom and distributed worldwide! Its content is unlike any other magazine and its creators strive to provide the reader with uplifting and inspirational in-depth articles on nature, health and well-being. Click here to see the details for the Festival in 2014 and click the images to see them in more detail! The Magical Times Magazine Each page is uniquely illustrated in full colour and is printed on eco-friendly FSC certified paper using vegetable based inks. It is an immense love and appreciation of nature which fuels the production of The Magical Times. You can find our more about the Magical Times Magazine on their website (with Issue 14 now available) and the Magical Faerie Festival, with details about the 2014 schedule and Early Bird ticket discounts, on the Faerie Festival website. Click the picture for a larger image.   Drunken Drummer by Flutatious Flutatious 2 Flutatious are a feisty, Celtic, psy-folk band. Blending soaring melodic flute, flying fiddle, spacey guitars and groovy beats. What an astounding, rhythmic and extremely moving set we saw with Flutatious! Such an innovative band and we hope to bring you much more from them in the future. Michelle, Stella, Andy, Bill, William (and the Colonel!) pictured right on the Isle of Skye, make up the Celtic inspired band that you can hear in this show. We are very proud to bring you their fantastic dancing song, the Drunken Drummer from their second album, Flutatious 2, in this show. You can find out more about Flutatious on their Contributor Page or visit their website for more details.   The Oakwood Song by Willow's Drum Tales from the Oak Wood Willow’s Drum are singer song/writers Mark Barnard; founder member, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Essex based folk/rock band Medicine and Lyz Le Fay; a classically trained vocalist and pianist. In this show you can hear their beautiful track, The Oakwood Song from their album, Tales from the Oak Wood. You can find out more about Willow’s Drum on their Contributor Page or visit their Facebook Page for more details.   Moss by Beck Siàn Unfurling Beck's mother is Welsh, and her father was born in England, but is from an Irish family. With Welsh and Irish blood, it seems only natural that Beck was going to be drawn to all things Celtic – everything from the Celtic artwork and mythology, Druidic reverence for nature and trees, tales of banshees, wraiths and faeries, to the musical instruments and haunting singing-styles. There is definitely a strong Celtic thread in Beck Siàn’s music – even when singing Australian songs and modern compositions. Related to English singer Kate Bush, it was her influence and artistic inspiration (as well as having a talented artist for a father) that sparked Beck's own desire to dance, sing and create. So we're incredibly proud to be able to bring you this astounding example of her music, with Moss! Be transported along with us into strange and fey realms.... You can find out more about Beck Siàn and where to get hold of her fantastic music on her Contributor Page or on her website.   Dance of the Satyrs by Daemonia Nymphe What a performance, what stage presence and what an astounding sound! Demonia Nymphe are in a class of their own! Daemonia Nymphe is an esoteric ensemble formed in Greece. Their founder, Spyros Giasafakis, is the first artist worldwide to compose and perform improvisations on ancient Greek instruments, such as Kithara, Lyra and Varvitos, handcrafted with design and materials authentic to their epoch. Accompanied by Evi Stergiou and others they provide us with a complete audio and visual spectacular that really does evoke the Satyrs and Fauns of Elder Times! You can find out more about this amazing and entrancing group and where to get hold of their fantastic music on their Contributor Page or find out more on their website.   A leaf falls.. by Kim Thompsett Kim Thompsett was probably the first Fae musician we ever featured on our show, way back in 2008! So, we are really pleased to offer her a huge welcome back with her beautiful Harp and a gentle, romantic track called A leaf falls.. Kim Thompsett is a musician and songwriter living and working in the South East of England. She plays guitar, flute, native American flute and zither. Her songs have an escapist quality which evokes the England of old with hints of Celtic, medieval and the classic folk artists of the ‘60’s and 70’s. You can find out more about Kim's beautiful music on her Contributor Page or find out more on her website at last.fm.   Kaos Blacksmiths Interview Sarah and Ross from Kaos Blacksmiths say that "Our mission is simple: to provide the best products and service to our customers at the lowest prices possible. We take great pride in our company, our commitment to customer service and in the products we sell. Our online store is designed to provide you with a safe and secure environment to browse our product catalogue. Ross is the former blacksmith to the Duke of Buccleuch at Drumlanrig castle in Scotland and now lives and works in Kent - working only using wind, sun and human power." Teaspoon Ring "All of his work is unique and made to order so each piece you order will differ slightly. This shop is only a small selection of what we make so if your looking for something and cannot find it, feel free to contact us. We also offer basic blacksmiths courses at £110 per person per day which includes all materials and lunch." See one of their beautiful Teaspoon rings to the right. You can find out more about Kaos Blacksmiths and see more of their wonderful metalwork on their website.   Kuku by Inta Africa Inta Africa was created to unite people of different nationalities, faith, and age, using music to create an experience that not only bonds but is creative, stimulating and above all fun. Our drum workshops are high energy, fast moving and suitable for beginners as well as experienced drummers. We hold 100 High quality west African Djembes and Djun Djun. We also have a host of other percussion to be played along side. Out of our workshops a high impact stage performance was born. A small selection of the drums they brought with them for us to use! Gary finally gets to do some drumming! Nice shot of new friend Pete to his left and a great Pixie in the background! You can find out more about their powerful beats and superb workshops (they can cater for up to 80 people, I think!) on their Contributor Page or find out more on their website.   Sands of Time by Jaime Black The Wishing Well What a beautiful sound! Jaime's entrancing Sands of Time can be heard in this show. Jaime Black is a singer songwriter from Los Angeles, California. Jaime independently released her first album, The Wishing Well, in August of 2011. Jaime's unique vocal sound instantly draws you into a place where imagination meets reality. Acoustic guitars, reverb drenched vocals... Her ethereal songs transport the listener to a dreamscape filled with vivid images of world's past and present, beckoning you to stay with her for a while... You can find out more about Jaime's beautiful music on her Contributor Page or find out more on her website.   Dragons & Unicorns Interview Dragons & Unicorns, Photo by Lunaesque We stopped for a chat with A.J. and Steve from Dragons & Unicorns. They say: "Dragons & Unicorns is a made to order costumers based in the UK. Set up in 2006 by myself, "A J" Machin and my daughter Natalie, the company was created after we met Richard Taylor & Tania Rodger, co-owners of Weta Workshop, at the Fellowship Festival in 2005. Richard and Tania were very impressed when they saw Steve dressed in King Théoden's war armour which we had built and said that we were "incredibly talented people". This was all the inspiration we needed to create and re-create costumes for like-minded people, at affordable prices. " The rest.. as they say.. is history! You can find out more about these amazing costumiers on their website.   Andrasta by Jonathan Kershaw Bizarre Tales "'Too medieval to be folk; too folk to be rock; too rock to be medieval...!' Jonathan is a guitarist/songwriter originally from Yorkshire in northern England but now based on the south coast. Although known in various areas for his rock playing, he has quietly been applying his talents to an altogether different sound. In his early 20s, Jonathan relocated for a number of years to Somerset in the Southwest of the UK. This was quite a rural area and provided his first insight into folk and Celtic style music. Andrasta (Andraste) was the Romano-Celtic goddess of war. Her name means the "Invincible One". Andrasta was a patron goddess of the Iceni tribe. It was said that Boudicca, the British warrior queen prayed to Andrasta, before going into battle the against her Roman foes. It is believed that the goddess received human sacrifices. [source] Queen Boudicca by John Opie Acoustic Goth A quick mention that both Jonathan Kershaw and Beck Siàn are touring together with a collection of their music with a Beautiful Ghosts and Bizarre Tales tour! Jointly coming from musical backgrounds in rock, classical and traditional Celtic music, Beck and Jonathan create a supernatural and melancholic soundscape with siren-esque vocals to suit. Visit their site at Acoustic Goth to find out more. You can find out more about these amazing performers on their Contributor Page or on their website.   Ave Mater, Dou Way Robin by Serpentyne Stella Splendens Serpentyne mix mediaeval songs and dance tunes with contemporary beats... songs in Occitan, Old French, Old English and Latin create an exciting and magical atmosphere. Driving salterello and estampie dance rhythms from mediaeval Europe are combined with Maggie's voice and instruments such as hurdy-gurdy, cittole, harmonium and keyboards. What a superb and engaging performance they gave us - the whole audience was on their feet! Here you can listen to Ave Mater Dou Way Robin, which is based on an original 13th/14th Century piece! You can find this superb track on their enchanting album Stella Splendens. You can find out more about these amazing performers on their Contributor Page or on their website.   Seventh Heaven Interview Annie from Seventh Heaven We spoke to Annie Whittaker from Seventh Heaven and she told us that at Seventh Heaven we source our products as ethically as we possibly can. We buy from friends and contacts around the world that help them and their communities. Annie is a Shamanic Practitioner, trained by Eliana Harvey at Shamanka School of Woman's Shamanism in Dorset, England www.shamanka.com. She is a clairvoyant medium and teacher of spiritual development. You can find out more about Annie, her services and the wonderful gifts she sells on her website at seventh-heaven-online.   In the Belly of an Ice Giant by Ash Mandrake Footprints from a Tribal ID Ash is a totally unique and thoroughly engaging performer. He has us spellbound with his intricate music built up using his specialist, self-designed guitar (with a wiring loom to make Mercedes-Benz proud!) and multiple loop-machines to add vocal layering. He built up songs that were almost operatic in scope (along with a unique version of Shine On, You Crazy Diamond which can be found on YouTube!). We were also lucky enough to see him perform a soulful duet of 'Vincent' with Beck Siàn! Ash's studio and Live work are focused differently. The stage show is about entertainment. The studio work is about making art. The live show incorporates hats, stories, comedy, loop machines, a double necked guitar and theatrical engagement with the audience. All soundscapes are built live without the use of backing tracks. Choice of genre is wide ranging and eclectic. The show brings together covers and originals in sets which are carefully crafted to move through changes in energy and emotional states, leaving the audience on a high. The best introduction to the amazing range of this avant-garde Fae Bard, Ash Mandrake is this video that he made to explain how his performances work. Here you can see how his sound is built up live - as well as have an introduction to his Top Hats!   Julia Arts Interview Julia Arts Body-painting JuliaArts offer a range of services from Portslade based artist and face painter Julia Harris and her friends. Art, beauty and playfulness are good for everybody and can be part of every day and any day; From party entertainment or 'having a go' at an art evening, to creating and capturing something memorable...Whether you are flamboyantly creative, or quietly appreciative you can now find out all about the photographers and friends, face painting and treasures, photo shoots and party packages becoming available through JuliaArts and the publications and places we appear in! You can find out more about Julia, her services and the wonderful things she and her team can do on her website. The amazing face-paint that Debz did for Ruthie Debz says: I received such good feedback that I decided to give it a go for a living with Debz Faces. I have been painting professionally now for around 8 months during which time I have painted at children's parties, adult parties, wedding receptions & corporate events. Our beautiful daughter and grand-daughter!   Gypsy Witch by Spriggan Mist Soul Retriever The rocking sound of Spriggan Mist can be heard in this show with their awesome track, Gypsy Witch. Folk Rock band Spriggan Mist are a group of accomplished musicians backing up the crystal clear voice of Max and the deep warm Earthy vocals of Baz as they mingle beautifully to take us on an ethereal journey. their music brings to life a world of traditions and magic which is often dark and sinister.... It is all that is familiar to us but which nonetheless stirs something within us that is not only less familiar but can at times take you beyond the constraints of this world. They are a pagan, Fae, Celtic band with a rocking background that sets your foot tapping! Their new album, Ghostly Tales, is set for release and it looks like a corker! You can find more about Spriggan Mist on their Contributor Page or on their website.   Wicca Woman Interview Pixie and John travel the Festival circuit bringing an astounding range of beautiful clothing to Festival go-ers! They stock all sixes up to size 32 and Pixie is always ready to lend help and advice where needed - a lovely lady! John gives her much needed backup when things get busy - lol :) They don't have a website sadly, so just keep your eyes open for the 'Wicca Woman' sign as you travel around and say that Gary & Ruth from the Celtic Myth Podshow said to say 'Hi'!   Celtic Farewell by ROxIRcLE Night of the Vampires Roxircle is an alternative folk-rock band based in Totnes, Devon; formed in 2006 by vocalist Deanna Royle and guitarist Dave Morris. Inspired by their shared interest in British folklore and a fascination with the supernatural; they began writing and recording songs in their own home studio. An amazing, high-energy band with a knack for writing songs that just won't leave your head! Check out their Celtic Farewell in this show as a superb example. We're proud to let them sing us out in style! ROxIRcLE with Emma They had a mystery bassist with them at the Faerie Festival! 'Brother Carl' stepped in for Ruby, the band's normal bass player. Pictured above is a picture of the band with our friend Emma (in her pink wig!) after they had wished her Happy Birthday! Such kind folks :) You can find more about ROxIRcLE on their Contributor Page or on their website. Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows Contact Us: You can leave us a message by using the Speakpipe Email us at: garyandruth@celticmythpodshow.com. Facebook fan-page http://www.facebook.com/CelticMythPodshow, Twitter (@CelticMythShow) or Snapchat (@garyandruth), Pinterest (celticmythshow) or Instagram (celticmythshow)   Help Spread the Word: Please also consider leaving us a rating, a review and subscribing in iTunes or 'Liking' our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CelticMythPodshow as it helps let people discover our show - thank you :) If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet! Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow: Click here to subscribe via iTunes Click here to subscribe via RSS Click here to subscribe via Stitcher   Special Thanks For our Theme Music: The Skylark and Haghole, the brilliant Culann's Hounds. See their Contributor page for details. Extra Special Thanks for Unrestricted Access to Wonderful Music (in Alphabetic order) Anne Roos Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of her masterful music to Anne Roos. You can find out more about Anne on her website or on her Contributor page. Caera Extra Special thanks go for permission to any of her evocative harping and Gaelic singing to Caera. You can find out more about Caera on her website or on her Contributor Page. Celia Extra Special Thanks go for permission to use any of her wonderful music to Celia Farran. You can find out more about Celia on her website or on her Contributor Page. Damh the Bard Extra Special thanks go to Damh the Bard for his permission to use any of his music on the Show. You can find out more about Damh (Dave) on his website or on his Contributor page. The Dolmen Extra Special thanks also go to The Dolmen, for their permission to use any of their fantastic Celtic Folk/Rock music on the Show. You can find out more about The Dolmen on their website or on our Contributor page. Keltoria Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of their inspired music to Keltoria. You can find out more about Keltoria on their website or on their Contributor page. Kevin Skinner Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of his superb music to Kevin Skinner. You can find out more about Kevin on his website or on his Contributor page. Phil Thornton Extra Special Thanks go for permisssion to use any of his astounding ambient music to the Sonic Sorcerer himself, Phil Thornton. You can find out more about Phil on his website or on his Contributor Page. S.J. Tucker Extra Special thanks go to Sooj for her permission to use any of her superb music. You can find out more about Sooj on her website or on her Contributor page. Spiral Dance Extra Special thanks go for permission to use Adrienne and the band to use any of their music in the show. You can find out more about Spiral Dance on their website or on their Contributor page. We hope you enjoyed the show and with all of our Fae blessings, Gary & Ruthie xxx       Save Save

Bob Akroyd is the assistant minister at Buccleuch & Greyfriars Free Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Bob Akroyd is the assistant minister at Buccleuch & Greyfriars Free Church of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Morning Service for Sunday 15th June 2008Preacher: Alex MacDonaldText: Galatians 3:24

Morning Service for Sunday 15th June 2008Preacher: Alex MacDonaldText: Galatians 3:24