Tim Porteus

It’s always worked, no matter how obvious the hypocrisy and deceit of those who propagate it is. The question is not, will it work? But rather, how much will it work?

THIS strange figure, perhaps a representation of a faery or elf, was a resident of Prestonpans for nearly 400 years. He was painted in 1581 by an unknown artist, on a ceiling in Prestongrange House, which was then the home to Mark Ker, commendator of Newbattle.

YOU may have read the recent census report that a majority of East Lothian residents now say they don’t have a religion. This was true for Scotland as a whole, although......

I HAVE an old memory of being with a group of friends and playing on the railway track which carried the coal trains to Cockenzie Power Station.

MY NEW book comes out next week. It’s called Midlothian Folk Tales for Children, and follows the format of my earlier book, East Lothian Folk Tales for Children.

The giant redwood tree which towers in Haddington’s Memorial Park is approaching its 127th birthday. It was planted as a tiny sapling on June 22, 1897, to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. It is still a youngster, as redwoods can potentially live for up to 2,000 years.

RECENTLY, I was asked a question in the street by a man a bit older than me.

I’M INSIDE Skateraw Limekiln, in case you wondered. I’m standing where once the heat could reach over 800°C as limestone was burned and turned into quicklime. The process is ancient, but during the late 18th century and into the 19th century, larger limekilns became a very common sight.

I WENT for a wander on Sunday, along Musselburgh beach to the very edge of East Lothian.

WE HAD a trip over the Easter weekend to a famous faery tree. It’s not in East Lothian, but can be found on top of Doon Hill, by Aberfoyle.