The Maiden Stone, also known as the Drumdurno Stone after the nearby farm, is a Pictish standing stone near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.
The name is derived from local legend, incorporating the most obvious mark of wear and tear on the stone: a triangular notch toward the top of the monument.
The legend states that the daughter of the Laird of Balquhain made a bet with a stranger that she could bake a bannock faster than he could build a road to the top of Bennachie. The prize would be the maiden's hand. However, the stranger was the Devil and finished the road and claimed the forfeit. The maiden ran from the Devil and prayed to be saved. The legend finishes by saying that God turned her to stone, but the notch is where the Devil grasped her shoulder as she ran.
The stone is red granite, standing 3.01m high (one of the tallest of all Pictish monuments, even though several centimeters have been lost at the top owing to weathering). It is a Class II Pictish monument (combining Christian, and pre-Christian Pictish, motifs), dating from the late 8th or early 9th century AD.
The west side has a ringed cross below a human figure between two "fish-monsters". Below the cross there is a square panel with a disc containing a Celtic spiral motif at its centre, surrounded by a key-patterned ring, with knotwork patterns infilling the corners. On the reverse, there are four panels enclosing: a large centaur below three very weathered figures (possibly two smaller wrestling centaurs and a dog); a "notched rectangle and Z-rod" symbol; a Pictish Beast symbol, a mirror and a comb. There is a knotwork pattern on the narrow north edge and a keywork pattern on the south edge. A portion of the north edge is missing and the patterns are heavily eroded, particularly on the western face.
The human figure and "fish-monsters" may represent the Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale, with the whale doubled to make the design symmetrical.
Based on the mixture of Pictish and Christian symbols on the stone it is most likely that the stone marks a preaching site during missionary trips to the Picts.
The site is a scheduled ancient monument under the care of Historic Environment Scotland and is open at all times.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmhfSw8ZaWc
The continued saga of the busted VN gear box - Kama bites my ass for being a lazy sod.
This is not a how to or instructional video - I am a fool who is winging it !
This video is not at all sweary but does include gratuitous rock music .
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFxJJNuMWiw
Here is a link to the Impact gun on Amazon - I get no kick back from the link , just there to help you if your after one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverstorm-593128-Electric-Impact-Wrench/dp/B014FO4I1I
If you enjoyed the review please like and subscribe.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGh63INVUkI
A dammaged tend should not be the end of your camping trip - this vdeo covers my how to tips on repairing a damaged flysheet and groundsheet.
Sorry ,the wildnight first aid kit is no longer available - however tuff tape and stormsure glue is redily available on ebay .
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpniQP8wfJ0
My second motovlog where I have recorded the ranblings of my mind - enjoy
Here is a video about the two Moto Vlogs and their race to 1000 subs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHG8emuP6ns&t=139s
Here is Paddy's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRGelci8NvhVOxneJEjRT2w
Here is Gorilla Biker's Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8SW7SZN4eDg__cgyfVIhGA
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKx7IWtUIPg
This video is a quick look at the history of grave robbing in the North East of Scotland , I have leaned heavily on research done by Martyn Gorman from University of Aberdeen - his work can be viewed here : https://www.abdn.ac.uk/bodysnatchers/index.php
Background music is Dance of the U-Boat by Aakash Gandhi.
Oh yes - the pirate reference is believed to come from all the gravestones that have a skull and crossed bones on them - this was a fasion of the late 1700s which was refered to as "Memento mori"- more on this can be found here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memento_mori
The North East of Scotland was known for being an areas which bore a good number of Pirates that ended up in the Caribbean - not many made it back to Scotland !
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zktZOd496g
Here are my answers to the three most asked questions asked online about Vulcan Motorcycles - these are my opinion and you are welcome to disagree and generally triggered by anything I say.
If you go on to any of the online Vulcan forums to ask these questions do not be surprised if you get a slightly muted response - they have been asked many many times - use the search function and you will find the answer to your questions.
Sorry to all the 1700 and 2000 guys - I have not included them in my answers because, quite frankly I know bugger all about them!
SAFETY DISCLAIMER
** I am an idiot - do not copy anything I do or take any of my advice as definitive - do some of your own research too! **
*** I have oily hands - it doesn't make me a bad person - get over it - please.***
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGbCofpwQtw