I'm a sycamore . . .

. . . I'm not the Birnam Oak - I'm a sycamore.

Nearly as old, but not quite.

Went down to Birnam today for a walk in the snow by the River Tay, and ended up by the Birnam Oak.

Here's the story -
As the sole survivor of the wood that played a significant part in Shakespeare?s Macbeth, the Birnam Oak (Quercus petrae) simply reeks of history.

?I will not be afraid of death and bane till Birnam Forest come to Dunisnane.?
Macbeth, Act V, Scene III

The tree is believed to be part of the wood from which Malcolm's soldiers cut branches to disguise their attack on Macbeth at Dunsinane Hill, 15 miles to the south east. Today the gnarled and ancient oak certainly looks medieval ? its lower branches rest wearily on crutches and the first 3 metres/ 10 ft of its trunk are hollow.


Approaching it, there are a couple of big trees - the first one is the one I blipped, and the second one says 'It's not me either' then you reach the one oxidaisy blipped, which is The Birnam Oak, complete with crutches.

Then we came home, and four hours later, I remembered that we hadn't uploaded our blips yet . But . . no camera. Eventually nipped out to the car, slipped on the steps on the way and crashed down on my back, got covered in snow from head to foot, limped gingerly over to the car, and found the camera lying beside the back wheel, soaked and freezing, like myself.

Took it in, warmed it carefully by the stove, and half an hour later, switched on - AND IT WORKED! And so do I - no damage done, and nobody saw me - that's the main thing!