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Joe M

Joe M

I was born in the Carolinas where the McCullough¹s have made their home for centuries. They farmed the land. They got involved in local politics, and they put on the grey to fight for the Confederacy. There is a slave graveyard next to the family graveyard. Apparently, we McCullough¹s are descended from the same bunch that ran amuck up in Scotland from their base at Cardoness Castle.
 
But now I¹ve become the wandering son and brought my southern-drawl to Britain. Although I¹m a bit of an outsider looking in, I have quickly come to love this island. I love the history and the culture, the people and the places. I love the multitude of slightly eccentric hobbies that here are considered commonplace. I have become a collector of so many different things, that I have become a collector of hobbies. I have a Victorian writing desk where I keep ancient coins, old buttons, fossilized shark¹s teeth and a scribbled copy of my family tree. Hand-painted miniature soldiers guard my crowded bookshelves.  I have a list of battlefields and castles that I need to visit.
 
Although life with only one book is nearly inconceivable, if forced, I would pick the biggest collection of the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson that I could find. Rarely has such wit, imagination and observation been found in one individual. However, when trapped in elevators, I have found it wise to carry a copy of Old Board Games in my pocket.

BLOG POSTS

A Church Clocks Convert

Growing up in the American South, I never saw many church clocks. Perhaps the newer churches, generally constructed in wood by poor communities, considered clocks an unnecessary expense. Maybe clocks just didn’t mesh with the simple southern Protestant style. Or maybe I just wasn’t paying much attention.

August 4, 2009 12:00 AM

Shire: History, Mystery and a Prize to be won!

Last week on the Shire Notice Board, avid Shire collector Paul Gilberg asked me a question about the old Shire book, Wines of Madeira. It seems we printed 15,000 copies of the book, but not one can be found.

July 28, 2009 12:00 AM

Fancy a week on a Victorian Farm?

After the success of their television series ‘Victorian Farm’, BBC 2 are now looking for volunteer families to spend a week on their farm, competing against other families to master the crafts of the Victorian age in a new show entitled Escape in Time. Personally, my father grew up on a dairy farm and he never made the experience sound like that much fun.

July 13, 2009 12:00 AM

Scottish warriors dressed in yellow?

It appears that Shire’s upcoming book Scottish Arms and Armour has already been noticed up north, and it has caused a bit of a stir.

July 3, 2009 12:00 AM

The Dying Art of Letter Writing

There was a time, not so long ago, when I used to await the daily post with a sense of expectation and excitement...

June 23, 2009 12:00 AM

Only £6,400 for a Dinky Van

According to a new BBC article, a one-of-a-kind Dinky van has just sold for £6,400 at auction. The owner must have been pretty disappointed.

June 9, 2009 12:00 AM

Shire heads to the big city!

This weekend, Shire will be loading up the van and heading down to London to take part in Who Do You Think You Are, the genealogy show based on the popular television show.

February 23, 2009 12:00 AM