October 13, 2007 (The Herald / Graeme Smith) -- The castle which provided Bram Stoker with the inspiration for Dracula has been closed to the public for the first time in a century. Stakes have been hammered, not into the heart of vampires, but into the clifftop on which the ruined Slains Castle stands.

Attached to the stakes is fencing to keep the public away from the castle, which the owners say has been put there for health and safety reasons.

The public is unlikely to have the opportunity to wander among the ruins again as work is expected to start next year to restore it to the "living working building" it was when Bram Stoker strolled past it daily, drawing inspiration for his books, during his trips to Cruden Bay. Outline planning permission has been granted for around 32 flats in Slains, which was first built in 1597 by the 9th Earl of Erroll.

Considerable reconstruction was subsequently carried out by later Earls with the last changes in 1873.

The 20th Earl was forced to sell the castle in 1916 to meet death duties. The new owner allowed Slains to fall into disrepair and it was finally unroofed for safety reasons in 1925. The castle has attracted tourists with an interest in Dracula from all over the world and there has been considerable opposition to the development from those who believe it will now be lost to the area. Supporters argue that without the development it will eventually crumble into the sea and now it will be restored to its original splendour. Douglas Forrest, the architect for the Edinburgh-based Slains partnership which has taken over the site, said the move to fence off the castle had been made on the advice of insurers.

"Essentially it came down to the health and safety regulations," he said. "The ruin is due to become a development site and we can't have people running around inside it."

He said that although work was not expected to start until next year on the restoration of the castle it was possible that some selective stabilisation work could be carried out before a building warrant was granted.

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Posted by Vladimir Wed, 10/17/2007 - 12:49

 

Dreams

Everyone dreams, yes you and me
We dream of lives wild and free
Full of mystical beings and more
Will it hold mystery, magic, or gore
You never can tell what a dream will be
Just close your eyes and you will see
Dreams are there to calm the soul
To mend your body, to make you whole
Dreams you dream can take you away
To dance where unicorns and pegusi play
Remember your dreams as best you can
Picture the beach and warm, golden sand
Dreams are there to set you free
Among the clouds or rippling sea

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After the Loss

Devlin stepped into the hall, his footstep echoing down the hall as he moved swiftly. The voice was back. His silence gone after he had given the necklace away. It was the only thing that could keep her restless soul from tormenting him; reminding him of mistakes made long in the past. Even he the great reborn magi could not block her voice, and its sweet memories. She whispered in the back of his mind, telling him of his wrongs and protecting him from those that might end his existence; a cruel punishment he would not soon get out of.

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The Historical Dracula, Vlad III Tepes, 1431-1476

Historical Background: Most are probably aware of the fact that when Bram Stoker penned his immortal classic, _Dracula_, he based his vampire villain on an actual historical figure. Stoker's model was Vlad III Dracula (call Tepes, pronounced tse-pesh); a fifteenth century voivode or prince of Wallachia of the princely House of Basarab.

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Me

Me
not the mask but-
the one behind it.
The one always searching,
seeking,
for answers too eluding,
escaping,
seeping through the cracks-
of consiousness and into-
my being.
Me
I am not the mask but-
the person behind it.
I have feelings,
thoughts,
expressions-
words.
I am me.
Not a doll but-
Me.

Raevynn
January 28, 2002

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Chapter 25

Only three hours had passed since Ethel had startled Ernest from his sombre reveries, but within this brief space their love had matured as if each hour had been a year. The pallor had vanished from his cheeks and the restiveness from his eyes.

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