Ever since we heard that this stone was valued at 10 million Yuan [$1,300,000 USD]
Will and Guy have started getting out a bit more.
The stone, exhibited at the 3rd China (International) Treasure Stone
Exhibition, is 30 cm long and has 15cm strands of white hair. Experts
believe that the funny white hair is really the remains of a fungus or
lichen which grew on the stone.
The Blarney Stone itself is found in the village of the same, Blarney,
County Cork, Ireland. Officially, its called the 'Stone of Eloquence'.
Anyone kissing the Blarney Stone magically acquires the gift of gab,
eloquence or skill at flattery. However, for anyone wanting to kiss
the 'Blarney Stone' this is not a trivial task. Kissing this funny stone is a team effort. The kisser lays down and lowers his body backwards
into the chasm whilst holding a support bar, and a friend sits on his legs
to keep him anchored firmly to the floor.
In ancient times pilgrims were hung over the parapet by their feet and
lowered so they could kiss the stone.
The word 'blarney' has entered common parlance meaning clever bluster, or
coaxing someone to do what you want.
Funny Blarney Story
A group of tourists were touring Ireland. One of the women in the group
was a real moaner, always complaining. The bus seats were uncomfortable or
the food was terrible; it was either too hot, or it's too cold; the
accommodations was awful. Will and Guy are sure you know the score.
The group arrived at the site of the famous Blarney Stone in County Cork.
'Good luck will be following you all your days, if you kiss the Blarney
Stone,' the guide said. 'Unfortunately, it's being cleaned today and so no
one will be able to kiss it. Perhaps we can come back tomorrow.'
'We can't be here tomorrow,' the nasty curmudgeonly woman shouted. 'We
have some other boring tour to go on. So I guess we can' t kiss the stupid
stone.'
'Well now,' the guide said patiently, 'it is said that if you kiss
someone who has kissed the stone, you'll have the same good fortune.'
'And I suppose you've kissed the stone?' the woman scoffed rudely.
'No, ma'am,' the frustrated guide said, 'but I have sat on it.'
Ireland Has Even Funnier Stones - The Giant's Causeway
While the Blarney stone will always have an element of mirth; the stones
of the Giant's Causeway are like nothing else on earth. You can tread
on these polygonal columns of layered basalt on the beautiful northern coast
of County Antrim.
The Giant's Causeway is the result of a volcanic eruption 60 million
years ago. It is the focal point of a designated area of outstanding natural
beauty and has attracted visitors for centuries. It harbours a wealth of
local and natural history.
Incidentally, the famous Bushmills Irish whiskey distillery is close-by.
And after an awe-inspiring tramp over the Giant, Bushmills is well worth a
visit say Will and Guy.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England
Stonehenge is probably one of the top ten most recognisable
monuments in the world. The 5,000 year old henge monument became a World
Heritage Site in 1986 and is managed by English Heritage. Despite years of
research and study the reason behind the construction of Stonehenge remains
a mystery.
Further information about these ancient stones may be found at the
Stonehenge site
The Avebury Circle, Wiltshire, England
»
Avebury is the largest stone circle in the world: it is 427m (1401ft) in
diameter covers an area of some 28 acres. Although not so immediately
impressive as Stonehenge, it is an extraordinary site formed by a huge
circular bank (a mile round), a massive ditch now only a half its original
depth, and a great ring of 98 sarsen slabs enclosing two smaller circles of
30 stones each and other settings and arrangements of stones.
The Avebury Circle is thought to have been built before Stonehenge. The
great enclosure earthwork was formed by a bank and large inner ditch - the
circumference measures 1.3km. The Sarsens used are local unworked stones
selected for their shape, some weighing as much as 40 tons. To learn more
try the Avebury
Stone Circle website.
A Strange Stone Flower Appears in China
Villagers in China are flocking to see a giant stone flower which they
believe appeared in the woods after heavy rainfall.
Forestry rangers in Meilan village, Jinfeng town, China, say an elderly
villager found the stone flower a month ago when he was collecting firewood
deep in the forest. The village head-man, Ran Zaizhong, says the site used
to be buried by soil and forest until heavy rain caused a landslide and made
the stone flower suddenly appear.
A friend who is a geologist has suggested to Will and Guy that the
so-called petals are most likely to be 300 million-year-old
chert nodules.
Skipping Stones - Ducks and Drakes
Here is a good game that everyone can play - skipping stones. Will and
Guy love bouncing smooth flat stones See
more stone skipping.
Simeon Ellerton [1702-99]
Simeon Ellerton was an 18th century example of English eccentricity.
The first thing we know about him is that he was a
fitness fanatic.
He enjoyed walking long distances, sometimes, for example, from Durham in
the north-east of England to London. He was regularly employed to carry out
errands or act as a courier for the locals.
On his many frequent journeys he would gather up stones from the roadside
and carry them on his head. His aim was to gather sufficient stones to build
his own house. Eventually he had enough stones and he made a little cottage
for himself.
However, the downside of this extraordinary behaviour was that having
spent so many years carrying extra weight, he felt uncomfortable without it,
so for the rest of his life he walked around with a bag of stones on his
head.
Footnote: Please send us your funny stone
stories.
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