Author Archives: Reynard

About Reynard

I'm the Pub Manager for the Green Man Pub which is located at the KInrowan Estate. I'm married to Ingrid, our Steward who's also the Estate Buyer. If I'm off duty and in a mood for a drink, it'll be a single malt, either Irish or Scottish, no water or ice, or possibly an Estate ale or cider. I'm a concertina player, and unlike my wife who has a fine singing voice, I do not have anything of a singing voice anyone want to hear!

A Kinrowan Estate story: Our Rooms

Posted on 23rd March 2025 by Reynard

Kinrowan Hall’s a vast sprawling edifice going back far longer than one would suspect and it’s been added onto more often than perhaps was for the better. What that means is that we who are staff here each have private … Continue reading →

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What’s New of 16th of March: A variety of mysteries; some new Scottish music by an old band, new jazz, and splendid archival reviews; ballads in graphic novel form; and chocolate in Paris

Posted on 16th March 2025 by Reynard

A girl could feel special on any such like. Said James to Red Molly, my hat’s off to you It’s a Vincent Black Lightning, 1952 And I’ve seen you at the corners and cafés it seems Red hair and black … Continue reading →

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What’s New of 2nd of March: Kibbles and Bits including ghostly stories, the Hotel California, music picked by Gary of course

Posted on 2nd March 2025 by Reynard

The working title of “Hotel California” was “Mexican Reggae. — According to Don Feldrr in a Rolling Stones article So have I mentioned that we get some of our nastiest weather this time of year? Thus it is this weekend with … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 2nd of February: All about the Oz books, green man lore, and gargoyles; Baltic polyphony, East-West ambient psychedelia, and a grab bag of other music

Posted on 2nd February 2025 by Reynard

She who invented words, and yet does not speak; she who brings dreams and visions, yet does not sleep; she who swallows the storm, yet knows nothing of rain or wind. I speak for her; I am her own. ― … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 19th of January: Go Ahead, Be Pleasantly Surprised At What’s Here

Posted on 19th January 2025 by Reynard

The fox never found a better messenger than himself. — old English saying What’s that lovely piece of music I’ve playing in the Library? That’s ‘Toys, Not Ties’ by the Scottish sort of trad group Nightnoise.  I’m playing only that band this … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Ancients and Venerables of Guild of St. Nicholas

Posted on 12th January 2025 by Reynard

So it was a long year. Looking forward to this one, though. All sorts of things I can stand seeing the back of, you can always hope, can’t you? You want another one of those, or do you want to … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 5th of January: A look back at books Gary reviewed in 2024; some seasonally appropriate Nordic music and a little new jazz

Posted on 5th January 2025 by Reynard

Keep a little fire burning; however small, however hidden. — Cormac McCarthy’s The Road We’re really in the harshest part of Winter on this Scottish Estate, so the residents of Kinrowan Hall, save the staff of Gus, our Head Gardener, who … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 22nd of December: A Solstice Story, Crow Girls, Scrooge, Marley, Elizabeth I, Revels and more festive holiday reading; The Lion in Winter on stage and screen; Jethro Tull, Steeleye Span, Christine Lavin, swinging jazz and more holiday sounds

Posted on 22nd December 2024 by Reynard

John: A knife! He’s got a knife! Eleanor of Aquitaine: Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It’s 1183 and we’re barbarians! How clear we make it. Oh, my piglets, we are … Continue reading →

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A Kinrowan Estate story: Eggnog

Posted on 1st December 2024 by Reynard

A Québécois band introduced eggnog to this Estate back in the Fifties by its French name lait de poule (literally, “hen’s milk”). Eggnog’s a deceptively easy drink to make and consequently a bit hard to get precisely right. They were … Continue reading →

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What’s New for the 24th of November: Norwegian winter holiday music, archival jazz, new roots music from around Europe, and more; books and what not about things fictional & medæival

Posted on 24th November 2024 by Reynard

The voices of cold reason were talking, as usual, to deaf ears. — Brother Cadfael’s Penance (Ellis Peter’s Chronicles of Brother Cadfael series) That lovely aroma is the smell of apple pumpkin tarts baking in the Kitchen a few hundred or so … Continue reading →

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