A place to stimulate the mind and imagination, giving the soul some entertaining relaxation.
This property was inherited by
Tanist, Dr. H. doc Hammett-Burnstrong, Phd, IAFS, SCP, ILWS on 15th Aug 1998 from His Grace, Perseverance A. Burnstrong, the 71st Duke of Antiraugh
For a glimpse of my C.V., and general orientation to the gallery, please go up to the Mezzanine Level.
It's fully accessable, and, once one has gotten one's bearings in this rather large old Early Victorian Building, (picture to the left), with the wonderfully designed transition area between the old manse, (the original house in these parts), and the still funky bauhaus/post modern house, of the style prevalent on Bront� Drive, and have perused the information there...one finds it an excellent place to study, in detail, the impromtu and often comedic pageant of those entering and greeting others, from the fine teak rail running along the Mezzanine balcony overlooking the Great Space and entry hall. With an extensive assortment of wines, including some excellent Sherrys, (Poe's "Cask of Amontillado" may find it's way into these rooms...some Poe shall, certainly), the imagination should be nicely lubricated when you decide to delve into the rest of the house.
On behalf of the reclusive duke, and myself, I happily welcome you to Doc's Gallery of hopefully interesting adventures.
If you like what you see...actually, if you see things you don't like, please take the 'Comments' link, just above, and let me know. I really can't, and shan't, speculate upon how I shall respond to them. His Grace is a moody one and often gets enthusiastic, taking criticism and running with it. There are times, however, that he takes criticism and runs at it. None the less, any and all comments and suggestions are very welcome, though, all rights are reserved to chuckle behind your back. Truly, they will help, and an occasional, "Hi", or, "How are you doing?" could make our whole week. This house gets very large when it gets dark and empty. But that's neither here nor there...or, really, it is here, and I'm not there, but that's a completely different and very long story. So, it would be appreciated if you stopped by the message board on the way out.
There is also an FFA, ("Free For All"), page where you might leave your favourite URL, and don't be shy if it happens to be your own. As a matter of fact, if you posted your favourite, non personal site, plus any of your own you'd like people to see, well, that's what the little anteroom with the two books on their own Georgian tables, between the Mezzanine lift and the Great Space and front door, was put there for. As long as it's something you wouldn't mind your great-aunt Honouria, nor your nine year old sister, Lucy, reading...(I know, pretend you have a nine year old sister named Lucy), go ahead and tell me what you like, and...well...what you don't like about the place. I promise that all suggestions will be weighed and evaluated carefully, before being dismissed as foolishness. Sorry, just giving a limb a little tug.
If you just want sit, sip and ponder, by all means, do. I just have one request. I brought another large stone from my office, ('small world'), which is very much like the one in my small office in a little research concern on the North East Coast. This one, as the other and are very much like those about my office in Sarum when I moved in, (it seemed like the place hadn't been used daily in centuries), are all reserved, as they were adopted by two young gentlemen who find them very comfortable, as do their cousins, (a young writer and a small mystery). I have promised those places would always be available for them, and I shall keep the stones ever ready for when they appear out of the wardrobe in the corner. I do hope they remembered to give Aslan my regards when they ran across him. But I digress. Be comfortable, and let your mind leave this often, cold, hard world, and remove itself into the oils and ink, the shadows and light. As the place fills up with new exhibits, (as long as Rockcod isn't too filled up already), I believe you'll find something you either love or dislike enough to become involved in.
If you ever find yourself lost in the gallery, or, let's say, momentarily confused and not quite where you thought you were, just find one of the "Directory" links, give it a click, and you'll find your way back here. Almost like magic, isn't it. Of course, Magick in the World is much like everything else, and subject to the capricious Laws of Murphy and Finagle, so if you notice some cracks in the finish, or you click a link and the best thing that happens is nothing, please keep in mind that a house like this a continuous work in progress, and a gallery, by definition, is ever in a state of flux. So, if you will all be a little patient, I shall endeavour to be more diligent, and together, we might make this draughty old white elephant, (that does hold a certain charm...it must, all old houses do...maybe it's upstairs). Sorry...tangent. We could make this a good place to spend some time now and again, I'm sure.
