A message from Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland?
On a recent visit to the island of Arran in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland we took time to visit the King’s Cave. This is where, legend has it, Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland in 1306, hid from his English pursuers in a cave. While there, he saw a spider spinning a web, trying to make a connection from one area of the cave’s roof to another. It tried and failed twice but began again and succeeded on the third attempt. This is said to have inspired the saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
When leaving the cave, I was surprised to see “HOYS” carved on the rock outside. I wondered if this was a reminder to HOYS participants as they process their data, if, at first, your photometric calibration does not succeed, try, try again.
Pat Devine