Common Room at New Milne

Not the best photo, but it does show a bunch of the folks that were on this delightful trip with us. It's the first night we had everyone physically in Scotland, although some of them were still mentally elsewhere due to jetlag. Sitting on the floor with her back to me is Missy; she is chatting with Ginger & Marita Beth Kelly with Ed laying across the top of the coach. On the near coach are Adrian and his lovely wife who just happened to be in Perthshire at the same time we were although they weren't travelling with us. KyleF & I had gone down to the Foundry (a local pub in Perth) and picked them up. Belfast, Ireland natives they were taking holiday in Scotland and met up with us. Great fun, great people. They are sitting next to Joseph on the couch with Larry sitting on the floor in front of them. Out of the picture (although you can see her hands) is Alison. Next to Alison, and completely out of the photograph are KyleF, Desiree & Kara. Missy's son Sean is nowhere to be found and undoubtedly stirring up mischief as only a seven-year old can stir. We are sitting in the common room of the New Milne house in Perth and just enjoying each other's company and wine (or beer). Wastrel On! (Listening to: Hollerin' For Haggis by The Rogues)

Scottish Landscape in Perthshire

Scottish Landscape in Perthshire
Originally uploaded by crazyBobcat.

A little heavily saturated, but there's only so much you can do with a photo. Taken out of the side window while driving through a rainy section of Perthsire, I managed to capture some of the truest elements of the Scottish landscape. Queen Anne's Lace in the foreground with beatifully green, rolling hills fading into a mist-obscured background in the mountainous distance. Brilliant. If only I could be there instead of this piece of dirt on the anus of America that they call Texas. As soon as there is a financial opportunity to get out, I will.

Wastrel On!
(Listening to: Honey Bee by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble

MB, Ginger & Glamis

Once again integrating my wife into the photo; this time with our very dear friend Ginger of Faire Pair Tights & Such. She made the last minute decision to join us on this trip, and I am so very glad she did. A breathe of wonderfully clean fresh air and a revitilization of wonderful memories. These 2 outstanding ladies and Lisa Oliver & Myself made a Yule Time trip to England some years back. What a wonderful time that was. This trip was all that as well, only additional, different friends and different locations; but very special nonetheless. This will be my last photo of Glamis Castle. At this point we were done with the Highland Games; done with the Tug Of War; done with the caber tossing; done with the weight for height; done with the shopping; done with the beer. No, strike that last one, we're never done with the beer. Just continuing to drink at a different location. So, off we'll trudge from here back to New Milne to meet up with Kyle & Desiree Ford, and Larry & Denise Geisen who had arrived just a little while before, having been delayed in the US over night. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Visions at Night by Lashing Patsy)

Tug of War

Now this surprised me. I had no idea, truly no idea, that Tuf of War was a real, highly-thought-of competition in Scotland. So important is this competition that there are Tug of War associations in various countries throughout Europe and Tug of War competitions at every major and minor Highland Games held in the United Kingdom. It was to my great surprise that watching grown men struggle against each other on a slippery ground would so captivate people for long stretches of time. I guess grunting, groaning, sweaty men hanging onto a large rope for what appears to be dear life, or at least recognition is a real attention grabbler. As surmised, I'm sure, I'm still reporting on the Higland Games. For a relatively small festival, there was a great deal going on and we spent quite a bit of time there. Wastrel On! (Listening to: I'm Ready by Tracy Chapman)