Teaser pictures from Scotland

**Alan H** · 25th July 14, 02:32 PM

I haven't uploaded any of mine yet, due to terribly slow internet connections on our B&B's but here are a few that other people have gotten...

Turning the caber at the Inverness Highland Games

and maybe the wildest occurrance of the whole trip..... When we got to Callander, we were cleaning up in the room and I SWORE I could hear the sounds of a Brass Band wafting down the street. Now Brass Bands are UK fixtures, the ensemble has basically died out in the USA. They were popular up to a bit after the Civil War and then they just disappeared. So I REALLY wanted to hear this group.

We walked down the street, and in fact, in front of the church was the Callander Brass, doing a summer evening concert. The conductors sister was making the rounds, trying to scare up some money and support and I happened to mention that I was from California, was quite thrilled to hear an actual UK Brass Band and that ever since I "discovered" this type of group, had wanted to try an alto horn. Well, about three minutes later the conductor invited me to SIT IN on the concert, and his wife in the horn section let me use her alto horn. WOW, that was FUN....so these aren't a kilted pictures, but it's AWFULLY cool!!

**Alan H** · 25th July 14, 02:38 PM

Finally, I got eliminated rather quickly in the Caber Championships at Inverary (it was ENORMOUS) so I ran over the the Backhold Wrestling table and signed up. I've wanted to try this for years! My opponent...the poor kid!...was a 20 year old cadet in the Sutherland Highlanders Army training group and he probably weighed about 205 to my 305. We had some good bouts... he won, which is a good thing as it wouldn't do to lose to the Old Man.... but it was close, I got two falls to his three and one in the middle was initiated and controlled by me, but we hit the ground at the same time.

**Alan H** · 25th July 14, 02:40 PM

Finally, for creagdubh....I actually VERY briefly met the Duke of Argyll at the Inverary Games when he came over to watch the Heavies. I know that you'll be pleased to know that in fact, he DOES like red hose! LOL....

**cessna152towser** · 25th July 14, 02:53 PM

Good pics Alan, looks like you are having lots of fun.
I met Imrichmond from Canada today in Hawick and it seems he somehow missed out on meeting you and JockScot last Saturday when he was piping at the Inverness Games with the Can Am Pipes and Drums.

**Hawk** · 25th July 14, 03:40 PM

Well done Alan.....well done, looking forward to your photos......

Hawk

**McMurdo** · 25th July 14, 03:51 PM

Wonderful photos Alan, looking forward to more.

**grizzbass** · 25th July 14, 09:01 PM

Man it looks like you're having a ball. I found it amusing your reference to the civil war and brass bands because U.S. Grant (who suffered from migraines) hated brass bands which when you're in army camps surrounded by them and most social and army functions would have had them makes life difficult. It was said he would ride 5 miles out of his way in order to avoid them. I've never read his opinion on the caber

**rtown** · 25th July 14, 09:33 PM

Thanks for sharing. Great photos.

**Spartan Tartan** · 26th July 14, 03:43 AM

Great pictures and what a fantastic opportunity to sit in with a brass band! I love those as well.

**Ron Abbott** · 26th July 14, 04:02 AM

There's a big brass scene in the UK, especially in areas where there are or used to be collieries.
In fact one of my late relatives was the chairman of the brass band association in Scotland.

If you've never seen, there was a great movie produced in the 1980s starring Ewen McGregor and peter Postlewaite related to the UK brass band scene. It's called 'Brassed Off'......

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassed_Off