Impromptu Scottish Games

[Panache]

Panache emulates:

This was the only time I lost my balance and had a foot slip, sadly it's the only picture of me throwing the hammer.

Also since i have only been on the boards here for less than a month, it was good to put faces to names here on XMTS.

It's just possible if you search around XMTS long enough you just might come up with another picture or two of my lovely lady and I. By nature we are demure, quiet, and camera shy.

Panache what a great hat!!!

The X Marks the Scot Pith Helmet Brigade

The few, the proud, the shaded

Cheers

Jamie

[BEEDEE]

The X Marks the Scot Pith Helmet Brigade

The few, the proud, the shaded

Cheers

Jamie

Actually - should be THE FEW, THE PROUD, THE PITHED!

Brian

[cloves]

Sorry for the loss of the house Piper George.
It's cool how you all came together to lament the loss of the house and a spontaneous party happened. You lot always seem to have such great fun.

[Rex_Tremende]

It's just possible if you search around XMTS long enough you just might come up with another picture or two of my lovely lady and I. By nature we are demure, quiet, and camera shy.

I just nearly choked on my vodka-cranberry.

You guys sure do know how to turn any situation into a celebration. This is a great lesson in change management: acknowledge the loss, find good in the new, and move on.

Star, love the pics of your hair in motion. It sort of looks like it's helping you keep your balance.

Regards,
Rex.

[Standard]

Sorry for the loss of you house, and your keepsakes. It does look like a good beginning to rebuilding. Thanks for sharing the photos with the rest of us.

[PiperGeorge]

Thanks to all who have sent their condolences. I have a hard time putting words to all of the emotions since the fire. Strangely, loss and grief have not been part of the mix for neither my wife nor me. We have been so very fortunate from the very first ember up to this very day. First, realize that my wife and I are mobile Veterinarians and are hardly ever home during the day. We happened to have a cancellation and were home on the afternoon of June 20th. We had 15 minutes from the time we saw smoke until the house was engulfed in flames. The reverse 911 call came 2 hours after the house was gone (on my voice mail). We managed to rescue our 2 beloved Great Danes, our kitty and our 30 year old horse Blueberry. My wife led Blue down the hill (with his lead rope through the window of our 4 runner) through the flames. A helicopter dropped a bucket of water on them and he stayed right next to the car as fire trucks raced in the opposite direction down our narrow 2 lane road. He kept looking in the window of the car and my wife assured him that he would be ok.
We saved our business van and our computer. My bagpipes were high on the list as well as an armfull of clothes and 2 irreplaceable paintings. Everything else went away that day.

What is really important?
Friends and family. To illustrate the power of friends, the next day was the Campbell games. I lost all my kilts and kit. I called AlanH and he was working late, so the Luminous Joan answered and relayed the message that I needed stuff to compete in the solo pipe competition. He came bright and early and loaned me his kilt and gear. I won the pipe off that games thanks to my friend.
More examples: Panache and F.H.C.A.G. donated a new kilt and kit to me to help me through the rest of the piping season, and as they said "the honorary piper for the NorCal Rabble can not be without a kilt".
Another group of friends got together and did a fundraiser for us to help with the insurance company's deficiencies. We even had the kids of one of our Labrador retriever patients do a lemonade stand to help their dog's doctors.
The examples go on and on, but I won't.....

We may not have our stuff anymore, but we will have a home that has been Christened by the love of all of our good friends. The hardest thing I have had to endure is the humility of accepting the help of friends. I hope one day to repay their kindness, but I hope not to have to repay in kind as I don't wish the loss of a home on anyone.

Thanks to all who came to the wake. It was meant to be a celebration of the life of the old home and to commemorate the immortal strength of the bonds of friendship. It did all of that and more. Love to all my friends, young and old, new to me, and dear to me, thanks for being there, George

[cessna152towser]

Super pics.

[Arlen]

Now that looks like a VERY fun way to mourn the loss of a home.
As sad as it is that they lost it, at least they have so many friends to get them through.