Scottish Picnic Customs: Compare and Contrast

**skauwt** · 6th December 10, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by MacRobert's Reply

Last year's hard winter froze the wee blighters in their shallow-water nurseries and cut their numbers in the summer. This year's big freeze should do the same. So picnics in hot sunny and/or windy places are possible even in Summer. The top of most Munros is usually fine.

the ice on the water actually makes it better for them less predators and more rich oxygenated water perfect conditions for any semi aquatic bug and young fish ,

the amount of bugs this year from the local lochs was way more than average

wasn't fun at all walking into them all

**MacRobert's Reply** · 7th December 10, 01:00 PM

Quote:
the ice on the water actually makes it better for them less predators and more rich oxygenated water perfect conditions for any semi aquatic bug and young fish ,

the amount of bugs this year from the local lochs was way more than average wasn't fun at all walking into them all

My knowledge of the midge life cycle is rudimentary and largely restricted to being one step below them in the food chain

. However, a Times article at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7044805.ece sounds hopeful.

**Bugbear** · 7th December 10, 01:06 PM

Hmmm, Ali didn't post a description of what a picnic is to her...

Guess it wasn't very interesting.

**ali8780** · 8th December 10, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Bugbear

Hmmm, Ali didn't post a description of what a picnic is to her...

Guess it wasn't very interesting.

I'm here! I'm here!

Alright, picnics.

I actually can't remember if I've ever been a part of a traditional basket and bicycles in the park kind of picnic, but I've been on many a church-type picnic.

First of all, we are all assigned to bring some sort of food pot-luck style, and then we gather at a park or so and let the children run wild while we pretend to feed them (kids never want to eat when you want them to). The conversation varies in topic but will invariably turn to a recipe exchange of sorts, and then the theme of entertainment will also vary-- I've been to some where there was live musical entertainment, short skits, and even an auction of goods or services.

Also, there are a few picnicking rules that I always abide by:

1- It is absolutely imperative that you collect your desert as you collect your other food rather than go for desert later after it has all been picked over.

2- Eat only what you can identify, or what has been made by people you trust.

3- skip the salad (also a good rule for buffets)

Well, I don't know if that qualifies as being interesting, but there you go

**artificer** · 8th December 10, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by ali8780

I'm here! I'm here!

Alright, picnics.

I actually can't remember if I've ever been a part of a traditional basket and bicycles in the park kind of picnic, but I've been on many a church-type picnic.

First of all, we are all assigned to bring some sort of food pot-luck style, and then we gather at a park or so and let the children run wild while we pretend to feed them (kids never want to eat when you want them to). The conversation varies in topic but will invariably turn to a recipe exchange of sorts, and then the theme of entertainment will also vary-- I've been to some where there was live musical entertainment, short skits, and even an auction of goods or services.

Also, there are a few picnicking rules that I always abide by:

1- It is absolutely imperative that you collect your desert as you collect your other food rather than go for desert later after it has all been picked over.

2- Eat only what you can identify, or what has been made by people you trust.

3- skip the salad (also a good rule for buffets)

Well, I don't know if that qualifies as being interesting, but there you go

ali,
couple these important bits of advice with a massive distrust of others 'cooking' and the picnic buffet (potluck) becomes the minefield it is for me.

I agree, BTW, with all your advice, implicitly. Never trust anything cold, or (gods forbid) with mayo. Go with what (and who) you know.

I won't admit to being a germophobe, but, frankly, food poisoning is no fun.
Trust in cheese and pickle (or maybe a cold cut sandwich). Fools will trust in the mayo+noodle salad.

BTW: *** on the desert

**ali8780** · 8th December 10, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

ali,
couple these important bits of advice with a massive distrust of others 'cooking' and the picnic buffet (potluck) becomes the minefield it is for me.

I agree, BTW, with all your advice, implicitly. Never trust anything cold, or (gods forbid) with mayo. Go with what (and who) you know.

I won't admit to being a germophobe, but, frankly, food poisoning is no fun.
Trust in cheese and pickle (or maybe a cold cut sandwich). Fools will trust in the mayo+noodle salad.

BTW: *** on the desert

yeah, I have a whole slew of rules for buffets for that very reason. Mass-produced meat is always dangerous

**skauwt** · 9th December 10, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by MacRobert's Reply

My knowledge of the midge life cycle is rudimentary and largely restricted to being one step below them in the food chain

. However, a Times article at
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7044805.ece sounds hopeful.

a wee bit later

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10337812

**ThistleDown** · 9th December 10, 12:24 AM

Talisker with water from the burn. Hard smoked Caithness cheese, oatcakes by Nairns if not from the kitchen, rich butter from Daviot dairy, thinly sliced roe deer tightly rolled in tubes, pickled onions, beets and little cuces, smokies, baps left over from breakfast, bite-bits of carrot and turnip and broccoli kept chilled in a flask of iced water, dollar pancakes, pinot gris, creme caramel, black tea. All slow food. Laughter and good conversation. Oh, yes, sunshine and a brisk breeze, of course. For two or four, over the Moray firth looking north.

**BoldHighlander** · 9th December 10, 01:44 AM

Stop it Rex! It's almost bedtime here & your getting me hungry!!!

**Livingston** · 9th December 10, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

Talisker with water from the burn. Hard smoked Caithness cheese, oatcakes by Nairns if not from the kitchen, rich butter from Daviot dairy, thinly sliced roe deer tightly rolled in tubes, pickled onions, beets and little cuces, smokies, baps left over from breakfast, bite-bits of carrot and turnip and broccoli kept chilled in a flask of iced water, dollar pancakes, pinot gris, creme caramel, black tea. All slow food. Laughter and good conversation. Oh, yes, sunshine and a brisk breeze, of course. For two or four, over the Moray firth looking north.

I minght not want to get past the Talisker.

This does sound like the perfect picnic to me; Scotland, the highlands of Colorado, the desert of Arizona, the plains of Kansas or where ever you might be.