North Texas Scottish Festival

[Bryan]

orecast predicts 0% chance of rain for Saturday afternoon and evening, highs in the mid-90s, and 13mph southerly winds.

That's better than the 80mph winds we've been having.

I'll be there on Saturday afternoon/evening with bells...er...a kilt on.

[Jack Daw]

I'd like to read reports of the festival by those who went. I really liked this event, but have'nt been able to go for a few years because of work.

[Cynthia]

I just got back. We weren't out there very long and I didn't get a lot of photos (if any of them even turned out). Christopher wasn't feeling too great, but wanted to try to go... and after only a couple of hours he started feeling really bad. He wanted to leave me there and come back to get me, but I didn't want him having to come back.

At least we know what to expect for next year. I might get a photo thread going in a few if there's anything worthwhile on my camera.

I did bump into Lambda and Ronusan, but we didn't really have much of a chance to look for anyone else We got to see a little bit of a caber toss, and hear a little of the North Texas Caledonian Pipe & Drum band. I chatted a little at the Clan Grant tent (no MacNeill tent that I could see), and looked at a few booths but that was about it. I also got to chat with another NTCP&D piper (the father of a friend Christopher went to high school with) and a friend who is in a band (I didn't even know he was going to be there). It was nice to see them all... I wish we could've chatted longer.

I just hope my sweetie feels better soon. The poor guy was so frustrated about the timing. He didn't even wear the kilt.

[Jack Daw]

Cynthia, I'm sorry Christopher wasn't feeling well. Well, there's always the Salado Highland Games & Clan Gathering in November!

[Cynthia]

Thanks. I'm hoping things'll be going a lot smoother for us so we can attend more events (November sounds a lot nicer than June, that's for sure ), and even travel a little distance for a few of them. I'm sure we'd have a blast!

It just stinks that we were both looking forward to this for a while and then a few things came up, and of course the kicker was him not feeling so great. The poor guy kept apologizing to me. I just want him to feel better. Being sick isn't fun.

[RadioKen]

I was there on Saturday with the wife and wee ones from about 3:45pm until some time just after 8:00pm. My wife was really wanting to see performances by Clandestine, The Rogues and The Killdares so we stuck around long enough to see all of them. We visited lots of merchants and we got a collection of business cards and email address from them. I visited a few of the clan tents and finally got myself signed up with the Clan Gunn Society of North America. The kids had a great time running around - maybe you saw my little girl; she was the one in the light blue dress with white pinafore who looked like a little Alice in Wonderland. I didn't run into any X-Markers that I know of, but then I've never met anyone from the 'board so I probably saw you and never knew it. I DID see lots of familiar faces from Scarby, though, and I ran into a couple of brother Masons from other lodges.

I shot some photos, though I don't remember how many at this point. I'll post them, or a link to them, as soon as I get them uploaded into my computer. Oh, and my wife discovered that she really likes Ace pear cider.

We'll definitely go back next year, maybe as volunteers and/or vendors.

~Ken

[Jack Daw]

I look forward to seeing your pics, Ken.

[Ancienne Alliance]

I look forward to seeing your pics, Ken.

So do I !

[Jack Daw]

Thanks. I'm hoping things'll be going a lot smoother for us so we can attend more events (November sounds a lot nicer than June, that's for sure ), and even travel a little distance for a few of them. I'm sure we'd have a blast!

It just stinks that we were both looking forward to this for a while and then a few things came up, and of course the kicker was him not feeling so great. The poor guy kept apologizing to me. I just want him to feel better. Being sick isn't fun.

Cynthia, if you think it's a good possibility that you and C may make Salado, you might want to reserve a hotel room soon. You can always cancel later, if you can't make it. There's a fairly new La Quinta hotel near Salado in Belton, but there are other places to stay NEAR Salado that are not as pricey. Salado only has the Stagecoach Inn, but it is near impossible to get in. I think there's a Super 8 around there, too.

[Ronusan]

Had a great time there this weekend! Made sure to see The Rogues and Clandestine, who didn't disapoint. Caught as many performances of the NTCP&D as I could, you guys were amazing as always! But I think by far the highlight of the weekend for me was Saturday night in the tent right by the entrance. I don't think it was any specific band, just lots of musicians (including a few from Clandestine) jamming together, having a blast AND sounding absolutely incredible. At one time there were 6 fiddlers on stage, all virtuoso in their own right. Was just a fantastic show and really brought out all I love about Celtic music. Attended the Scottish Country Dance workshop (girlfriend's idea) and the Bodhran workshop. The dancing workshop was fun, the Bodhran one, well . . . it could have been a little more focused and as a former music theory nerd I had some frustrations with how he explained some things to the class. I still learned some very helpful techniques from it though (I'm a total beginner) so I definitely would consider it time well spent and I appreciate the teacher's effort.

Only downside to the weekend was a mildly unpleasant run in with The Kilt Police that I'm fairly sure I was actually in the right on. I'll post about that separately as I want to find out from more people what the truth of it is.

And I bought a can of the canned haggis there to cook for my parents one night.

Saw Rowdy Red, Cynthia and Christopher there and saw Lambda playing up in the bleachers I think. Was a lot of fun!