Gathering anti climax

[Jimmy]

last week at this time I was looking forward to the Gathering in Edinburgh, it turned out to be a great weekend and we stayed 2 nights in Edinburgh.
From the Aisling's Children Dress Rehearsal on Friday night , the Gathering on Saturday with brilliant weather and touring Edinburgh and Mary King's Close on Sunday, it was all high octane fuel stuff and of course meeting several X-Markers was a great experience, may never see some of these guys again but you never know.

So this weekend there is nothing planned and I suppose my wallet and credit card won't get the hammering they got last week, but it will seem strange not being kilted this weekend so I'm just going to be kilted tonight with friends in Glasgow and think of the good times last weekend

[MacKay71]

Sorry for downer. I'm still bummed that I couldn't go. a buddy of mine from work got back Wendsday and can't stop talking about the great time he had.

[Paul]

I know Jimmy... it's terrible isnt it?
I was at Alton Towers the week before then I had the Gathering to look forward to. Now me and Laura are going to Florida in 3 weeks - which is something to really look forward to
BUT
what the hell are we going to do til then? I'm trying to save my money and stuff but I seriously cant think of anything exciting to do before then. It's worth having a wee cry over! hahaha... maybe not - but it's saddening.

Theres very few occasions in Glasgow or Edinburgh where you can wear a kilt and fit in unless I want to start going to random folks' weddings every few weeks!

[Jimmy]

Aye, if you start going randomly to weddings it costs a packet, but certainly Florida is something to be excited about.
mind you over the next few weeks with the national team playing 3 games in August and September and the Worlds Pipe championship at Glasgow Green followed by the cowal games then i'll be kilting quite a bit
Suppose Florida is too warm for a kilt but there are some X-markers who wear the kilt in quite high temperatures

[ForresterModern]

Guys, you gotta sleep sometime.

Anticlimax is a bummer, but just remember the yin and yang. In order to truly enjoy the good time you need something to compare it to, which means at least some slow times in between. Makes you really appreciate the good things in life.

Sounds like all had fun at the Gathering, and some separate Clan get-togethers around the homeland following. Wish we could have been there with you. Next time for sure.

j :ootd:

[Paul]

I cant make the cowal games but we're thinking about the piping championship... that should be pretty good.
When we're in Edinburgh we've got an excuse to go to these things because Laura's cousins who are 4, 7 and 9 are always up for it and it's a good day out for them. My cousins are all about 40! haha

I'm taking 2 empty suitcases to Florida and buying everything there! A kilt isn't on the list - but you never know what I might come across!

[Sir William]

I've much the same feeling. I had a great two weeks in Scotland and now it's over and I'm back home.

That said, I'm already planning my next trip - which won't be for four years unfortunately as the wife wants to visit Ireland and Italy before we return to Scotland (why I don't know!).

[Jimmy]

The Gathering was a major success, I think there was a wee bit of trepidation amonst the organisers on how it would turn out but 47,000 people over 2 days can't be wrong.
Yup as your philosophy states there's the ying and yang, the ups and downs but what really made the Gathering was the brilliant weather on the Saturday and the weather since then as been poor, there's the fear in Scotland that we have had our Summer and we heading into Winter but anyway I'm kilted tonight and going to have a few beers and be nostalgic about last weekend

[Stratherrick]

Guys, I know what you mean...

But, as you say, all those World Cup qualifiers to watch!

I've got a Dutch friend coming over for the final game against Holland, taking it we're still in with a shout. We'll be heading to Edinburgh to find a pub so, nearer the time, I might put a shout out for X Markers who don't have tickets and can hit the capital.

Having said that, Glasgow will be hopping if we make it through to a play-off!

I'll just have to settle for The Mile with a few thousand kilted brothers!

Slainte

Bruce

[Hamish]

Boys! Boys! OK I have to agree with you about the anti-climax but, in many ways, I welcome it! I got back from Edinburgh late on Tuesday, having attended The Gathering on the Saturday, the march up the Royal Mile (we were with Clan Alba, right at the front) and the pageant at the Castle that evening - what a brilliant day! It was good meeting you and Laura, Paul, and the other X Markers who made it. On the Sunday morning, the weather and the forecast was so grim that Jim and I decided against making another appearance, possibly a squelchy one without appropriate footwear, at The Gathering and took ourselves off out of the city instead. The fascinating Falkirk wheel was our first port of call followed by a great scenic drive through the countryside beyond Stirling and almost to Perth before heading back to Edinburgh for an evening meal on The Royal Mile. Being in the car much of the time meant that the heavy rain had little effect on us.

So, yes, this current weekend has been something of an anti-climax, but I have been able to make a start on restoring my garden after my being away and having had so much rain poured on it! That was good and I welcomed the break from 'excitement'!!

All that aside, I am shocked that you Paul and you Jimmy, and both of you in Scotland, feel you can wear the kilt only to weddings, The Games and Pipe Band championships!! Remember: the kilt is a garment, not a costume and as such it can be worn at any time between getting up and going to bed! Why wait until you are able to "fit in"? Take a leaf out of my book and get out there and just do it!

Take care,
Ham.