ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Saturday 26 July 2014

THE GATHERING. (26/07/14)

I really wasn’t with it yesterday. I woke up full of the joys of summer this morning but by ten my eyes were back to streaming and my head felt all bunged up. The pictures I took yesterday are not good. I should have taken a polariser and a UV filter but forgot. Having looked forward to this day for weeks it was a disappointment. Not through any fault of the weather, the organisers, audience or the competitors, all four were working in perfect harmony. It was just me. I was a Muppet._MG_3210 Jam packed the place was. I’ll re-phrase that…..The place was jam packed. I know that is how it should be written but I don’t speak like that.

_MG_3204  The massed band of Sutherland Schools. I thought they were brilliant, smart, tidy and made a grand sound. I’m not fond of the sound of folk annoying sheep but if you like that sort of thing these children did it to perfection. You will have to imagine the sound. I did try for some video. I couldn’t see the screen because of the sun so whilst I was twisting this way and that to see I just got heads and feet and grass. I did get focus eventually but by that time they had marched past. I did get some funny looks. The old lady standing next to me said have yoose just been clegged. Crafty lass, she needed someone to lean on. I walked her within hearing distance of the dancing stage, kicked a young lass off a chair and sat her down to listen to the addresses.

_MG_3209    These are the Addresses. The chairwoman takes ages to go through all the births and deaths. Whilst the Clan Chief stands looking sombre. Don’t know why? He is the local undertaker. Clan Chiefs are now elected here which is a step in the direction of democracy. She then spent ten minutes extolling his virtues before he got his turn and declared the Games open.

_MG_3213     This is a great moment the heavies warming up. They can do this anywhere they like but when competing they have to do it in an expensive cage.

_MG_3229      This is to protect the public and little children who run onto the field. This cage was very expensive. The safety Elves said the committee had to get one. I am daft but I’m not daft enough to stand anywhere near a twenty stone man throwing cannon balls and big hammers about. If anyone gets hit then they deserve to be deselected from the human race.

Now; what all you athletics fans have been waiting for. A fit lass in sunglasses.

_MG_3220

_MG_3227  The big girls racing. I did catch the winner for some portraits but she was a useless poser she kept pulling faces, glasses up and glasses down, I was starting to get fed up. She made me delete them. I always give folk the option. She didn’t like these she said she looked like a flapper. I struggle with the dialect but assured her she looked nothing like any Slapper I had seen. Told her she was drop dead gorgeous, that's when she introduced her better half. She came third but won the ladies hill race. A marriage made in heaven?

_MG_3256   I’ll leave you on a noisier note. A young lad tuning up his pipes before going on stage for his moment of glory.

Sorry I wasn’t feeling better. It should have been a great day and apparently it was. It was just me being out of sorts.

30 comments:

  1. I think you still managed to capture the essence of the event. We all have days like those...

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    Replies
    1. Mersad. I felt bad. I was on auto-pilot. I just wish it would rain or thunder or anything to clear the air.

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  2. You have recorded the event well. It's odd how on the day we often don't get into things that we have anticipated so much.

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  3. AC, no I didn't.
    If I am not looking forward to something I usually enjoy it and visa versa. Just a bad day at the mill.

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  4. I like the 'shot' of the heavy warming up and love the idea that he can do that anywhere. Our health and safety will have him caged soon. I went to Liverpool to watch the Giants yesterday. Best spot to stand - on the Museum steps of course. First place roped off - the museum steps, of course. It's a safety risk having people stand on the steps. So they hung off walls instead...

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    1. A world class shot thrower can't make much over forty feet. Who in their right mind is going to get that close to the monsters that are heavies.
      We have to be protected from ourselves to give civil servants a reason to be un-civil.
      You are a football fan and as a Scouser should know how dangerous steps and fences are.
      How many died hanging over walls on Friday?
      I bet you lot were enthralled. I hope so. I thought the Kelties good but the giants are better.

      Delete
  5. A lovely sort of day, sad to hear that you were feeling bad.

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    Replies
    1. Bob, it's only the pollen. No worries.

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  6. Considering you were feeling off par that's not a bad set of images Adrian, you've caught the essence of the event for those of us who weren't there!
    A video of the big gir..er?...ladies racing might have been interesting tho'..I don't suppose you....aaanyway?....I hope you're feeling better soon?...[;o)

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    1. Trevor, this is my second year here and I think 'Big Girls Racing' should be continuous. I know they would get tired but it beats watching hairy arsed blokes tossing trees.

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  7. The location should have made you feel better. It's kind of rural and has a super view of the sea.

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    1. Red, I am used to the location I've not quarter of a mile away for weeks. It's some plant that is getting me down.
      Be okay now as it's raining.

      Delete
  8. It looks a great place to hold these games and the sun was out too.

    peter

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    1. Peter, it is a really good day out. A bit hot for me but better than driving rain.

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  9. Who would have thought, it being hot in Scotland. I hope your hayfever improves.
    I think the piper warming up makes a great image. My only critism is the race image, for us lecherous types a tighter crop would be more pleasing :-)

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    1. Douglas it has been roasting all week.
      I messed up with the running. The buffer filled before they crossed the line.
      They are big files, I could crop much tighter.

      Delete
  10. Thank you for posting the "Big Girls Running" pictures. It could be the name of a successful new website. Why were they all laughing as they ran towards you? Were you in your birthday suit?

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    Replies
    1. I did wonder whether I'd remembered to zip up.
      The childrens races are entertaining but I am wary of posting the pictures in the current climate. Silly I know.

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  11. I'm not at all sure what all this is about, but do hope you'll be feeling better soon, Adrian.

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    1. Frances, I am not sure what this is about so I'm afraid I can't help. I'm fine now, it's been raining and the rain cleared the air.

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  12. You might have been out of sorts but a lot of us still like your pictures. The men appreciate the big girls running, I just love the big guy throwing (or was it putting?). Not many can capture the grace of the shot putter. Maybe they should all wear skirts. Hope you're feeling better today.

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    1. Pauline, I think they Put the Shot, Throw the Hammer and Toss the Caber.
      I'm fine now thank you.

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  13. Looks like it was a grand meeting with plenty going on.

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    1. John, it is a grand afternoon out. I just wasn't feeling on top form.

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  14. I shall get to a good Highland Games one day. They had one on Lewis at one time but nothing as grand as that. I shall have to see if it's still being organised.

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    1. Graham, this is a great one. What it should be. Told you to come over.
      This has a few stalls but nothing like the Braemar market. It's good. They have £4K prize money donated. And just spread it about from the six year old running races to the Heavies, to the long distance runners. The under eighteens get a prize but the rest get cash. It's a great way of doing things. Two Polish brothers scooped the heavy prizes. Alastair the local was not best pleased, He only got £400.00p for two seconds and a failure in the Caber......Told him he was lucky....The runner up in the dancing girls was worth twice that.

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  15. Oh nice customs and traditions, will you wear skirt? Just kidding you...

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  16. Maria, yes I would but not in the Americas. Too many pervy folk about. I seem to recall men wearing ladies clothes in Peru. I also am led to understand that it happens regularly in other US states. Not Idaho though.

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  17. I could tell it wasn't a great day ... mixing with too many people :-) especially in the first shot, hope you didn't suffer too much.
    I was recommended to go to the Arisaig Games last week, I chose Canna instead.

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  18. Jay, I am not generally keen on crowds. You made a wise decision.

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