Today was Durness Gathering. The Clan Mackay’s annual knees up.
Everyone on their best behaviour. In this picture we have two West Highlanders, a Scouser, an Italian and a German. It’s easy to spot the German.. she’s the organised one trying to untangle the dogs leads. United Nations.
Off we went at the crack of noon.
To queue and follow the Ullapool pipe band into the Gathering.
Some queue, I’ve never seen the place as busy.
They had a clown for the big kids.
Pillow fights for teenagers.
Face painting……..and…..
A fair ground ride for the nippers.
Aww it’s stopped.
The hundred yard dash for all ages.
I crouched down for this shot Just in case one of them tripped and fell I quite fancied rescuing one.
Much more entertaining than the Olympics.
The high jump.
Giant men playing with their balls.
I had to go as I saw a serious change in the weather. The dogs were overheating and the crowds were getting too much for me.
The man next to us said: “Och! Bugger! There’s a whore coming.” Now the entertainment had been varied but I wasn't expecting it to get that diverse in the land of the Wee Frees.
He meant a sea fret. The fog was followed by a superb thunder storm so men tossing cabers and throwing balls on sticks will have to wait for another day.
Have a great weekend.
Hi Adrian Well that was a very different day for you. Great fun shots and I am sure the dogs loved the attention. Have a great weekend. Margaret
ReplyDeleteMargaret, all my shots are a joke. I've plenty more. I'll check them out before bin day tomorrow. I have one hundred and twenty. I've binned five cos the bloody A1 focus missed.
DeleteGreat fun. The cable tossing is exquisite, ha ha.
ReplyDeleteBob, the lasses are exquisite. Scots do wear something under their frocks.
DeleteLovely pics, Adrian, so lovely ... wish I was there ... Love, cat :)
ReplyDeleteCat if you ignore the insects and concentrate on the giant men or in my case the nubile sword dancers then it's not a bad day out.
DeleteBrilliant! I love the |Ullapool Pipe Band. And I love that last picture too...
ReplyDeleteAnnie, as I said to the dogs. They don't really have a live animal in the bag.....It just sounds as if they do. The Whore Or Hawr or the fog didn't do the day any favours. They put so much work into it.
Delete"just in case one of them tripped and needed rescuing"...yeah right! More likely you wanted to see if Scottish women in kilts were like the men folk, a more likely story.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good gathering and a good time, love the sea fog coming in.
Douglas, up here they are bomb proof. It's not a bad picture. The lass second from right has already got a copy. Suspect it could go viral...My sort of birds they are. I like owls.....But!
DeleteFolk treating fun seriously is always fun. It's why MotoGP is better than Football.
The pictures and the captions are all really great and together they tell a superb story. I scrolled through it twice and maybe I will again, enjoyed it so much!
ReplyDeleteDavid, I like these sorts of dos. They make for an easy life.
Deletewhat amazing photos ... the kids seem to have really fun=0)
ReplyDeleteMichelle, the children of all ages have fun at these events.
DeleteI love a good Highland games amateur style. However the best part of what was a Really Interesting Post was your statement that "Folk treating fun seriously is always fun". That's one which I shall remember. It'll come in useful sometime.
ReplyDeleteGraham, there is nothing not to like. The weather was par for such occasions but we did get a couple of hours sunshine.
DeleteThis looks like a very enjoyable community games day. Ordinary people should feel comfortable competing in events that are made to be fun.
ReplyDeleteRed, it was a grand afternoon.
DeleteLooks like a fun day snapping shots of all the people. I do like those times. Plus it keeps my mind busy when there is a lot of activity going on. Men do love playing with their balls. I suppose that's why sports are so popular;)
ReplyDeleteChris, people snapping is not something I do much of. I enjoy it every once in a while.
DeleteMust have been a great day, seems you even enjoyed photographing the children! You got some good action shots.
ReplyDeletePauline, I've been learning from you.
DeleteHi Adrian...Well that's a switch, you do have a heart for those little rug rat's after all ; )!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fun day was had by all,even the dogs got in a good visit!!
Grace
Grace, I'm not made of stone. It's not easy lugging a couple of cameras and two dogs around in crowds.
DeleteNice to hear and hear about these British events.
ReplyDeleteMaria, this is a Highland Games. They can get very professional but although people are competing for money in this one it's more about fun.
DeleteThe little girl in the first photo doesn't look too sure about your two little darlings Adrian.
ReplyDeleteNothing quite like a sea fret to drop the temperature drastically.
John, it's just how the camera caught her. She is the top dog trainer. This last few days they have spent as much time with her as they have with me. It was the thunder storm which caused the most problem.
DeleteLove the shot of the four young lady runners. The stuff of erotic fantasy. Did you toss caber by the way?
ReplyDeleteYP, I did think about it but by the time I'd struggled back to my feet I hadn't the strength.
DeleteNow Adrian, I reckon you missed your chance there, that would have been the perfect opportunity for you to have donned your skirt and joined in with the merriment? I'm sure you would have been world class at playing with balls and tossing the thingy? And with the application of a spot of 'lippy' you could have chased those ladies for a hundred yards..no problem!...[;o)
ReplyDeleteTrevor, I really haven't got the figure for a skirt.
DeleteI could have chased them but I wouldn't have caught them without a net.
Viene bien este día de fiesta para olvidar un poco. Alegres fotos!!
ReplyDeleteTe deseo buen fin de semana.
Un abrazo.
Cada pequeña ayuda. Es un momento triste en España.
DeleteAdrian, do your Macro ring lights stay on indefinitely? I suppose they do, don't they? I'm undecided whether to buy a set of Macro Ring lights, or just getting a portable video LED light for the camera (for nocturnal insects or frogs) like this.
ReplyDeleteMaria, yes they do and are variable in intensity. Mine are by Dorr and were cheap enough. It also has a very whimpy flash built in. I did try Canons twin macro flash head which is superb but very expensive. The Canon ring flash is good but I got the small one and it's fine it works in two halves so I generally have one half at half power or whatever it needs and the other half at just a bit to give some fill. It stops images looking too flat. An off camera flash one side and a reflector the other works quite well but it is really a two person job. E-mail me if you want the model numbers.
DeleteFine, fun photos, Adrian.. and your commentary made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteHilary, I enjoyed myself.
DeleteYou can tell the Scouser as well - he's the one with the look on his face that shows he's working out how to pinch one of the West Highlanders...
ReplyDelete(I'm allowed to say that I'm a Scouser - but woe betide anyone else who runs us down!)
Did you notice how the faces of the runners get more serious the older they get! And why weren't you in a race? How about an Oldies' Para100 yard dash?
You spotted him John. I indulged in a bit of poetic license. He's from the Wirrel. Having said that a BMW was found sitting on bricks and there were few BBQs to be found come dawn. It's a good job the nights are short.
DeleteI have all on walking round, I'm sorry to say that I couldn't even manage the three legged race despite the young nubiles. You're up early.
Ooh a sea fret ~ never heard of one?
ReplyDelete