Lonach Gathering 2007

Well, another year and another Lonach Gathering and yet more camping.

The Lonach kicked off on the 25th Aug at Bellabeg, Strathdon with the march of the clansmen (which I missed) and the rest of the day was even better than last year! It did rain but my sunburn shows that the sun came out.

We headed off to set up camp on the Friday. With only 3 if us being there this year it didnt take long to get things set up and by 7pm we were all ready to get the BBQ going for some food-age. By 9pm we were starving because we had problems getting the BBQ going but all was not lost. Nod got his cooker going and then we were set.

The Saturday was busy. With all the usual stalls and entertainment I felt right at home. For people's viewing pleasure I took a video of a Pipe Band playing for the crowd and as part of a competition. They're playing Flower Of Scotland and Scotland The Brave. I shall apologise right now for the swearing you'll hear. That is me and my foul mouth lol.



Here's a couple of pics of our tents. Not that exciting. Pic 1 (our tent) and Pic 2 (Denise and Nod's tent)

After having a tea break back at the camp site, Denise, Nod and myself headed back to the main area and finally got good pics of Billy Connolly (scottish comedian) and if you click here you'll find a picture of his wife Pamela Stephenson (actress, comedian and now clinical psychologist) These are the best pics we've ever got of them.

After spending some time in the main area we called it a day and on the way back I decided to take a vid of Jake. This guy is there every year and every year he can be seen by the road playing for the public. He must make a fortune with his busking. He always wears the same gear and he always plays the same songs but he's brilliant! Denise can be seen in the background in the red jacket and Nod can then be seen and heard saying "Cya next year!"



and just for my enterainment here's a pic of my mum and Denise dancing to the TimeWarp. Maybe my mum will stop by and have a look. If she does...HIYA MUMMY!!!!! LIKE YOU PICTURE?!?! ahahahahaha <3!! Please don't kill me for putting it on here. Our viewing puplic will love it!

All in all we had a smashing time! We're already thinking of things to buy next year to try and beat Denise and Nod and maybe I'll be able to get a vid of Billy Connolly for all to see. If you have no idea who Billy Connolly is then you can look at his website here or check out his vids on youtube here. See how nice I am? I even got you the search page so you don't have to do it yourself! You can also read about 2006 and 2005's Lonach Gatherings here or by clicking the Lonach label at the side. I hope you enjoy watching the videos and looking at the pics.

Lonach Gathering 2006

Well, I'm back after a weekend of being away attending 165th Lonach Highland Gathering and Games in Scotland (for anyone who is thinking what I mean)
I've talked about the Lonach Gathering before on this blog and about how some well known celebs attended most years. Billy Connelly is the patron of the Gathering and attends every year. Famous names that have been there in the past have been Sean Connery, Steve Martin and Robin Williams. This year...there were none and I'll explain later.

We headed off for Bellabeg, Strathdon on friday morning. We decided that we would set up our tents early and when the rest of our group joined us at my mum's house, we would head off for the weekend. My mum, Nod and myself had fun trying to set up the tents (being sarcastic). After 4pm, everyone else joined us and we set off. I don't like camping much and I've not been feeling all that great, so I expected to end up hating my weekend away. I was so wrong.
We sat up on friday night, got drunk, pissed about, complained about insects and the people who had set up camp beside us. The next morning, we were up early to watch the March of the Clansmen and pipe band and just before noon, we headed towards the main field. We browsed the stalls, that are there every year, before standing to watch some events. That's when we first spotted Billy Connelly. After getting all excited at spotting him, we headed back to our tent for some lunch. We were lucky to end up with beautiful sunshine for the whole afternoon. I ended up with sunburn on my face, neck and arms!
We headed back to the main field to see the last March of the Clansmen and because Nod was the only one taking pics, I pulled him away to somewhere that would be easy to get pics of Billy but he stood at the wrong side and ended up just getting pics of his hair! If he stood beside me, he would have got a perfect view!!
After the games up finished, we headed back for the night to our tents, and spent the night making fires, complaining again about the people beside us, getting drunk and trying to cover from the downpour that tried to ruin our fun.

All in all.....a bloody great weekend. I'm disappointed that no celebs were there this year. There's a couple of reasons for this. 1) It's been said that Billy Connelly had a bad ear infection, which was thought needed surgery. He didnt need surgery afterall but people stayed away because he still felt bad. 2) Billy had wanted this years Lonach to remain a family affair so he could spend time with his new baby grand-daughter, Barbra. There were pics of him with Barbra in the papers. Dispite the show of effection for his family, some people ended up annoyed that he seemed selfish by not inviting anyone. One thing to say to those people...SHUT THE FUCK UP! I don't have any of the pics to show you but in a few days, that might all change. I'll post them all when I get copies. For anyone reading this, and who is in easy travel distance of Bellabeg, Strathdon, then you should all head to the Lanch Gathering on the last saturday of August!

Lonach Gathering 2005

moooo

Alright, doods!

5 days till the Lonach Gathering takes place. I'm looking forward to it but at the same time I'm dreading it. For anyone who doesnt know...I ended up in hospital after having an asthma attack. I'm told it was pretty mild. MILD?!?! I'm doing ok and I'm back kicking bottom. I'm dreading the Lonarch because I got a little worried with this mild attack. It's the first time I've experienced this since I was told I had asthma. So you can imagine why it's put the shitters in me.
We leave for Strathdon (area where the lonach takes place) on Friday afternoon. I have to head back to my mum's on thursday to help get things ready to leave. I can imagine it's going to be one of those days when we can never find anything to take with us. Wouldn't be so bad if we werent camping for the weekend. Apart from the hassle of getting things looked out and then setting up, it'll be a good weekend. As long as I don't have to suffer because of the amount of walking involved. Anyone who hasnt read my review from the Lonach last year, you can read it here.

I'm hoping there will be a few celebs there again this year. I'm still praying for Sean Connery to show up. The year he did turn up, we never managed to attend =( It'll make my weekend if he turns up. He may be old but he's hella sexy! and I know it's not just me who thinks that. When I return on the monday, I shall tell you all who attended/how the weekend went/all other gossip, and HOPEFULLY I'll have pics to show you too. Till then...AS YOU WERE!

Lonach Gathering 2005

After being away in hospital for a few days to help with my breathing, my mum picked me up and took me out to her house for the weekend. Little did I know that the Lonach Gathering was on this weekend and dispite me being all shitty, she took me anyway. I'm glad she did!!

For those who dont know about it, I'll tell you..Every year on the 4th Saturday in August, the Lonach Gathering is held in Aberdeenshire. The Lonach Games and Gathering have been held for 160 years in the rural community of Strathdon, 45 miles west of Aberdeen. This is a friendly and warm gathering of the clansmen and friends, whose enthusiasm and unparalleled genius make the games an outstanding success. It is a truly unique event - nowhere else will you see the march of the Clansmen. The Men of Lonach, in full highland dress, armed with pikes and Lochaber battleaxes, march around the arena. The Clansmen march for 6 miles, first thing in the morning of the games, stopping off at patron houses along the way for a dram of whiskey, then the march is finished in the arena, watched by hundreds. Billy Connelly, who is patron of the games, attends every year and brings some famous friends with him. This year Steve Buscemi, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Brian Cox, Aidan Quinn and Anna Friel were amongst those who attended. Most wearing kilts! It's an amazing event and I'm glad my mum made me brave going this year.

I didnt want to stand about, so I decided to take a walk. I ended up meeting and having a cup of tea with Steve Buscemi!! (well, I had the tea)..Some really rude Australian guy kept pushing me while I was trying to take pictures of Billy Connelly and co. I got so pissed off that I ended up turning around and saying "fucking dae that again and I'll shove my camera up yer arse" this made Eric Idle laugh and then pose for a picture for me. Then the guy pushed me again and I ended up banging into Steve Buscemi. The security guy managed to pick me up and they ended up taking me into the ground where only "offical people" go. Then I couldnt catch my breath and I was asked if I would like to sit down inside the building...no one like me gets in the house beside the ground. Not on the day of the Lonach anyway. This is why I'm glad my mum took me there. I was paying for it at the end of the day because I ached all over. Although being there did remind me how I actually wished I wasnt in Scotland. The whole reason for me being able to go there was because my other trip had to be put on hold and it did get me down alot on the day but saying that....it made me proud to be Scottish and that I wouldnt change for the world!