How lucky!

How lucky is that? I got upgraded for the 14 hour stretch from Dubai to Melbourne. WOO HOO!

Bring on the champers...

Ronald

Slàn Glasgow

Oh well, here I am, cappucinno in hand waiting to come home.

I thought I was going to be charged for excess, but the helpful guy at check-in showed me how to changes the bags, and I avoided it totally! So helpful! I brought home even more than usual, as there is a postal strike at the moment, and I couldn't post all the sheet music ans CDs that I bought - so I'm very lucky....

The plane is delayed half an hour take off, but it shouldn't affect connections....

I'm looking forward to coming home, but I will miss gorgeous Glasgow - a most wonderful city.

Soraidh slàn a Ghlaschu a ghràidh...

Gorgeous Glasgow

I can't believe how wonderful Glasgow is looking at the moment - clear skies, mild weather - not at all cold.

This pic is taken from near my Gaelic teacher's house in Kelvindale.

The Tardis of Buchanan Street

Here's the police box in Buchanan Street Mall, Glasgow.

Just thought I'd share it with you...

Highland Umbrella

This picture is, if course, the Glasgow Central Station railway bridge across Argyll Street, affectionately called the Highland Umbrella.

In the 50s and 60s, when large numbers of Highlanders and Islanders moved to Glasgow, usually for work, they would gather beneath this bridge on Sunday afternoons off to meet. The bridge provided shelter from the elements, hence the nickname!

How do you like this?

This is pretty arty, eh?

Another autumn pic

The colours and light are wonderful here in Queen's Park today.

Autumn in Scotland

The autumn colours are gorgeous today. You don't see them to this extent in OZ.

Christmas already

If you think Christmas starts earlier every year in Australia, check out this pic. There's Christmas displays EVERYWHERE here in Glasgow already.

I'm often here at this time of the year, and the Christmas stuff usually comes out just as I'm leaving, around the third week of October.

I think I'll listen to Chrissie tunes on the iPod just to get into the spirit...

"Once in Royal Glasgow City,
Stood a lowly shopping mall.
There consumers hunterring and gathring'
Feel the Yuletide shopping spirit call.

Raising business profit margins,
All rejoice in Christmas Bargains"

Buchanan Street

Glasgow is one of the few cities that has a real central business district. This Buchanan street, which is a pedestrian mall that stretches from St Enoch shopping mall, and as in this picture, all the way up to the Glasgow Concert Hall.

Always busy, shopping is a national sport in Scotland, and an extreme one at that in Glasgow.

Back to Glasgow...

I just spent a couple of days visiting my friend Sarah and her wonderful son, Calum in Edinburgh, but it's back to Glasgow now.

Glasgow is one of my all time favourite cities. One local described it as 'an open air asylum' - not that I agree, but it gives you an idea of the wonderful sense of the sense of humour...

Just a street pic..

Here's an average Edinburgh street pic...

Pretty cool, eh?

Oh, Pierrot!

I went to this fabulous lunchtime concert today at Reid Hall, University of Edinburgh.

The Aurelius Ensemble performed (free!) Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire.

Just incredible...

Autumn colours

You rarely see these wonderful colours in Australia.

Here are some leaves in Edinburgh...

A visit to Duncan Bàn McIntyre

This is the monument to the great Gaelic port Duncan Bàn MacIntyre from Argyllshire. MacIntyre means son of the joiner in Gaelic, which sometimes translates as Turner. Bàn means, of course, fair haired/complexion. His most famous song is Molaidh Beinn Dòbhrain - in praise of the mountain of that name.

Duncan Bàn died in 1812 and the grave was renovated by a group of wonderful citizens in 2005. It is now a 'must' visit for every Gael.

It's in Greyfriars kirkyard in Edinburgh, here seen on a late autumn afternoon.

Visiting the birthplace of the discoverer of electromagnetism

I visited the James Clerk Maxwell Foundation in Edinburgh today.

This is set up in the original birthplace of the amazing Scottish scientist, James Clerk Maxwell, whose discoveries affect everyone today. Your mobile phone is possible because of this amazing man's intellect.

He was born in this house in 1831, in this picture where I'm standing in Edinburgh, and left there when he was two years old.

His work covered kinetic theory of gases, discovery of how electromagnetism worked, the modern process of colour photography - you name it!

He was one of those people who really changed the world. Einstein recognised him as one of the greatest scientists of all time.

You can see the foundation website at www.clerkmaxwellfoundation.org

Amazing!

Bundy in Edinburgh

It's weird when you see Australian stuff on the shelves here - it jumps out a mile. By the way, they still use miles here....

Hey - Aly Bain's playing

See this advert! Aly Bain's playing soon in Edinburgh...

*Sigh*

Pudding country

Scotland, home of the brave, land of the pudding.

Here are two native puddings: Crumbelius Appelus and Cranachan.

Both are prized delicacies and are highly sought after by locals and visitors alike.

These two trophies were quickly demolished.

Sheet music in Edinburgh

I'm in Omni Music store in Edinburgh, enjoying the range of sheet music available here.

With the Australian dollar at the moment, it's great value.

I bought a stack of viola music, needless to say...

A Glasgow salad...

My friend Gordon MacKay who is a microbiologist, researched child eating pattern in Glasgow, he found out the only vegetables that the youngins ate were chips, which subsequently became known as a 'Glasgow salad'. Here you can see the healthy variety, containing lycopenes.

If you don't know what that is, google it - it's worthwhile knowing.

Hogarthian...

Isn't this a Hogarthian scene?

Glasgow is an amazing place...

The Three Judges

'The Three Judges' is a pub in Partick, Glasgow, on the corner of Dumbarton Road and Byers Road.

The name arises because the window overlooks a small street area that was an open boxing ring, where anyone could box for prizes. The three judges would then, well, judge which boxer would win.

I'm not boxing at the moment, just raising an elbow!

Half-time

They always play vintage rock hits at half time at Scottish Football games..

Today is no different...

Saturday at Firhill...

Here we are again....

(Sung to big Ben..)

"Archie, Archie;
Archie, Archie.

Archie, Archie;
Archie, Archie."

Morning tea in George Square

While having a sausage roll and coffee in front of the Robbie Burns statue in George Square on a glorious Saturday morning, I bumped into fellow traveller Robin Hamilton of Loughborough who was also photographing the bard.

We share a few minutes together discussing origins and travelling - Robin is originally from Ayreshire, like Rabbie - and we took time out from the neighbouring protests against poverty and the evangelists approaching strangers with the Word.

It reminds me of the Irish saying 'Dithis giorrad rathaid' - two shorten the road.

Very interesting way to pass some time on an absolutely gorgeous Scottish autumn day...

Oban - 4

Doesn't look like it...

Oban - 3

Does it never stop?

Glorious Oban - 2

Another pic...

As good as it gets...

This is Scotland at its best.

This is Oban Harbour today. October in Scotland can be FANTASTIC - and here is proof.

It's the last day of the Gaelic Festival - The Royal National Mod - and there is an amazing party atmosphere here today....

We're very lucky.

Scottish Sunset

'There is a sunset,
A Scottish Sunset,
That happens everyday,
That happens anyway.

As days grow older,
And nights grow colder,
The sunset still appears, so they say.

Until the next day, when the sun will rise,
In the Eastern skies,
Blinding driver's eyes,
Until the sunrise starts another day,
And another sunset's on the way.

Lismore

This is the island of Lismore, which gave it's name to Lismore in New South Wales, Victoria and Lismore Street in Broadmeadows where I grew up.

It's about 50 minutes ferry ride from Oban, and a beautiful place - just so amazingly pretty.

It's quite weird being here after seeing name as I grew up...

Off to Lismore

Lismore is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland.

This afternoon's sun has been amazing, with the sun beams..

Funny display - spot the Scots!

This display in McCain's Warehouse is a lot of fun.

Can you spot ths Scots?

This is Oban again..

Pretty too, eh?

Choirs galore

The Thursday of the Mod, in case you've been wondering, is like an Eisteddfod, is the day when the choirs all compete.

Roddy, the Stornoway Gazette photographer, has been covering Mods for many years, and always has the challenge of finding new ways to photograph events, that have been pretty well happenning like clockwork every year for, well, a hundred years.

He does a great job, as you can see him here lining up the Laxdale Ladies Choir from Lewis for a pic.

I just hope the tide doesn't come in...

Gold Medal at the Corran Halls

After my poetry reading competition, I bumped into Steven MacIomhair (macIver - pronounced Mac-eever), who's mother's cousin lives in Sydney, Australia. I often bump into him and his family at the Mod.

Steven here, is outside of the main theatre preparing to sing. When this pic was taken, the competition had just started, and he was the last on.

However, he did well and went onto win.

Go Steven!

Scottish breakfast

Here is my Scottish breakfast.

A picture is a thousand words.

Gillebride

This is Gillebride MacMillan from Milton in South Uist. I first met Gillebride (pronounced GILL-ye-breed-je) when he was in Australia in 2001. He had just one the traditional medal at the Mod and was travelling at the time with his sister Mary and one of his 7 brothers, Seumas.

I subsequently met Gillebride's parents, Ann and Neil, and have stayed with them on and off on many occasions over the years, and have been instrumental in my Gaelic learning .

Gillebride's village of Milton was the birthplace of Flora MacDonald of Bonnie Prince Charlie fame, and is in an area of strong Gaelic in South Uist. I hope to catch up with his parent's at the Mod.

Gillebride is a Gaelic and Geography teacher who lives in Spain, and is part of the generation of teachers who. now teach via the Internet and phone.

BBC ALBA reception

This is a very poor pic of Arthur Cormack, chair of Bòrd na Gàidhlig (the government Gaelic Board) speaking to a gathering of notable Gaels. Arthur is a singer with many recordings to his own name as well as the Gaelic supergroup Cliar, and works for the Fèis movement which trains and supports young musicians.

I caught up with many friends and acquaintances here, and spent a lot of time catching up on all that is happened in the last year.

Cousin Murdo

This is Murdo Morrison, promotions manager for the Gaelic digital television at BBC Alba (Alba is Gaelic for Scotland and pronounced UL-e-BA. The U in UL is like the u in the English word 'up'). I first met Murdo when he organised media at the Mod in Stornoway in 2001, and discovered then that he was related to Joan Willis of Melbourne, who was the first person whoever taught me Gaelic. I think that they're first cousins once removed.

Murdo's generosity, support and kindness knows no bounds, and like so many Gaels, have are unbelievably hospitable. Murdo introduced me to many people at An Commun Gàidhleach (The Gaelic Society) and the Western Isles, and was a referee for me for the National Library of Australia/National Folk Fellowship.

I remember when I first met him in 2001 at the Mod, when after shaking my hand, promptly handed me invitations to launches, ceilidhs and daily receptions (sometime two or three a day!) where there was food and drink gu leòr (galore), which was well appreciated at that time when the Australian dollar got only 33p to the dollar, unlike the current 57p.

I bumped into Murdo early evening yesterday at a reception for BBC alba. For more of that see heading 'BBC ALBA reception'.

Gaelic Books Council

A visit to the Gaelic Books Council at the Mod is an absolute essential.

There's been an absolute explosion in Gaelic book publishing over the past few years, and everytime I visit the Council, there's so many more books to read.

Tormod and Màiri (pictured here) are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable people. Always welcoming, they always remember who you are and always speak to you in Gaelic, even if you're a beginner learner - such great attitudes. Tormod is from Harris, and Màiri, North Uist - needles to say, tha Gàidhlig math aca.

The shops got a fantastic range of Gaelic CDs too...

The Glasgow shop can be found in Partick and for more info see www.gaelicbooks.net

Fiona MacKenzie a ghràidh

Fiona Mackenzie is one of the great workhorses of the Gaelic world. Others talk about what they're going to do, but Fiona has usually already have done it.

She tells me that Lucky Oceans on the living planet on the ABC at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/dailyplanet/stories/2009/2688697.htm is playing some of her CDs at the moment.

You can find out more about Fiona at www.fionamackenzie.org

Oban Harbour

The light here is just wonderful for photography today.

Fourth place

I got a fourth place in the first competition. I forgot my words and stopped for a second and picked up the song. I've been so tired with this cold today - it's been a bit exhausting and tiring, and I'm really not up for singing at all.

However, I walked out of the competition hall to see this sight. It's just beautiful.

Singing competition today

Well, I've got to get ready to sing in a competition today.

The song is in Gaelic, and you just stand up in front if the judges, and without accompaniment, sing! It's quite nerve racking, and I really don't know why I do it! In addition, I've woken up with a nasty cold and am feeling totally exhausted...what luck...

Oh well, I'd better get up and go...

Oban at night

And this is what Oban looks like at night. Pretty, eh?

Busy Oban?

In past Mods I've been to, in some of the towns where it's been held, you wouldn't know that you were at Scotland's second largest Arts Festival, after the Edinburgh Festival. This is not the case in Oban.

I overheard four older women chatting in the main street about it. From their conversation, you could tell that they were locals, and they were very positive about what was happenning in their town this week.

However, it's obviously too much for some, as I overheard one teenager saying "there's too many people here. " I took the above photo almost immediately afterwards to remind myself what constitutes 'busy' in Oban.

I've always liked Oban, both as a place, and as an ideal place for a Mod. All the venues are close together and it has a real community feeling. You get lots of Islanders - always a great thing - as the ferries come from the islands straight into Oban.

Broken Gaelic

As Gaelic is an endangered language, any attempt to promote is good. I remember Gillebride Macmillan from South Uist once said in response to my concerns about my attempts in speaking Gaelic, and making a mess of it, " 'b fheàrr leam Gàidhlig bhriste na Gàidhlig anns a' cìste " which translates as 'I would prefer broken Gaelic to Gaelic in the coffin.' which is very wise advice.

So having said that broken Gaelic is a good thing, I suppose it's OK that there's so much of it in lots of signs like this one around the town. I would say around half the signs in the shop windows have some sort of spelling error. It's not an Oban thing, as I've seen it at almost at every Mod I've been to.

Extra points for those of you who spot the errors in some of the signs posted here over the next few days...

Hello from Oban

Hi there on an overcast, fine and drizzly day from Oban.

Here's a picture the of An t-Eilean Muile, which is the Gaelic name of the ferry to the Isle of Mull. It means, perhaps not surprisingly, the Isle of Mull.... This is the ferry that everyone gets when they visit Iona.

However, watching the ferry come into the harbour is a magnificent site, as I hope you can appreciate.

Loch Lomond

It's quite hard to take pictures from the train, as there's lots of trees next to the train line. However, Loch Lomond is very pretty today from low lying clouds and mist.

This pic is not great, but you can get an idea...