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We drove across the Highlands from Inverness to Skye. Mrs Snowy and I had visited there on a tour bus four years ago which drove across a bridge, deposited us in the closest village, and that was all we saw of Skye. This time we explored Skye much more thoroughly, and stayed overnight at a B & B. Highlight for me was the visit to Talisker Distillery. I had been introduced to Talisker Single Malt in Inverness, and was suitably impressed with its smokey peat flavour. I could only look longingly at the whisky casks at the distillery.
On the way back to Inverness we stopped at one of the most photographed sites in Scotland, Eilean Dohan. Like all the castles, it has a violent history. So hard to imagine now in its peaceful setting. That's our daugher, her boyfriend, and Mrs Snowy in the foreground.
Like most people, I suppose, Loch Ness evoked visions of the Loch Ness monster, but we found it to be so much more than that. It is spectacularly beautiful. We were fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day for our boat trip along the Loch to Urquhart Castle. According to Wikipaedia, Loch Ness holds more fresh water than all other lakes in England and Wales combined. I couldn't help being just a wee bit envious when I thought of our reservoirs which are down to 11%. The monsters below are the only ones we saw.
And so to Inverness. We flew British Airways which departed from the infamous Heathrow Terminal 5, which had only been opened for a few weeks, and received a lot of bad publicity because of lost luggage in the first few days. However, it must have been all sorted by the time we got there, as we had no problems. We were surprised to be told to remove our shoes when going through security. Fortunately, I had no holes in my socks...
We were going to Inverness to see our daughter who had been working there a couple of years. Also to meet her Scottish boyfriend. We had been to Scotland four years ago, but had not seen Inverness. I'm so glad we did return, as we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to that part of Scotland.
The River Ness, for which Inverness and the Loch are named, runs through the city. Following are three shots of many I took of it. The last is of Inverness Castle which overlooks the river. Like all Scottish castles it has quite a history. Apparently the Governor of the castle at the time refused entry to Mary, Queen of Scots, for which she later showed her displeasure by having him hanged. For some reason Vox isn't letting me insert extra large pics.
Show us an example of architecture you find interesting or inspiring.
Fickle me, there are two.
First, I wonder what use BROCHS were really created and used for.
Broch: noun
Definition: a prehistoric fortified dwelling in the shape of a circular stone tower, found especially on the islands and northern mainland of Scotland. They were built by the Picts, a Celtic people.
Check out the incredible ruins of the Broch of Gurness...
Hmmm, I just learned something - that brochs were created by the Picts. You don't know this, but I am absolutely FASCINATED by the Picts and I had never heard that before, but that's another post...
Architectural Wonder #2 would be SKARA BRAE on the Orkney coast. You can read all about this ancient neolithic stone village at orkneyjar.com.
A strong social network, along with achieving omega-3 DHA essentiality, may help elderly women stay mentally sound and prevent dementia. Researchers said, in a five-year study with over 2000 women 78 years old or older, that there were fewer cases of dementia among ladies who socialize regularly with family and friends. The findings were reported in The American Journal of Public Health.
Studies suggest it is important to think about reduced isolation. Find out what kinds of social support groups create bonds or maintain them between people over an extended period of time. Faith communities, volunteering, live events all make for saturation experiences that nurture the body, mind, and spirit.
Any event that builds associations in social networks could improve cognition. Although sociological studies married to cognitive benefits is sometimes interpretive, the solid science and improved potency omega-3 products on the market are beginning to fill a niche that pharmaceuticals can't help with, preservation brain nutritional therapy to eliminate omega-3 DHA deficiency in the most affected and in need. (Benefit level: 40% reduced dementia developed in patient groups)
Innovating, Educating, Empowering
Show us the five Scottish people you'd invite to a dinner party.
At the head of the table, the great wee man, Tom Weir (may he rest in peace) will be seated. He will regale us with fine tales in the drawing room after dinner.
Paul. I miss Paul's posts, can someone please check the latch on that metal steam bin?
Anne Mulhern of the Willow Tea Room, she'll come early to help me in the kitchen...
And Gordon from Ballboy will be in attendance, and perhaps we can entice him to sing after dinner.
And of course, at the other end of the table in the head seat will be my penpal.
Elder son in the UK has an interview for IT job on 12th May. The job is based in London, but involves travel around the UK and the Continent. Salary 45-50,000 pounds. He had a phone interview which went well, he thought. He's presently in Inverness with his sister, and thoroughly enjoying it. Monday he flies out to Lithuania and Latvia for a holiday with a mate, and then back to London in time for interview, then on to meet up with us in Manchester for his cousin's wedding. He had to buy a suit for the interview, which was a first for him, but when in Rome (London) etc... We're happy for him.
We fly out to Singapore on Monday, have three days there, then on to London for a day, then to Inverness for a week. I'm rather fond of Scotland, (well yes, Scotch too) as we were there for a few days four years ago, but we didn't get to Inverness. I remember standing beside David Hume's grave in Edinburgh, and seeing a stuffed Dolly in the museum. Both dead, but immortal. I rather like that the sheep got equal time. But I digress. After that, Manchester, Cornwall and London. The week before leaving is always the worst, I think. All the last minute jobs to be done that you just can't put off any longer. The "what have I forgotten?" phase. Then the "What if?" phase. Finally, you're up, up and away, and to hell with all the doubts. Just enjoy yourself! I love it.
Tuesday night we'll be enjoying a riverside dinner followed by Singapore Slings at Raffles Hotel. Mrs Snowy isn't a drinker, so with a bit of luck I'll get her Singapore Sling too. Sneaky, I know...
Elder son is flying to Inverness today to stay with his sister for a week. She is over the moon that he is coming, and has been busily making plans for his stay to be enjoyable. Her boyfriend has borrowed a bike for him to cycle to Loch Ness to check out Nessie. They're going see a local football match, and also the band that boyfriend is a guitarist in.
Tuesday week, elder son has a job interview in London for a job that has him working for three months at a time around the U.K. Salary is 50,000 pounds p.a. That's AUD$106,000! I don't think the Queen gets that much...
Happy for you, my beautiful little nestlings. It doesn't seem so long ago that I was calling you that. I'd better stop, I suppose, and let you grow up. Maybe it's time I did too...
Our elder son left for London today. We're so happy for him. He has a five year ancestral visa, so can take his time deciding when, and if, he wants to come home again. He says he wants to settle in Brisbane eventually. But for now, it's all an open book. What a thrill that must be! He's fortunate in that he has a number of I.T. friends in London to stay with, and to show him around. He has already booked a holiday in Lithuania and Latvia with a friend, before we catch up with him in Manchester in a month. Mrs Snowy spent a couple of years in London in her salad days, and has been most encouraging of our elder son and his sister to do the same. Our daughter has just received approval for a five year extension of her ancestral visa, so is rather pleased about that. She's in a relationship with a nice Scottish lad, and plans to return to Oz in around twelve months after she's seen all she wants to see in Europe. Our younger son has shown no interest in following his siblings, but that may change. It's his choice. We have him home this weekend. Always a pleasure.
Mrs Snowy's nephew is getting married in Manchester in May, so we are going over to attend, as well as spend some time with our daughter in Inverness, where I just might be persuaded to do a tour of the whisky distilleries. After the wedding, we'll all go down to Cornwall for a week. Cornwall is from where my paternal great grandparents emigrated in 1853, so I want to see the little village, Ladock, where they came from, as well as the cathedral in Truro where they were married. And a certain bay that has my surname. I did read somewhere that it is thought that the Normans named the bay first, and my ancestors took our surname from that. Who knows. I'd like to spend some time there anyway, and reflect on the life my ancestors might have lived.
Then it's two lovely weeks in London. How we love that city! Even this country boy felt at home there when we were there four years ago. There is just so much to see there. And the history! How I love to savour the atmosphere of those places where great things happened. Last time we were too late to go through Westminster Abbey. This time I want to walk through that lovely building which is the final resting place of so many of Britain's greatest sons, and where kings and queens were crowned, married and later buried. Then there's the War Office that is as it was left when the war ended in 1945. I'd like to picture the occupants busily doing the things that had to be done to ensure the very survival of their country, and for that matter, ours. And so much more.
Then, I'll be glad to return to Oz. I love this country. I've always felt privileged to have lived my life here. To be an Aussie. Yes, a privilege indeed. I'm glad my ancestors chose to make the long and dangerous voyage here. And yes, it was voluntary, in case you're wondering...
http://www.bluesbunny.com/tabid/122/xmmid/474/xmid/345/xmview/2/default.aspx
Obtainable from www.amazon.co.uk
Listen to them here: www.myspace.com/thegalipaygos or here:
Galipaygos
The Demise of Gary-Lipgloss
TGCD003
2007
One of the many joys of reviewing albums is that you are guaranteed to be surprised by something every week. This week's surprise came from Inverness band the Galipaygos with their album "The Demise of Gary Lip-gloss". As is our editorial custom, we give albums a quick listen before they get despatched to their reviewer. The day after we listened to this one, the Bluesbunnies kept humming the same tunes. When we thought about it, they all came from this album.
Scotland has a fondness for the alt-country/Americana genre as is evidenced by the many bands ploughing that particular furrow these days. The Galipaygos more than deliver the goods in this category. In fact, they also manage to give us 14 songs of pure class. The more we listened to this album, the more we liked it. "Pickin' Fishes" is pure sing-along old style country. The Beach Boys like harmonies of "Good Luck, Bad Luck" mix perfectly with the quirky trumpet playing of Jamie Macgregor to produce a future pop classic. "Happiness Starts Now" is the Kinks go country. Ending on a song about the trials and tribulations of life in a band in "Don't Start a Band", this was one album that ended only too soon. We suppose that is the best way for things to be - always leave them wanting more. Andrew Still does most of the songwriting and we hope that he has plenty more ready to satisfy our future needs.
The question that the Bluesbunny is often asked is whether a band is merely the sum of the influences. Galipaygos draw on many influences - the Flying Burrito Brothers, The Jayhawks and most notably of Edinburgh's master popsters Dropkick. Like a fine wine, the proof is in the tasting when you can enjoy the complexity that goes into something so simple. The Galipaygos have simply produced a remarkably mature album of quality songs that deserves a wider audience than it will probably get. If you have any sort of musical taste then we recommend that you make the effort and track yourself down a copy now. Get in contact with the band via their Myspace page. In fact, the only way this album could be better was if you could get it on vinyl.
Review by: Bluesbunny
Rating:
