Author Archive

9th of December

by on Monday, December 10th, 2012


Was booked to perform at a wonderful wedding at Glenntannar Ballroom, near Aboyne, Royal Deeside. part of a great stately home complex built by the wealthy Coats family who made thread (and rather a lot of it)

The lovely couple John and Helen

I was not the only music on the menu…

The cake was very tasty…

Inside the ballroom note all the stags…very typical of Victorian highland ballrooms

Serious dressing up…the fire was awesome

loved the meal, venison..and the Santas with the sticky toffee pudding were delightful..

Donald wheres yer troosers…

5th of December

by on Wednesday, December 5th, 2012


‘Come the winter cauld and drearie, brings the hawk doon frae the high scree…’
This is one of the few glimpses of the River Tay between Perth and Meiklour. The railway bridge is now abandoned. We have had some snow though not really that much . But more is coming and it has been very cold though wonderfully still and sunny.

A look towards Perth museum across the old bridge at Perth

The North Inch, site of the Battle of the Clans in 1396. Highland line behind with hills towards Glen Almond.

Lawn bowling and tennis are definitely off the menu..

Oh dear, Sandy has unadvisedly done a snowangel on the precious surface of the bowling green. The marks will still be there in the spring….He’s toast…

18th of November

by on Sunday, November 18th, 2012


Back home safely and out for a Sunday afternoon stroll along the river Earn. Beth complaining that there are too many pictures of just rivers on my blog so added some handy bodies to er picture of nice river… Sandy with stick for thrashing dead thistles…Hill in background is most likely site of Mons Grapius – battle between Romans and Caledonians in 73AD.

Back to the land of these tasty fellows…mmm…mint sauce…

Got caught in heavy shower but pay-off was this beautiful rainbow we had all to ourselves. Shame that the crock of gold is a crock of something else. Think I may have done that one already…..

13th of November

by on Monday, November 12th, 2012

Hello folks I’m having trouble uploading pictures on to my blog which is a shame as I have some great photos from my US tour which ended yesterday in Virginia. I have been very busy and I am about a month behind with my entries. when I get Home I’ll be able to get Susie to sort the photo thing out. She’s good at that stuff. i’d like to thank everyone who supported me on this trip which was made very exciting by the election which seemed very tight until the results came in. America is such a big country and I’ve just driven across most of it. And now its home to bonnie scotland and on with the longjohns…

12th of November

by on Thursday, November 8th, 2012


Hols over and back on the road. This is me heading down towards Pheonix Az, after a great show in Prescott

It’s cactus country…

Pheonix, a huge city in the desert.

First glimpse of cotton, in front of  a famous mountain I can’t remember the name of..

Huge train comin’ down the track…

A double decker no less..they seem to go on for miles…

One day I’ll have the time to stop and visit this ostritch farm. Big omeletes apparently..

Weird picture..see the dust devil(mini tornado) in rear view mirror…

Lovely horses in Tubac Az not sure why this one has a blind on..

A roadrunner..meep meep! Heard a wily coyote that night..yowooooooh!

Old pal Dina, who helps organise my shows in Tubac. Seen here outside her leather workshop, a very talented lady..

Bonnie flooers in Dinas garden..

more geegees

Blurred photo as I was trembling in fear of this giant Arizona grasshopper…

The Organ Mountains Las Cruces New Mexico. Supposed to look like a church organ. Religious folks in those days..

Trish in Las Cruces had this sign that reminded me of a certain Scottish band…

Gig in Albuquerque was at a barrel themed restraunt. Nickety nackety noo noo noo…

Following very closely to the old route 66 on interstate 40.

Is this the way to Amarillo ? A song which was a massive hit in Britain twice but virtually unknown in the US.

Kept seeing signs for a very large free steak. Got this Scotsman’s interest…

Knew there would be a catch… you have to eat it and the trimmings in one hour.

stopped for a break and a look around…

yeeyahw!

Everything’s big in Texas..

Good place to stock up on horns…

There’s a moose loose aboot the hoose..

snake rattle and roll..

essential for elegant cuisine…

this is pretty cool though…

This is the famous 72oz steak. There was a board next to it that showed who had managed the challenge including someone on the previous day..Imagine if you try and fail..injure yourself and your wallet..

Thought my old friend and keyboardmeister Dave Watt would love this…

This statue marks the birthplace of Dwight Eisenhower, WWII military supremo and two time president…

Tulsa Oklahoma, traditionally the cheapest Gasoline in all America…

Arkansas cotton, picked and ready for the factory.

Crossing the Mighty Mississippi River

The Mighty Mississip…find myself saying that over and over again for the next 50 miles…

Glen and Dorlea Rikard have a fantastic menagerie on their property in Northern Alabama.

With thanksgiving rapidly approaching these guys were getting a little nervous…

What a wonderfully cheerful place harking back to the old-time farmyard lifestyle..

Perfect southern hostesses Cindy and Marcella display my freshly baked praline and pecan upside down apple pie. The tastiest desert in the history of the world..my precious..

The blueberry scones also raise the bar to a ridiculous level..

Had a day off on election day when I got to go fishing in Georgia with Brian Sullivan, on his lovely lake..

My only shockingly poor picture of Brian though at least he is doing what he loves…catchin’ largemouth bass!

A plump bluegill that was fooled by a small goldhead nymph (on a fly rod)

Brian has been having beaver problems and this is where they live in an impregnable dam which they enter and leave underwater. They have destroyed a large number of mature trees…

Georgia near Athens. Evidence of fellow clansmen in those parts. The spelling difference I was told was because the Malcolms had ‘had the ‘ell kicked out of them’ back in the old country. The crop in the field behind is cotton..

a closer look…

Grandfather Mountain, where one of the largest Highland Games in America is held high in the mountains of North Carolina

The New river NC, a very beatiful trout stream that ive had the pleasure of fishing on several occasions..

Gorgeous…..

‘Oh I wish it could be Xmas everyday,’ – well it is here…NC is the Xmas tree capital of America.

Jim Robertson plays dulcimer on his porch looking out towards the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia(queue for a song)a great spot to end a great tour.
Thanks to everyone for their wonderful friendship and support on what has been a brilliant trip and I look forward to getting the chance to visit all these great places and good folks again….