91热爆

Largs Viking Festival was an outstandingly great time had by all! We decided to tow the Longship over during the week in case the weather worsened. We needn鈥檛 have bothered, as Saturday was a scorcher. A few of us went over by ferry on Saturday morning so we could have a look around the Viking Village, relax and enjoy the festival. Those who were working on Saturday came over by RIB taking all of 20 minutes to get over. I some how ended up volunteering to make new costumes as the old ones were old blankets that had been lying in the boathouse all year so had turned manky (although probably more authentic). Needless to say I got carried away as usual and painted golden eagles on the tunics with 鈥淪varte Orna鈥� on the front and 鈥淎rran鈥� on the back in Ye Olde Worlde lettering. 鈥淪varte Orna鈥� is Norse for 鈥淏lack Eagle鈥�, which is the name of our Longship. As usual I left everything till the last minute so Peter and Julie ended up having to help sew fur onto the cossies on the ferry.

We all met up at the Marina for dinner (burger and chips as the restaurant wasn鈥檛 serving meals that early) then off we went to row. It was a gorgeous evening with the sun bouncing off the water. The team rowed magnificently, full concentration and we went really fast! IN TIME!!! We were going so fast I was asked more than once, when we got back, where the motor was! We couldn鈥檛 land as the tide was too far out but we did lots of shouting and there was plenty of hilarity. Finally we rowed back to the Marina and repaired to the yacht club bar to watch the spectacular fireworks from the balcony and general carousing.

Fireworks over we decided to head for the town before we were thrown out. The team song didn鈥檛 endear us to the genteel club patrons (it would need so many modifications it鈥檚 not worth trying to print). We headed into town in full costume, more cartoon Vikings than historically correct, the plastic horns on our helmets didn鈥檛 phase the local children though, they were shouting, 鈥淟ook, it鈥檚 the REAL Vikings!鈥� This didn鈥檛 go down overwhelmingly well with the Re-enactment Vikings who were sweltering in their carefully researched, hand stitched, 鈥渁uthentic鈥� costumes.

We went for the best fish & chips I鈥檝e ever had (might be because we were all ravenous after strenuous rowing), then off to the nearest hostelry which is named after a type of drinking jug. The music was great and we danced and got chatting with some of the Re-enactment Vikings who we invited to go rowing the next morning. Then off back to the house the Viking Society had kindly arranged for us all, for more partying till I crashed about 4ish.

Four hours later the one person who had gone straight to bed when we got in was mythering us to get up. Finally dragged myself out of my pit about 9:30, packed up and hit the marina for essential full breakfast and reading of Sunday Papers then we rowed to Millport, Great Cumbrae. This was where it all got a bit surreal. The re-enactment Vikings from the night before came with us in full costume complete with Mead served in a horn鈥�. They really should鈥檝e told people when they swapped the Mead for Whiskey. There was a bit of cholking. The alcahol definitely didn鈥檛 help their rowing, naturally the Arran Vikings were too busy concentrating to quaff.

When we arrived at Millport the place was swarming with Cowboys! Turned out there was a Country & Western festival on. All the shops had put up Old Western style signs and there were confederate flags everywhere. The whole town had really thrown themselves into it, complete with line dancing in the pub. Us 12th Century Vikings felt mildly out of place. So after a quick sojourn to the local saloon (soft drinkie for me) we made our farewells with the 鈥渁uthentic Vikings鈥� and headed home but it still wasn鈥檛 over! The other Vikings had given us a crate of beer so obviously once the Longship was safely tied up at Corrie Port the beer had to be consumed apparently in the Longship, well it was another hot sunny evening. I went home. Must be getting old!

There's no photos posted because I still can't remember how to download them from my camera and I've lost the book. PANTS!

Thanks to the whole of Largs and the Viking Society for inviting us over and making the evening so special, we all had the very best time. Skol!

I've had work experience slaves from the high school for the last two weeks and they're great! Jessica was here last week and Ashleigh this week, they work really hard, do all the menial boring stuff, go and get breakfast, lunch, icecream etc. from the cafe and don't complain! AND you don't have to pay them!!!!! Was a wee bit rough this morning and Ashleigh ran down to the shops and came back with a lovely fry up and caffine! She's making lables at the moment. A job I hate! Get yourself a free slave from your local school, they're brilliant!

It's my friends birthday today so we're having a massive party! You are all invited. Just ask anyone in Brodick where the party is and you should be directed to my house. 1/2 a mile out of Brodick towards Corrie, turn left up the track opposite Arran Arromatics and past the sand & gravel quarry. It's the only house up there, you can't miss it. I'm pumping up baloons at the moment which will be tied to trees & bushes along the way. I love throwing partys!

Aye the nights are fair drawing in! I know it's turning to winter because my social diary is filling up. The end of season beach party BBQ is on Sunday the 9th October, all welcome, Sannox Bay. The Viking Society Halloween Fancy Dress Party is on Saturday November 12th Starting with a coffee morning then the childrens party 7-9pm then adult party from 9pm onward at the Corrie Hall. Should be great. Any suggestions of what to go as would be appreciated. We are already planning the Hogmany Celdhi. The band can't make it this year due to family commitments so we are a bit stumped. If anyone knows of any bands who would play please let us know. We thought of just playing CD's but we still need a master of ceremonies. Apart from that all the clubs are reopening. I've added Yoga and pilates to my repetoire this year although pilates clashes with pool league on a Thursday so might be a bit tricky. Julies Birthday party was a raging success. Everyone seemed to have a good time and there was much dancing and carousing. I've been left with more booze than we bought for the party and Julie got some great presents. Some people even brought gifts for me which was most unexpected! We had a tidy up and drink the left overs party on Sunday which made a good chill down to the weekend. Will have to do it again but not for a wee while yet.

It's a wee bit breezy and moist again today. I've got a 32 box delivery much of which is special orders for customers sitting in Ardrossan and having just checked with the ticket office, the boat is tied up for the duration in Brodick. What has perplexed me is the genuine suprise and affront the steady stream of customers have shown that their orders aren't here, despite the fact that they do appear to have noticed that the trees and rain are horizontal. They have even made a few inventive suggestions once I've explained in detail that I neither work for Cal-Mac or The God Thor! It's not my fault the boat can't sail and quite frankly you can't blame Cal-Mac for refusing to send a boat load of passengers out to drown. The boat will probably sail tomorrow ("Probably" isn't good enough in modern retailing according to a woman with unfortunately blue hair) and although I understand the frustrations of running out of Paynes Grey when you're a roll, it doesn't justify getting the stock air lifted in as one customer suggested or demanding a bridge be built (it's about 17 miles to the mainland, can you imagine what the toll would be?) as the lady from Knightsbridge insisted had to be done. It's only flaming paint! What's wrong with them! It's not as if they can go and get it in Glasgow, the boat isn't sailing!!!!!! Ahem......

Right I think I've conquered this down loading thingy. Here's a couple of photos from the Arran Viking Lonship Invasion of Largs.





If this works I will post the rest.