On the contrary T Alan found Edinburgh, the surrounding area, and people most enchanting stayed for a week carrying out more research on the little owl having first been put in touch with the appropriate people through the magic of my inner circle shall we say. The good lady wife continued on with her buzzard/ little owl/ Sparrowhawk monitoring plus other duties back home, I know a woman’s work is never done! So here is an edited version of my Scottish adventure, plus my choice of music for today. So having waved my goodbye’s to the good lady wife I boarded what was to be the beast of burden for the best part of the day the six five special it was most certainly not, although on second thoughts, - in other words the train journeys were a total nightmare!
So how are you liking Edinburgh said the taxi driver, marvellous I replied off to Glasgow tomorrow WHERE Glasgow I replied why is there something I should know, mumble mumble mumble we don’t speak sir, pistols at dawn I replied aye you could say that he replied. Anyway at the end of a most entertaining conversation I gave him a £5 tip to which he nearly fell out of the cab!
Had a nice long entertaining conversation with the Glasgow taxi driver too most of which Alan could not understand, but hey somehow it did not seem to matter all that much. Now Alan has been around quite a bit as I may have mentioned before but this accent I found “very difficult” to understand to say the least but somehow I think I managed to understand the important bits, at least I think I did.
Are ye sightseeing sir, aye I mean no birding, ah chasing the lasses he replied no I replied the feathered kind, you know things that go hoot in the night, aye that will be the lasses then!
Back home tomorrow he said no traveling down to the borders tomorrow, WHERE the borders I replied—mumble mumble mumble and further words Alan could not catch, anyway I gave him the usual £5 tip to which he did fall out of the cab!
Eventually arrived in Dumfries, where would you like to go sir said the taxi driver hmm I gave him the palatial address; I cannae recognise your accent sir are you English? Norwegian at least my ancestors were I replied, Scottish than he replied, huh! Well that is a new one I thought.
Sightseeing sir no birding, ah the lasses no the feathered kind you know things that go hoot in the night aye the lasses he replied, “what is this” I thought have I been caught in some kind of time bubble! Anyway the usual £5 tip was given oh thank you very much sir I do hope the Scottish lasses meet with your approval, wink wink.
I must say Alan found the taxi drivers almost a bigger hoot than the owls, what a great bunch of guys talk about talking the leg off a hind donkey their humour and friendly frank discussions I found such a refreshing change, in fact between us I do believe we had set the world to right! Such a change to have someone willing to past the time of day said one, well what a very nice thing to say I thought, reminds me of an old Scottish shepherd I once knew the rough diamond with a pure heart of gold.
So you will be pleased to know Alan enjoyed the Scottish trip very much indeed the Glaswegian ladies Alan found simply enchanting and very warm too as were the gentlemen a great group of people, the “ceilidh” (pronounced kay’lee) had no poetry recital which I found disappointing but the dancing which I would describe as “enormous fun “and more than made up for it, the kilt was just something out of this world too, very tight round the waist (apparently it has to be) but at the same time VERY VERY ROOMY!
Anyway enough of the banter here is my choice of music for today
Al Martino, the Shadow of your smile hmm smoochy nice!
One day we walked along the sand, one day in early spring you held a piper in your hand to mend its broken wing now I'll remember many a day and many a lonely mile the echo of a piper's song, the shadow of her smile
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEPzOBwHYegAnd Alan would very much like to dedicate this second song to my many new Scottish friends especially the people of Glasgow whom I found warm beyond belief - Al Martino – Come Share the Wine
Ps this song sums up the wonderful feeling /atmosphere I was left with from the ceilidh not that I was walking the streets late at night you understand as it says in this song so all in all a wonderful exquisite banquet of delight a Scottish adventure and something that will remain in my memory for ever, (I do sincerely hope so.) Incidentally whoever the band were they was excellent and played both old and new numbers as well as usual fare so much so I thought about buying a new guitar but came back with a new piano style keyboard instead!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYWbIvnkXMUAnd so as a tribute I dedicate this little tune to Christopher, Glen, and Alistair, just a few of my new Scottish friends who were gracious enough to show me their little owls hidden away from prying eyes in their pristine exclusive wonderlands. Such a privilege I never knew such places existed, well I did but I never thought I would get the invitation plus an ongoing one anytime I need to return. The scenery was so beautiful too but all I could think of at the time was this by the bard himself a little reminiscent of my own home only there’s was quite a bit larger!
This royal throne of kings this sceptred isle this earth of majesty this seat of mars this other Eden, demi-paradise this fortress built by nature for herself
against infection and the hand of war.
This happy breed of men, this little world this precious stone set in the silver sea
which serves it in the office of a wall or as a moat defensive to a house against the envy of less happier lands this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.
William Shakespeare
Or in this particular instance Scotland.
And so to end my Scottish adventure - Mark Knopfler, Going Home
Hauntingly beautiful scenery and uplifting music
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pR1cVgk7IsP.P.S. so nice to see your catholic choice of music Alf, ah Weather Report yet another great bass player a one Mr Jaco Pastorius I do believe!
Incidentally I am so sorry to hear about the power tool muppet next door but one Ayjay, my deepest sympathy goes out to you dear boy.
Alan alias the wandering minstrel, find me in the greenwood reviewing the situation!