Party on the Moor, Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert

So before this blog returns to its normal service I wanted to do a short post about the big event of our holiday, Runrigs 40th Anniversary concert. Now if this is not your kind of music, just ignore this post.

For me it was the first “festival” I ever attended and it was good fun (if you discount the portaloos on the improvised campground). Friday was already great, with a Kaleigh in the evening, although the greatest thing for me were the soundchecks on that day. Especially since they already hinted something I had been hoping for, but more about that later.

The concert on Saturday began with great supporting acts, my favorites being Mànran and Sharon Corr. A decade ago the later alone would have been enough for me to attend a concert.

Sharon Corr at Party on the Moor (Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert)

Now before I come to the concert itself, there was one mood point for us. There was hardly any alcohol control on the fairgrounds and in addition they sold beer at the food stalls as well. In turn there were a good number of people who were quiet drunk. Unfortunately a large group of drunkards (about ten people) pushed themselves right in front and besides us right when the concert started and stayed there about 2/3rd of the time. If anyone from the band reads this… it would be great if there was more attention to alcohol control for the next festival.

Anyway, the concert itself was marvelous. I have been to a lot of their concerts over the last decade, but this was by far the longest and most energetic I have ever seen. Great selection of songs (although it was based on the Edinburgh concert from July with a number of additions) and performed to perfection.

Runrig at Party on the Moor (Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert)

The absolute highlight for me (and this is what I had expected when I heard the voice during the soundchecks the previous days) was the return of Donnie Munro, Runrigs old singer to the stage. Always loved his renditions of the songs and really regretted that my first concert was after he left. So seeing him on stage, with the band was just unbelievable. It it was great to hear both the band and the crowd change the lyrics of “The Cutter” from Johnny to “Donnie, you are home now”! There also was something about the dynamic on stage that made me think that the would announce his return, but that did not happen.

But this was not the only return of a former member, since for the same songs Peter Wishart (MP) joined the line-up on stage.

Bruce Guthro and Donnie Munro at Party on the Moor (Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert)

Donnie Munro at Party on the Moor (Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert)

But there was also a very funny experience for me. There are a couple of songs where the audience sings along. Usually it is the male voices that really stand out. Most of the times people can not carry a tune (not pointing any fingers… neither can I) and it is like standing in the middle of a bunch of Vikings yelling a sons. But this time we had a young lady right behind us, who was singing with a very high voice and dominated all the male voices. I guess this was something to remember, too! 😉

So now I am leaving you with a few more photos:

Runrig with Duncan Chisholm at Party on the Moor (Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert)

Runrig final encore (old and new band members) at Party on the Moor (Runrig 40th Anniversary Concert)

 

 

Back from the UK

OK, so I am back from holidays now. So how did it go? Well I would say quiet well. We actually enjoyed quiet good weather (at least considering where we went).
We actually managed to get on most of the mountains we had planned for plus some others.
Most memorable were the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. Not just the pinnacles all the tourists do, but actually the ridge, which was marvellous, since we actually ended up on one height with the lower edge of the clouds:

View of Skye from the Old Man of Storr

Then there was Ben Lomond. Now this was a mixed one for is. Last year we were sent on the Westhighland Way and only after running into some forest workers we realised our mistake and tracked back. Eventually this meant we ran out of time and had to turn around about 2/3 up. This year we had planned to do better and started early, knowing the route from last year. It actually went quiet well, but close to the top we suddenly experienced a massive weather change with a temperature drop, sudden strong winds and ice cold driving rain. We still tried our best, but had to turn around roughly 50 meters (altitude) below the summit. The next two days the weather was even poorer and we had to call it off for this year. Quiet frustrating!

Bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond
[Just before the weather turned not so bonnie]
The islands in the back actually mark the geological divide between the Lowlands and the Highlands

But the final big one for this year consoled us. Mount Snowdon. Went up the Pigs Track and down the Miners Track (plus an additional mile either way to get out of the Pay and Display zone). While the peak was covered by a thick layers of clouds virtually all the way up and down, we enjoyed a virtually perfect clear sky the hour we were up there.

View from Mount Snowdon looking roughly to the west

View from Mount Snowdon looking roughly to the east

So all in all a perfectly great holiday (except for a stomach bug I caught) and I am returning completely relaxed! It only feels very strange to continue painting a unit that you have not touched or seen in over three weeks!

Next post will go into a little more detail about the other big event of our trip (the 40th Anniversary Runrig concert), but after that it will be back to minis… I promise!

I leave you with a (very) few pictures from our trip that took us from Hadrian´s Wall, counter clockwise around Scotland and into Wales:

Hadrian´s Wall

Robin Hood Tree (Sycamore Gap) at Hadrians Wall

Falkrik Wheel
[I guess this could inspire any Sci-Fi gamer!]

Small waterfall in Snowdonia

 

Off diving

Well there will be short interruption in service till Christmas from me. As off today I am off to Egypt for a two-week diving holiday. I was there in December 2007 and while it is not the best time to dive (visibility is poor by Egyptian standards, but still far better than any European lake during summertime), it is mostly devoid of other tourists making it a real holiday to enjoy. We will be going to the western Red Sea (about 150 klicks from the border with Sudan), which is not as much as a tourist hotspot as Sharm El Sheik or Hurghada anyway, with the coral reefs being in far better shape. So it should be good.

I just hope the political situation stays calm and our return flight is not courtesy of some NATO airforce flying foreign nationals home.

(copyright Walt Disney Studios and Pixar)

In hobby related news. I did manage to finish the Régiment Joseph Napoléon just in time before our trip, but did not find the time to take some pictures. So you will have to wait a little while for them.

Anyway… I wish you all a very nice festive season and see you in two weeks time.

 

Back from our holiday in Wales

Well I have been back for over a week now, but things like catching up with work and a minor flu last weekend kept me from posting.

Cymru (Welsh) flag

So how was it? Well we can not complain. While we only got the last two days of fine weather (= blistering hot and sunny) in the UK, we still had pretty good weather. Except for one day when we were caught smack in the middle of a 14 mile hike by rain and wind that would drive the rain horizontally, we had perfect weather for an early october.

The Canterbury Wargods tournament went fairly well, too. I became second on account of my dice failing me miserably in the last game. Sad thing is… this will be the last tournament. 😦

All in all it started quite well. We made good speed Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France to arrive at the port of Dunkirk. While it had not dawned on me when we planned this trip, it would be a journey through time. Obviously Dunkirk for its role in WW II. But we would also visit sites from the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, Roman times, Norman times, the Middle Ages (mostly Edward I). Truly a trip to behold.

It was great to be back in the UK and being there with my own car was great fun, too. Never had too many problems with driving on the left side and it was just marvelous to take the car over all those winding Welsh roads.

I will try to give you some impressions of the castles and forts we visited when I have made my way through all the photos we took, but for now I will simply do with some impressions:

Wales countryside as seen from the battlements of Harlech Castle

Welsh coast (Cardigan Bay) seen from Criccieth Castle

Creek inside Snowdonia Natl. Park

Conwy Castle and part of the town itself

Old towpath near Brecon

The mighty charger that took us through the trip

Yours truly on top the remains of defensive wall around a bronze age village in Brecon Beacons Natl. Park