Hielan' Types



Edinburgh has been invaded by bad kilts. Unusually, there is a reason behind this.

This weekend sees "The Gathering" (sounds distinctly Sc-Fi and sinister, doesn't it?) - the "worlds largest gathering of clans and Highland games" -which means that there are even larger numbers of Canadians and Americans than usual roaming the streets and being ostentatiously proud of their heritage. And, wearing vast quantities of bad tartan. Badly.

M'beloved and I were curious about The Gathering and had considerered wandering down to Holyrood Park towmorrow to gawp at the tartan adventurers but, taking into consideration the price (expensive!) and the clientele (loud!) not to mention the music (massed pipes!) we might give it a miss.

(We did note several real highland types heading to the meeting of clan chiefs this morning: they merely looked extremely rich and had nary a spot of tartan in sight... )



7 comments:

Anna said...

They had the Highland Games here in Nova Scotia.

I may be permanently scarred.

Sleepy said...

My Granddad was 'piped' into the Crem for his funeral.
My Cousins were kitted out in Robertson Hunting Tartan Ancient and Modern and I have never felt less Scottish in my life!
Who knew clamping your hands over your ears and shouting 'Christ No!' would cause such a reaction.

The Gripes of Wrath said...

Ah, the pipes: they evoke such strong emotions (hatred and pain mostly, it must be said...)

Sleepy said...

Best heard just out of earshot I feel.

WrathofDawn said...

I have been one of those badly clad Canadians stumbling about Scotland in a kilt. In my defence, (not that I truly have one) the kilt WAS made in Scotland and I did not pick the band uniform. And I was a yoof at the time. And I DID realize that only outsiders do that.

I don't think I had a point, really.

#Debi said...

Found you via Dawn's place, and I also have no real point, except that I am compelled to point out that yon Colin Stewart (I assume he is the man in the photo) looks very much like I would imagine Wayne Newton would look in tartan...very disturbing...

#Debi said...

Sorry, *Stuart*