Great Scot! More than one ‘Clan’ comes together – 2nd Outlandish Adventure Day 2

This blog may be even shorter than yesterday. Much of that may be because I slept like the dead from the time I finished last night’s blog post until almost 10 am this morning. I finally did drag myself out of bed, feeling very much refreshed, just in time to grab breakfast in the hotel restaurant with Deborah. After that, we packed our stuff and checked out.

I dropped Deb off at her car and then headed north to Pitlochry. That will be my home base for the weekend before heading back to Glasgow next week. Sitting down in comfort, I did a quick technology check to make sure all was working for the all important Outlander viewing in the morning. After some fiddling, everything appears to be working but I’ll keep my fingers crossed until morning, just in case.

Tech check done, I performed a quick wardrobe change and headed across the mountain from Pitlochry to Crieff.  It was a lovely drive through misty rain. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to take some pictures and post them. After a 45 minute drive, I arrived at the lovely Crieff Hydro — a Victorian built hotel and spa. I very quickly started running into friends, old and new, all there for the Outlandish UK Gathering.

Pretty soon it was time for dinner, but first, there was a very special pre-dinner entertainment. None other that Outlander world-famous street musicians Clanadonia, fresh from the streets of Glasgow. All the attendees gathered round to watch — and some ended up becoming part of the performance — as the band rocked the venue.  After several rousing numbers, Clanadonia ended with their smash hit ‘Hamsterheid’– a smash hit partly in that it was featured during the chase scene in Episode 101 – Sassenach.

At this point, many of you have probably noticed something missing in this blog post…pictures. I accidentally left my cell phone in the car and didn’t have it to take pictures with this evening. But don’t worry, I’ll have both the phone and my camera to take pics tomorrow. I can’t wait to see what the Outlandish UK Gathering organizers have in store for us. I’m already pretty sure my credit card balance won’t be safe after shopping at the Outlander Fayre!

In the meantime, do enjoy this video I made of Clanadonia that I was able to make with my handy Surface 3. I sure wish the quality was better but you’ll get the feel. 😦

Clanadonia

After a lovely buffet dinner, the Outlander clan settled in for some Outlandish Trivia. 5 rounds later, three tables were engaging in a tie-breaker for the overall win, but alas, my table was not among them. Why couldn’t I remember William Ransom’s FULL name and title. 😉 Knowing I had a bit of a drive and an early call tomorrow morning, I headed out for home.

In the car, I marveled that even so late in the evening it wasn’t quite dark yet. Pretty sure the sun will be up very early tomorrow (as will I). I made my way back across the Sma’ Glen, keeping a sharp eye out for rabbits, deer and other cars. Have to tell you that the rabbits far outnumbered the other 2. Arrived home safe and sound and now ready to catch some sleep before my very early alarm goes off.

More to come tomorrow!

Slàn leat àn-drasta!

 

 

GreatScot! A Walk Down the Royal Mile and Fits of Giggles at the Lyceum – 2nd Outlandish Adventure Day 1

Hi guys. This blog post is going to be a bit down and dirty. 😉 I’m running on about an hour and a half of sleep in the last two days, compounded with almost 5 miles of walking and bed is calling my name…loudly.

I set off from Atlanta yesterday on my roundabout path to Glasgow. Who is it at airlines who comes up with these itineraries anyway? Part of it was my own fault. I sacrificed a few hours and an extra flight segment in the name of a half off business class frequent flyer ticket. All journeys have to start with the traditional luggage and shoe pics though!

Finally, after 3 flights and  about 18 hours of travel, I arrived in Glasgow to find the day partly sunny and relatively warm. Definitely better weather than I was expecting based on the long-range forecasts I had been perusing from home. I actually made it through immigration and customs with absolutely no waiting and made my first stop in the airport at W H Smith to top up my UK cell phone. For 20 GBP I have 4000 minutes, 4000 texts and 2GB of data to get me through my 18 day trip. Should be plenty provided I don’t get carried away tweeting pics. Then I remember what data cell services is like in the Highlands and I stopped worrying so much. 😉

Next stop was the Avis rental counter to pick up my chariot for trip. Knowing that the girls from OutlanderPod would be joining me later in the trip, I booked a minivan (or people carrier as they are known in the UK). Unfortunately, their only automatic transmission one came back with a damaged tyre this morning ( I have absolutely NO IDEA how something like that could hapeny. Hush Mom and Vicki. Stop laughing.), so they substituted a station wagon (estate car in UK speak). Not sure I’m crazy about it. I kind of like the way the minivan sits up higher on the road. I have some emails in to Avis to see if I can swap it for something else if one comes in.

Even on little sleep, I had no problem making the short drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh and arrived at the Edinburgh Marriott by 3 pm local time. It looks much the same as it did when Mom and I stayed here on our first trip to Scotland. As a matter of fact, I am sipping a Strathmore water and munching on Walker’s shortbread from the Executive Lounge right now, just like I did on that trip. There was no time then to rest though, I had to be on the Royal Mile very shortly for the first Outlander related gathering of the trip.

I changed my clothes, hopped in a taxi and arrived at the Albanach Bar to meet my fellow Outlanders for a pre-theatre dinner before heading over to the Lyceum Theatre to see Outlander cast member Grant O’Rourke star in The Venetian Twins. I took some time to snap some pics on the way to the Lyceum and even capture some video of a bagpiper playing on the Royal Mile.

We arrived at the Lyceum which is a beautiful theatre. Luckily the play was hysterically funny and I was in no danger of falling asleep once the house lights went down. Afterwards, Grant was very sweet and came out to talk and talk pictures will the 25+ Outlander fans who were in attendance.

After the theater, Deb and I started out with the best intentions of finding the proper bus route to return to the hotel for the night but ended up catching a taxi instead, just as my fitbit was registering my 10,000th step for the day. All told, the step count was at 11,272 by the time I was back in the room.

Well, as usual, I think that was a pretty jam-packed first day and I surely didn’t want to start out behind in posting on the blog! I am headed for a well-earned rest.

Stay tuned tomorrow as I head up to Crieff for the 2nd annual Outlander UK Gathering.

Slàn leat an-dràsta!

Outlander Episode 114 – The Search – The Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher…um NOT

Well, my friends. This post will be rather short and sweet as there was no Gaelic! I think Àdhamh himself puts it best:

 

 

As a treat though, I am including this wee video with Àdhamh teaching a bit of Gaelic for TV Guide. So let’s all practice our Gaelic and hope we can even hear more next week while we are cringing through Wentworth.

Slàn-leat an drasta!

 

 

Outlander Episode 113 – The Watch – The Gàidhlig Bits I Could Decipher

I think I like this episode more every time I watch it. And even though there’s not Gaelic in them, I think the scenes between Jenny and Claire are my favorites.  That being said, here is the Gaelic I could translate. Note that I’m still waiting on final confirmation for the final thing that Jamie says right before the ambush.

The Watch arrives

5:46 MacQuarrie to Ian for sword

Taing dhut – Thank you

Dinner

8:36 Jamie to MacQuarrie saying where he’s from.

Na h-Innse Gall – The Western (foreign) Isles

10:33 MacQuarrie toasting

Slàinte mhath – good health

Shoeing the horse

12:14 Jamie to Rabby

A bhalaic – lad

     Rabbie answering

Gun dàil – without delay

Fire in the wagon

Most of this is under Jamie’s breath and I can’t make it out. If anyone else can, leave me a comment.

Horrocks arrival

15:11 Jamie to the dogs

Ist -quiet (several people pointed this out and I think they’re right.)

Fixing the wagon

26:40 Jamie exclaims

Ifrinn – Hell!

Ambush

Jamie yelling

Still awaiting confirmation on this one. Will update the post when I have it.

 

 

Outlander Episode 112 Bonus: Gàidhlig translation from Brian Fraser’s tombstone

Thanks to some excellent sleuthing by GreatScot! reader Alex, we now have the Gaelic translation for the phrase on Brian Fraser’s tombstone.

vlcsnap-2015-04-27-09h22m15s796

Brian’s grave has Song of Solomon 4:6: “Gus am bris an là, agus an teich na sgàilean” — “Until the day break, and the shadows flee away” (KJV). Found it in a Gàidhlig translation of the Old Testament.

If you missed my first post with the Gaelic translations for Episode 112 – Lallybroch, you can find it here.