Looney Get Together At Blacklunans
A wee report:
I often ride up the A93 Blairgowrie to Braemar road, but it was a chance internet search that alerted me to the fact that you can hire the Blackwater Hall, some 14 miles north of Blairgowrie on this great biking road. Not only that but the hall has bunkbeds and a kitchen. Ideal for our needs thought I so I duly booked for an SS Pish Up. It sold out really quickly. Initially, the plan was simply to meet up, eat very simply and get wired in aboot the bevvy, sitting round a table and talking pish. It was a "bring yer ane drink" event so costs were kept reasonable for a good night oot.
However, two SS members: Bhud (his name even rhymes with food!
) and Gerry Watts had other ideas. Bhud offered to cook the squad a three course meal with nibbles and assorted cheeses and Gerry, who manages a big country estate (by shear co-incidence) less than a mile from the hall, offered us an afternoon of country sports with some fly fishing, rifle shooting and clay pigeon shooting tuition thrown in.
It was decided to keep the "party" to a limit of twenty folk as we didn't know what the facilities were like.
I set off around 10:00 on Saturday for run up to Perth where I was meeting Flash of the Gap. Flash and I then headed up to Blairgowrie where we met Whatton and James Burton for a bite of lunch at Bridge of Cally near to our venue. I'd already stopped off at a good butcher shop and obtained all that we would need for Sunday breakfast....or so I thought. I forgot to get bacon.
Whatton (who'd already volunteered to cook the breakfasts) nipped back into town (a 16 mile round trip) and rescued the day for me. Thanks, Kev.
The Blackwater Hall was a cracking wee venue for our needs. Most folk arrived before 2 p.m. so Gerry Watts and a couple of his mates started ferrying us up to his estate in 4 x 4 vehicles. The weather was beautiful which added to the event but what a great afteroon we had. Many thanks to Gerry and his mates for giving up their time and teaching a bunch of Tossers some of the ways of the country. As you can see, it's a lovely part of the country up here. We got split up into three groups. I was with Neil23 and Kirky. This is Neil trying his hand at casting with a fly rod. The target shooters are on the far hill.
This is Gerry coaching Kirky in the art of firing a rifle without accidently killing any sheep or Tossers
Neil's turn now. I made sure I was behind them...
A Dafties Day Oot. Andy Davies, Trickday, Neil23, Kirky, Uinneag and Cunning Fox (who kept quiet about his username for some reason)
Neil23 has a go at the Clays. Great fun this was as well. The guy coaching him is an ex Scotland rugby player called Ian (but I forget his surname. Easy to see I'm not a rugby man). A really decent spud he was too...
Then it was back to the hall where Bhud had been slaving over a cooker since 3 pm. The maniac behind him having bother opening a bottle is Klanky
Whatton got into the Scottish themed spirit by hiring an outfit in the Hamilton Tartan, much to the delight and surprise of wee Neil
Neil then decided to try and make Flash less homesick so he dressed up as an extra from Darby O'Gill and The Little People
Flash was knocked out by his efforts (and those of Herr Jägermeister and his workforce)
Bhud's meal was absolutely brilliant but I was too busy feeding my face to take photos of the spread but we had really good home made soup, a delicous main course of beef, pork, Yorkshire Pudding, potatoes and the best vegetables I've tasted in a long time. The cheesecake and fruit crumble sweets were a bit good as well.
You're an absolute star Bhud and you really did us all proud.
Then it was gloves off for some serious drinking and talking shite.
Johnny's just noticed Neil's "England '66" T shirt
Gerry Watts and Northern Jock enjoy a single malt whisky. I'm no' sure if the whisky has gone to Gerry's heid or if he's just rubbed his face briskly wi' his Harris Tweed Nicky Tam troosers...
Whatton then decided to show Garfield the proper way to dance YMCA
And then he needed a breather. It's hard work being a fat lad and dancing to all the latest pop songs on your iPod.
Whatton and Neil23 then gave us an exibition of hand co-ordination that they've been learning at a special school for adults with learning difficuties that they both attend. They're daft but happy lads...
This is possibly one of the ensemble early doors. It looks a bit tame at this point and it was anything but
There were a few quiet folk sitting round the table this morning. Bhud and Whatton did us proud with a full Scottish fry up including haggis.
It was a cracking night oot at a cracking wee venue and thanks to all who made the effort to attend, especially the guys who had a good few hours travelling to get there. I just hope the hall committee allow us back
Thanks for a great time people
thank **** !!
