Today I’m thankful for Travel. We’ve been fortunate to be able to travel to several interesting places. Some, like Iceland, we just lucked in to. We’d wanted to go to Ireland but the travel agent couldn’t get us in at any time over that summer. She did get us a deal where, if we flew Iceland …
Tag: Scotland
Aug 27
Scotland’s August Bank Holiday
Last year we’re in Scotland on August 28, so we were affected by the August Bank Holiday. This year’s holiday is on Monday, August 27. The August Bank Holiday was instituted by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 to give bankers a day off so they could participate in cricket matches. Since then, however, its significance …
Apr 06
Since it’s Tartan Day: 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Scotland
I have my Black Watch tartan ready to go to wear but we won’t be able to go the parade in New York this year 🙁 Don’t be surprised if you see people decked out in tartan this weekend. Today, April 6, the United States is celebrating National Tartan Day. The day is intended to …
Apr 06
April 6 is National Tartan Day
April 6 is National Tartan Day. This is an official national holiday which kicks off Tartan Week. National Tartan Day honors all the Scottish heritage that flows through this nation. From its earliest beginnings, Americans with Scottish ancestry endeavored for that freedom as much as any American. It was in their blood. It was …
Feb 04
Sean Connery and Bagpipes
This video just came up on my Facebook feed this morning but I hadn’t seen it before. Even though Washington is misspelled, this is still a fantastic performance for Sean Connery in 1999. Sean Connery was honored at the Kennedy Center for lifetime achievements. The music consists of the Washington Pipe Band, Alasdair Fraser, …
Jan 14
Greyfriar’s Bobby
When we were in Scotland a couple years ago, we walked to Edinburgh Castle and back from hotel a couple times. I had never heard of Greyfriar’s Bobby until our bus tour the second day although we had walked by the statue 3 times already! On our 4th pass-by, we saw several people taking …
Dec 31
Time for those Hogmanay Fireballs Again!
Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year (Gregorian calendar) in the Scottish manner. It is normally followed by further celebration on the morning of New Year’s Day (1 January) or, in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday. The …
Nov 11
Giving Thanks, Day 25: November 11, 2017
Giving thanks to our Veterans today I’m not sure how Veterans Day turned into a Friday holiday and a day to sell stuff, but then, most every holiday has turned into a day for stores to run “sales”. Possibly, the original intent was to give our veterans a break but it has sure morphed …
Aug 28
August Bank Holiday
This year we’re in Scotland on August 28, so we are affected by the August Bank Holiday. The August Bank Holiday was instituted by the Bank Holidays Act of 1871 to give bankers a day off so they could participate in cricket matches. Since then, however, its significance has greatly expanded beyond those narrow limits. Now, …