Life in the Real World

I had 3, nine year olds spend the night at my house,
which of course, beats the heck out of having,
9, three year olds here.

They were having what is
commonly called a "sleep over" and in reality is actually...
a "stay-awake over".

I taught them what my brothers and I called 'leg wrestling', then
after 3 hrs of total mayhem, slight injuries and laughter...I told them
when the bruising came to the surface to please let their parents
know that I'd not done this to them, but they'd done it to themselves.

The next evening was a birthday party, after breakfast, a trip to the
local sea aquarium, the 5th dvd movie in 24 hrs,
we went to the local Pizza/Electronic Games Arcade,
where we met up with others children of that age, and parents,
and where we all gave our money to them, and fed them pizza, then.....

and this is real smart move on the adults part...
( when totally 'spent' for energy ), we....

gave them sugary cake and ice cream.

And I consider myself and my friends intelligent.

The Bard

Dates in History

I've had a strange, but wonderful phenomenon happen in my life.
Since 1997 I have been experiencing , the path of
the Wars of Independence of Scotland,
in chronological order, during the anniversary dates.

Sept. 11th 1997 I was in Stirling for the 700th Anniversary of
the Battle of Stirling Bridge, led by Sir William Wallace. This weekend
also saw the Scottish Parliament voted back in, for the first time since
the Unionisation of Scotland's and England's Parliaments in 1707.
Which will see a 300th year mark in this next year.

Then I was back for the 700th Memorial to the Execution or as some
would say murder, of William Wallace, by the English. I was honoured by
reciting my Poem 'Eulogy for William Wallace' at the New Scottish
Parliament Blgd. in Holyrood.

This year in March was the 700th aniversary of the Coronation
of the Good King Robert the Bruce, and I was there at the field
of Bannockburn, and drank whisky from the quaich, for the Bruce
and freedom.

What an awesome experience it has been, to be there, for these events.
And there's still more to come....700th for the Battle of Bannockburn
is not until 2014.

Something to look forward to.
More later....

The Bard

Back to Reality

Back from the olde country.
This trip was a great experience for me, as always.

I was able to see some unusual sites...Pictish standing stones,
raging streams with salmon running up them, and more than one historical church.
I even walk up a hill to an Iron Age fort, and entered down into it, in Midlothian.

I belted out a few songs with the session's band at Sandy Bells, in Edinburgh,
then again at the Victoria Pub, in Auchendinny. What an honour to be amongst
such brilliant musicians and have the opportunity to join in.

Went to the opening of the new Exhibition on George Buchanan "the Renaissance Man" of Scotland, at the Smith Gallery and Art Museum in Stirling. Another fantastic job by Dr. Elspeth King and her crew. This exhibit runs thru Feb. 25th 2007 and well worth the visit, if you happen to be heading to Scotland, for the Hogmanay celebrations. (New Year's Eve)

Ranking above all....was... the meeting up with such good friends and havin' a right good blether.

And on the bizarre side of life... I was standing in a friend's shop in Canongate, Edinburgh called Canongate Jerseys...when I ran into three people that used to, come into my shop, on the West Coast of America. Small world!!!

Now back to reality,

I'm presently pressing on with "the book"....scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
A proposed launch date of April,.... fingers crossed.

More again.soon...
The Bard