With this being my eleventh carnival trip I’ve learnt that it is not unusual when travelling in Europe at this time of year to stumble serendipitously across some sort of…
Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day Three – Höchst to Bludenz
After drinking numerous pots of mispelchen the previous night we expected to wake bleary, thankfully the apple brandy from Frankfurt must be of fine quality as our heads were surprisingly…
Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day Two – Ijmuiden to Höchst
Predictably, everything was smoother, cleaner and more efficient as soon as we disembarked and set foot on Dutch soil. Although passport control was busy, it was reasonably quick and waiting…
Carnival 2023 -Scotland to Sardinia by Train – North Shields to Ijmuiden
We chose the ferry to the Netherlands from the north of England over the Eurostar for a few reasons. First, we’ve done the Eurostar route a few times now, the…
Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Day One – Taynuilt to North Shields
I’m lucky enough to live in one of the few villages in North Argyll with a train station, an easy, downhill walk from my house. It’s understandable that many folk…
Carnival 2023 – Scotland to Sardinia by Train – Introduction
I have long been interested in the pre-Lenten carnivals that take place throughout Europe. The combination of old traditions, local culture, unusual masks and costumes, carnival rituals and the general…
Dancing Around The Mast
I think this was the first tune I wrote on gaita, the bagpipe from Galicia in north west Spain, it’s certainly the first I have written down.
Stalker Castle – Slip Reel?
Here’s an interesting wee tune from The Piper’s Assistant, Published by Glen Bagpipe Makers in 1845 and edited by John McLachlan.
Mrs Catherine McNally of Glenburn
A slow jig named after my paternal grandmother, Catherine McNally (nee McCormick) of Glenburn in Paisley.
Duncan’s Boots
This reel was written in the summer of 1997 after a memorable time at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig on Skye during the fiddle and step dance week.