BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010

Subject: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 03:31 PM

Greetings all. My wife and I are making tentative plans to visit Scotland and Ireland in August 2010. I've been invited to participate in the "Pipefest Global Challenge" with the Alaska Highlander Pipe Band in Edinburgh August 6-7. (No, I haven't gone batty and learned the bagpipes, but they want an Alaskan folksinger to add to the private shows they are doing.) After "pipefest" we will be touring Scotland until the next weekend when we will be in Glasgow for the 2010 World Pipe Band Championships. It should be a lot of fun.

After the screeching is over, Tawmmie and I are flying to Dublin, renting a van, and driving around Ireland for another week or so. As much as we would love to see our friends in England again, it seems that Ireland is calling to us this trip.. We will have to visit all of you folks in England another time. So, the reason for this thread is to find out if there are any Mudcatters in Scotland or Ireland that would like to meet up with a couple wayward Alaskans as we make our way around your beautiful landscape. Please let us know.

Best wishes,
Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland
From: gnu
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 03:51 PM

Bring a pile of Bud wit ya.

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 04:04 PM

I was hoping to see Budweiser being harvested from Clydesdales in their native land, gnu.

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 04:34 PM

Well Mike, it would be nice to see you two again, it's been a long time since I saw you at Broadstairs.
I am 200 miles north of Edinburgh, but if you can make it this far, I can get you a gig to help cover your costs.
let me know your plans.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 04:36 PM

Accomodation no problem BTW.

JM

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 06:11 PM

Hi John,
It would be great to see you again. What town are you in?   I'm not sure yet what the band's itinerary will be and I'm going to be somewhat tied to them until after Glasgow. I'll try to find a way to share a brew or two with you though. Let's stay in touch.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Feb 10 - 07:49 PM

Shame you wont be London area this time Mike !

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 02:54 AM

Mike - Budweiser "harvested" from Clydesdales?

I thought it was milked...
Pity I'm going to be in Ireland and Scotland a month before you.
We could have met up and had a grand time.

Hope you and Tawmmie have a blast, and I look fofrward to seeing you   next January.

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: kendall
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 04:19 AM

Have a ball lad; I love the UK but never been to Ireland. Maybe this year in May?

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 04:40 AM

50 miles north of Inverness Mike. If you get to Inverness, we can collect you from there.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 01:02 PM

Terry, we looked at coming back down to London to meet up with friends, but we also wanted to see Ireland and couldn't swing both on this trip. We'll be retired in 2 months, though, so we will try to get back to England before too long.

Seamus, never having observed the Budweiser bottling process I was unaware as to the correct terminology for the actual collection of fluid. Thanks for your clarification. By the way, I love your new cowboy CD. Also, we are moving down to southwest Florida in May and I'll be changing my name to "Florida Mike". When do you tour the Sunshine State?

Kendall, I'm glad to hear that your surgery went well. I'm looking forward to seeing you and Jacqui at the Getaway this fall. Man its going to be nice being close enough to visit friends and family more often.

John, I'll let you know what our itinerary is as soon as they let me in on it. 200 miles is a paltry distance to Alaskans. Can't wait to see you again.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Nancy King
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 01:05 PM

Sounds like a great trip, Mike! AND I'm very glad to hear you're planning on coming to the Getaway this year! Looking forward to seeing you (and Tawmmie, I hope!)

Nancy

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: GUEST,vectis sans cookie
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 01:34 PM

My larger half and I were planning a trip to Scotland between Sidmouth and Whitby festivals. Maybe we can find a meet place, it would be nice to see you both again before I move 'down under'.

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 01:58 PM

I hadn't heard of the Pipefest Global Challenge before, so I looked it up. It seems to be a development of the annual fundraising mass pipe band parade for the Marie Curie cancer charity, which started several years ago. But the aims now read "in support of cancer and veteran charities worldwide", which is a much more diffuse group left totally unspecified on the website.

Who exactly gets the money?

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: maeve
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 02:13 PM

FAQ may have an answer, Jack.

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 06:10 PM

It looks like Marie Curie has completely lost control of the event and it's been taken over by some outfit for which charity fundraising is an afterthought. Not good.

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 07:12 PM

I don't know anything about the event, Jack. I'm the token guitar player in a pipe and drum band. Nobody tells me nothing, but I get a trip to Scotland out of the deal.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 07:43 PM

Will you still be around on the Sunday after (8th)? If so drop into Sandy Bells in the afternoon.

There will probably be a mainly-singing-with-guitars session in Midlothian on the Friday night, but it's too soon for me to have details - post again or PM me the week before you leave if you're thinking of going to that and I'll let you know. These sessions are all accessible by the night bus from Edinburgh (half an hour out of town).

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 22 Feb 10 - 08:55 PM

Jack that sounds very doable. I'm still not sure what the itinerary will be, but I am always up for a session of song and beer.

Vectis, I'd love to meet up with you again whether you have your cookie or not. We are hoping to visit Australia/New Zealand in the coming years also, so maybe we'll see you there too. I'll keep you posted on our plans as soon as I know more myself.

Nancy, Tawmmie and I are truly looking forward to the fall Getaway. Like I told Kendall, it will be sweet living within driving distance of so many friends. Can't wait to see all the Getawayers again.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 08:53 AM

Isn't there anyone on the forum from Ireland? I need some suggestions on where to go and what to do from folks who have been there. We should have about 9 days and want to see as much as we can.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Alaska Mike in Scotland/Ireland Aug 2010
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 08:25 AM

If this were "above the line" it might get more attention. Some 'Catters don't read BS threads. This is music-realted.

RtS