A day with the Scottish Mafia!

This weekend we went to the Highland Games in Uxbridge! 

We go every year and the Little Prince wears his little Glasgow Rangers uniform - personalized of course!  My uncle sends them over and all the Scottish grannies and aunties at the games go nuts for him.  It's fun having our last name on the back of the Little Prince's shirt as our name is well known in the Scottish Mafia so people know it's us right away.  The Suburban Prince often puts the Little Prince on his shoulders so we end up being spotted a mile away!

We got a great table in the beer garden and set up for lunch - we had our cooler on wheels so we were able to keep everyone (especially the Little Prince) happy with snacks and drinks.  The Little Prince LOVES the music and breaks into spontaeous dance from time to time - the rest of the time he claps along!

My FIL wore his kilt - the Suburban Prince didn't as it was about 45 degrees here with the humidity and the thought of being out in the heat and humidity, wrapped in 6-8 yards of wool didn't appeal to him.  This is why Scottish holidays start in October!

It was pouring rain most of the day which further reinforces my theory that if you gather enough Scottish people together, it will rain.  The higher the ratio of Scottish to everyone else, the higher the odds of rain....I kept my wedding to 40:60 Scottish:everyone else...the odds were in my favour and it did not rain!  On the other hand I have never been to a Highland Games that didn't invoke rain.  I have been soaked while singing Scotland the Brave more times than I can count!

Another interesting fact....Scottish people are not bothered enough to give up their seats in the beer garden or leave an event just because of a little huricaine downpour. 

Some country dancing - similar to a square dance.

Pipe bands were playing all over the place at random times in the middle of intersections - verry cool!

This event has the only Scottish all breed dog competition in North America (or so we were told).  The Dandie Dinmont Terriers are the sweetest dogs - when you pick them up they just flop in your arms - they LOVE cuddles!

I swear these dogs just sleep and cuddle all day long!

Highland dancing competitions - we had to pull the Little Prince off those stairs twice!!  While the girls were dancing!  Yes, my child is that child *sigh* The Highland Fling was originally done by male warriors before and after battles.  It used to be done on a targe which is a round shield.  These days it is mostly performed by girls and the occassional boy who, let's face it, has the odds is his favour!

Of course there are sheep shearing demos!

Mmmmm deed fried Mars bars!  YUM! 

Just like with haggis, don't say it's gross until you have tried it.

The military bands doing their last big performance for the afternoon.  There are different types of bands - a military Tattoo is for technical/traditional bands...the videos below are of the Highland Creek Pipe Band who are the ultimate performance pipe band...it's like watching PipeBandRockBand...

About halfway through they play Auld Lang Syne (the ultimate Scottish song followed closely by Loch Lomand) and the people around us all started dancing - or what might be called dancing after an entire afternoon in the beer garden.

This is the same band marching out - check out the pipe/drum major's mace skills!

We didn't get to see any of the heavy events (sheaf, caber toss etc) because of the rain.  Next year!

Have a fabulous day!