We spent Saturday night in the Office Party, celebrating M’s birthday. It was a risk; reviews ranged from “a contender for the best show of the Fringe 2008” to “this was just embarrassing”, not forgetting the rather intriguing “probably the least intellectually taxing thing at the Fringe”. Further, the idea was to go with a bunch of mates, but the night sold out so quickly in the end it was just me and M – a very tired, grumpy M, who doesn’t go for audience participation even on the best of times.
But lo and behold! We had an absolutely amazing time. Cheap white wine, line-dancing (to Abba!), tacky decorations, acrobatics, a pole-dancer (brilliant), ginger strippers, cheesy music, American CEO (who M thought sounded strangely familiar from his work), a great big conga line, cheap white wine (but Fair Trade), team-building exercises, warm vodka. All together now: “Let the tension oooooout… Let the loving iiiiiiin…” (Our mantra in the Corporate Social Responsibility department)
Consequently, Sunday was a bit of a risk as well; hill-walking and tourist-guiding. But that turned out lovely, too.
First, Ben A’an. Since the ascent had been tried and tested on a pregnant woman (well done Sanna), we thought it safe to take Eero’s mum. In the end she pretty much outclimbed us. Once again, the views from the top were worth it.
Loch Katrine (with Shep, and Ben Nevis somewhere in the clouds):
It’s windy on the top:
Birthday cake! The candles did all burn at the same time for long enough for M to make a wish.
Birthday boy with his cake and a wishful dog.
Hillsides are purple with heathers in bloom:
Evidence that there are forests in Scotland and, sometimes, even the sun comes out:
Inside the forest – gnomes and fairies should appear any second:
Ben Ledi from Loch Lubnaig. (We’ve walked that ridge! No sun then, but wind, rain and sleet…)
For Shep, days like this are the best. Driving, walking, friends, playing, and returning home in the evening. There was even a sheep-herding show on the way, like it was all planned just for him.
Shep announcing his happiness to the whole world at Loch Lubnaig:
On the drive home, the weather changed back to normal. The Stirling Castle looked so impressive in the approaching storm we stopped for a photo opportunity:
It was a dark, stormy night, when…
The Wallace Monument (that’s Braveheart for us Hollywood-educated) and the Ochil Hills:
And now for something completely different. The above pictures were taken from a fire escape staircase of an empty office building, which provided a nice contrast for the historic castle:
And the greatest traffic sign everest!
Then we got home and went to bed at nine.
Ankanpoikanen 