Day 6

Scotland, Weather:  Rain.

OK so up early, practise at 9AM, cancelled.  Raining outside.  I loved the kind of rain though, it was that fresh-smelling morning misty rain.  So instead we all huddled in the upstairs flat to practise.  Practise is always a load of fun with many many laughs.

After practise we all went to the train to go to Glasgow to see drumming for drinks.  This was a thing were a bunch of great drummers show off their stuff while people drink.  It was pretty entertaining, but I was expecting a lot more of the "gods of drumming" to be playing so it didn't end up being overly great.  Don't get me wrong though I mean they were good... just not something that you can approach them and ask advice or get to know them better.  I would rather see them playing at a highland games because then you can study their moves and ask them questions.  I always figure they probably won't remember me, but if they can help me drum, who cares!?  At least one of us will get something from the experience.

So after Drumming for Drinks we went shopping and then went to a pub.  I ordered a cheap steak supper and it was probably the best meal I have eaten in a week!  It was so amazing, I'm not sure if it was really amazing or just felt that way because I wasn't eating German food. 

Afterwards I came home to go to the Edinburgh Tattoo.  I forgot to mention that it poured all day, so by the time we got home we were a little damp.  It was still pouring when we left for the Tattoo.  We took a cab for most of the ride, but the cab driver wisely told us to get out and walk the rest of the way.   It was about a 15 minute walk up a steep cobble-stoned street up to the castle.  About 4000 people all on one street it was a bit much.  The rain was pouring still.  I had on my Inverness cape, so I was mostly OK.  I didn't have a hat on, so the rain was pelting directly into my skull.  Finally we arrived at the castle and Kelly paid 2 pounds for the seat cushions and I got the prepaid program.  By the time we found our seats it was raining really hard.  I was already sick of the rain by now.  It was cold and wet.  (You know, the wet when you feel wet inside your body).

Finally the show started.  Their motto is something like Rain or Shine, we'll be here to entertain you... even if it means you drowning in your friggin seat you stupid jerks!  Grrr I wanted to hate their faces!

So the show was really entertaining.  There were a few cool pipe bands one from Germany, one from Brazil and one from the Royal something something with the white helmets.  I was too wet to care really.  About half way though the performance I looked at Kelly and said OK enough is enough!  I'm going crazy now with the constant pelting of rain on my skull!   She just laughed at me and made fun of the raindrop that was on the end of my nose.  (I don't like her most of the time because of how much crap she puts me though!)  I told her OK I'll stay, but I just want you to know I don't like you anymore.

So we had about a half hour left of this, I was gathering nice pools of freezing cold water on top of my head and when I looked at something else that was going on, that pool would go down the back of my neck and right into my coat.  It would cause me to violently shiver and by the 5th one the woman next to me broke out laughing at me.  I have no idea why people find my pain and suffering entertaining.

Finally the end fireworks and massed band march off arrived!  I almost dragged Kelly down the steps because getting out of there would have been a nightmare!  Grumpy foreigners all over the world were soaking wet in plastic "Glad" bags and making their way back down that massive hill!

By the time we walked home everything was soaked.  It was a fun, entertaining and very very very very very very wet.  I just wanted a hot shower and to get to bed.  We had to get to Stirling castle in the morning and I didn't want to be too tired for it.

We did another practise to prepare ourselves for the competition.  I finally learned one of the scores and only had 3 more to go.

Bed time.

Tomorrow's journey?  Stirling Castle.  I will write even more tonight because I slept on both train rides, so have a bit more energy, but I'm going to have to make it somewhat quick, then I'll be caught up.

See you soon.