Author: nottscots

 

This years Treasure Hunt was to assist the local Kayaking team, The Eskimo Rollers. After a night of celebrations following their win at the National Water Sports Centre they had mislaid their trophy.

Our mission, if we chose to accept it, was to search the Country Park and, by correctly solving  a number of clues, locate the place where they had left it.

Hampered by high temperatures, it was again about 27C (that’s about 80F in old money)  our teams of intrepid hunters set off to save the day.

Our first obstacle was navigating the high car parking charges of £15 which were being imposed, as it was the day of the National junior canoeing championships. However we explained we were Scottish and had only come to solve the mystery, thankfully the charges were then waived!!

The Country Park was overwhelmed by what appeared to be every canoe in the country and their owners and families descending on Holme Pierrepont at the same time. We knew we were facing overwhelming odds and had already lost two of our hunters on the way to the car park, as Andrew and Sue failed even to reach the start.  Sue’s car  succumbed to the weather and overheated on the way to the rendezvous – at the age of 21 who can blame her? (That’s the car, not Sue!)

Fighting our way through the thousands of spectators and canoes we managed to make our way around the park and solve all the clues until eventually we found the Trophy in the Pierrepont Stables.

Only three teams managed to finish the course, well actually only three teams started. so, high on our success, we retired to Lyndsey and Grahams for well earned tea and cakes. Andrew and Sue had also managed to sort out their car as well and were there for the celebrations.

We also found out that David who had organised the day had turned 65 on the Friday so we toasted  him with a glass of bubbly, courtesy of Lyndsey and Graham. We were surprised at his age as we all thought he was much older!!!!!!

For once it really was summer weather for the annual garden dance! Dancers and friends from Nottingham Scottish and the Beeston U3A came together on a glorious June evening for a programme of Scottish Dances hosted by Andrew and Sue Morrison. The evening also included Birthday Greetings for Garth Dring who provided us with a delicious birthday cake which seemed to read his age as 18. Well, we knew he looked young…

We moved on to a ‘bring and share’ supper accompanied by a glass or two of wine as the sun slowly set. No better way to spend a summer evening!

The Nottingham Scottish Summer Walk and Barbecue took us along the Erewash Canal on a lovely sunny afternoon. With our appetites duly whetted, we returned to Don and Sue’s for a truly excellent  barbecue with all the trimmings. Many thanks to Don and Sue and helpers for a great afternoon and evening.

Nottingham Scottish celebrated the last dance of a very successful season on Thursday 24 May with an end of term party.  Thanks to all our dancers, callers, musicians and friends for making this a great season.

See you all again on Thursday 6th September or at other Nottingham Scottish Events – and newcomers are always welcome!

Nottingham Scottish dancers joined forces with our fellow dance groups from the East Midlands and South Yorkshire for the annual festival of Scottish Country Dance. Our team trained hard for the 12 set dances and performed with aplomb – well, 99% of the time! It is a great occasion and we all enjoyed ourselves. Well done all dancers!

Some of us then stayed on for the evening dance, featuring another 18 dances before making our way back from Retford. An excellent day!

May is the perfect time to see blubells – and, if you’re near Strelley, the Oldmoor Wood is a pretty good place to look. So, we went and looked and even in the rain it was a great display. Fortunately the wood is close to the Mulberry Tree Café – and hot coffee beforehand and lunch afterwards makes up for any rain! Thanks to Dave for the organisation.

The Nottingham Scottish Association welcomed forty members and friends to their spring dance on Saturday 21 April. The programme was a mix of easier dances suitable for beginners/improvers and more difficult dances. Beginners/improvers from Beeston U3A, Nottingham RSCDS and other groups were well-supported by the more experienced and a good time was had by all as we danced to the excellent music of Blinkbonny.

Thanks to Garth for his organisation, to friends from other groups for their support, to all who contributed to the success of the evening and, of course, to David and Debbie.

Thank you to Dave and his helpers for a fun President’s Night. Clearly we’ll be entering a Nottingham Scottish Curling (sorry, that’s ‘Kurling’) team on behalf of Team GB in the next Winter Olympics…

Today’s walk took us from Wilford to Trent Bridge and back – admiring the spring flowers and missing the spring showers! The Ferry Inn provided us with a well-earned lunch – but no puddings this time, I’m afraid!