Our October Walk, taking in the Straws Bridge Nature Reserve and part of the Nutbrook Trail, was blessed with glorious autumn weather! Seventeen members took part, enjoying the scenery and the sunshine. An excellent lunch, courtesy of the Newdigate Arms, topped off a lovely morning.
The Nottingham Scottish team displayed their skills on the Lakeside Golf Course. Surely selection for the Ryder Cup team is only a matter of time?
Saturday’s weather looked good for walking as 14 members converged on the lovely village of Parwich at the southern end of the Peak District. We were welcomed by the landlady of the Sycamore Inn who took our lunch time food orders before we set off on our morning walk.
This took us south on the Limestone Way to reach the Tissington trail where we were joined by many other walkers and cyclists all enjoying the sunshine. We returned to Parwich by way of a secluded, shady valley and a pleasant stroll through the fields. Lunch and a refreshing drink were very welcome!
A smaller number set off after lunch for a shorter but quite testing walk in the heat of the afternoon. This finished with a rather unexpected steep downhill scramble into Parwich – after which we felt we had earned some more refreshment before returning home.
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)Â 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.
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.
