Last night we watched a
film called something like "The wrong turn" which was a horror movie about
a family in West Virginia that has inbred over a number of generations and
now killed people for food. I only tell you this as I got an invite
from Bill Jordon to come up for the the annual St. Andrew's Day Dinner at
Ashland, Kentucky. After talking to Deb she said she'd be very happy
to drive me up to the event. So on Friday we set off and in the
process Deb said we'd be travelling into West Virginia on the back road as
that would be the quickest way to get there... Err.. "Deb" said I... "Can
you make sure you don't take any wrong turnings!" :-)
We got up to Ashland no
problem at all but then we got rather lost... all down to me not writing
down the instructions properly. Deb was very patient and we
eventually got there although about half an hour late. In fact we stopped
to ask an elderly gentleman if he knew where the church was and he very
kindly drove to it with us following for which we were most appreciative.
When I got all the directions wrong I thought I heard Deb mutter "Men!"
but she swears she didn't <grin>
Bill was there to greet us
and ensure we got some food while we listened to Colin singing lots of
great Scottish songs. Deb had got herself all dressed up in her
Celtic dress and all the ladies were green with envy :-) Actually
several came up to say how much they liked her outfit. I was in a
suit so didn't get any such comments myself apart from one about my wee
crossed flag pin with the US Flag and Saltire :-)
We met lots of great people
while we were there and had a grand blether with many of them and were
made most welcome. Several told me some interesting wee snippets on
the history of the area and we got invited up to their monthly meeting
which is help last Friday of each month at the local United Methodist
Church.
I am to be sent some
pictures of the event and will post them up here when they arrive.
On the road up and down we
say many dead deer on the road and in fact on the way back Deb was very
good at stopping as a deer appeared on the road before us. So at
least we didn't kill any of them. As were on the road of the huge
coal power station that is in the area we passed many huge trucks hauling
coal to it. They sure drive fast and throw up tons of spray as they
go past in the rain.
Deb got to taste some
haggis and they kindly gave us what was left to take home :-)
All in all we had a great
time and I would like to thank the folk for making us so welcome.
BTW I will be killed off if I don't mention
that the local Belfry High School Football Team, Belfry, Kentucky, won the
State Championships this same night, the first time since 1986 so there
were loads of celebrations planned. Well done to them! :-)
Thanks to Bill Jordon for sending us in
these pictures of the St. Andrews Day Dinner
And here is a picture of myself and Deb at the
St. Andrews Day Dinner
Bettye Parsons, sisters, Edna Jones
Bill Jordan, Grandaughter Alexanderia Branham,
Daughter Amiee Branham
(Bill was our host for the evening)
Colin Grant-Adams, Jim Stapleton, Honors on
the Haggis
Colin Grant-Adams
Colin Grant-Adams singing to the Lady with
Alastair & Deb to the left
Deobrah Campbell Salmon - Prayer 1
Deobrah Campbell Salmon, Richard Salmon, Colin
Grant-Adams, Bettye Parsons, Jim Stapleton
Dinner Line
Homer Meadows, Colin Grant-Adams and Jim
Stapleton Honors on the Haggis
Martin Smith Piping in the Haggis
Piping in the Haggis, Martin Smith, James
Stapleton Carrying the Haggis
Piping in the Haggis, Martin Smith, James
Stapleton carrying the Haggis and Homer Meadows with Sword
Richard Salmon
And a couple of cats were waiting up for us
when we returned :-) |