Back From Overseas

[Tassiecelt]

Hello all, my wife and I have just returned from 6 weeks overseas, California, Colorado, Orkney, Scotland, England and Denmark.

I must say that Scotland, being my main interest, did not dissappoint.

Of special interest was our time on Iona, we stayed on the island with a Christian lady who ran a B&B. Each day we attended services on the island in the Abbey. during the day we walked the island.

While the Iona Fellowship is a wee bit liberal for my taste, there was no denying the wonderful atmosphere within the Abbey and the wonderful choir. All this took one's thoughts back to the many saints of the Lord that had made Iona their home and retreat over so many centuries.

If you wish to see a few photos taken, I organised an online album as I went.

http://www.grayandleslie.myphotoalbum.com

[CelticRadio]

Wow Tassiecelt, what a great trip! I enjoyed the slideshow. Some beautiful pictures you have taken here. Looks like you had a wonderful time!

What is the story behind that really big cross?!

[Celtic cat]

Wow those are great pictures, I wanna go overseas so bad. The Culloden monument and Rob Roy's grave are heavy hearted pics.

[Siobhan Blues]

Thanks for sharing the photos! That truly was an awesome trip. Those kinds of journeys change you forever inside, don't they!

SB

[CelticCoalition]

What did you think of Colorado? That's where I'm from.

[Íácób]

It looks like you had a wonderful trip! Awesome photos! Wish I could go to Orkney and Scotland.

[MacEoghainn]

Graham,

Great pictures! I thought I'd noticed you had been silent for a little while.

I notice you are in a kilt in all the pictures. In Scotland was your mode of dress the exception or the rule? Any comments from the native Scots about the "Aussie" and his kilt?

[Tassiecelt]

Thanks for the kind words...

CelticCoalition, I'm not a lover of big cities. We went to Denver for a church conference, but I did love the Rockies, walking up in the mountains was awesome.

Macfive, the big cross is on the island of Iona, St. Martin's Cross, the only original cross still standing on the abbey grounds.
This cross is also decorated with serpent and spiral motifs, and has slots in the ends of the arms which might once have contained metalwork. The west face of the cross has images of the Virgin and child, Daniel in the lions' den, and Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac. The cross dates from the ninth or tenth centuries.

MacEoghainn, I wear a kilt all the time, I gave up pants nearly 2 years ago.
Some in Denver were a litle confused about an Australian delegate to the conference in a kilt.
In Scotland people assumed I wore the kilt because I was in Scotland, well I can't account for what people think. A kilt is the most comfortable of male garments. comments I get all over the world are mostly positive. I found USA and Scotland very accepting. Some English were a bit wary - well, they would be wouldn't they!! (I'm English born)

[WizardofOwls]

Hello Graham!

I am so glad you had a good time! The photos of your trip are wonderful! Thanks for sharing them with us! Isn't Deborah White a wonderful person? I've corresponded with her for several on Gaelic and am thankful to have met such a nice and giving person! By the way, does your wife share your fascination with things Celtic?

Glad you're back! I've missed you!

[Tassiecelt]

Thanks WizardofOwls, Deb is truly a lovely person, really talented!! She and Chris has done a fine job of raising their two lads, Shayne and jared, both very clever young men.

We had a great time with them, touring around their area ( Sonoma County) talking music, they treated us to a private mini concert too! We walking among the Redwoods, visited a winery, drove to San Francisco, had picnics and went to one fine restaurant too.

I count it an honour to have met them, and to top it all off, Deb has a real heart for the Lord, which comes out wonderfully in their music.

Jared is making a new website for me, he's very talented in that area. I hope to have it online soon.

Yes, Leslie shares my love for celtic music, which is a real blessing. She also has a passion for celtic Christian history. She enjoyed that aspect of the trip as much as me. She's not so keen on kilts tho but she tolerates me wearing one all the time.

A virtuous woman who can find.....well I found one, or rather, God found one for me!!