The Gathering 2014 – Upcoming Event News

[JohntheBiker]

I have to agree with AcuteEnigma. My wife and I were at The Gathering in 2009 and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The events were just a weekend and the rest of the time we went exploring. Clan activities were a small part of the trip, but we did enjoy marching up the Royal Mile with clan folk from all over the globe. The Gathering provided an excuse for travelling to Scotland and the measure of success for such events isn't always profitability and you don't always get it right the first time. I plan to go back to Scotland but nothing in this thread would encourage me to make a special trip in 2014.

[cessna152towser]

Well, AE, Chewse and JohntheBiker, we all see things from our own perspective. As a Scot I was spoilt for choice and attended around twenty homecoming events during Homecoming 2009, from the Burns 250 Celebrations during January through to the finale at the end of November and I did not consider the Edinburgh Gathering in July to be the highlight of the year. The Muster of the Clans in Selkirk in September was my personal favourite, including taking part in a clan march with people from all around the globe without the marchers being required to pay for the privilege, but in fairness I was actively involved as one of the Scottish hosts there and I would agree that this would not be everybody's choice as only the lowland clans and families had booths. There may yet be a "Gathering" in 2014, but, if not, I am sure there will be plenty of special events throughout 2014 which will have their own individual appeal both to visitors and locals.
Turning to your point Chewse about desiring an impetus when planning a destination, it is fair to admit that I would probably never have visited USA had it not been for the impetus of meeting xmarks friends at major Highland Games. Thanks to Ventura Seaside Games I also saw LA and Hollywood and spent time with a cousin who lives in Santa Barbara and thanks to the incentive of New Hampshire Games I spent an excellent ten days also visiting Boston and hiking in the White Mountains.
Haste ye back to bonnie Scotland, I feel sure you will find plenty of interest happening throughout the Highlands, Lowlands and Southern Uplands at any time in any year.
Anyway it is nice to read some words of wisdom from the President of CoSCA as quoted at #146, let's wait and see exactly what is planned for 2014.

[chewse]

Well, AE, Chewse and JohntheBiker, we all see things from our own perspective. As a Scot I was spoilt for choice and attended around twenty homecoming events during Homecoming 2009, from the Burns 250 Celebrations during January through to the finale at the end of November and I did not consider the Edinburgh Gathering in July to be the highlight of the year. Edinburgh seemed to me like an event run by the diaspora for the diaspora and lacking in the activity and atmosphere of some of Scotland's larger Highland Games. The Muster of the Clans in Selkirk in September was my personal favourite, including taking part in a clan march with people from all around the globe without the marchers being required to pay for the privilege, but in fairness I was actively involved as one of the Scottish hosts there and I would agree that this would not be everybody's choice as only the lowland clans and families had booths. There may yet be a "Gathering" in 2014, but, if not, I am sure there will be plenty of special events throughout 2014 which will have their own individual appeal both to visitors and locals.
Turning to your point Chewse about desiring an impetus when planning a destination, it is fair to admit that I would probably never have visited USA had it not been for the impetus of meeting xmarks friends at major Highland Games. Thanks to Ventura Seaside Games I also saw LA and Hollywood and spent time with a cousin who lives in Santa Barbara and thanks to the incentive of New Hampshire Games I spent an excellent ten days also visiting Boston and hiking in the White Mountains.
Haste ye back to bonnie Scotland, I feel sure you will find plenty of interest happening throughout the Highlands, Lowlands and Southern Uplands at any time in any year.
Anyway it is nice to read some words of wisdom from the President of CoSCA as quoted at #146, let's wait and see exactly what is planned for 2014.

Alex - I didn't mean to sound flipped. I truly loved the trips I have taken to Scotland. And, although there are many more places in Scotland I would like to visit, I have to balance that with my overall travel experience. We in the States generally are not given much time away from work. I wish we had more socially conscience work environments like the Europeans but we don’t. As such, I’m left to choose what travel experience I would like to do with my measly two weeks off from work. Because of this, I generally look for larger country events that spark my interest; hence The Gathering. I’m sure there are many, many varying activities going on in Scotland throughout the year that would be great to go to but since I’ve already visited Scotland on a couple of occasions, outside of The Gathering event, I don’t think I’ll make it back to Scotland in the foreseeable future.

[AcuteEnigma]

I went to 2 other Homecoming events in 2009 in addition to the Gathering. But I have to agree with Chewse, when one only gets two weeks per year, one must choose carefully.

How many weeks paid vacation does the average Scotland worker get?

There now seems to be 3 competing 'gathering' events developing. Hopefully one will happen.

[cessna152towser]

How many weeks paid vacation does the average Scotland worker get?

Usually four to five weeks.

[Mael Coluim]

It’s always a special event that gets me to Scotland. That event encourages me to save or add the debt. My mother was British (Liverpool) her mother Scottish (Robertson). When I graduated in 1970 from high school, Mum gave me a plane ticket to the UK.

Her only requirement was I was to spend two weeks in Liverpool visiting her family. I stayed with her uncle James Robertson who had retired from the Kings Regiment, Liverpool, Captain [WWI-France, Irish War of Independence, Northwest Territories – India 20 years, commando in France after the fall of Dunkirk, Palestine at end of WWII to 1948 with creation of Israel].

After the two weeks I spent a month traveling through England and a week in Edinburgh area, before returning to Liverpool, then home. The time in Edinburgh got me interested in my paternal Scottish roots. In the early 80s I worked in Kuwait for Getty Oil/Texaco. On leave when I went home I would stop off in London for a few days decompressing from the Middle East life before returning to USA. My Mum had a cousin’s daughter who was living in London during that time and she would take me clubbing in London. Some fun times.

In the 1996, my mother’s sister died and in her will gave me a $1,000. With that I went to Pipers Cove in Kearny, NJ and ordered a kilt with the necessary accruements from Scotland. In 1997, I was transferred here to Fredericksburg and attend my first Highland Games. There I found about Clan MacCallum Malcolm Society and joined. In 2002, our Newsletter had an article about a planned re-creation of St. Columba’s Voyage from Ireland to the Holy Island of Iona. In 2003, I participated spending three weeks in Ireland, Scotland and the water that separated them.

My third trip was due to the same fellow, Donald McCallum wanting to do a pilgrimage from Iona along the Great Glen Way to Inverness going to the St. Columba sites along the route. My fourth trip was in response to the 2009 to The Gathering. It was fantastic! We had our AGM in Poltalloch at our Chief’s estate.

My fourth trip was a spur of the moment sign up in 2011 to the Scottish Tartans Museum sponsorship of a trip to Northern Scotland including Orkney and Skye. It was my only travel tour and very enjoyable.

When I heard about the announcement of 2014 Bannockburn 700 Years Celebration gave me the push to plan to attend. I have not been to Sterling. Whatever is offered, I plan to participate. Afterwards I want to travel through the Borders, going south to the Lake District and return to Liverpool and see my kin there. If you read this far, I owe you a pint.

[David Thorpe]

...If you read this far, I owe you a pint.

A Porter, I think. It's rather chilly. Enjoyed the read, Ern.

[ThistleDown]

Thanks, Ern. Enjoyed that. I'll have a wee heavy and thank you for that enjoyment, too.

Rex

[Cecil]

Hey Mael, Good read. We went to Iona this past May for the first time. Looking forward to going back soon. Doing England, Wales and Edinburg this April. I like the idea of having a gathering of Clans in Scotland but its not the only reason to go. Matter of fact, I don't need a reason except I like Scotland.

[cessna152towser]

Very interesting story Ern. I'll buy you a pint when you pass through the Scottish Borders.