Not many national flags can be seen in the sky

B. C. is doing fairly well in coping with the pandemic and restrictions are slowly being lifted but there will be no Highland Games and no Dancing in the Park.  In fact I don’t know when we will get back to dancing as, whether we like it or not, we have to say that Scottish ceilidh/country dancing is a contact sport.  We may even have to wait for a vaccine.  Speaking of which, there is good news coming from the Oxford trials which is on the second test and they have given it to 10,000 people and preliminary results are positive.  Here’s hoping for success.

I received some positive comments and requests to continue with these special editions though it is long past the time I would usually take a break from sending Ceilidh Newsletters.  So here is another special edition, hopefully a cheery note to brighten your day with nothing but pictures, jokes and videos.  I hope it finds you all well and that this will lift your spirits.

We are very fortunate to have a big garden and there is no end of work required in it.  That has kept us occupied and , at least to our eyes, looks much better than it ever has,  But there is just so much that octogenarians can do!  I, especially, get a stiff back from bending down and am much slower than of old.

I have also taken on a project of trying to piece some of my father’s letters which he sent to my mother during the war with letters he wrote to my children recounting his war time experiences etc.  There are gaps, pages missing, same story told with more information, etc.  It is time consuming, frustrating at times but very interesting too.  He was a good writer, his penmanship way better than my scribble which is fortunate but occasionally a place name, especially Indian ones, I have to google to get the correct spelling.  Then a lot of the names have changed sine the 1943 and, in light of current events, words/language that were used back then is not appropriate now.

We are both well, as are our children and their families.  I hope this finds you all well and coping with the current situation.  Wherever you are please be careful, keep in touch with others, keep fit and stay safe.

Thanks to those who continue to send jokes, videos, etc. without which these newsletters would not be the same.

Ben Nevis from Fort William

 

View from Kinnoull Hill, Perth

 

The King of Spain has just been quarantined on his private jet.  This means that the Reign in Spain will stay mainly on the plane

Isolation on Rackwick Beach, Orkney
Millport harbour

Stags bating near Lamlash

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Loch Torridon looking to Ben Alligan

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Sunset on the Paps of Jura

ARE WE THE ONES WHO ARE AGING??

ONE

Recently, when I went to McDonald’s I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets.

I asked for a half dozen nuggets.

‘We don’t have half dozen nuggets,’ said the teenager at the counter.

‘You don’t?’ I replied.

‘We only have six, nine, or twelve,’ was the reply.

‘So I can’t order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?’

‘That’s right.’

So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets

(Unbelievable but sadly true…)

(Must have been the same one I asked for sweetener, and she said they didn’t have any, only Splenda and sugar.)

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Sunset over Ben Lomond

yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

They were together in the House.  Just the two of them.
It was a cold, dark, stormy night. The storm had come quickly and each time the thunder boomed he watched her jump.
She looked across the room and admired his strong appearance…and wished that he would take her in his arms, comfort her and protect her from the storm.
Suddenly, with a pop, the power went out…She screamed…
He raced to the sofa where she was cowering.  He didn’t hesitate to pull her into his arms.
He knew this was a forbidden union and expected her to pull back.  He was surprised when she didn’t resist but instead clung to him.

The storm raged on…
They knew it was wrong… Their families would never understand…So consumed were
they in their FEAR that they heard no opening of doors…

just the faint click of a camera…..

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Ben Loyal

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Some fun and interesting sites: – note if you have a link to something you think others will enjoy send me the link. Sound on, full screen:

Abba???

they are huge

There is an awesome dance, called the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, which is making the rounds across the net.  Considering the tight coordination required, their accomplishment is nothing short of amazing, even if they were not all deaf.

 All 63 of the dancers are complete deaf-mutes. 

Relying only on signals from trainers at the four corners of the stage,  these extraordinary dancers deliver a visual spectacle that is at once intricate and stirring. Its first major international debut was in Athens at the closing ceremonies for the 2004 Paralympics. Imagine finding 63 deaf-mute girls that principally look alike i.e. Have the same height and body build.  But it had long been in the repertoire of  the Chinese Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe and had traveled to more than 40 countries. 

Its lead dancer is 29 year old Tai Lihua,  who has a BA from the Hubei Fine Arts Institute.  The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival.

Now watch the video at the below link – Http://www.youtube.com/embed/7vs-H7xLnrs?rel=0

Chinese Yangtze River Dance

THIS IS AMAZING – THEIR PRECISION IS INCREDIBLE ! –

https://youtu.be/GZy78vA4SAg 

Husband: “I changed a light bulb today. ”

Wife: ” That’s it? I did the laundry, vacuumed the house, washed windows, cooked three meals, and the list goes on and on … And you changed a single light bulb?”

Husband: “Yep, that’s what I did today. Watch this; I even filmed myself doing it.”

Click here to watch: click

This was done in downtown Vancouver At Vanier Park   Amazing !

The man flying the 3 kites is in his 80s, and he’s from Canada . He comes to the Washington State International Kite Festival every year. His skin is like leather as he normally flies with his shirt off. He is deaf, so when he flies we hold our hands up and wave them for applause. He flies 2 with his hands and the 3rd one is attached to his waist.

You must watch to the end to see the amazing landing of that last kite! And of course, make sure the volume is turned up because the music is wonderful and totally reflects the soaring of the KITES. Beautiful.

Romancing the Wind Ray Bethell

A special treat

A true tale

It is in Dutch but a picture is all you need

Playing with clocks

Not just any old bar

It is in Spanish but you will get the gist.

I have used this story before but not this video version

Zoom suits

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Fiery sunset at Largs

 

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The Butt of Lewis

Dashing White Sergeant – 5 X 32 2:49 John Carmichael Carmichael’s Ceilidh Ball 2 1999

All events have been cancelled or postponed but you should check first.  Check up on your neighbours, friends and those in need.  A kind word will help their troubles.  There is much to be thankful for and we are blessed.  I hope you are all well and if not get better soon.  I would love to hear from you – drop me a line at duncanmackenzie@telus.net 

Hope this newsletter brings a smile to some faces.  Please forward it to all your friends. I am about to try to devise a dance for 2 people keeping a social distance.  Maybe I will make a video and include it in a future newsletter!!

Take care and be safe, I miss you all, but we’ll dance again

Loudoun Hill, Ayrshire

 

May your troubles be one, may your blessings be more,
and may nothing but happiness come through your door.

Duncan MacKenzie
ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org