Best. Weekend. Ever.

[estepheia]

Every year, at the beginning of May, there is a Highland Gathering in Peine, a little town, just a thirty minute drive from Braunschweig. For a whole weekend, the air is full of pipe music and smoke from all the BBQ fires, and Scots and Germans march around in kilts, playing pipe music or just having a good time. Tons of grilled sausages and steaks and french fries get washed down by gallons of beer. There are stalls selling pretty celtic jewellry or scented oils, or dozens of different Whiskeys, stalls selling semi-precious stones, crafts stalls, activities for kids, stalls selling Oreos and PG tips, HP sauce and Cadbury's milk chocolate (at staggering prices). And there are dance performances.

Our Irish dance club always performs there. In fact, we have faithful fans, who arrive early just to get a good view. Every year, our dancers are better than the year before. This weekend my little one, Viktoria, had her first hard-shoe performance. And Tina (who likes to be called "Katze" these days, i.e. Cat) danced really really well and smiled. I almost exploded with pride.

For some weird reason, this first weekend in May is usually sunny and bright. Yesterday's weather was picturebook perfect. Sunny with a slight breeze.

What makes this perfect weekend even better, is the fact that some of the dancers' parents got together to form two tug-of-war teams. :-)  Okay, so we didn't practice beforehand, and there weren't many teams competing, and mixed teams had to compete against men's teams, and I had to help out the men's team twice because there were only 7 of them and you need 8 men, and we got annihilated by the favourites, but hey, at the end of the day, our mixed team, with yours truly in it, made first place among the mixed teams. Meaning we got a case full of beer and a little trophy. Hurrah!!! We also got a couple of purple bruises, but hey, who cares? *is happy*

Other good stuff: I got to chat a little with itsabigrock, whom I hadn't seen online in aaages. I guess I should turn on my instant messenger a little bit more often, because I really enjoy talking to old friends. :-)
*sends happy thoughts*

ETA: Here's a photo album with pictures of the 10th Peine Highland Gathering. And yes, I'm in the tug of war picture. :-) I'm the fourth on the dark-blue side. The white-and-blue fellows probably could have won even with their arms tied behind their backs. They won the tournament, without breaking a sweat. :-)

Photos

Comments

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

sounds like a very fun weekend, love... the way you describe it makes me wish i could have been there, i've never been to that sort of event, but it sounds absolutely fascinating...

you must be so proud of your babies, too, following in your footsteps, and so well :)

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

I'm terribly proud of my little ones - who are no longer so little. ;-)

They're not following in my footsteps, since I myself don't dance any more. But their Dad dances - and very well, too.

http://www.newsclick.de/index.jsp/artid/8398197/menuid/2162/include/67616c65726965732f73696e676c65496d6167652e6a7370/galeryId/8392979/imageId/8393019

The one with the dark blue T-shirt, that's me.

and if you go to photo 54, the third girl from the left is Tina. And on number 55 the little one on the far right is Vicky. :-)

*is proud*

And yes, this is not the kind of event one goes to, unless friends drag you there. But it was really fabulous, as you can see from the newspaper photos.

[dreamsofspike.livejournal.com]

awwww, they're beautiful, and obviously very talented :)

and yeah, it seems like the kind of thing someone would have to suggest for me to go there, but i'd looooove it once i was there :)

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

I just found out that someone recorded some parts of the dance performances and posted them on youTube.
So, if you want to take a look, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rince+samhain&search_type=

[jmchau.livejournal.com]

What fun! How pretty the group looks in their outfits.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I love those celtic designs. But the solo dresses that are worn at competitions look terrible.

And I have to say that the pretty outfits are also pretty expensive. :-(

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

What terrific pictures! It sounds like a wonderful weekend and I'm so glad you all had such a great time. Love your description in the first paragraph - I could not only see the Gathering, but smell the grilled food, too. Lovely.