Another feature of Festival Week was "The Rideout".
Here Lads and Lasses and their counterparts from the Scottish Border Towns ride their horses across the River Esk close to the Roman Bridge. Cathy says in her day they crossed the river at will but now because of Health and Safety regulations there are people in wet suits on hand in case someone falls off. The water wasn't more than 300mm deep!
Here's Cathys Honest Lad after the crossing. Much hooping and hollering accompanies the event.
In the evening the Sashing Ceremony is held on a podium attended by local dignitaries.
With many speeches
and attentive audience.
Followed by dancing.
Scott, Cathy and Julie
At the end of the week they are all allowed to act like idiots! The lasses in their blow up horse suits.
This is Jeananne Hunter, Honest Lass 1985, who visited us in Australia a few years ago.
The highland band as Mexicans!
Jimmy as Doctor Jim with Rotarys' Float.
Honest Lads as ladies exercise class complete with trainer!
As a Finale to the weeks activities a parade of horses and their mounts set out on a ride to the limits of the town and the lads race their steeds along the beach.
Jeananne again.
and a modern innovation coming up behind to collect the horse droppings. (doing the locals out of fertiliser for the roses)!
At the end of the day is the final event for the week, The Annual Dinner held in a converted Net Mill.
Champagne starters. Cathy, Helen and Wilma.
and Christine.
Me, Cathy, Alastair, Helen, Jimmy and Wilma all dressed for the "Annual Dinner".
VISIT TO EDINBURGH
We managed to do other things during the week, including a day out to Edinburgh.
Portobello sands, looking West towards Edinburgh
Looking East. Glenn and Andrew stayed in rented accommodation nearby
Enjoying the sunshine in St Andrews square.
Walter Scott's monument.
The Castle
The Edinburgh Festival is due to start shortly and a free folk dancing event was taking place with performers from Northern Spain.
Austria
and Sweden
Princes Street, the main Street of Edinburgh.
Jimmy with Grandsons Max, about to hit ball and Angus.
This is the Manse at Tranent which Jimmy's son Alastair and wife Catherine are renovating. A Big Job!
The building dates from the 1700's and has played a significant historical role. Colonel Gardiner, who let the 13th Dragoons of the British army against Bonny Prince Charlies Jacobites, died here during the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745. There is a plaque in the house to commemorate this event.
Prince Charlie, the Grandson of Catholic James Stuart (James II of England, 7th of Scotland), had arrived in Scotland from France only two months earlier to raise an army (they called themselves Jacobites) to take back the British throne which his grandfather had been forced from in 1688. Prestonpans was a victory for that army.
In the grounds of "The Manse" are "The Stables" which have been converted into accommodation for up to eight people and is available for let.
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