Rankin Reunion

Well, we had a lovely day on 28th May 2011!

Over 60 members of the Rankin family, all direct descendants of Harry and Elizabeth Rankin and their various partners and others gathered in the Royal George Hotel in Perth for a sit down lunch, some face painting and crafts for the children and lots of chat for the adults.

We started a little chaotically - the hotel had set tables for 8, Joyce had seating plans for 9 per table so after a bit of jiggery pokery we got the seating sorted out.  The family filed into the dining room and started milling around, looking for their seats and checking out the old photos on display which kept everyone amused while we waited for the latecomers.

Once we were all in place, the lunch was served! And I have to compliment the hotel on a really excellent meal and very good value at that.

Car parking was a challenge and so some of us had to nip out between courses to move the cars and feed the meters. I got back just in time for my sticky toffee pudding!

The major challenge of the afternoon was the photo call, and I ended up just shouting to get everyone in place.  The location was not ideal but we got a couple of decent shots finally.

After much chat and catching up, we headed home.  I was exhausted but thankful for such a large and entertaining family. We are an interesting bunch the descendants of Harry and Elizabeth Rankin - they would have approved of the gathering and would have enjoyed being there.  Papa would no doubt have made a wee speech too.

We can hope they were there in spirit watching over us all.

All of us finally in place

We think the final tally of attendees was as follows:

   

Willie Rankin                               John Rankin                      Helen Robertson     Jack  Baggs                                  Catherine Rankin           Philip Robertson     Joyce Peggie                                Fiona Blyth                       Struan              Alex Peggie                                          Daniel                       Katie         David Peggie                                                                     Jude                                                                                                                       Lucile Black                                                                            Sandy Black                                                                        Maggie        Anna ............................................................................................................................ Christine Gordon               Colin Robertson                     Harry Robertson George Gordon                               Maya                             Douglas Robertson                                                                                               Kirsteen Robertson     David Gordon                      Andrew Gordon                                                 Jane Gordon                               Cameron                   Dorothy Henry        Robbie                                     Emma                          Jamie                                       Harry        Ellie                                                                             ................................................................................................................................ Liz Riddlell                         Margaret Duffus                    David Millar Sandy Riddell                     Peter Duffus                         Judy Millar      Lisa Riddell                        Catherine Davey                   David Millar                                                 Dom Davey                          Mhari Millar                                                       Annabelle                            Cameron                                                 Sarah Harley                         Lynne Wallwork                                                 Jimmy Harley                        Darren Wallwork                                                        Katherine                             Peter                                                                                                    Sophie Harry Millar                               Katherine Pickles           Sheila Millar       Frances Millar                         Rachel Millar         Christopher         Abigail    Anna Mitchell    Andrew Mitchell

Willie Rankin                               John Rankin                      Helen Robertson

    Jack  Baggs                                  Catherine Rankin           Philip Robertson

    Joyce Peggie                                Fiona Blyth                       Struan         

    Alex Peggie                                          Daniel                       Katie

        David Peggie                                                                     Jude                                                                                                                  

    Lucile Black                                                                       

    Sandy Black                                                                

       Maggie

       Anna

............................................................................................................................

Christine Gordon               Colin Robertson                     Harry Robertson

George Gordon                               Maya                             Douglas Robertson

                                                                                              Kirsteen Robertson

    David Gordon                      Andrew Gordon                                            

    Jane Gordon                               Cameron                   Dorothy Henry

       Robbie                                     Emma                  

       Jamie                                       Harry

       Ellie
                              

                                            

................................................................................................................................

Liz Riddlell                         Margaret Duffus                    David Millar

Sandy Riddell                     Peter Duffus                         Judy Millar

     Lisa Riddell                        Catherine Davey                   David Millar

                                                Dom Davey                          Mhari Millar

                                                      Annabelle                            Cameron

                                                Sarah Harley                         Lynne Wallwork

                                                Jimmy Harley                        Darren Wallwork

                                                       Katherine                             Peter

                                                                                                   Sophie

Harry Millar                               Katherine Pickles           Sheila Millar      

Frances Millar                    

    Rachel Millar

        Christopher

        Abigail

   Anna Mitchell

   Andrew Mitchell

Extreme music

Well some might say I have an eclectic musical taste.  I do like music and there are some phrases and riffs and passages of music that really do make the hairs on my arms stand up!

And then there is Eurovision...

What a load of mind-numbingly banal music that was - but I still watched it, even cheered on Jedward, Blue and Sweden (lovely looking boys) which I drew in the sweepstake at work.  In the end it was a close call and Sweden were pipped from their 2nd place by the last vote, moving them into third and me into £5 position. Oh well, at least I came out better off with my £1 stake.

Husband meantime was in Glasgow at the SECC seeing Rush in their Time Machine tour. A great gig by all accounts - and I would have probably quite liked it - but somehow Rush passed me by - think I was just too old when they were in their heyday - although according to the husband they are all as ancient (or more so) than me.

Last week I envied those who were at the O2 on Thursday...David Gilmour and Nick Mason joined Roger Waters for a special guest appearance during his Wall tour. And it's likely the only appearance they will do, more's the pity.  I have seen 2 clips of the gig - both Comfortably Numb and although the professional one is undoubtedly best in terms of musical quality, the amateur one taken on someone's phone captures the incredulity and disbelief of the frenzied crowd at the moment Gilmour appeared on top of the Wall. Wonderful!

Well tonight we have another gig - this time PF tribute band BritFloyd who, by all accounts, do a very good attempt at the real thing. We won't see them all again - ever now - since Richard Wright is no longer with us - but a tribute band who really do pay tribute well will be a good enough second best.

Of course nothing will ever beat that night in June 1973 when I saw the real deal in Roosevelt Stadium in New Jersey. Dark Side of the Moon - heard for the first time in a bit of a haze from the cocktail of alcohol and other substances which prevailed at the time. Not a lot - but enough to make the memory a bit woozy. My only clear memory is of lying on the field - we had plenty room, and these young men were not that far away on the stage. All had long hair then. The light show was the best of its kind back then and the music as sweet and as fresh as any truly great music heard for the very first time.  We were a motley assortment of me (Scottish) and Italian, American and I think a French student too.  On the way back to NYC on the train I remember us all just sitting looking at each other and replaying the concert in our heads - hardly a word passed our lips.  How I got back to Mamaroneck goodness knows - I think it was really late - possibly 6 in the morning. I was just in when Dad Bondy came down to get something out of the fridge. "Your pupils are very large..." he said. I guess he knew I'd had a good time!

Well - actually - that remains the best gig of my life.

The clip from someone's mobile phone!

• Official Roger Waters video clip

Raining again

Well it's Sunday and it's raining. Cue for a lazy day and that's just what I have had.

The list of things I should be doing goes like this:

• Shopping - yuk I hate food shopping when I'm not hungry - and I can't be bothered getting wet and getting lots of bags out of the car and unpacking them.
• Ironing - the ironing will probably get done - it's the putting things away I hate. I wish someone would invent something that could just hold the ready ironed clothes intact and magic them into a wardrobe or drawer somewhere.
• Unpacking the unsold car boot sale junk from the back of the car - well, it's raining. So I can't do that can I?
• Watering the plants - thankfully the rain is doing that for me - but actually I do have to water the tomato plants in the greenhouse, so I'll probably do that.
• Hoovering - or more precisely Dysoning - need to do that as the stairs are a mess. There's no carpet on them just now but the carpet comes to get laid this week so I'd better make sure it doesn't get laid on a layer of fluff, grit and grime.

Oh and I suppose I should dust a bit and clean the kitchen while I am about it.

Lazy Sunday? Aye, right!