Event Log

Movie

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 09:45:40 +0000

We put together a little compendium of the photos, animated it and put music to accompany it. I figured out how to shrink it for the web, but the aspect ratio got a little mess-up. Still, it is fun to watch and remember what a great time we had.

Our Last Night - Fireworks

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:53:58 +0100

Well, it was raining again. Given the late night before (early morning for some of us...uhhhh), that was of little consequence in any event. By mid-day, everything was looking brighter. Victoria and Hugh arrived, rounding it all off. We decided to take a walk in the rain through the gardens. Umbrellas at the ready, we suited-up. Wellies went fast, but I found a nice pair sitting all alone in a corner. I put these on. They were a bit snug, but then ‘beggars can’t be choosey’ as they say. Apparently Victoria had brought her own wellies, but for the life of her she could not find them. Some inconsiderate sod had taken them! I could not believe it! How insensitive and rude. Anyway, ‘can’t stay, must press on’.
We had an absolute ball wandering around the gardens and playing with the kids. About 20 of us wandered the grounds in search of nothing in particular. We were just happy to walk and play in the rain. We found our fun in the most unusual of places. While walking, we hit upon a patch of grass that felt like stepping on a firm waterbed. Everyone got into the act, walking over it and jumping on it to push up the side that someone else was standing on. We finally overwhelmed it and water did eventually find its way out of it. Still, it was fascinating.
All day, we recuperated and just played like a large family. There was an awesome game room with a Wii and a Snooker table. Most of the men spent their time playing while Belinda and the kids drove virtual race cars around the room. Soon, Dinner time arrived, and it was time to open an Imperial of 1995 Ornellaia. Yes, I know what you are thinking - an IMPERIAL of ORNELLAIA? Yes, we had to do it. We had to drink some more. Really. It was necessary.
We had a delicious meal and had a lovely round of toasts to, well uh, us in this case, but also to our guests who honoured us with such fun and frivolity. Also, it was Glynis’ birthday, so Michael had a cake prepared and we toasted to her good health with fine champaign. I know what you are thinking, but yes, we had to drink the champaign. It was for Glynis... Clearly, it was a worthy cause. This dinner, probably more than all the others, was marked by so much laughter and playful banter. What is great fun is that by recording the event with so many pictures, we can prove to people who can’t remember, that they were in fact there and that they in fact did have a great time.
We waddled into the drawing room afterwards and listened to a scaled-down version of our Céilidh team. We talked and, yes, drank and relaxed. Then, at the appointed hour, we got everyone into their wellies again (this time, I could not find that convenient pair to cradle my poor feet, hey ho) and into their rain gear. Everyone stepped out onto the garden steps and waited. And then the night sky erupted in flashes of colour. Like little children (yes, like the ones that were there - yeah, exactly, ... just drop it!) we watched as the spectacle played out thousands of times before unfolded to our unmitigated delight. We had planned a bonfire, and they set-it-up for us on a raft on the loch. But, with all the rain, it floated away, never to be seen again. So, we had to make due with our fireworks. I think we did okay! It was a great weekend.

The Poems

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:16:39 +0100

How can I even begin to describe this night. What a joy it was, what a memory it is still! The Poems have been around for a few years and had the distinction of having one of their songs featured on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy – the lovely, laid-back, and lithe "Ballad of a Bitter End" (Episode 3, Season 3 - “Sometimes a Fantasy”). The Group has evolved since they cut their first album. The backbone of it all is Robert “Bobby Bluebell” Hodgens (more about him on the right). With Maria Leahy as lead vocals, we think he has really struck a winner. Maria is an experienced guitarist (plus also a singer/ songwriter) and is also a passionate teacher, eager to pass on all that she knows. A couple of weeks after our gig, you could find her teaching guitar lessons in Glasgow. Most of the reviews you read praise their former lead-singer Kerry Polwart, though I am certain we got the better of this with Maria. Though Kerry Polwart’s voice is beautiful, Maria’s is smooth and exciting. To hear her live is a dream, a fantastic dream. Her energy and obvious charm radiate from the stage. She is powerful and passionate and you cannot fail to love her! In fact. we loved the versatility and comfort that the group showed during the performance.
We were so fortunate to have been able to book The Poems for our little party, as you can tell, we think they are magnificent. I talked with Clare about trying to book them, and at first we were a bit unsure if we should try. We definitely thought it would be cool to have a band from Clare’s hometown to play for us at this ‘hoped for’ magical setting. There are a lot of Glaswegian bands, but we wanted one that was “cool” even if our little event might not appear to be so to them. After a few email exchanges, it was clear that Robert Hodgens was willing to pull them together to make it happen for us. I would imagine that they will not ever play at a Christening again, but it is unlikely that any of us could ever forget it. Why not? Well, it is just my guess. But the fact that we made it a bit of an adventure made it all the more exciting. Not only did we already love their music, they brought a 7-piece group, adapted it for the slightly small room and even smaller crowd and then made everyone become a part of it.
I will never forget how Robert and Michael Bryans got the little girls up there to play with the instruments and then coaxed them into following his lead to make some music. This just brought a wonderful warmth and vitality to the whole setting. So, we were well relaxed after our large lunch and heavy Champaign and wine diet. Now that we could see that they were relaxed and fun-loving, the whole atmosphere chilled-out.
We danced and we danced and then we danced some more. It was all such a delight. The smiles were on all the faces and everyone just played together in this little sandbox on the edge of Loch Awe. They were the consummate professionals in every sense, but more, they were performers! They read the crowd (if you can call it a crowd) and played to them. They seemed to be having a genuinely great time as well. The mood was infectious and kept building upon itself.
Oh, and I must admit, we also all drank copiously. One fun event was when Bob Fowler brought in some Champaign for people to drink, the act of which led to a humorous outcome. He poured the glasses full, then picked up the tray to hand the glasses out. As if in slow motion, he slightly tilted the tray and one of the glasses fell off, shattering on the floor. So he hoped to correct this by picking it up, and proceeded to tip the rest on the floor in the other direction. We all hailed with laughter as Bob held the half-empty bottle and then just took a long drink from it.
They learned that the daughter of our dear friends, Mica Bowman, played bass guitar in school. So, Ross sets her up and she played three songs that night. We were all so proud, but not as proud as her lovely parents, Michele and Robert. Wonderful job Mica!
Robert “Bobby Bluebell” Hodgens had struck-up a friendship with our very own Robert Fowler and he put Bob on the stage to sing one of the ‘covers’. It was such fun, as Bob needed some help with the words and Bobby Bluebell just laughed and left him to it. Maria stepped in and saved him and the roar of laughter turned into more dancing and fun. In the picture above, you can see our honorary “Poem” Mica Bowman.
After they were through, we just kept the wine coming and talking. They played small improvisational pieces for us on the sofas as the banter went on well into the wee hours. I personally made it to bed at about 4:00 in the morning, while a couple of others found it at 6:00. That is when the fact that it is a Christening became a bit inconvenient. There I was after just 3.5 hours sleep with the kids looking much worse for wear. I had to go back for a morning kip, I must admit.
I have not done the evening justice. It was simply amazing – fantastic in all respects! I want to extend our enthusiastic THANK YOU to all of you at THE POEMS. I am reprinting here the email I sent to Robert Hodgens, as I think it sums-up our feelings:

“Dear Robert,
Oh my!
Okay, after waking and surviving our drink-filled festivities, with a clear mind and a happy heart, we are so pleased to announce your recent engagement at Ardanaiseig to be an unwavering and unqualified SUCCESS!!!!!!!
We all delighted in your wonderful programme and the late-night banter and improvisation was also a genuine delight for us all. You did not fail to impress. We could gush endlessly about what we all felt, but given the diversity of comments and praises, it is clear that everyone will be holding on to this memory for a lifetime. The way you played with the children was a particular enchantment and it demonstrated your lovely humanity and brilliance at projecting your lovely selves to the crowd (all be it a small one, with very small people ;). We love Maria's voice and presence while performing and this is only surpassed by how lovely she is, frankly how you all are, off stage.
You are brilliant and we felt so honoured to witness your performance. Thank you once again.
Scott & Clare”

The Christening

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:15:54 +0100

So, the day of the Christening, or shall we rename this day as the day of the Hangover! I'm sure it was the jigging at the ceilidh that had sent us all over the edge, rather than the 30 or so bottles of wine... To top it off, it was sunny when we woke!!! Hooray, guests will see how beautiful the setting was, fabulous! Oh, no, it's raining again, hey ho.
We got the boys all dressed up in dresses - I totally loved their gowns, much to Scott's horror at putting his lads in frocks! I'm sure it will be the only time in their lives they get to wear a dress, or so we hope! And didn't they look a dream from their bonnets to their little booties, capped off with their runny red noses. Totally adorable.
So, we were all ready to go to the local church, all dressed up, heals and all, coats on, at the door. All we needed now was Father Roddy - a bit of a legend in the Lanphere household, having firstly Christened Blaise in 2004 and married Scott and I in 2006. So, the bugging started.. "What did you agree with Father Roddy?... Is he coming here or the Church?... What time did you say?.... Exactly?..." That was just my questioning Scott. It was repeated though by all guests too. There was just one thing to calm the crowd (other than the priest arriving)... Yes, more champagne! Let's open a bottle, I think that was Raymond's idea.
Several bottles later, the wonderful Father Roddy arrived, and with him, he brought a ray of sunshine, quite literally. After little discussion, we decided to trek down to the waters edge, yes, to the edge of Loch Awe, and Christen our boys, Tristan and Noah in the Loch. (this had the added benefit of avoiding any driving, as we were all getting mildly sozzled!)
I cannot have imagined a more moving and honest ceremony. For the first time in hours, the sun beamed down on all of us, particularly the little ones. Father Roddy was again amazing at making all of us understand and appreciate the wonder and importance of what we were here to do. Father Roddy got the kids all around him and he gave them all little tasks. He was inclusive as always of all faiths and all ages. So, there we were, with our raincoats at the ready, our wellies deep in the water and two little boys six-months new to this world. It was quite a sight. A lot of what we have written has been about how beautiful Scotland is and our experiences amongst its many sights. We also speak of our amazing experiences together during this gathering. Today, we had a magical experience - the beauty of the place with the beauty of the act, married in such a lovely and earthly ceremony. It really did feel like God was smiling on us, on these two little ones.
Tristan and Noah decided that they wouldn't wait until the ceremony was over and insisted on a wee feed en route (thank you Nikki for having it all ready!) And so, we dipped, Tristan first, the little boys' heads into Loch Awe and had them Christened. Few dry eyes were left, including Tristan! What an experience. If the weekend's activities were solely this moment, it would have been worth it in itself. Blaise also read out a special prayer for the boys in honour of the occasion. So, in front of many witnesses, two little boys enter into this blessed state in a most welcoming and unconventional way - just on the banks of Loch Awe.....
And true to form, as the ceremony was finishing, the rain decided to come back, and so we all proceeded back to the hotel for cover as the heavens' sprinkled on us, led by a piper the whole way, adding to the ethereal experience. All I can say is poor Blaise! The little girl had been SO excited about her Christening outfit for months -- she had the whole outfit, down to hat and tights planned (and recited many a time to anyone who dared to ask her what she was wearing to her brothers' Christening!) -- she fell, not just once, but twice!!! Caked in mud, crying her little heart out, Scott carried her back up to the hotel!
More champagne and a snack or two later, we settled down to lunch. This was setting the precedent for how much food one could eat in one weekend. Alot! Father Roddy entertained Michele and Betty over dinner; Annabelle entertained Father Roddy, running near naked around him! All the children had such fun. Including the boys who were allowed to take off their frocks! The food was incredible, particularly the Beef Wellington, just amazing, as was the wine, which as usual, was over-flowing!
Time for a nap!

Scottish Céilidh Night

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 10:16:54 +0100

Very exciting! Everyone has made their way and had great stories to tell of their journeys. We welcomed our friends and family with a lovely meal and then we ventured forth to the Drawing Room for a Céilidh.
We are so thrilled with the musicians we hired. What a lovely group of people. They are called Pigtown Fling! We dealt mostly with Robert Woods, but all of them are fun-loving and playful in every sense of the word. They performed beautifully and coaxed this multi-generational crowd on to their feet and swinging wildly to the music.
They describe themselves from their website as ”Pigtown Fling arose from the session scene in Oban, Argyll. Rab and Stephen decided soon after meeting that they should work together as they both liked playing good tunes no-matter which part of the world they came from. On our first gig we counted music from 13 different nations. In early 2008 Christine Beveridge joined the band adding fiddle, concertina and clarsach to the already diverse mix.” All we know is that they are fab and great fun to have around. Thank you for such a memorable evening.

Settling-in

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:29:23 +0100

Our first task was to secure some supplies. We had a lot of stuff shipped, but the normal process of calling-up Ocado or Boots to get a delivery failed, as they were not keen to service such a remote place. So, we got into our 4x4 and drove to Oban. Along the way, we kept stopping, much to Clare’s dismay, to take pictures.
The sunlight was excellent and the scenery was remarkable. There we stood, overlooking a valley of bronze, red, yellow and luscious green with a backdrop of rolling hills and mountains. We had not seen it the day before because we were focused on the winding road to the hotel. With this new aspect and a clear day, we could see so much more.
Anyway, we finally made it Oban, a whole 20 miles away. We did some shopping, and then back on the sightseeing trail. We saw Dunollie Castle, situated just on the northern outskirts of Oban on the west coast of Scotland. It was the seat of the MacDougalls, the Lords of Lorne, who once owned a third of Scotland. There was a fortification first built on this site in the 7th century in the days of the kingdom of Dalriada. Dunollie Castle was built in the 12 or 13th century by the third chief of the MacDougall Clan, Ewan MacDougall.
We found another castle, Dunstaffnage, as a result of our meandering around the area. Dunstaffnage was build in a strategic spot on the Firth of Lorn, just three miles from Oban. It was built upon an immense rock and the shape of the wall was altered to accommodate the odd shape. The castle was built by Duncan or Ewen MacDougal around 1275. In 1309 it was captured by Robert Bruce. The castle was then turned over to the Campbells in 1470. Anyway, there are so many of these castles dotted around and about Scotland.
During the afternoon, we wandered through the gardens of the Hotel. Because the western Highlands are blessed with a mild Atlantic climate, this area of Scotland is home to some of the most beautiful and colourful gardens in the country. A notable example, Ardanaiseig Gardens are made up of 100 acres of Victorian woodlands on the shores of Loch Awe. Set out in 1834 when Ardanaiseig House was built, the garden still contains many of the original trees, rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias. Many other rare shrubs line the extensive walks and the walled garden has a colourful herbaceous border. As we are here in the autumn, the colours are not the same as the spring, however, the dramatic colours of the foliage more than made up for this.
What is striking is that the trees are golden in colour, with streaks of green everywhere; whereas the ground is full of colour - especially bronzey-reds from the ferns that are profligate in this area. I am sure it is the soil, as where we live in Surrey, these plants just turn a dull and uninteresting brown. This riot of colour mixes to create a wonderful spectacle for the eyes. On our little wander around, Conor, Katie, Blaise and I splashed in puddles and meandered through the trees near the shore of the Loch. Blaise was hilarious. she did not make it very far. One of the puddles she splashed into held her wellies rather firmly, forcing her to step out of them to maintain her balance (this became a rather common theme on our treks with Blaise). So, there she is, ankle-deep in the puddle, with her wellies standing upright next to her. Out came the anguish and horror as the reality of the wet and the cold began to take root. Katie, ever the good sport, picked her up, put her on her back, and took her back to the Hotel.
Later, we wandered over to a small bridge that we had driven over on our journey to the hotel. It was rainy and wet, but with nice pockets of sunshine to make it all sparkle. We could have chosen many places to play, as the autumn colours abound everywhere we could see. Blasie, recovering from her earlier trauma, asked to come along as well. I made her promise not to get out of the car, as I felt we would be next to a road and she needed to be cautious. We arrived at the bridge and it was so beautiful. Again, a very simple thing. Effectively a slight concrete structure to overcome a small stream. Still, it was something of fantasy proportions. You really did think that little faeries would emerge and dart to-and-fro. The thick moss on the trees was emerald green and glistened under the mutating light. On the ground lay red and orange leaves cradled in thick grass. We loved it. Katie and Blaise exercised their free will and played on the bridge (regardless of my protests and cautions).
We took so many pictures, it would be far more monotonous to show more than the lot we have already included. It was just so striking. We wanted to consume every angle we could. Conor found a rather remote spot to attempt a long-exposure of the water cascading through the rocks. Blaise was playing nearby. Conor cautioned her to be careful and to stay-put, as the ground was muddy and had clay-like mud that could catch her unawares. Well, she is only 5 years old after-all. All I heard was Conor saying “NOOOoooooo”, and then a splash and then Blaise crying. I climb over the fence to get to her, and out emerges Conor, holding a very muddy little girl, with her wellies nicely stuck some ways back. So, Blaise was carefully placed back into the car to warm-up.
On Wednesday, the weather was a little bit less cooperative. It started very well, however. Conor and I got up early and went over to the town of Lochawe. We found a nice spot to capture the sunrise over the mountains across the other side of the Loch. We could see Kilchurn Castle from this spot as well. This original 5-story keep, later extensively improved and extended, was to be well-tested in battle - for instance, enduring a siege by Royalists during the Civil War. Later, although by now already a partial ruin, it was used to garrison Hanoverian troops in the tumultuous days of the Jacobite Risings. The Castle was historically a Campbell stronghold but is likely to have been built on an earlier McGregor of Glenstrae site. The McGregors were the dominant clan in the area until being eclipsed by the Campbells.
The sight was very dramatic and wonderful to witness. We were rather cold however, and there wasn’t anyplace to secure a nice cup of coffee. So, after a bit, Conor and I called ahead to the Hotel and secured our orders for the full Scottish breakfast. After three caffè latte, I was restored.

While I was up in my bedroom, I looked out and saw the most ponderous sight. A rainbow was settling on one of the small islands in the Loch. I rushed for my camera, opened the window and positioned myself. I had a little technical problem, however. The window is huge and not very steady unless you push it right up firmly. Anyway, while I was snapping off a suitable number of shots to pay homage to such a lovely view, the window slowly, but surely, came down right on the back of my head. Ouch! Anyway, I got the shot!. I came downstairs, and found several people with their camera out taking the exact same photo in the Drawing room below.

Getting There

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:04:22 +0100

One of our first chores was to actually get up there. We met my parents at Heathrow (they have not been to England since their very memorable trip 7 years ago) and we all climbed abroad our flight to Glasgow - all thirteen of us. After an hour and a half delay, we finally got going on the morning of the 20th of October. My mother did her usual packing and arrived like she was traveling for 2 months. We rented three 4x4s for the trek, but those extra bags challenged my organizational skills. After lots of shoving and pulling and crunching, we got it all in. What made it more challenging was the fact that it was pissing down with rain, and it kept getting more aggressive. So, we had 6 kids, two sets of grandparents, a lovely nanny and ourselves. I was so soaked, DRENCHED. Stan, Clare’s father, was also not amused and retorted of his beloved city “If this is Glasgow, they can keep it!” He only spent 60 years there, but since moving to London, I guess he has not missed it all that much. But really, you can’t take the “Glasgow” out of any of them - for they are ‘through and through’! Everyone was wet and grumpy, but we all had SAT NAV, so no one worried about getting lost.
Off we went, in a little convoy. We drove by Loch Lomond, which I had never see before. It was really fabulous, especially as we got further north and could see some glorious waterfalls high up into the hills. The sun came out and it gave us all a visual spectacle of colour. All of us were largely driving with our mouthes open, as we saw brilliant bronze colours in the foliage, punched-up with reds and yellows and luxurious greens. I wanted to stop so many times to take pictures, but I persevered and it was worth it. We wound our way around Loch Awe, past the hydroelectric plant, which we could not see by the way as it is embedded INSIDE the mountain, up to Taynuilt and then the adventure began. We drove down the most wonderful winding road, with many ups and downs along the way. It was a bit slow going as it was a single-track road. Admittedly, there were a few faces beginning to turn green from the turbulent motion.

We arrived at the hotel and everyone pored out of the vehicles and into the bar for hot chocolate by the fire. We had huge grins on our faces. We made it - and it was everything we hoped it would be. The old country house hotel had magnificent views across its terraced lawn, cascading out to the Loch and beyond we could see the mountains with snow caps peeking into the clouds. Just at nightfall, as I was getting situated in my room, I took this lovely picture (which appears on the left). Oh what sights we were seeing...