Jim's Loire: Happy New Year

Showing posts with label Happy New Year. Show all posts

Monday, 1 January 2018

Newtonmore and the sprinting piper brings in 2018

Fireworks to see in 2018
by the Newtonmore Golf Club

Photos from Newtonmore's famous torchlight procession and ceremony to see in 2018 and bid farewell to 2017. Later posting with photos of people in the crowd.

All quiet in Newtonmore in

the minutes before the procession

Crowd gathering @The Glen, Newtonmore

Blond piper tuning up

He's off: Piper sprints away from the Glen

The sprinting blond piper opens up a big gap as he flies

away from the the Glen Hotel

– clearly a disciple of Usain Bolt
(above and below)

Revellers beginning to catch the flying piper

Piper leading the southbound group

starting from the Balavil Hotel

Pipers leading the two groups meet

up a the community centre

On the stage: Big Laurie and the singer

The two pipers and Big Lawrie

Sunday, 1 January 2017

Newtonmore – welcomes 2017!

Every year the small Highland village of Newtonmore puts on a spectacular show to welcome in the New Year.

The midnight hour!

Cheers!

Saturday, 31 December 2016

2017 – not much to cheer I fear........!

Happy New Year but will it be?

There are many who will be very happy to see the back of 2016 – frost and mildew in the Loire and other northern French vineyards, Brexit lunacy in the UK and in the US the election of a spoilt child.

Unfortunately the arrival of 2017 will not wave a magic wand to reverse the effects and after-shocks of 2016. 2017 will see us living with the consequences of 2016.

Those Loire producers, who were severely hit by the frosts of 2016 April, will be feeling the consequences during the coming year with low wine stocks. There is no doubt that the Loire cannot afford another serious April frost. Fingers will be firmly crossed during Springtime.

It is increasingly clear that the UK cannot afford Brexit. Unfortunately May's incompetent and arrogant government appear to be all too likely to get the worst Brexit deal going. I just hope that the prospects of a hard Brexit will dawn on enough people to force a rethink.....

With a bit of luck we will see London's ridiculous Garden Bridge cancelled.

As for Trump .......