The following weekend involved even more excitement, of the African and Scottish variety. On the Friday night, we went to watch Lady Smith Black Mambazo and the Mahotella Queens. Truly wonderful music that made the poor old kwashis very home sick – Jeannie even had a little cry (Ag shame!). On Saturday, Clare took us on another outing, this time to see a quilt show, which was in the Dumbarton/Loch Lomond Area. We got to see the Dumbarton Castle (which was more like a house and less like a castle) and discovered that they were holding the National Pipe Band Championships in Dumbarton that very day! Excitement! The quilts were soon forgotten, and we ventured out in the rain to see the pipers. There were millions of them blowing their bagpipes all over the place. We got to watch some of the really good bands who were brilliant, and Steve and Ronnie decided that they would have to go to the Pipe Band World Championships, which are being held later in the year! Eventually we had to leave the pipe band to move on to Loch Lomond to see some more quilts. The weather was awful and the clouds were really low, but we finally got to see Loch Lomond! Hurrah!

Ronnie on the rainy shores of Loch Lomond

The Pipers at the National Pipe Band Championships. Could that be a MacGregor tartan?!