POLAR NEWS   -  No. 51 October 2008

FROM YOUR EDITOR

Many thanks to everyone who sent in photos of the Highland Fling 2008 – some appear in this Polar News and Mike is compiling a CD for participants. Helen

WELCOME

A warm welcome to new Polar Hamish Cubitt of Kilmarnock who joined from Culzean. Hope to meet you soon.

 
HIGHLAND FLING 2008

Yet another superb Highland Fling, ably organised by Fiona and Mike and this time we were based at the Knipoch Hotel, just outside Oban. The Friday saw 12 couples and the two Davids (Marsh & Wilkins) heading for Oban from various parts of the country - through the lashing rain. Brian and myself were in the modern MG ZR (roof, heater, decent seats - but could have done with three-speed wipers!) and made good time until Crianlarich where a transit van and a tourist bus had both tried to get under an arched bridge at the same time, with predictable consequences. After half an hour we finally got through to see that a car had come hammering down the hill, seen the queue too late, braked, spun and clipped the tanker that was at the end of the queue! Fortunately, nobody seemed to have been hurt. Derek and Gill Nicholson also had an eventful drive up with their Jaguar XJS breaking down, so they had to go home and collect a reliable modern Freelander. Anyway, we all arrived in time for the tea and scones, caught up with the gossip and then got dressed up (there was quite a Tartan Army/Viking invasion) for the lovely dinner and the devious quiz on The Italian Job. Mike had put people into teams and our team (Brian, myself, Archie and Liz Russell) tried our best but failed to complete it all - at least we weren’t last! The quiz was won by Bob, Ann, Mike and Helen – Bob has the film on tape and watches it often when he is sent to his room. On Saturday, we set off in sunshine and showers for the trip to Kilmartin, Crinan Harbour and Inveraray - where I was pleased to find the Vital Spark, the old Clyde Puffer that starred in the BBC comedy “The Para Handy Tales”. We had one of Fiona’s quizzes to keep the brain cells from atrophying and instructions to find the tackiest or wackiest souvenir possible for less than £3. The weather settled down to warm sunshine for the afternoon, which was good news for the group that had opted for the Sea-fari. The rest of us did the trip into the ‘Hollow Mountain’ to see the Ben Cruachan power station. The two Davids did the whole of Saturday’s drive in the wee BMW Isetta (which had been trailered up specially) and it acquitted itself well - doing the whole run on a gallon and a half of petrol and not breaking down! (Although Mike Webber was following in the ‘big bus’, just in case.)

Back to the hotel and the serious business of glamming up for the gala dinner. After quaffing the fizz and admiring the outfits, we were again allocated seats by Mike and enjoyed a sumptuous meal and the men had to move round after the soup course and chat up a different set of ladies. This was followed by the raffle and there is always one person who seems to get every ticket pulled out of the bag and this time, it was me! We had four strips and each one was pulled - but after making off with both boxes of chocolates, we let the other tickets be redrawn and I think every couple got a prize in the end. Not always the most suitable prize, but a prize at least. The raffle raised £185 and Pat Nortcliff added an extra £5 donation to get my spare San Diego Polar Bear lapel badge for Dick. Brian, being the only chap in a kilt, won the best dressed man award - a first I may say! Sunday’s drive was a long and scenic one through Glen Lonan (loadsa Heilan’ Coos) to Inveraray and then down to Tighnabruaich for lunch. Once back at the hotel, it was into the gladrags again and off for another delicious dinner and the results of the quiz and tackiest souvenir competition. The quiz was hotly contested with Derek and Gill and Ian and Cindy both making their way to the Oban Livestock Market to find out the cost of Highland Bulls and Coos! This serious attention to detail meant Ian and Cindy won the quiz, with Derek and Gill a close second. The souvenir competition produced a superb crop of the most awful ‘tat’ you could imagine - ranging from fluffy one-eyed Highland coos, through moving creepy crawlies, to a disgusting skull that lit up. I was particularly pleased with my shot glass printed with a knickerless Scotsman flashing his bum. Anyway, an ‘orrible black plastic rat took top slot as it had nothing going for it - not Scottish, not attractive, not useful. Mike then dreamt up a second competition to let someone win these lovely things - but everyone preferred to pay a pound to avoid that! David Marsh “won” the collection and promptly gave it to Sheila who then persuaded people to buy most of the items. George then auctioned the last two items – and ended up buying them for Sheila! Monday’s trip was to the Famous Grouse Experience at Crieff, where participants could do the tour and sample the whisky. All in all a great weekend, raising a good deal of money for CHAS - the raffle, donations and souvenir competition generated £217.65, David Marsh had raised £224 before he came (as he was leaving for New Zealand two days after the Fling). Since the Fling an anonymous giftaided donation of £100 has been received. Adding this to the entry donations already presented to CHAS means the 2008 Fling raised just over £1370. Great Stuff

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Andrew Carrie , who masterminded the Culzean Teddy Bears' Picnic, made the presentation to James Rennie School. He was accompanied by Mike and Fiona in her MR2 and David Bruce in his TVR “Wedge”. Afterwards the kids had a good look at the cars. Andrew writes: “I spoke to Corrina Cartwright at the James Rennie School today, and she is so grateful for the donation and for the time we spent with the kids. She says that some of the boys have been talking about the cars and drawing pictures etc. She is going to send me a copy of the newspaper (probably tomorrow) that the photo appears in. I'm glad that they were nominated and I'm glad we were allowed to go and meet them. I wish now that we had tried to raise more...”