The Tickled Pink Ribbon Relay: a Jooky Forum Fundraiser

[TTony]

all I remember is that it smelled

That's what most people remember about Blackpool.

and the donkeys

And they're just one of the reasons for the smell ...


You really can't compare Blackpool to the beaches of Northern Scotland. You have some of the most beautiful, most scenic, most peaceful and empty beaches that I've ever seen (on the day when you could see the views briefly as the clouds lifted).

But then they are rather a long way away.

[DiscoStu]

You have some of the most beautiful, most scenic, most peaceful and empty beaches that I've ever seen (on the day when you could see the views briefly as the clouds lifted).

But then they are rather a long way away.

No they're not. 5 minutes in the car!
You're right though, this part of the country is gorgeous and I love it. There are beaches further up - north-west of Scotland - that are practically untouched and stunning in every way.

[DiscoStu]

The TPO is heading off to see Johnnyurq in Inverness tomorrow, so thought I'd get this pic up before it goes.
Not the only pink guitar visiting Chez Disco right now! A friend of mine leant me a shot of this 80s ESP M-1 a wee while back. They make quite the pair, dontcha think?

[johnnyurq]

As DiscoStu said I have had the TPO for a couple if days and got some piccies of scenic spots around Inverness and rather obviously Loch Ness. The idea was to take the TPO on a circuit of Loch Ness with photo ops at appropriate spots.

Have to say though DiscoStu and partner played a blinder by getting the TPO to me quickly and efficiently so I could chuck in my 2p.

As well as this I did some in and around Inverness and had hoped to get further afield to places like Eilean Donan Castle but time, weather and other crap all were all against us, a bit of a bummer but there you go.

My very own castle Urquhart was a bit of a let down as the humourless jobsworth wouldn't let me in to take a pic or two without paying £20 odd for the pleasure. They now make it nigh on impossible to photograph from the road and such so they maximise their dinero intake.

The threat of returning with more of my clan to retake the castle was not taken in the spirit of humour it was said. Before you say dour tight scottish jobsworth they were definitely not scottish.

As well as scenery I tried to shoo in a vaguely guitar like interest by the way of Boleskine House and The Dores INN. The latter for Rock Ness where some good food and beers can be had away from festival fodder and plastic glass beers.

Boleskine House and the Dores Inn also because of the Jimmy Page (or Aleister Crowley if you prefer) connection.

JP lived, owned and had a wee studio at Boleskine for many years which he allegedly bought because Mr Crowley owned and practiced his "magick" that he did there and around the Foyers and Loch Ness area.

JP could be seen at the Dores Inn during the 70's mainly and into the early 80's. He did allegedly join in on some acoustic jams with those lucky enough to be in the pub on a night he stopped by unannounced, sadly I never ever met him there but did see/bump into him in Inverness a few times.

Sadly the newest owners of Boleskine House got sick of tripping JP fans and worse Crowley enthusiasts trying to get access to AC's mojo and/or spells. He is reputed to have done the infamous trying to control his ID incantations that are said to have driven him mental for the last years if his life at Boleskine.

So the best I could get was a shot of the roof and chimneys from Boleskine graveyard which Crowley, so as urban myth has it had a secret tunnel from the house to the graveyard. Is it true, who knows.

Still it is as close as it gets to the Crossroads in Scotland so come on up for guitar and magic mojo on tap.

The graveyard has a lot of dark past excluding dead folks, with tales of the black death, "resurrection men" and shootings of unarmed folks after the Battle of Culloden to suppress another uprising. There are musket ball marks in the walls which I tried and failed to capture with my camera as the macro function was crap.

There used to be a plaque detailing the story behind shootings but it seems to have vanished or been pinched as a memento by a tourist.

So anyhow after all that waffle I will preface the link below with the caveat that I am rubbish at photography and all these shots are straight from the camera with no tinkering, so if anyone wants to get creative please fill your boots.

I went for the approach of taking loads of photos of the same subject in the hope of increasing the chances of getting a decent photo or two. Also I took my ancient unused SLR with me and took some shots with this, if any use I will upload these once processed.

When I get a chance I can chuck them on dropbox so anyone can grab copies if they wish, most likely get that done in the next couple of days.

http://s1095.beta.photobucket.com/us...ghland%20Years

Apologies for the long post but I wanted to give some context to the random shots.

[Fusionista]

Well, what a lovely story. Reminded me of 'Picture Book.' So little Tickled Pink went down to the shores of Loch Ness, but Nessie was nowhere to be seen. Just then little Tickled heard a commotion - what was that that behind her ? ...

[mctoot]

That's top work JohnnyU - really good fun.

[johnnyurq]

Thanks guys it was a hoot doing it.

Just so you know I have popped a CD with all the photos into the Kinman case with the TPO for anyone's use or abuse. Totally as from the camera with no processing.

[jock2020]

Ther TPO has now arrived in Glasgow - big thank you to Liam (failed_astronaut) for picking up the TPO from DiscoStu's pals house and delivering the guitar to me last night
I'll be using the guitar on a number or two this Friday at East Kilbride Arts Centre and my band will be asking for contributions from the audience.

[jock2020]

. . and also a big THANK YOU to Kennys Music, Glasgow for providing a new set of DR Pink strings free of charge for the cause - thanks guys

[DiscoStu]

Great to see it got to Glasgow in one piece!
I would also like to extend thanks to Scott Maple from Le Reno Amps for being so kind as to find room in his car for the TPO and getting it from Elgin to Glasgow for us.
Cheers, loon!