Having previously organised a week’s rally in Scotland, and had to bear lashing rain for the first 5 Days (See Inveraray 2001), we hoped for something better this time. It was definitely not going to be as stressful, as we were going to be doing it jointly with Alan and Susan Smith this time around. The 4 of us had spent almost a year planning and organizing the event, even having contingency plans in case of a return of the rain.

  On the first day of the rally the Sun decided to have a long lie, but by lunchtime it arrived and with it came the Dandiers. The site was soon buzzing with the sound of people, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones. We had a small get together in the evening where we all wished Charlie Sturrock a happy 11th Birthday and presented him with a Chocolate Birthday cake, of which we all got a piece.

            There was lot’s to see and do in the area. At the weekends there were Markets, Car boot sales and a Dog show in the delightful grounds of Kinross House. St Andrews, and the local fishing villages (including my Ancestral home of Anstruther) were popular destinations, as were Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling and the Falkirk Wheel (an ingenious alternative to Canal Locks).

            The focal point of the week was the coach tour round the Trossachs. The weather was not particularly kind to us as it was a bit misty but at least the Sun made a few appearances through the day. We had stops at Callander for lunch, Killin for afternoon Tea, and Dunkeld where many of us joined in the free Whisky tasting.

On the Monday and Thursday I had suggested I could arrange some Fly-fishing at some local venues, and was overwhelmed by the response. Jim Mitchell gave me some assistance in this but unfortunately the Fishing wasn’t as good as I had hoped. That said Don Parker did land a nice 4lb Rainbow Trout on Thursday evening.

             As is traditional at these rallies we had various competitions through the week. Keith Jackson was the Star of the Tenpin bowling, and the classes of the field in the Beanbag Darts were Tommy “Chip” Anstruther and Pam Gittins. There was intense rivalry in the Boules competition but it was eventually won by Ray and Gerry Tims. The “Name the Tartan” Quiz that I set at the beginning of the week was, I thought, almost impossible, but Derek and Claire Garston proved me wrong getting all twenty correct Despite the fact I had mixed up the clues to the first 2.

            The rally concluded with a Buffet dinner in the Barn and raffle. It was with the usual sadness that we all had to return home but it was with many fond). I might even think of doing another in 2006!!!

 TOM