And I’m thinking of that Rayburn forlornly cold with it’s clinker filled ash pan and half burnt, congealed, 6 pack wrappers. Good riddance to the antiquated horror! But of course I’ll miss the early morning bird craick with Chris and others as we restored the kitchen to a condition fit for the arrival of our queens of the kitchen across the dew dappled grass form the “lairds” house.

Ten years and ten summer highlights to recall, a slice of musical education and island co habitation which I suspect will now assume legendary status. Everybody has their highlights and we were there and saw it all from Sumo wrestling to the views of Scarp and St. Kilda from the trig point and that run back down the ridge over the slabs and short grass was one of the best. Sometimes keeping the eyes open during a warm midday lesson was hard but then there was the time when I may have been the only one awake enough to look and catch Buddy repeating the wrong jig measure. He caught my eye cross the room and gave a slow Cape Breton wink and one of his understated Buddy smiles. I still remember that time and of course the famous camper van expedition around Cape Breton which was a uniquely special experience and one of the best holidays ever.

But I agree that the greatest part of what Dolan and the team have done is to fire up fiddle music in the outer Hebridies and to acquaint musicians from everywhere else with the area’s culture and landscapes.

Well done guys, you have helped retrieve the music from some of the reputedly fiddle unfriendly ayatollahs in your past.

Alex. Sutherland

Wish I could join you all next weekend – have an awesome time. But I won’t be
missing out completely as we have a fiddle weekend at Onewhero about 60 km south
of Auckland. Great rural property and we’re hoping it will be dry enough for a
session in the bush.

I’ve attached a photo of the stone hut where we play, and
the campfire – not as large as the one at Taransay!!

I had a brilliant time at Taransay. Thank you all for making me feel so
welcome. In my first week back in NZ my head was still in Scotland. Cheered
myself up one evening with a picnic dinner by the beach watching the sunset
except it was 5.30 pm `cos it’s winter here, and I was wearing a coat! The 3rd
photo is the island I could see out in the harbour – not quite Taransay but if
you use your imagination……….

Will be thinking of you next weekend

Cheers

Heather,Auckland,New Zealand.

Yes, thanks again for another fantastic week! Once again, great
tunes, great food, great fun and great weather!!!

More of the same again next year please!

Sign me up for Taransay 2010.

Colin