A different kind of Halloween?....

So facebook has been filled with Halloween this week.

Pumpkins and crazy costumes everywhere.

There is very little Halloween here at all,

on the other hand this week see's one of the big Muslim holidays.

The Eid Festivities.

One of the main things that happens during these days is that a sheep/goat is sacrificed.

So popping up all over town are little makeshift barns where you can come and pick your sheep.

i guess its a bit like us having a turkey for Christmas but having to do the killing part yourself rather than just picking it up from Tescos.

In fact, i even went into one supermarket where

next to the Pringles they had set up a mini stall with a couple

of baby lambs that you could pick up and put in your trolley if you so desired.

Most of the mini barns are set up right next to the butchers though....

who have been working over time in the last week.

I havent left the house yet today as i've heard that this

morning is the big sacrificing morning and the streets can be filled with blood.

Real blood,

not the red corn syrup type...

i guess that's kind of Halloweeenish

at any rate,

Happy Holidays....

update

so i did leave the house for a couple of minutes and witnessed -

-2 cows lying down tied up about to have their throats slit

- a sheep being hacked up with an axe

- a stall full of animal heads

-various random animal limbs all over the street

- pools of blood

-a terrible stench

i quickly decided to return home to see the

cows had already been skinned and beheaded

A little bit of Twiggy loving....

Every year in my neighbourhood there is a Summer Gala which holds an fancy dress competition as part of its celebrations.
When i was about 8 i wanted to go as a mermaid.
My dad's suggestion was that as i was so skinny, i should get dressed up in brown and hold a few branches in my hand and when the local council man asked me to tell him what i had come as i should tell him, 'Twiggy'.
Being 8, the joke was lost on me, and my desire to go as a mermaid prevailed.
On the other hand my dad found himself exceedingly witty and funny and has nicknamed me Twiggy ever since.... (that and stick insect but i think i prefer the former)

If only i looked a bit like Twiggy....

(i have attempted to the make-up once but i ended up looking rather like a scary clown gone wrong)

The Great Egg Roll of 2010.....

I havent been at home for Easter in a long long time...and whenever i suggest to people that we go roll our easter eggs....i normally get blank stares.
But this is my family tradition,( i think its mainly a Scottish thing.)
We felt tip our eggs, and go down to the local beach and throw our eggs down the hill.
The winner is whoever s egg last the longest....


My mum sent me some pictures from the ,'The Great Egg Roll of 2010"

The Egg Contendors....

a list of their names was also supplied (see if you can match them)...
The Hulk, The Joker, Superman, Japanesee, Hey Arnold!, Gramps, Betsy-Lou, Harry Potter, Mister Invisible, Lovey-Dovey, Two Face, Blue-Man, Doom Man

The Rollers (in age and height order)

Mum and Dad join (half) the clan

Of course there is always the expected tears when the first egg breaks.....

and lots of training has gone into the ability to run up and down the hill to retrieve your egg against Edinburgh's strong winds....

Georgia and her egg Betsy Lou were the victors.
Georgia's technique and Betsy Lou's hard-headedness were a winning combination.
As can be seen from her expert egg-rolling poise....

Maybe some time soon i'll get home for Easter and challenge them....