Steam Engine and Vintage Cars Exhibition - Part 2

This Vintage Fair 2008 is actually the 5th time around that is being held on the grounds of Castle Fraser. Exhibitors have travelled from all parts of the UK and some parts of Europe to share their passion for their vehicles (despite the recent increases in fuel costs!). It is so encouraging to know that there are so many enthusiasts preserving these vehicles, which some existed even on the early 1900s. I do believe that these vehicles are great pride of United Kingdom as these form part of their heritage. Well, good for them and as for me and my inlaws, we were delighted to be a part of the exhibition as cheerful audiences.

I would like to share some vintage cars photos. I want to thank Popsy Robbie for contributing me some of the photos he took. These are just samples of the hundreds of automobiles on display. Cheers and enjoy the pics!...





Here are some samples of general purpose trucks...



Over the past few years a whole family has arrived on the Steam and Vintage fair scene, not just in Britain but worldwide. They belong to the gradually enlarging family of Little Engine Enthusiasts, many of whom make the variou Steam Fairs and events their holiday destination, their weekend break, complete of course with their "Little Engines". Here are some examples...




These generally single cylinders engines have many an interesting history. Some are fuelled by paraffin, others by petrol or diesel. All have made essential contribution to the work on the farms; in workshops, also as water pumps some times out on a riverbank. Many have been service driving small mills, generating electricity and in some cases are still in use. Here are some more extracts...



I am loving these classic farm tractors...





But most of all, i fancy riding in this elegant trailer. Oh, look at how this big truck carried it just like how the horses long time ago carried the royal carriages!

Steam Engine and Vintage Cars Exhibition - Part 1

This is my first time to watch a steam engine exhibition. We went last weekend with my in-laws. I am so surprised how these steam engines and vintage automobiles look so new, dazzling and shining as if they were never used at all! I can only imagine the many, many hours which are put in over long winters on care and conservation of these vehicles. Just really amazing! Here are some photos...







I had put a good look at some of the magnificent examples of traction steam engines which are on the show and i can only think about how much time, patience and devotion it takes to keep these engines looking and running as they are! Again here are some few examples and by the way, Prisco think steam engines are pretty much loud, and really they are. That is why he is covering his ears...




As for the meantime, here are my in-laws, chilling out to the sonata of old Mortier Fairground Organ playing the melodies of yesteryears.

A Day with the Kilted Chef

On a rainy Saturday of June during the Kintore Summer Festival 2008, we got the chance to watch the cooking demonstration of the so called Kilted Chef from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The food looks so yummy, appetizing, and succulent. After the demo, Scott took a photo of us with the Kilted Chef. But first the food...

Here are some collops of pork with caramelized apple and black pudding on Thyme mashed potato with natural jus together with the poached chicken and cous cous.



What we like with this chef is that he is so abrupt, no fuzziness and he is just natural. He said that a certain recipe should not be followed all thoroughly. If it tastes good, then, that's it! Some people are allergic or do not like the taste of onions or garlic, or ginger, etc.... So you put your own condiments whatever you fancy and which you think taste good on your palate.

Here is one video demo i got about poached chicken and a photo of us and Prisco by my husband...

We Don't Wanna Miss The Crawfish Carnival

My husband was away again. He went around 5 this morning (sigh). Oh, well, what can we do? We need means to live and if that would mean few weeks that he's away, that is okay. I had been so used to his offshore jobs. If you had seen Ben Affleck on the movie Armageddon, the job is seem like it, but right now he is more like Bruce Willis as he had been training new engineers for sometime now( although his face is more that of Ben Affleck!hehehehehe! Ah, how i wish i can be as tall and pretty as Liv Tyler! But since i can't be, definitely it's okay and had accepted that this is me).

Oh,well, speaking about Armageddon and the beautiful soundtrack by Aerosmith on that blockbuster movie, whenever my husband is onshore, we need to see to it that we don't miss great, quality, family time together. Hence, last Mom's Day, together with the Castle Walk, was another surprise --- A Castle Extravaganza or more particularly, The Crawfish Carnival that is just right within the grounds of the Castle itself. This Carnival is exclusive for my husband's company employees and their families. There were just many things to do and see and Prisco had so much fun. Some of the oldtime favorites for everyone to enjoy were Archery, Quads, Bucking Bronco, Climbing Wall, Paintball and Trampolines plus new activities; Golf Simulator, Adrenaline Maze and craft making in a traditional Native American Tipi. There was also "Show Time" in which a professional drama group worked with the children. There were lots of singing, dancing and acting. We were just content watching them! Prisco was more interested with slides and trampolines. He must had went a hundred times! And what about the food? Oh, it was too much and just all buffet style. I better make an exclusive entry of the food.

For the meantime,here are some of the fun photos....

Aberdeen At Last!

Definitely, we are now in the Bonnie Scotland. The flight had been long, tiring, and exhausting. But the best thing is : we are now together as one, happy family. How i wish there'll be flight from Davao to Scotland (just a wish!!!)...In that way, we can avoid the busy Ninoy Aquino International Airport. But of course, there was not, so we have no choice. We flew with KLM Flying Dutchman from Manila to Amsterdam- Amsterdam to Aberdeen. There are lots of flights from Manila to Heathrow-Heathrow to Aberdeen, but we really don't like the Heathrow airport and we want to avoid that hell airport as much as possible. Amsterdam's Schipol Airport is a better one, definitely, very far better than Heathrow. So, that's it. We left Davao on the 10th, stayed a night in Manila. Flew from Manila to Amsterdam on the 11th and that flight was approximately 13 hours. But with all the early check-in, all the security checks,all the airport time....The trip was like 24 to 36 hours to me,including the hours in Manila. Flight from Amsterdam to Aberdeen is only 1.5 hours. But going through Immigration, waiting for the luggages, plus Customs check-up,we were through around 10 pm,Scotland time. Plus the travelling time from the Aberdeen Airport to our home in Kintore, around 45 minutes. So,we arrived home around almost 11pm. With the 8 hour time difference from the Philippines, what is night is day and what is day is night. It really messed up our body clocks!!!!Up to now,my system is still messed up.lol. But i will be fine after some time. Give me a week and i will be settled here. Right now, am still not done unpacking our stuffs yet.
Oh, well, my friends, i've guess this is one of the travails of travelling---we need to acclimatize and settle slowly, slowly to the environment that we are in. For the meantime, i got to attend to the messages and visits made here at my blogging home!

After-all, They Aren't Chocolates at All!

When i was still a kid i thought that "Chocolate Hills" in Bohol was really brown,sweet and yummy. So when i grew up and met my husband, Scott we both went to Bohol and discovered that those hills are not man-made(unlike the real chocolates!Uhmmm!). They are actually weathered formations of a kind of marine limestone on a top of impermeable layer of clay. These 1268 hills(probably the exact number of hills) are amazingly almost uniform in shapes. And the shapes? They look like giant moles and some say they look like women's breasts. This tourist attraction in Bohol, i believe made Bohol very famous. That's why the Boholanos considered these hills as great miracle from God because without these miracle hills Bohol would might just remain as a sleepy town.

These hills which range from between 30-50 metres high are all covered with grass. Sometimes when the dry season is finished this grass will all be withered making the color chocolate brown,hence, the name is derived. But of course when it is not dry season the color of the grass will all be green and will that mean the name will become Green Hills? Nooo...still it will be "Chocolate Hills." And yes, they're not chocolates, indeed!