Fat Mac doesn’t get much fresh air nowadays, and this is probably one reason why he catches ‘flu so often. It’s only 100 yards from his flat to the offie, and often that’s the only exercise he gets each day.
I had a touch of ‘flu towards the end of last week, but unlike Fat Mac who revels in sickness, I shrugged it off and we went up to Killin for a fresh-air family outing.
There was lots of it around – fresh air, that is. It was also the weekend of the annual Killin Show.
Pipers at the Show
There was an excellent turnout. We saw a pipe band, and some terrier racing.
Terrier racing heat
Then it was time for the tug-of-war.
Tug of war
Anyone could join in for the first tug. Then it was down to the more serious teams.
The Fire Brigade
The ‘fermers’
My money would have gone on the Fire Brigade, but despite, or maybe because of, beer at half time, the Farmers eventually won.
There was a parade of vintage tractors, which the wee boys in the crowd liked.
Vintage tractors
Triple challenge
The triple challenge involved teams of three. The first one rolled a bale of hay from one end of the field to the other, and then stood on top of another bale. The second one ran and jumped up on the bale, and ate a pie, and then the third one ran and jumped up on the same bale and drank a can of beer.
Triple challenge
There was then a sheep shearing demonstration.
Sheep shearing
Big Mac must be kicking himself for missing out on all that entertainment. Next year they should increase the triple to a quadruple challenge, with the addition of a 100-metre dash to the offie.
What miraculous self healing powers! Once defeated the sniffle might be labelled “the flu” for the purposes of claiming victory, but it might have been just a sniffle. Or a bug flew up your nose. That’s the only “flew” that might apply here methinks.
I’m sure it was the same illness that had Fat Mac groaning and complaining for two weeks or more. If only he got more fresh air. The Victorians knew about the benefits of fresh air.