Edinburgh Hogmanay festivities Dec 06

The other day I told you I went uptown for the Up Helly Aa well last night I went up again for a few hours. This time it was for the "Night Afore International Festival" - I arrived at George Street at about 7:30pm - nothing happening so went for a pint then outside for a bit of ceilidhing .
Later on still - nearer 10pm the main event finally got to the stage at the West end of the street and I have posted a couple of videos of this unusual street entertainment. I enjoyed it a lot but I would be lying if I said that I had understood it !.
Perhaps you can tell me your opinions.

Video 1, Video 2

Paragliding at Cairn Liath 26 Dec 06, Scotland

I have posted a video on Google basically showing the flight down.

Here is the link :- http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-6881593969542909178&q=paragliding

Edinburgh Up Helly Aa

Ping, Richard and I met this evening and joined the Torchlight Procession going up Calton Hill. This was the start of the New Year festivities.

Up Helly aa - a Viking celebration dating back to about 900 a.d where a boat was burnt after invading somewhere! This stops the vikings returning of course. I didnt notice any viking invasion although I may have missed it.
The procession and the Up Helly Aa is based on the original held in Shetland every year.

This was followed by some fireworks and then a couple of beers at The Guildford Arms. Ping and I then walked round the fair and then home.
A few of the photos I took Are here

Paragliding Broughton 17th Dec

It has been some time since I last posted here so :-

Last Sunday the 17th December, after doing some shopping I eventually drove down to Broughton .
I arrived at about 2pm - and then walked up to the very top - only to see everyone else flying past and homeward!.
I also met Cliff who was taking the quad bike down and had also had a bad day having written off his car on route to the hill on black ice earlier in the day - he was OK though.
I then filmed Brian Steele and 2 other pilots fly past me before setting up myself. The 12Mb video should be available here. Right click and save as to your computer.
My flight was mega smooth and just a slightly extended ttb of a few minutes. I reverse launched and landed near the end of the track -nice but my first flight for too long.

Other news - at Clare Florist - work seems to be going well and yesterday my role was increased along with the number of hours I work starting in January.

Christmas - for me it really starts 23rd Dec with dinner with all the family at Susans and then again when I cook on Monday at Mum and Dads. I am looking forward to it immensely.

Have a lovely Christmas.

Some nice paragliding links

Speed paragliding close to ground at Seleve near Geneva - video.
More swooping videos . Pleasantly suprised to see Alan Hill as background picture - he was my as previously mentioned my excellent paragliding tutor in NZ. Long video of speed gliding by Alan at Pukemore in NZ which is where I had my qualification flight but it was nothing like this!.
Speed gliding on The Eiger - video