PORTSOY ... nn SCOttish TRADitional BOAT Festival

PORTsoy.....
             .....a small fishing village turned modern town ......
             .....to find more of d' town....

Once upon a time.... fishing industry was main income to d' people on d' coastal areas... of Northern Scotland ....   NORTH Sea..was d' place to earn living... centuries ago... but now it was past history, people turned to land ... fearing furious NOrth SEa ....but now, beneath d' sea ...still have undiscovered... millions if nOT billions.... fortunes ... worth for future generations .... OIL....

Portsoy situated NORTH East corner of Scotland between INVERNEss nn
ABERDeen ...now identified as.... Scottish Traditional BOAT FEstival 's place... This year... was d' 18th anniversary... only during SUMMER .... d' dates for d' festival was 2nd  nn 3rd JUly 2011 ....

D' event during d' two days .. Saturday nn Sunday ...featuring scores of BOATs ..MUsic ... CRafts.... It was a way to remember d' past... d' diversity of traditional sailing.. fishing...  It blends together age OLD crafts ..MUsic nn traditional values with MARAtime CULTURe.....

Here ... once entered d' beach town ... would probably ...very sure to counter ... readable sign post ... big enough label to show d' positions ... activities taking place.... many people involved to make this once a year festival success ... bravoo....



Close UP ... reading... would show ... d' events taking place here in PORTsoy......

This short break festival was with destination something for everyone ...as well family affairs ...providing FUN packed .. enegetic opportunities ranging for rowing ... running for folk of all ages ...young people ... while on d' other hand ...this festival shown special emphisis on boat building, restoring ..sailing ...nn associated traditional crafts including knitting, weaving... embroiding ...of coz nOT forgetting ... music nn art  ..  adding all these opportunities for all to see .. take part ... enjoying... for visitors especially...



It all began .... soon arrived in Aberdeen ... late noon Saturday ...2nd July ....
Next day, early morning ... Peter ...as I already introduced... a helpful friendly staff of Aberdeen UNi ....with his FIAt mini car was ready to guide for d'week end drive to this boat feastival  .....


 Two cars ... me ..Jerry, pu3 nn wife with hired black car.... Peter nn Sonia on d' other ... We just followed d' leader... Peter was d' person often visiting Portsoy ...if nOt yearly in Summer...  NOt to miss this annually festival ....




It was relaxing scenery ...........a two hours journey .....
WINd Mill power generators were built .... sort of boosting energy  ........to give electrcity ..... this was country site area .....
TWO lanes one side road ... NOT allowed to 'over take' while own lane way going down hill.......



PORTsoy ..... here we arrived ... d' host providing temporary pARking space for visitors.... traffic warden shown way to football pitch ..... well cut grass ..... shown to arrange proper parking for each vehicle....... 

So entered d' compound ...waiting gate waiters offering tickets ......a hand wrist paper identification was asked to be worn ......

Another.. shuttle van picked people to d' nearest ..... market compound .......

All roads ..... all small walk tracks to port festival area ... were carefully well guarded by festival committees .... without worn wrist paid label ....visitors were asked to pay ....





LOCal products were being offered .......... at this market .... large shaded white camp .......... Demonstrating selling products  ...Icecreams ....... honey ......... specialities .....craps ... all kinds .... fishes ...should read nearer to know their names .......... nn many ..



Direction ....going to harbour - PORt sea site ......  more event to see .... more activities shown traditional way back ...long times ago... 

As could be seen ....this harbour is built comprising with massive breakwater to avoid waves on seawards ... to allow number of quays.... Seemed large stones  set vertically .... nn this is supposed to be old age ... as history pointed out built since 1692.....  wow.... 

 D' views were fantastic ..... seemed untoucable ....... with natural sea waves..
Looking from d' high level to open North Sea .... nn to d' bay .... nOT surprisingly this attracting thousands of visitors ... ever since launched in 1994 nn entrols d' valves of taste ... heritage ... authenticity .... really ..
A project for community would probably be recognised globaly....  to remind peak past.....


Small boats were kept ... from open sea inside d' protected of breakwater stones bay .... nn so .. able to do......

Demonstration .... nn try out d' OLD round boats .. to new generation .....

BUT first ..... somebody with d' knowledge of how to row nn shown to others..... as role model ...



 WOOD craftmanship ...... also a very intresting .... was part of living here....

Much to tell .... but clearly,... pottery ..whose creamics are noted for their delicate colouring .... also take note .....Jewellery ..as locally quarried ....  said ...made from Portsoy green marble which is NOt but rather serpentine ...



 PORTsoy ... as known today .... but nOT until lately ..... was named PERT SOAIdh .... locally  ... meaning as translated 'the wooden place of the worriors' (heros) ......   eeeeh



Immediate ..... vans turned stalls ..... common image of open market here....
All agencies took adventage to offer people around .......
Look carefully ..... people here were creative enough to serve people ....
NOT to mention .....
.....Locally made .... fruits ... cerries ... JAMs ... all kinds..
.....U may try ...taste .... NO objection here.....


Lastly .... now... noon ..if U're too hungry ..why NOt ... smoked FISh .....
BUt ...... chips ...potatoes ... could be purchased sepately.....  just looked around ....
Please ....read ...... eeeh


 Just around d' corner ... going to other side .... still POrtsoy .....
Specially large space for camping ground .... facing d' bay..... Caravans are common sight during SUMMer....  just please read d' notice board with pasted written papers .......
Under d' Aberdeenshire Council .... have to follow several rules .... allowed but nOt free .....


A lot of regeneration projects to turn this old declined fishing town into glamorous beautiful town .......

Looking at d' charm .... attraction of uphill town centre with fascinating streets ... gardens ...all winding down to d' remarkable harbour ..... yeh..as one of  tourists visited here ....thumbs UP ..... all are appreciated



Going to d' inner outside harbour ...town ..... wow.. another.... place offering light rowing  ...at town lake ...       
At near by..... entrance
Talking crow ...all types of owls ..... supposed ...OUT at nights...????
Exhibited .... to people ... to know more these night creatures' characters ...... ask d' caretakers of d' birds .....stood by ......near by .....!!!!

NOt all people like to open sea ... some younger people ... retreat to fresh water lake.... rowing.......... being offered here....
Nice ...refreshing area for a while ..... so here we were.......

To make d' story short ....

Leaving PORTsoy ....... nearing evening but still day light ......... to a half hour journey....    another sea town ....

Peter brought us here to see ... another similar scenery ....... harbour scenery too .... CULLEN HARBour .....

A cave in road ... showing ..NOt too old.. rejected rail project....... crossing the road ........ hill down side ...looking houses facing sea ....... 



 Just to show d' scenery photos ...d' creamic ...at shops .....
Natural grass ...with flowers ...???
Seagulls ...... too hungry .... d' bird was looking for food .... NO longer at sea.... fearing drown ... of coz.... oh nO d' habits changed ......for sure ...!!!!


Way back ...driving to ABERdeen ..... stopped at a small town ...
A refreshing break ...... drank nn ate ....


Gesture .... as Pu3 would not be seen around in Aberdeen after d' graduation....
....tall Sonia.... a  known best friend lift easily light build Pu3 ..........
                             Cheerio........... baby

ABERDEEN UNI... GRADUATION DAY ....

GrAdUAtIon DAy ..... 6 JUly 2011

Finally TODay is d' day.. for quite felt so LOng to reach d' climax .....  YEs ....

FOUR Years .... degree course in Aberdeen University.... unlike Universities out side SCotland ..... ENgland... has d' system of THRee Years Degree honours course ........
NOT to mention money spent... of cOz ...COStly ...about triple or more expenses ... for foreign students comparing LOCAL grants .... IMAgine .. about B$60,000.00 a year ..... nn FOUr years  ...... ?????

 D' cuttings from Scotland's Newspaper ..... showing d' portion of today's names of graduates .... morning nn afternoon sessions..... gradutions .... 

For d' whole WEEk...starting Monday, 4th until Friday, 8th July 20011 ...d' UNiversity would probably busy conducting Graduations Sessions of producing thousands .....NEw Graduated students in different fields ..... destinated different courses ...



TODay's GRADuation involved ONLY TWo BRUNEIAN Students .... one in d' morning session nn another in d' afternoon.... TWO more tomorrow.... all in 1st Degree... honours ...

PU3 .... was  in d' morning session .....so d' parents were here to give moral support on this paticular special Day .....

My story on d' other hand ....prevail a long tiring 15 hours flying journey of about 12,000miles....  just to  reach nn being involved with this occasion....

Of coz ...quite a lot of taken photos ...but here  ..presented beginning with d' house we intended to  stay for a week in Aberdeen .....at pU3's residence ....
FLat 5 ........725 .....
...Great Northern Road ....ABERDEEN     AB24 2B7 ..
This place would be remembered well ...to us ...d' three rooms flat  gave free shade (NOt cheap to stay in HOTel in UK) ... for a whole WEEK in Aberdeen..... FArrrr...North of UK .....





Graduated abroad is not d' same in own country .... things were differents.... MOst likely some HOMesick students returned home without given proper Graduation of certificates presentation.... so at home ...British High Commissioner as the main British's Agent ... usually has to conduct another certificates presentation on behave of d' British Universities attended by some of d' students.... where parents together with relatives were able to celebrate their children's success ...  WOw.... this must be GReat ...eeh



Early morning ...SUmmer ...but still cool ...nn with unsuspected weather.......(funny enough to talk about weather here ... LOOked Good but suddenly ...raining ... nn stopped .... nn so ) .......as early as 8.30am .... had to collect d' graduation gown ... some purchase... but most ... just a day rent available .... provided by d' UNI ... d' package being arranged together with photography session.... ready paid.... or ..else has to request last...

PU3 just hired ....

Pretty as ..ever..   my dad-mami's eldest daughter .. oh yeh ...accompanied mommy on d' side ....for special occasion with Malay costume .... seemed d' ONLy Malay female for this morning graduation....
With my black hired car ...proceeding to d' Uni campus ....as seen on picture's label name .... where I could NOt simply explain ...d ' right location unless Uu  had been here .... quite BIg area ... each department separated in different places .... ME.... NOt also familiar..... seemed like NEW student back to school ... remember ... ABerdeen University is an OLD university .... so hundreds years of development took place here ..... ????

PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION .... before ceremony ...NOT free ... had to BOOK ... in advance ... nn  ..... PAid.....

BUt .... NOT alone......... so many people here ............ d' cameramen NOT one too ..... had to cater many of morning graduation .... with friends .... parents ... families ....



So completed with photography ... nn WITH CEREMONIAL graduiting gown ready .... just walked  .. along walking path of  UNi ...accessing to d' other side of building .... as shown here .............. ELPHINSTONE HALL ..... of University's KING's College campus ......

Morning .... cool ... nn ....look at people using umbrellas  .... yes..

It was raining ..... unwelcomed ceremony .... seemed to be......  !!!!

On d' opposite of d' hall... fore ground ... green grass.. as big as half of football pitch ..... a large camp was erected where people could come in to celebrate.... with music nn DRinks... a temporary camp ...also selling ...UNi's cash nn take away souvenirs..... as seen poster erected specially here..... invited guests to join IN ....

D' BIg UNi label names ..... pointing different directions ...on d' same compound ... d' hall is NOT shown .... here ...



TRADITIOnal SCOtTISH BLOW PIPER was here ready to signal d' ceremony was ON.... all parents aliked .... happy to witness this special success occasion .... so large crowd expected .... queing side building shaded from raining .... but those .... far behind  ... d' unfortunates  ....had to get ready with umbrellars..

Watching d' pictures' scenery here.....  recognisable enough to know d' situation of d' morning ........ pity morning ... r..a ..i..n..i..n...g.. water drops................

LUCKy... to be early.. nn able to go further near entrance's building ...where it was covered nn protected from rain ....

SO did first come FIRSt served ...... earlier group was able to occupy d' FRONt seats... for d' invited with tickets .... mind U too ..... had to purchase ..... as limited space nn so few seats available .... late comers tried to request as well ....

Seated...... IN ... one-go ... together when gate was OPEN to enter .... front Q guests entered ...so did followed after all parents .... when all seated ...d' UNi's ...led by Vice Chancellor and Principal of d' University, honourary degree recipient nn his teaching professionals.... followed by degree recipients...



Started with d' language unknown ... probably LATIN ..as this was main ceremonial for graduation... Vice Chancellor n Principal of d' University spoke out .... delivered d' graduation address of d' ceremony... honourary degree recipient of d' morning was given to Professor of Psychology - Michael Gazzaniga, Director for SAGE Center for the Study of Mind, Uni. of California, Santra Barbara..... gradution presentation nn interluded... by two main music as well ... for each group of graduation presentation ....

Once called d' name...walked to stage nn  a man assisted to wear graduition scarf's gown just round d' neck nn Vice Chancellor said somthing ... in ...  LATIN..????

Red black gown was supposed to be PhD ... doctorate recipients...

The gowns were differentiated by colours... for different fields of studies... but most with simple strip of greenish nn white .... large collar scarf ... only

Here...PU3 just finished presented .... similing .. on d' way down stage.....

When all finished receving d'greeted...  bestowed gradutions...........

Soon ...completed ... all allowed to exit ... on d' way out ...here, front of us ..d' other woman wearing head's bluish scarf, husband nn son wearing Scottish  skirt were Kuwitians.. wife a doctorate nn husband somebody had visited Brunei to see our Sultan, their youngest son grduated with PhD ...



PU3 with d' lecturer who helped out with her project... about sea turtle...  took PU3 last year to Sandakan, SAbah to find out more inputs.... to island of turtles.. d' result of her project was excellent enough to support her to her fINal year with d' total best assement results' of 2-1 ... that is ....Second Upper ...

CONGRATULATion ... that was BEst d' word .......

With friend ...local UNI staff befriended as PU3 was involved with d' club... JAPANESE Connection ...as she mentioned.... PETER.... one of UNi's staff ... a friend ... known him too for his kindness.... Thank u Peter...

Sonia  ...... another best friend... from Japanese Connection..... too well to know more about PU3's character....  ?????

.....nn Not forgetting Jerry ...another her Japanese Conection...best friend.....

Large transparent camp at d' back as shown on right bottom picture ... was a place to cater ... sort of short light entertainments .... music ... drinks ... meetings .... purchasing ...  so   nn so..






All were here ..... to share happiness once graduated ....
.....another Malaysian lady showing what was on NEWs today .....



So ...throwing ... graduation cap .... flying cap   ...eeh .. SYMBOL OF SUCCESS .......... really

Rested inside d' camp when raining ... of coz ... nn d' adventage seeing around ... especially....CLASS OF THE YEAR 2011... Hoodies .. where.. today's gradutes were clearly seen ......... NAMes....  find U name ... shoud be here ... ..... anaother Bruneian NAME here ...VANESSA PANG .....

Specially made shirts with hoods ....names ..... products of UNIversity .....



Another DAY .... different day ...just to get together... NOT many Bruneians graduated here .... another lady was NOt here.... d' male friend is Malaysian...

So ...posing ..... many pictures .. but here.... together shown throwing gradution caps.... high UP ......

Happy ever after ...... home nn separated after this occasion ....





VANNESA PANG ..... NADIA DAUD ....PU3 


PU3 with parents ......

Vanessa .... father..Jeffry .. with Guan Family ...      nn ....

Nadia Daud    ..father..mother nn sisters...



 So a complete .. photograph .....
THRee families ....were here to celeberate ... d' happy moment


 More pictures here ..... at KIng' s College compound ........ Celebrating

Just outside ........... Summer... vaccation for all .............

NOt begger ..... a good way to get attention from all ........ dear friends of students ..... Donation would be used for travelling during this Summer .... this is a simple way to find small budget ....money needed ........ to move around ....... south to LONDon ...or elsewhere .... PARis.....



Natural ..... but bright blooming ........... flowers still ........ beautiful... nn appreciated by all .....a common media of understanding to show  ... love to nature .....   just around King's College compound.... d' opposite road.........

D' garden was OPEN to public viewing ..... rarely allowed on d' other days .....!!!!




LASTly ......
Here...U're ..... big smile for all of US...
                 CONGRATULA..t..i..o..n......... pu3