Celebration!

[cal125]

Well folks, some of you knew this was coming though I still cannot believe how quickly the time has flown...

On May 15th, the Highland Chieftain celebrates her silver jubilee. I always wanted to get a tattoo for the occasion and had been thinking ever since her 20th that I wanted to make it so much more than just my own personal celebration. I have never claimed to be conventional; why not then use my idiosyncracies to benefit others? So I decided to get sponsored to have my tattoo (it will also prevent me from chickening out!) and raise money for The Railway Children, which helps young people who run away from home and end up being exploited. I'm booked in at Bizarre Ink on 25th April, allowing plenty of time for the tattoo to heal before the big day itself.

Yes, there is a recession going on, but when you think of some of the horrendous situations children can find themselves in, often after having run away from similar situations in the first place, it puts things in perspective. I cannot begin to imagine what it's like for a young lad or lass arriving alone and scared half to death at a place like King's Cross and being preyed upon by the kind of scum who sadly know exactly who to target at their most vulnerable. I'm lucky to be joining that train of mine on this landmark day with a safe, warm welcome awaiting me in the Capital of the Highlands; an hour or so of discomfort getting tattooed (OK, I'm bricking it!) when it's my own choice is nothing compared to what these kids go through.

So please sponsor me if you can and wish to; every donation counts and will go towards helping someone at the time in their life when they need it the very most.

Thanks so much folks xxxx

www.justgiving.com/caledoniamcfarlane

[rotweiller]

What a great cause. I would hate to think of any of my lads having to go through what some of these kids go through. Good luck with tattoo. It looks as though it will be lovely. I have already sponsored, the page was so quick to find and easy to use.

[muz]

Good for you Cal - I've joined your sponsors too!

[cal125]

Thanks Muz and Cat

Well, that's the tattoo done; I am so happy with the result and it wasn't as sore as I feared. It was more uncomfortable than painful. It's stinging a bit just now but that's only to be expected. I was very nervous but they put me at ease and were great fun whilst still very professional and the tattoo itself is lovely. I very much enjoyed the double whisky I had in the Grassmarket Bar immediately afterwards too ;D

My sponsor page is still open and will be for some time. Just to clarify, in case of any doubts, I have paid for the tattoo myself. Any donations made will go in their entirety to the Railway Children charity.

Toots

Cal125

[rotweiller]

Well done. I have seen pic of final result but can't wait to see it properly. It looks realy good. X

[cal125]

It was a good trip but the weather on the day was a sickening disappointment. After six days of unbroken sunshine, the 15th itself was not just wet and overcast; it was unnaturally dark for the time of year. People everywhere out and about were visibly taken aback by the sudden and extreme change. Part of me is still waiting for the silver jubilee to happen because that day simply didn't feel like it; the change being so abrupt, it took the whole day out of its context. The weather improved over the course of the week I spent in Inverness and from the Saturday evening onwards there was sunshine every day; showers too but more hours of sun. I'll have a personal celebration next time I go up in better weather. The day was so long anticipated, I knew it would feel strange when it actually came around and the best, most memorable journeys I've had tended to be the ones which weren't attached to any specific occasion or planned far in advance. The lack of pressure of expectation has made for a much more relaxed and ultimately enjoyable trip. The exception of course being when I went up on the train's 20th anniversary. The weather did smile upon it that day and an abundance of ripe golden evening sunlight poured through the carriages, turning the bubbles in my champagne to diamonds. That was a Saturday and I got the news on board that Caley Thistle had won the match which finally got them into the Premier League. Inverness was one huge party that night; what a homecoming for the mighty Chieftain. All of which made it especially poignant that Caley Thistle got relegated around the time of the train's silver jubilee They'll be back though, I'm sure. PS There is now a photo of my tattoo on my sponsor page.