Hopefully
the weather will improve as the 2006 Highland Games season gets
underway. Many of the places holding Highland Games, such as Markinch in
Fife, (next Sunday - 4 June 2006 in the John Dixon Park), are of course
far from the Scottish Highlands but are popular venues for all that. The
whole community gets behind their local games regardless of where they
are in Scotland. Games and sports have been held in Scotland for over a
thousand years and were originally organised to find the best runners to
provide communications over our rugged countryside. Many Highland Games
still echo this original purpose with the incorporation of a Hill Race
eg The Binn Race at Burntisland Highland Games in Fife (17 July 2006).
Pipe Band Competitions, Solo Piping and Highland Dancing all add colour
to the modern Highland Games, along with the Heavyweight Competitions
and Track and Field events. No visit to Scotland during the Games season
would be complete without attending a Highland Gathering to enjoy the
spectacle.
Highland
Dancing is one of the major attractions at the Games and a popular dance
inspires this week’s recipe – Highland Fling. A combination with a
Scottish traditional dance and her favourite tipple must be a winner!
Highland
Fling
Ingredients:
1 oz Scotch Whisky; 1 oz Blue Curaçao; ½ oz Orange Bitters; Soda
Method:
Serve the spirits in a large goblet, topped with soda. Decorate with a
slice of starfruit and kiwi.
