Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk - NOW

Yesterday, I attended the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk. It was the second I attended. The first was in 2005 with Donald.

My friend, David Levite of the Colmcille crew invited me to his home in Old Town for an open house before the walk. Donald and I had gone there, before the parade, too. David is a great host and with his friends made the open house a fantastic way to start the day.

After leaving David’s and heading for the MacCallum and Malcolm Clan line up area, I was met by Kathy. She was looking for us and was the first one there. Neil McCallum with his son, Sean would soon find us. Neil spotted Marianne and Doug McCallum in the clan staging area in line with our banners. Soon, we would be joined by another newcomer to the Clan, Mike McCollum with his wife two children and his mother. All decked out in the MacCallum plaids.

As we waited for the parade to begin and catch up with us in its tail’ we definitely were in the rear. I visited with my friends in Gordon House and Donnachaidh Clan. There was a sense of excitement and feelings of camaraderie between the various groups whether they be clans, dog societies, pipers, re-enactors as the moment grew close for us to fall into formation and march out becoming our part of the parade.

Our time came and out we marched. The streets were lined with people young and old, but all excited. With waves and shouts of Merry Christmas from the participants and spectaculars everyone was enjoying themselves. The group behind us was a merry group called the Clan Macathair. With quite a few toasts of wee drams they were fortified to belt out chants along the route.

Following them were the MacAlpin Regiment, which would stop and fire a volley of gunshot every other blocked we marched. There were many bands, pipes and marching ones that added greatly to the festivities. It was a grand time. The day would be topped with lunch at the Fish Market restaurant with Gordons and Donnachaidhs.

Donald you were missed, yet your presence was there.

VA SCOTTISH GAMES - NOW

Last Saturday attended the Virginia Scottish Games and Festival at Sky Mountain State Park. It was the first year at this venue. It was a better drive than to the City of Alexandria and the scenery made you think you were in the Highlands of Scotland. It was a winner for me.

Kept Doug McCallum company at the MacCallum Malcolm Clan tent. Meet up with David Levite another crew member from the '03 Voyage of St. Columba. I remember being at the festival in '05 with Donald. I found him at the fiddler tent where he sponsored an award in honor of his father. Donald did much to remember and support his heritage.

PORTRUSH -THEN

A couple of hours wait at the train station in Belfast put us on a local train to Portrush. The four Americans with their duffle bags were a curiosity. It was an idyllic ride through a picturesque countryside.

I was able to strike up a conversation with a man who was commuting home from work. It was a strain for us both to hear one another as the sound from the wheels clicking across the rails was loud. As I told him what we were doing our conversation turned to spiritual things. He explained he had grown up in the church but upon reaching adulthood ceased attending.

I sent up an “arrow prayer” for help from the Lord to reach this man. The train slowed and then stopped. My companion commented, “That’s strange the train has never stopped here before.” I then was able to share my faith story in the quieted coach. When I finished, he commented, “I see that you are a man of strong faith. You have given me much to think about. Thank you.” Then the train lurched forward and our journey continued.

Arriving in Portrush, we were met by our Irish crew contingent, skipper Robin Ruddock, Jim Allen and John Logan, and Donald. Robin loaded up our gear in his Range Rover and would take it to the bed and breakfast where we were to stay. We were off to the warehouse were our boat, the Colmcille was stored.

A long day was catching up with me and the rest of the evening was a blur as the affect of jet lag caught up with me. Colmcille was on a trailer, upside down with its bottom up. It was totally black and a formidable sight. We did some minor work on the rails and then hauled it to the waterfront where the boat shed for the Causeway Coast Maritime Society was located. Not much else is remembered that evening.

For our time in Portrush we stayed in a lovely Bed & Breakfast and each morning received an “Irish breakfast” of eggs, sausage, bacon, blood pudding, and grilled tomatoes. Cereal and oatmeal was available, also. The lady of home took great care of us, Joan was her name. The next morning from our arrival others of the Scottish contingent were there and others came in during the day. It was all very exciting!

Happy Birthday Mum! - NOW

My Mum would have been 78, today. She went home five years, ago. I got the Scottish name from my Dad. My adventurous spirit from my Mum. She was some lady. Very proper, but no push over. Yes, Jessie Robertson Boyce Malcolm was as tough as they come. This picture is of her and Dad, 1957.

My mother challenged me when I was in Junior High, that if I graduated from High School with honors, she would give me a plane ticket to England for me to spend the summer there. Dad had met Mum when he was in the Air Force stationed in England for the Berlin Airlift. Mum's Mum eas born in Inverness. Her Dad was English, with Scottish roots.

I claimed my prize at graduation and went to England. I met my Liverpool family. I stayed two weeks with my Mum's uncle Jim Robertson. Uncle Jim became a piper with the Scottish Liverpool Kings as WWI was ending. Served 20 years in India, brought back to the UK when Dunkirk fell. During WWII he was air dropped into France for commando raids. Worked his way back to the coast and would be picked up by British submarines. Then he repeated it over again. After the war, he served in Palestine. He retired when Israel became a nation.

He told me about the 21 men he lost in his command when the King David Hotel was bombed. It was shown in the movie Exodus. Fifteen years later as I traveled through Israel finishing four years of working in Kuwait, I went to the King David. I toasted the 21, with single malt.

That summer of 1970 with Uncle Jim, he had told me to go down to the local tailor and have a kilt made. I asked him what tartan. Boy, he said there is only one, Robertson! Foolish me, I didn't go. But in 2004 when I was in Inverness, I purchsed 9 yards of Robertson plaid. My first trip to Scotland was that summer in 1970.

My Mum was the greatest Mother, ever. She tempered Dad's displinary ways with her mercy. I could talk to Mum about anything. Mum had a big heart and was always caring for others. She was still making her rounds taking care of the sick and infirm up to her last few days here. Only her family and closest friend knew she had cancer. When the last stages came and she was hospitalized, my Dad, my sister, Denise and myself were with her. She looked at us and said I don't want to puit you through this. I am ready to check out of here. With that she raised her thumb. The Angel of Mercy came in minutes and took her to her eternal reward. Thank you, Jesus.

We miss her.

Mum's birthday in 1997.

Crossing the Pond - THEN

Donald had left several weeks earlier for Scotland. Emanuel Gorres, Tony Watson, David Levite and myself were headed for Dublin, Ireland all leaving on the same day. Donald would be coming over to Ireland as we and the Scots contingent all emerged on Portrush.

As it turned out Tony and I were on the same flight from BWI to New York. As we prepared to take off I started a conversation with a fellow passenger next to me. As I explained what we doing. The passenger in front of me turned her head to hear the conversation.

She exclaimed how exciting! I'm Roman Catholic and I know about St. Columba. (Most Americans don't.) She said her neighbor was part of senior management of the Discovery Channel and she would tell him to send a crew to cover our adventure. (Never saw them, but many UK correspondents did.

After landing in New York in disembarking from the plane, the female passenger stuck out her hand to shake mine and said, Bless you, Ern Malcolm! I felt something in my palm which turned out to be a tightly folded fifty dollar bill!

I believe Tony and David were on the same flight, Emmanuel would arrive before us. The flight to Ireland was uneventful and as we three picked up our luggage, Emmanel showed up.

We took a bus to the train station and there we encountered our first difficulty with a divided Ireland. We didn't see on the train schedule boards any trains that would take us to Portrush. We asked the ticket agent and he just shook his head and looked away. Two more agents gave the same response of can't help you.

We were really perplexed. Then another traveler came up to us and said he overhead our conversations with the ticket agents. He told us to take the #XX train that will go to Belfast, NORTHERN Ireland and there you can get a train to Portrush. On the schedule board that train showed no stops in Northern Ireland. He followed his advice and got to Belfast.

Belfast City Hall

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games - NOW

Last weekend, I was in Linville, NC for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. It was a wonderful time! I have posted photographs of the weekend here.

I first attended the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2005. Chief Robin Malcolm was to be the honored there. Donald and Lise' were going. How could I not go. I had meet the Chief in 2003 on the Voyage of St. Columba. It was to be really big! I made my reservations as a camper.

I was also interested to meet Don Malcolm. Don was President at the time. I appreciated his making available to the Clan a cotton Malcolm tartan. I had purchased several yards which I wore as the feilidh mhor or Great Kilt. I had been married wearing it!

I haven't been able to locate my photos of the 2005 games, but here is the link to the Clan MacCallum/Malcolm Society website with photos of the event. I do have this one of Donald and I with the Chief. When the Chief saw me, he remembered me from the 2003 visit and referred to as the oarsman. What a compliment! My fellow crew members may chuckle as I was probably the one more likely to be out of sync in rowing.

I would like to jump ahead in my recounting the Voyage of St. Columba. Here is the link to photographs of a side trip to Duntrune Castle the seat of Clan Chief Robin Malcolm. Chief Robin was expecting us to land in Crinan and was preparing to entertain the crew. But a storm had placed us two days ahead of schedule. Chief Robin had other entertaining to do when we arrived.

Our skipper Robin knew we must press on to Iona. As we pulled out of Crinan, I could see Duntrune Castle and was so disappointed that I would not meet the Chief. We arrived at our next stop Easdale Island. Our lorry support driver, Roddy Lightbody arrived and he and Donald told me to get into the truck. We were off taking the back roads heading for Duntrune to drop in on the Chief.

Nearly two hours later we entered the gate of Duntrune. Opening the great door to the turret, Donald called out, CHIEF ROBIN! Aye, came the reply, come on up. We entered and went up the spiral stone stair way like so many movies I had seen of castles with knights fighting their way to the top.

At the top we found the Chief in a huge great room. Donald introduced us as this was his third meeting with the Chief. Chief Robin expressed his disappointment the crew could not be there as he made all the provisions to feed us royally. Chief Robin asked if we like a beer and cheeky me replied, "a wee dram would go down better, Chief!" Our hospitable host readily obliged.

After time of getting to know one another, the Chief offered to fill our glasses which suited the parched voyagers. He said we are moving up to the better quality whiskey. We had passed the test!

Chief Robin told us about his family and answered our many questions about the Clan. The Chief of course knew his long lineage and told us of family members who had done well in the USA. I told the Chief that my father had told me as a young man, not to get interested in genealogy as he wanted me to know I came from a long line of thieves and drunks!

The Chief roared with laughter and slapped his thigh and said, "Ernest, be proud of that, as we Scots of nothing but thieves and drunks! That's how my family gained our lands and wealth. He showed us the narrow slits in the castle walls that his forefathers had placed thier arrows/muskets to keep their wealth from other thieving Scots!

As we departed, Chief Robin gave us each a wee bottle of Scotch to wash the dust out of our mouth with a return to Easdale. What a trip!

Present Past Interconnections - NOW

It's 0545 as I begin drafting this post. The one day, I have to sleep in, my mind is a whirl of past memories and present experiences. I sit at my desk in my sportkilt, Clan An Drumma t-shirt, with a steaming cup of Earl Grey tea in my recently acquired 'delft' china Grandfather Mountain Highland Games cup and with traditional Celtic music from AccuRadio streaming from the Internet. Who wants to sleep in!

It has been over a month since beginning this blog. I feel badly, that this will be my second post. I am overwhelmed in the enormity of the project, I've begun. My desk is covered with packets of photos and items I picked up on our trips. Time is limited, as I work two jobs (part-time in a Wal-Mart and manage a home owners association). My real vocation as a minister of the Gospel seems at times not given first place. Confession is good for the soul.

Last night, I renewed a friendship; Peter Mcleod had come to Virginia! David Levite of Alexandria, VA (part of the American contingent of the Colmcille crew) had emailed that Peter of Skye was coming stateside for a college seminar in Ohio. I offered to spring for dinner for us all to meet.

David offered to meet half way from Alexandria and Spotsylvania, my home. It was only fitting to select the Macaroni Grill in Woodbridge to be the place. It was here in the winter of 2003 that the American contingent first met together with Donald to discuss our upcoming voyage.

I remember Donald sharing his faith with our server who happened to be of the Jewish faith. Our server last night, introduced himself, Gershom. Peter quickly noted his name as the first son of Moses and began a Bible lesson on Moses.

On the Comcille voyage, I overheard a couple of times fatherly advice Donald would share with Peter, the youngest member on our crew. Peter seemed to be searching for his place in life. What I now realize Peter is a genius (like an Edison or Einstein) who functions on an intellectual level beyond most of us.

Peter has a website on his theory of the cosmic forces in creating Noah's flood and posted a paper on it. A college professor of a Christian college in Ohio had read Peter's website and offered him a all expenses paid trip to their seminar on creation theory! And David was serving Peter in being his companion in taking him there. What a friend!

The photo here Peter gave me last evening. He and David before dinner, had visited the town of Occoquan seeing a friend of David's who owned a curio shop. There Peter acquired this photograph entitled 'Monks in a Boat' by Jerr ODauritzen of Kerry, Ireland. It speaks to me of us three with Donald in the hand of God.

The Summons - THEN

I had not been very interested in my Scottish ancestry, until the late nineties when I was in my forties. As a young man my father told me, "son, don't ever get interested in genealogy because you come from a long line of drunks and thieves." Enough said. Not sure how it happened but while I was working in New Jersey I caught the Celtic connection bug and would buy my kilt (filabeg) from Pipers' Cove in Kearny.

Later with my transfer back to Virginia, I took up residence in the Fredericksburg area and attended my first Scottish Highland Games there. At one of the festival booths I find the Clan McCallum Malcolm Society address and joined. I learned of the St. Columba connection to my name and was inspired by the life of this Saint. I also joined the Fredericksburg Scottish Society.


During this time I had been 'struggling' with a perceived call that I may have to ordination as a priest in the Episcopal Church. With entering the new century I found myself in a fortuitous situation that allowed me to step back from a fast pace professional work life and to discern this call to ordained ministry. I began the formal discernment process with the church and started taking online and intensive week long campus courses at Trinity Episcopal School of Ministry.

On December 7th 2002, I received my copy of the Argent Castle from the Clan McCallum Malcolm Society. As I sat in my office reading it and turned to the last page where I read an article by Donald McCallum who was calling men of the clan to join him in re-enacting St. Columba's departure in 563 AD from Ireland with twelve monk companions sailing to Scotland. Where they would establish an abbey on the Isle of Iona. These monks would bring the Christian faith to Scotland and northern England. Donald wanted to re-enact the voyage, but more importantily fan the embers of a diminishing Christian faith in his native Scotland.

When I finished the article, I called to my wife, Sharon who was in the kitchen that I believed God had placed me in front of an open door. She replied then I must go through it.

Donald had only gave his email address to contact him. I searched for his phone number via the internet and found it. I called and got Donald immediately. I told him I just had read his article in the newsletter. I explained that I was a Christian and had done some sailing. Yes, Donald exclaimed and a member of the clan! Donald explained that he had a letter of commitment to sign, but I was now welcomed aboard to be part of the crew.

As it turned out I would be the last of the four man American contingent. Donald had a fellow member of his church that was to go - Emmanuel Gorres. Donald had gave a presentation to the Washington DC, St. Andrews Society and two men had stepped forward; Tony Watson and David Levite.

Later That evening my wife asked about the door God had placed in front of me. After I told her about the voyage, she asked are you sure it's from God? Yes, I was!

Within a couple of weeks Donald, Tony, David and myself met for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Woodbridge to discuss the trip. There would be a couple of more meetings to make preparation for our departure.

Donald had been putting the trip together for over a year and had the ground laid on the other side of the pond with more crew members, boat, support and itinerary with local people to met us as we sailed along the coast.

It seemed Donald had thought of everything. His enthusism was contaigous. I had the expectation of an event of a life time. As it would prove to be.

I would be commissioned by my local church and Donald and David participated. When Donald heard the offetory song, he recognized it as the Summons from the Iona Community written by John Bell. The lady who sang it was my wife Sharon.

Six months had flew by from signing up. We would be departing for Ireland to begin this journey of a lifetime.