I don’t like tattoo’s; but I do have one!
It’s kind of small,
no bigger than a pinhead : it’s just a little black dot,
in the middle of my chest
⚫️
⚫️
and a lot smaller than that one too
“What on earth is this bloke blathering on about now”; you are probably wondering, and, if you’re not, you jolly well you should be!
Tattoo’s of course.
And not any old tattoo, no indeed.
The Tattoo
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
I haven’t watched The Tattoo for some time, probably many years, truth be told.
For reasons unknown, it never seems to be shown/broadcast in ‘Prime Time’ here, usually it’s quite late, and I can’t be bothered, to tell the truth, to stay up late, with all the garbage that precedes it, and then sit, spellbound, for the couple of hours it’s on, before piling into bed.
Well it makes sense to me!
However, a week or so back on the BBC Channel, they decided to re-run the 2018, Edinburgh Military Tattoo, at, what under the circumstances was, a reasonable hour; for me at any rate, 21.00 , (9.00pm for PiedType).
So I switched the TV back on, it had been off, as this time of year there’s more rubbish than usual; ‘Non-rating Period” I believe it’s termed, but I’d scanned through the nights programs, after watching a bit of the “News”, and saw it listed and, being a rather unpleasant sort of evening, “stinking hot”, I believe was the term used by YKW, and tuned into watch.
In the past I usually found it exciting, the various manoeuvres, performed by the men of the British armed forces. I especially enjoyed the marching.
So with a skirl of fifes & drums here for you are some thoughts on:
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2018
It started off well enough, the massed bands from around the world, marching in, the magnificent precision of all the bands both military and civil was a joy to watch,
And the Drum Major leading the way!
A few minutes of intricate marching and playing by the massed bands, I noticed that now there are several female, Asian and African pipers now, the last time I watched a ‘Tattoo’ it was an all male affair.
Times change!
I recall during previous ‘Tattoo’s’, we would thrill to action, such as a group of soldiers or sailors, would come storming onto the parade ground, towing perhaps a 6 pounder canon, which they’d strip down, pick up the pieces, run with them to the other end of the arena, put it back together and fire it!
I recall, once, they actually drove a Jeep on, stripped it bare, into bits, shoved it all back together again, and drove off, All in a matter of a few minutes.
Exciting? Bet your boots it was.
But what’s this?
Schoolgirls, playing hopscotch? Or something in amongst the bandsmen, and women? Now men and women, doing some sort of peasant dance, from Hungary or Poland or somewhere.
Now little African children, from Malawi, in ‘play school’ !
What’s going on?
This is a MILITARY TATTOO I have no problem with folk dancing, or African children dancing, and playing, but at what is purported to be a military event?
Are they kidding?
Obviously not.
Now what? Okay, it’s a military band and obviously it’s an American Military Band, I’d know that, even without sound, it’s by the way our American cousins march, it’s always, I must admit amused me. And I suppose I better tell you why.
If you’ve ever watched the individual ways nations have of parading their troops, you’ll recall the ‘Goose stepping’ of the Germans. Vast hordes of troops, row upon row, stomping along, a picture of aggression,
The Russians. The North Koreans, and the Chinese, have adapted the ‘Goose Step’ to their own system. No doubt with the design to instil dread, into any potential foe.
But our Yankee chums don’t march like that, they have a unique way of marching, I quite honestly, expect them, to break into a ‘soft shoe shuffle’ at any time. Their steps seem quite short, and kind of stiff.
They swing their arms, sort of, perhaps not quite waist high, and they always seem to have their chins tucked in, perhaps to show quiet determination, I really can’t say.
Perhaps it’s to do, the very opposite, of what the English do!
I love the US Military bands, I always wait for them to break out, and start swinging along,
Like they do in the movies, and then the troops start swinging along too. But they never do 😦
When it comes to marching however, I think that the British win hands down! And this was obvious, in the marching of the troops, at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
If you doubt me take a look up at that Drum Major, who led the parade this year.
Note the defiant way his chin juts out, how his arm is fully extended to shoulder height, and the shoulders pulled back, chest out, full of pride, the thumbs pointed forward and down. You can’t see his feet but they are thrust out too, this soldier is full of determination, purpose. And it shows That’s the way to march!
Magnificent!
And this is the way, that all troops, throughout what was once the British Empire, march, and are taught to march. The Indians, on the sub continent, some African nations, that were once part of the Empire, Australia New Zealand and possibly Canada still march in the British way.
I must admit that here, in Australia, our troops are getting too casual now, they don’t seem to have that same pride that we once had, they do not know what they are missing!
I didn’t stay to the finish, I missed what I always considered the best part, thanks to YouTube I got to see that later, and here’s a link,
it’s not the best there are many others but it is the shortest,
LordBeariOfBow 
A bit of tartan and bagpipes – bliss, I say.
Ira
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Nothing like the fifes & drums to stir the spirit even of an Englishman.
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It is indeed Ira, gets the old blood a swirling through the body!
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Magnificent! Bagpipes always give me goosebumps. I don’t know why, but they do. As for marching styles, I guess ours is more about precision than show. It’s very impressive in its own way.
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I think all forms of marching are about precision, it’s timing and keeping instep moving as one, I’m thinking more of the style of movement and what it implies.
Who doesn’t love the bagpipes
Well those who’ve come up against the Black Watch in battle for starters, a more fearsome army is hard to imagine, probably the best out of all the British and they do like having their piper leading the way
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I went to see the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 1972.
This is where the British learnt to march…
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I’m not sure whether you are agreeing with me or what, the leader of the scouts is not swinging his right arm high enough, but they are very smart , some of them. Thanks for the pic.
When you saw the Tattoo it would have been more along the lines I described I’d think .
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I recall that it was very traditional, just as you described it…
https://aipetcher.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/scrap-book-project-the-edinburgh-military-tattoo/
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I enjoyed your story Andrew. I once had a similar experience, I pleaded illness (more like boredom) and came home early.
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A week is a long time when you realise on day 1 that you have made a mistake!
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Absolutely it is!
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Ever since my dad introduced me to military marching bands on our first TV I’ve loved them. I watched the Tattoo and agree with you completely, it is not what it used to be.
It’s widely known that Britain has the best military. We can’t hide from those facts, Sloppiness is simply not tolerated, so I might as well shout about it.
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Well you go girl! 😈
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Wonderful! And I learned some things I did not know!
I have always enjoyed military bands…bands of any kind that march…and bagpipe music is so beautiful to me and bring tears to my eyes. (Oh, and men in kilts! Yes! 😉 )
Thank you for sharing this and especially the vid, Lord 🐻 iOfBow! 🙂
HUGS!!!
🙂
PS…How is Coco doing?!
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And thank you for commenting diem3 😛 🐻 I’m happy you learned somethings , but I don’t know what 😊😅 ; talking of kilts, I do believe, that I once left a naughty comment / joke on a lady’s post. (I think it may have been philosophermouses page); about a Scot and his kilt. 😜😇
Something to do with what they do and don’t wear beneath them 😊 😅
My Coco 🐶🐾 is getting very old, very quickly,🐶😩😞 and is feeling the dreadful heat that we are experiencing at the moment, as am I and I don’t have to wear a fur coat, , he loves being outdoors but not in this heat, and this year I do believe that he appreciates the a/c going full blast 😁 🐶🐾 🐻😅🍻
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HA! You leaving a naughty comment! 😮 😅 😁 Way to go! Yes, I think about what they do or don’t wear beneath their kilts! 🙂
⭐ 😁 😀 🐶🐾 😎 🐻 😛
Aw, poor Coco! 😦 😩😞 Yes, the heat is hard on our furry-ones. 😦 Cooper dislikes the heat more every year, too.
Well, keep cool and help Coco to keep cool and safe! 🙂
HUGS and PATS!!!
🙂
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You were a bit mean with your smileys with this one Carolyn 😩😞😖😠
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Not mean. Just lacking in smileys yesterday. 😦
😜 
😇 😊 😀 😅 🐻 😈 🙂
Hope these make up for it…
🙂 😛
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they’ll do 🐻
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Like you, I used to watch that wonderful tattoo religiously! (Closest I get to religion, anyhow.) It has lost its old attraction, maybe I am the one who has changed?
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And here I was thinking that you were all set for a nunnery;
I’m glad that I’m not losing all my marbles.
Seems the general consensus is in line with my thoughts, for once; so no, you haven’t changed. you’re just as mean as ever.
By the bye did you get to see the comment I added on your last post on the Canadians list ?
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No, I’ll rush/amble/trudge right over, M’Lord.
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This is so cool! My neighbor must be on the same wave length as he was out playing his bagpipes a little bit ago. Molly seems to love that sound and never barks like she does at all the other stuff going on.
The high schools here used to be quite serious about military marching drills at halftime. My dad’s school had a girl’s drill team called the Brigade that played bagpipes – a couple of the private schools still do – some have been invited to competed in Scotland. We wore very British riding skirts and red riding coats with black hats – marched and played instruments – much more intricate patterns and complicated that the school band which marched before games. Now it is all different – the kids dance, hop, and jazz slouch – more hip hop – good in its’ own way, I guess. Sad to see the real military style lost.
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I don’t think that the young people today know or care for what they’ve missed out on, it all go back to discipline as a child I think, where we learned to respect age and tradition, today’s young seem only in their goddamned mobile/cell phones which they never stopped tapping away on all the while listening to what is supposed to be music, emanation from those machines with leads running from the thing to their ears. They become so trapped that they lose all manners.
Somehow I don’t think the children of today are going to be left with a better world, which is ridiculous when you consider the advances made to secure their health and welfare.
Mobile phones are the curse of the world IMNSHO
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Oh and by the way I’m glad you enjoyed the fifes and that they brought back happy memories 😀
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Kind regards to Coco! I loved this post, even though you talked down a bit on our USofA marching styles. Precision marching bands and bagpipes always astonish me with their beauty. Thanks for a great read! Smudge sends kind regards, as well. 🙂
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It wasn’t talking you down, The English are continually put down by our nieces and nephews across the pond, which is obvious to blind Freddie and his dog.
We accept it and shrugged it off, but then we are renowned or our thick skins, something we’ve managed to acquire over the centuries.
My Coco is getting old, very quickly, now and though he still loves to go to his park is happy to come home, rest and survey all his kingdom. Tell Smudge, another Smudge from long ago says hello and thank you.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, it does seem to have been well received; which is very heartening for a grumpy old man. 🙂
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You wouldn’t want to put your hard-earned reputation at risk….😊
Smudge sends his most honorable regards, too. 😻
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Wasn’t earned; it was won in the Lottery :twisted; 🐻
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