Soup & Sweet Anyone?

As a West of Scotland lad I can't wait to get up to Speyside, not for the walking, as I'm 'helping' on this one, but for the fantastic hospitality they afford everyone.

As I write we have 489 walkers registered for Speyside, which is fantastic. However as Kiltwalk fever grips Speyside it's not just the number of people taking part that's astonishing, it's the way the entire Speyside community has taken fund raising for The Kiltwalk and our Partner Charities to heart.

An example of this was the "Soup & Sweet" event organised by twelve of the girls from the area who are also taking part in the event. Not happy with simply raising money from walking the 26 miles, they decided to add to what will be a fantastic amount by having a "Kiltwalk Soup & Sweet".

I do wish I would stop typing that as my stomach is rumbling at the thought of Soup & Sweet!!

I was talking to Jim Hart, the Speyside Kiltwalk organizer, about how it all went and he was telling me that Soup & Sweets, are actually a common way of fundraising in Speyside, where the fundraisers make various soups, they had four on the day, along with sweets and puddings. Jim told me there were easily two dozen varieties of chocolate cakes, gateaux, sponges, meringues on trifles on offer.

In addition, to the cakes baked for consumption, they baked all the cakes, scones, cookies which were sold for fundraising along with great raffle prizes and tombola.

Jim mentioned that he would need to put in a "few extra miles" this week as he had tried them ALL and they were truly superb, however in the next breath he went on to mention that during the course of the week he had meetings with the Aberlour fiddlers the pipe band and was then off to see the grandchildren for a few days, who he had roped into making the tablet which you should find en-route at Pit-stop #3.

I don't think Jim has realised it, but all that effort and nervous energy will have burned off the calories he had consumed. No rest for the wicked, eh Jim.

Anyway getting back to the Soup & Sweet, Jim said the girls had "timed" the event to perfection as they had "managed" to catch many of the local Kirk goers as they made their way from the church service direct to the Soup & Sweet. This meant that when Jim arrived, the tables were full and he had to wait for some cake!!

I did have a laugh to myself as I think our Kiltwalk ladies knew exactly what they were doing with their 'timing' and Jim, well I'm sure he'll learn from his mistake next time.

Talking of next time, the ladies of Craigellachie have organised a coffee morning next Saturday, 28th April from 10:00 - 12:00 which is another fantastic example of the community and team focus that's happening up at Speyside and I look forward to meeting you all.

Just one question, any cakes going?

You can support The Kiltwalk NOW!! Text KILT00 £2 to 70070

or by donating at http://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/main/events-and-fundraising/donate-now.html