Tome Thursday: Clanlands

 

Hello everyone!

 

So before I bid adieu to Scotland entirely for some time (because naturally I could never do it forever!) I wanted to touch base with a book that I think might be one of the funniest I've read in a while.

 

And also educational considering it teaches you a lot of useful little tidbits about the country, too.

 

Plus, I mean, it's written by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish. Need I say more?

 

If you thought Men in Kilts was something to laugh at and something to enjoy, you're going to LOVE this adventure into writing that the two of them went through together, because there is nothing funnier than reading about the by-play these two men have with one another just on a general kind of basis, not even on screen.

 

Yes, the show was scripted and filmed, and you learn more about that in this particular book, but we all knew that! It's no secret.

 

The secret is how these two didn't end up mortal enemies, or more specifically, how Graham didn't murder Sam along the way.

 

So kilt up one more time - a quick look at Clanlands is up next.

 

Men in Kilts: Battle of Culloden

 

"Oh sons of dogs, oh dogs of the breed,

Come, come here, on flesh to feed!"

 

Hello everyone!

 

And that's a wrap. 

 

We made it all the way through what is hopefully only season ONE of this show, because I'm pretty sure that every single one of us would love nothing more than to watch McTavish and Heughan traipse across some sort of landscape and give us the details as they go along.

 

I've seen commentary online that they could be giving a guided tour of the local Target or Tesco and people would still watch.

 

I mean, same, I totally would too!

 

All signs seem to point to a season two based on social media posts, but alas, for the time being, there hasn't really been any news of it, so we bid adieu to our two Scots who've done all the roadtripping.

 

And so, for one last time, it's hold on to your kilts, everybody.

The finale to Men in Kilts is up next.

Men in Kilts: Clans & Tartans

 

"Here's to long memories and friendship."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Despite the fact that the finale of Men of Kilts aired over this weekend, I'm an episode behind with it all because I took a bit of a break in between, which means that this week and the next will still be Scottish-coloured on the blog.

 

But when has that ever been a bad thing, am I right?

 

Our two favourite Scotsmen get themselves into even more trouble and hilarious situations just by existing, and it's one of those things that you really need to watch for yourself to believe. 

 

I mean, sure it's for the show and most of it is scripted, but these two manage to make it look as natural as it comes, which certainly amps up the appeal if you ask me.

 

I do, however, digress.

 

Right before the finale, we dived in to have a better look at just what even started this desire to learn more about Scotland and its history - the clans.

 

Clans & Tartans is up for debate next.

 

Men in Kilts: Scotland By Land, Air, and Sea

 

"What can go wrong?"

 

Hello everyone!

 

Our two Scotsmen return this week to take a bit of an additional trip across their homeland because, well, that's just the title of the episode.

 

And also because they love traipsing about.

 

Honestly though, even if this show were eight hours of Sam and Graham sitting in the camper van driving across the country, with the camera on their faces from the dashboard, I would've watched it, because that alone is priceless.

 

If you haven't heard Graham do a deep south fake American accent, now's your chance.

 

For one night, and one night only! LOL

 

But that aside, the lads do in fact show us some more beauty that is Scotland, and it's absolutely lovely to watch on screen, especially right now when travel is inhibited, if not forbidden.

 

Men in Kilts by Land, Air, and Sea, here we go!

 

Men in Kilts: Culture and Tradition

 

"There's nothing more traditional than a well-dressed Scotsman."

 

Hello everyone!

 

We return to our regularly scheduled programming ... even if we're now one episode behind the actual release dates, but no matter!

We shall persevere and continue on through our trek across Scotland.

Our two favourite Scots returned to their journeying this weekend with a new episode, but because I took a bit of a two-week break to watch some movies and review them on here, I'm still only on episode five of the show instead of six.

Ah well!

This just means that I'll be a week late in wrapping up the reviews, but that's okay.

When it's a good thing, it's definitely a good thing.

So without further ado and more lollygagging from me, here's Men in Kilts, a very traditional episode titled - you guessed it - Culture and Tradition.

Men in Kilts: Witchcraft & Superstition

 

"Ghosts and ghouls."

 

Hello everyone!

 

So we're about halfway through this season of Men in Kilts, and I have to say, you have to be tone deaf not to be enjoying this show immensely.

 

Sam and Graham take us through various aspects of Scotland (and then some!) not to mention the callbacks to Outlander are by far incredibly numerous. And on top of that, the guys are just hysterical most of the time.

 

By this point we've rolled up to what Claire experienced upon her second honeymoon with Frank back in the day, which is that the people of Scotland are as superstitious as they come.

 

Probably more so.

 

Given the fact that three quarters of their lives are spent in the bog and fog, or were at least, I'd say it's a fairly accurate description.

 

Without further ado, let's have a look at Witchcraft & Superstition in Scotland - and don't worry, we aren't getting burned at the stake.

 

Men in Kilts: Song and Dance

 

"Bagpipes."

 

Hello everyone!

 

You know, if you haven't figured out by now that this show is prime time entertainment on Sunday nights, you're missing out.

Because there's just something about Scotland that people have fallen in love with through Outlander, but more importantly, our two favourite Scots are basically having the time of their lives in Men in Kilts.

 

And it sure as heck shows!

 

I mean, we've covered food, drink, and sports thus far, which has resulted in some questionable bets and decisions (though to be fair I hear no one complaining about the skinny dipping last episode), and we keep on going.

 

Since we can't toss the boys into barley anymore and they can't toss around logs for fun, it's time to toss some swords on the ground for them.

 

Because if there's anything the Scots know how to do, and do well, it's connected to song and dance.

 

As you do. 

Men in Kilts: Scottish Sport

 

"Skinny-dipping."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Sadly this week the blog post will be a little bit shorter as I've been dealing with the plague on human kind - and not COVID either, but taxes.

 

Adulting is one of those things you wish you didn't have to do once you actually become an adult, heh.

 

Other than that, however, we are once again blessed with some good old fashioned shot of testosterone, which would never be more imminently evident than in sports, because where else do men EVER want to clobber one another over the heads and be better than their opponent?

 

Sam and Graham didn't escape this vice either, and I think they enjoyed it much more than most.

 

Then again, they'd done it before on Outlander already, if you recall that episode in season one during which they go toe-to-toe in a hair-raising game of what looks to be a rather 18th century version of a mix between lacrosse and field hockey.

 

But I digress!

 

We return to our Men in Kilts.

 

Men in Kilts: Food & Drink

 

"Scotland."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Or should I say slainte?  

 

Either way, welcome to what is bound to be a real Scottish extravaganza in terms of both learning anything and everything about Scotland - the beautiful country many of us have fallen in love with through watching Outlander - and just trying to follow along with two men on a roadtrip.

 

That's right, lads and lassies, the full title of this show includes a subtitle which I didn't include in the opening sequence, as it would just be too long.

 

But I mean, our two hosts need virtually no presentation. Both of them have made lasting impressions on the previously-mentioned time-travelling show, and now both of them have decided they needed to spend MORE time together, showing us just how giggle-inducing that can be.

 

And I'm telling you - the giggles are real.

 

So is this show though. Men in Kilts: A Roadtrip with Sam and Graham, follows the break in the text just here. Enjoy!

Outlander: The Ballad of Roger Mac

"There is the law - and there is what is done."

Hello everyone!

Well, we're now halfway, or even more than halfway through the Outlander season, and we FINALLY got to see the big season battle, or at least one of them. I don't really remember just how it went in the books, but I think nothing that big happens again until later on in the story, though I could be wrong of course.

I'm only now re-reading The Fiery Cross so it's safe to say that the finer details escape me.

The thing is a behemoth! I honestly don't remember ALL of it.

That said, it was probably the best episode of the season, and I'm not exaggerating. If you look across the internet, fans are pretty much in agreement about that one. Season five has been pretty good throughout, but at the end of the day it's the great episodes which make the show fantastic.

It probably doesn't hurt that both Heughan and Balfe helped produce the second half of the season.

You can tell that the chemistry suddenly just clicks back on screen like someone flipped a switch, but enough about me blathering on and on. Let's dive right in, shall we?

The Ballad of Roger Mac awaits.

Saturday Snippet: Dougal

Because everyone needs a little Dougal in their lives!

xx

*image not mine