Just watched it here. It was rather disappointing. It used to be Military bands and skills. This one had a lot of dancing women in bright, non-military attire and modern/pop type music by military bands.
I used to like the Engineers dismantle a tank, build a bridge, carry the tank components over the bridge and reassemble the tank. There was nothing of the sort this time.
What has happened to the Tattoo of old?
Gone woke. Can’t have any reference to military, war or bloodshed anymore-you’ll frighten the children
I feared as much, sad really.
i lived near Edinburgh and one yr went to the tattoo. Sat in staged seating perched up high had a wonderful view! But within half an hour i was as bored as you can get. Saw countless troops march in and out bagpipes shreiking once youv seen one thats enough.Event dragged on too- 3,4 hours memorably grim!
Only event that came close was the Ken Dodd show,that was about 4 hours too! nobody had the guts to tell him to get off
1 Like
I took my Saudi Agent/Partner/Friend there around 1978. He was a general in the Saudi Army, and like most Saudis, dripping in cash.
I had booked us rooms in a top-end Edinburgh hotel as befitting his preferences, and of course he was paying.
Anyway, we arrived at the hotel to find we were double booked and due to the Tattoo nothing else was available except a B&B in Leith.
So off we go in a taxi to meet this delightful boarding house lady, who was not at all fazed by a large Arabian gentleman in a grey winter Dish Dash and despite him not speaking a word of English they seemed to get on extremely well.
I was about to try and book us a Taxi to get to the Tattoo when Abdul Salaam said he’d never been on a bus and could we travel like the locals, so why not? madam of the house gave us directions to the bus stop and off we went.
As is common amongst Saudi men who are friends, they hold hands when walking and as friends, Abdu took my hand as we walked down Leith High Street.
I had a smirk on my face as we faced the inevitable catcalls from those who’s cultural horizons were about as broad as Rab C Nesbiit, and would struggle with the most basic human interactions.
Anyway, we found the bus stop and a bus as well within a few minutes, not being much of a bus user myself I was impressed with the comfort & tidiness of the bus and in no time at all we were at Edinburgh Castle.
Thanks to the Saudi Embassy we had VIP seats and a great view of the event, I have to say it was a pretty amazing experience, the lasting memory is of the Hong Kong police force - quite out of the ordinary.
Next morning after a full Scottish breakfast we did call a cab to the station & whisked back to London 1st class on the train.
My entertainment of choice was/is more Grateful Dead than men in uniform, but I have to say it was a great experience and well worth doing it at least once in a lifetime.
1 Like
I went this year, and it was amazing, the massed pipes and drums was stirring. The swiss drum band was good , but not as good as The Top Secret drums corp. yes they had other countries playing, but add to the diversity of the old commonwealth. And plenty of UK military personnel around along with Redcaps.
Try the Berlin Tatoo:-
Every man and his dog has done a version of Amazing Grace, but no-one nailed it as solidly as Judy.
