Seated the hand couldn't wait to delve into the gift package.

No it had been a hard day lots of issues over the past few days.

Was he looking for a knee rug?

Pehaps a silver or pewter mug?

No it was the nights program that was to be the object of interest as searches of the internet had not allayed fears.

The nights program was in full in the centre of the booklet,easy to read in the failing light, after all it was 10.45pm.

The right hand page held the answer.

In small print it listed the finale, the evening Hymn, what was to be played and sung by the performers and capacity audience.

It didnt list the usual "Now is the hour"

Time to sit back relax and enjoy the efforts of the past 12 plus months.

The Royal Edinburgh Militay Tattoo has preforrmed for the past 68 years to capacity crowds from around the world most nights in August on the castle esplanade.

On a few rare occassions it has toured as annually over 30% of the audience travels to see the tattoo at its Spiritual home.

The performers over that years have come from 48 countries with many making a contribution annually. Australia snd The United States are two countries that annually contribute an act and 2018 was no different.

The Tattoo visited New Zealand in 2000 as part of the 50th Anniversary.

In 2005 I was lucky enough to attend in Brisbane Australia and sat in the Royal Gallery.

In 2010 it was granted Royal assent and toured Austalia affording me the opportunity to again attend as a Clan Member,dining with the Announcer,Iain Anderson, being entertained by cast members and yes the Royal rug was given to me.

It returned in 2016 to both Wellington New Zealand & Melboune but somehow they forgot to invite me. So it was pressure on to make up for my first visit to see the tattoo in Edinburgh.

Planning began but the seCuring of accommodation, WASnot easy as other festivals have sprung up to capitalise on the sucess of The Military Tattoo.

Next was the very limited tickets, not just any tickets I needed access to The Royal Box which is extremely limited as naturally Royality then SponsorS have prior access, I also needED a late Saturday night with an extended fireworks display. This limited severly the opportunity well the odds where around 1:100000.

Tickets secured well booked as they had to be personally collected.

Collecting the tickets was more of a dama then puchasing them. I must admit I didnt fully read the instructions.

However I drove into Edinbugh afte passing by the accommodation. The steets were densly covered by people who chose not to use the footpaths but venture onto the oads. There is unfortunately a Finge Festival on at the same time and Fringe best describes the location of many of these peoples bRain matter.

So I was sure the roads were open up until 6pm so it was a case of if you dont walk on the footpath beware Croc Dundee is a coming. So up streets covered in people I proceeded until I was outside the Castle gates. No blood on the vehicle but also no where to park so off to the closed carpaRk. Why you might ask? Well in this day of Green powered brains they simply will do anything to get cars off the road like saying use public transport, no parking (Sydney people do not believe if going to Homebush there are thousands of car spaces) so I assumed Edinburgh was blighted with the same blinkers and yes the (closed) Terrace car park had hundreds of vacant spots as the entrance board indicated.

I left sister to mind the vehicle while I walked up and up to the Castle gate. The sign said collect castle tickets here internat only sales. I asked the man. Not here at a different location by the railway station.

I headed down the otherside of the hill to The Festival Office asked there Hey man we only have fringe tickets, say do you want a draw on my cig? No so where is the tattoo office( its 1 Cockbain St). Reply I dont live here no idea check at our main office. I walked on and found the main office yes wasted time.

Using my past knowledge of Edinbugh streets I did find the office still open 5pm. The Fringe said closed at 4pm.

The lady wanted ID well my Dear how many Aussies have Royal Box tickets. Reply only one, Me well tickets please.

Armed with a receipt (have 3 now?) a presentation wallet, the instructions on dress and timing, ticket lanyards with tickets and two other paper tickets I headed back to the parking station.

A brilliant idea passed by why not walk the drop off spot to check it out. Should be much easier walking then driving,looking and missing misfits walking on the road. Big mistake the Fringe festival had closed off more streets including the shot cut back to the car park. I found three different traffic controllers and asked why? Firstly it was not 6pm their permit closing time and second it was creating mass disruptions as now people mixed even more with vehicles and what was 4 lanes was now one.

Eventually after some discussion they came back with an official answer for me. The reason Sir is OH&S! We can control the masses in one lane only. I walked off why waste my time.

Yesterday the big day arrived and having driven the roads before I duly took on the walkers and won again arriving outside my dinner venue to drop sister and I continued on passing only one car and one Policeman who I stopped and discussed traffic management. He agreed that they should stick to their allocated times and asked how I got where I was easy peasy just drive they get out of the way , he smiled wished me a great Tattoo and wandered off to the shade.

Arriving at The Terrace (closed) carpark I had a brief panic every barrier now had an attendant manning the bariers. Undaunted I drove up, the attendant handed me a ticket said Welcome you can stay for up to 24hrs. So much for being closed.

I walked back using the short cut and was told come back in 2.5hrs! Again OH&S had decided to push everyone into a few blocks.

Well having checked out the scene I siimply walked into an attraction and out the side door into the "sterile area" so much for security.

Eventually after 8pm we were called into the Amber Restuarant for the very best of Scottish foods and drams of Scottish Whiskey.. After dinner mains we were entertained by the Mexican group from the Tattoo.

After dinner an escorted walk pass the masses into The Royal Gallery reception area and a glass of what ever you chose before a lassie took me directly to my seat complete with a knee rug, gift package and a drink.

The actual performance exceeded all expectations as act after act thrilled the audience whether it was a massed marching band display, a folk dance or the precision of both the US National Honor Guard drill team or the Secret Drum Corp of Switzerland. Naturally the role of The Royal Airforce was highlighted in this their 100th year.

The National Anthem was played and sung and naturally every person from the many countries stood no place for leftie kneeing here.

The last post was played by buglers from Amiens the site of the Menin Gate as happens there evey night at 8pm very touching and reinforced that history cannot be rewritten.

The lone bulger played a lament from atop the Castle walls.

Those who follow my blog will recall my visit to Olney and Choral Evensong at the beginning of this leg of the trip. The stage was set they acceeded to my request.

The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo for 2018 broke tradition and the Evening Hymn none other then "Amazing Grace". Who said dreams cant be filled.