meeting by the fountain

I was in Dumfries today to do a few tasks and I met a lot of people! Just as well I wasn't in a rush as everyone seemed keen to talk. Not just the friends I bumped into, but also the people who served me in the shops and in the bank. I went to get some $ for our forthcoming trip and the lady there asked all about Ethiopia and Facing Africa and what's more, she knew about my Facebook page "Humans of Dumfries and Galloway" and reeled off the names of some of the folk I'd photographed for it. Small town...

At the fountain I met these three men. Uma, on the left, is from Allanton World Peace Sanctuary at Allanton and I know him well. I also recognised the man in the yellow t-shirt as i have met him several times before. He is a virtuoso violinist, who plays as Solo Concertmaster for the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Tonight he is playing a concert at Gatehouse-on Fleet and tomorrow there will be another performance at Allanton.

The young man on the right is Takahiro Gorai, a student from Vienna who has come to play violin alongside Mr Kino.

If you cannot see him in person, have a look here. His violin was made in 1776 by Lorenzo Storioni.