Celebrating "The Bard"

    It is Robbie Burns birthday today and last night I attended a Burns Supper at Westview Church. No dram to toast the bard but I indulged when I got home.

   It was an extremely cold, blustery night and a few faces were missing but on the whole a good turnout. The evening began with the haggis being piped in, followed by "The Address to the Haggis"     "Fair fa' your honest, soncy face,
                  Great chieftain o' the puddin' race. (etc.)

 Next was the "Toast to the Haggis" (apple juice I believe, although it should be whisky). Then the great pudding was returned to the kitchen to be prepared for serving.

   The minister led us in the "Selkirk Grace"
                      "Some hae' meat but canna eat and some wad eat that want it.
                       But we hae' meat and we can eat and sae the Lord be thankit."

   The meal followed - roast beef (I brought my own horseradish), haggis, 'neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and potatoes) and peas and gravy. Very satisfying, plus we were invited to fill our plates a second time which many of us did. An apple turnover and shortbread with tea or coffee completed the meal.

   While we digested all that food we were entertained by more pipe music and Highland Dancers. Then it was our turn to strut our stuff - The Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant, and St. Bernard's Waltz. After the big meal, this was just too much for me so I headed home. The snow and wind were becoming worse so I was glad to have left early.

   Today the weather was more of the same but not quite as cold. It actually got up to a balmy -6C by this afternoon! Just my usual Saturday chores, laundry, shopping, errands, but I had to be home by 11:00 a.m. as a bloke was coming to measure my basement floor for a new installation. I also shovelled the driveway but that was fairly light as most of the snow seemed to have been blown away. Now time to light the fire and settle down to a night of TV!