thirtyone: burns night

Our friend The Murf is Scottish and very proud of that fact! I wasn’t at Connect Group when it was decided we were having a Burn’s Night party but when Chris told me I danced round the kitchen singing Scotland The Brave.

I was very excited about it. The last Burn’s Night I was at, I was waitressing so I took in the Haggis and handed it over for the address then evacuated quickly to get on with serving the rest of the meal.

This time I was going to enjoy it. I’d already decided that I was going to try the Haggis. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d like it but I knew that if Our Sidekick was with us then Chris would encourage him to try it and so I decided it had to be done. I always cringe at it but have never tried it so sucked it up, refused to be a wee Jessie and gone on with it.

When we arrived we were comparing tartan attire. With all the stuff at work today I’d forgotten all about it. I had thought about wearing my tartan pyjamas but wasn’t sure that it would go down so well. Chris was able to borrow a waistcoat from The Murf and then Murf had some tartan ribbon so I was able to chop off a bit and tie it in my hair. I just wrapped it round my messy bun and tied it in a knot. Our Sidekick told me it should be in a bow – I was about to tie it when he got super excited about tying it for me so I turned round and got him to do it.

When dinner was almost ready The Murf grabbed the haggis and we all sat around the table while The Murf turned up the Scotsman and addressed the Haggis.
Following that The Murf, another girlie from Connect Group (or should that be Lassie!) and I helped to serve – I was given the job of serving the Haggis – I’m sure there’s a better way to do it but I basically spooned out the filling and shared it out lol. We then dished up the neeps and tatties. The Murf was on gravy and haggis sauce duty.

Following mains, us three headed back to the kitchen, those two sorted pudding and I started on the washing up. I’d nearly done all the plans and most of the cutlery – I was on a mission not to leave The Murf with all the washing up to do.

Pudding was Scottish ice cream with shortbread and a salted caramel sauce which was amazing! I could have eaten lots more of that! The sauce looked really easy to make so I’m tempted to try it again.

Following dinner, I read My Luve’s Like A Red Red Rose I decided that if I was going to sing it I needed more practice and to be able to do a good job at it!

We then had the Toast to the Lassies followed by the response. I’m sure there is a specific version to follow but it seems to be where the guy giving the speech voices his opinion about women so it basically turns into a massive diss to the girls in the room. Thankfully our Guy Speaker was then responded to by his Sister so that was good.

Following that we sat and chatted then to finish the evening we sung Auld Lang Syne with lots of extra verses.

Something like…..

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I’ll be mine,
And we’ll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou’d the gowans fine,
But we’ve wander’d monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl’d in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a hand o thine,
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

It was seriously good fun and I think I’m going to mark it my diary for next and ask if we can have another Burn’s Night Party.

I’m pretty much completely English and there doesn’t seem to be any traditions where we celebrate being British or things that we’ve achieved. You’ve got Burns who was a Scottish Poet and St Andrew’s Day. You’ve got St Patrick’s Day for the Irish and St David’s Day for the Welsh. Some of the shops in town close down when it’s Eid because of the percentage of their staff have got religious celebrations. There’s Canada Day, Independence Day and Australia Day if you want a few more.

Maybe we should be having a Shakespeare Party or making more of a deal about St George’s Day. Well either that or I’ll become Scottish or Irish by adoption lol.