Burns Night

Saturday 28th January saw us dressed in our finest Scottish outfits and joining forces with some friends from Waterlooville Area Twinning Association for a Burns Night.

The temperature outside was extremely cold so the glass or two of hot punch that we received on arrival was very welcome.

We tried to follow a traditional evening with a toast to the man himself and then the entry of, and toast to the haggis. We were fortunate to have Dick in his formal Highland dress accompanied by Caroline, a friend of Margaret Cavey, on the bagpipes. To me this little bit of tradition made the evening, and Dick's address to the haggis left us all wondering if we would ever understand anyone if we went to Scotland.

The evening continued with a traditional meal of leek and potato soup, haggis warm reeking, rich wi' champit tatties bashed neeps an bree (haggis, mashed potatoes and swede to us southerners) and sherry trifle.

We then moved on with Jane Rice-Oxley leading us through some traditional Scottish dancing. I think by the end our endeavours to "Strip the Willow" left us all exhausted. The evening ended with everyone forming a large circle and singing Auld Lang Syne.

The joint evening proved to be a great success and our thanks are due to all those who helped from both organisations. In particular those who planned the evening, prepared the punch, cooked items at home, decorated the hall, served the meals, gave the speeches, led the dancing and of course played the bagpipes. (Here I should mention that Caroline gave her services on the bagpipes free and our raffle raised £105 which has been donated to her charity, the Samaritans). I think our biggest thanks must go to the ladies from St. George's (Anna, Debbie and Dawn) who slaved away all evening in the kitchen. Without their hard work the evening would not have been possible.

The messages I have received have said that everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and, by popular request, the hall has already been booked for a repeat performance on 27th January 2007.

Colin Monk