Today is 25 January

The birthday of Robert Burns

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

This is the birthday of Robert (Rabbie) Burns, Scotland's national bard and one of the greatest poets to ever put quill to paper. His work is celebrated throughout the world, mostly at this time of year. Clubs and associations hold "Burns Suppers" at which his life and works are celebrated with copious amounts of alcohol being used to lubricate the proceedings.

I shall be attending at least two. Is there anyone else going to a supper anywhere in the world?

"But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white--then melts for ever;
Or like the borealis race,
That flit ere you can point their place;
Or like the rainbow's lovely form
Evanishing amid the storm."

(From Tam o'Shanter - A Tale)
Robert Burns 25 January 1759 - 21 July 1796

[balam]

> copious amounts of alcohol being used to lubricate the proceedings.

I thought the lubrication was to get the haggis down!

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

You don't need help with that ... Deeeeeelicious!

[rj87uk]

heh, I have never tried that .. yet.

[engine]

I've never been able to catch a wild Haggis, has anyone had any luck?

[TravelSite]

No - I've never been fast enough to catch one.

I'm not going to a Burns Supper tonight - but might pop down to a local resturant that did an amazing steak with haggis on the top last year (done in a Whisky sauce). Was very tasty - I hope they'll do it again this year. Mmmm...

[rj87uk]

amazing steak with haggis on the top last year (done in a Whisky sauce).

Paul, You mean a micro meal from tesco?

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Come on guys, Burns is about more than haggis. This is what we Scots have had to put up with for many years.

[Mike12345]

Is there anyone else going to a supper anywhere in the world?

Im not, but my boss went to one in York last Saturday with some Scottish friends, a bit early but they couldnt handle it on a week night, apparently.

[edited by: Mike12345 at 2:27 pm (utc) on Jan. 25, 2007]

[engine]

>what we Scots have had to put up with for many years.

That's a heck of a burden, I know. ;)

Happy Birthday Rabbie!

[edited by: engine at 10:54 am (utc) on Jan. 26, 2007]

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Im not, but my boss went to one in York last Saturday with some Scottish friends, a bit early but they couldnt handle it on a week night, apparently.

Almost all Burns Suppers in Scotland are on Friday or Saturday because people tend not to be at their best next day ;)

Actually the Burns season starts mid January and goes through the the end of February. It has to be like this because there are not enough good speakers to go round. The really good ones are often booked up two or three years in advance.

2009 sees the the 250th anniversary of his birth and our Burns club is already well ahead with the planning for the special events that will take place that year.

[TravelSite]

- I'll need to pay a visit to my local Tesco store by the sounds of it :)

Apparently some resturant in Glasgow has created a Haggis Lasagna this year (and a "Burns Cottage" cake to finish with) - not really sure how that would taste though.

I got the chance to visit a few distilleries last year while on a trip to Islay and picked up a wee taste for Scotlands national drink - so I'll be celebrating with a wee dram tonight :)

[jatar_k]

I'm actually related to him, though they say every scot is, hehe

haven't managed to get any haggis for a few years though it takes a lot of beer to get it down, good but a little strange

happy birthday uncle/cousin/whatever (slightly more distant would have to look at the tree again to be exact)

[engine]

In his honour, i'm going to break out the special bottle I keep in a secret location. It's Convalmore Single Malt 1969 (bottled in 1997).

Slàinte mhòr!

[encyclo]

I'm a pure Sassenach, but there is something about Burns night that is special to me: I just love haggis. How you can get such a delicious meal from seemingly, err, unappetizing ingredients is a mystery!

[SuzyUK]

sad to say but we can't catch so many haggis now because they've banned hunting dogs.. even if they hadn't the blighters have evolved so now their shorter legs (their 2 left legs are shorter than their 2 right ones, they run anti-clockwise up hills) have got slightly shorter so they now run even slower, knowing the dogs aren't allowed to catch them and teasing us because we get dizzy if we have to run too fast in an anti-clockwise direction :)

But let's address the haggis for those not at a supper just for fun ;)

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

thankfully yes there is more to Burns than Haggis and perhaps there will be even more next year [news.scotsman.com]

but really Slainte. Here's tae ye

Suzy

[Leosghost]

now because they've banned hunting dogs

only for the unspeakable when they "hunt" the inedible ..
Hunting with dogs isn't banned in the UK for the game you can eat ..grouse ..wild duck etc ..as long as you have to use them to retreive what you if you can shoot straight have hunted ..as opposed to use them to terrorise what would be too rancid with adrenalin to eat ..even if eating it ..or efficient vermin control were ever your intention ..

[SuzyUK]

>>Hunting with dogs isn't banned in the UK for the game you can eat

of course, some would argue that Haggis are inedible hmmm, hence the controversy I suppose...

[martinibuster]

Celtic Connections 2007 [celticconnections.com]- Burns Mela
Future Pilot AKA have curated a unique 'Burns Mela' event for this year's Celtic Connections 2007 festival. The concert will take place at Glasgow's Fruitmarket on Sunday January 28th at 8pm. Artists confirmed to appear include Sheila Chandra, Johnny Kalsi and the Dhol Foundation, Tigerstyle, Dundee's finest Michael Marra, piper Iain MacInnes, early music group Concerto Caledonia and flute/whistle ace Michael McGoldrick with tabla virtuoso Parvinder Bharat...There will also be a Burns reading by legendary Scots novelist/illustrator Alasdair Gray. The ticket price for this evening includes a lavish Burns-inspired buffet, supplied by Harlequin Indian restaurants. Specially prepared dishes include haggis pakora, neeps and tattie samosas and Ayrshire masala

The Scots rock. Wish I could be there.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Yes, Celtic connections is a festival that was started in Glasgow a few years ago. It is becoming very popular and it can now attract top tier acts from around the world. See [celticconnections.com....]

Tonight I am going to my Burns Club Supper. Tomorrow I am suffering!

[TheTraveler]

Here is an event for me:

Whisky Masterclass

Maybe next year, now that I know about it.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Last weekend the Burns Club Burns supper, this weekend the Golf Club Burns supper, two weeks time the Angling Club Burns supper then the Betty Ford clinic. ;)