Another year has passed and again we celebrated the life and the work of the great Scots poet. Last Saturday about 100 Scots and their friends got together for a memorable Robert Burns supper. As always its great to celebrate with my fellow Celts though I hardly understand their language. Our Chieftain, Mrs Alexandra Faulds, presided over the ceremony when she gave the address to the haggis.
The Haggis, neeps and tatties
The Supper
“Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
and dish them out their bill o’fare,
auld Scotland wants nae skinkink ware,
that jaups in luggies: but, if ye wish gratefu’ prayer,
gie her a haggies!”
Thats what Robert Burns wrote.
I do not want to repeat the whole program here, please allow me to draw attention to some selected highlight. As last year, Christ Tait had come as a Robert Burns impersonator and he did a great job. The highlight for me was Julie Mobbs and her presentation of songs of Burns. She has a great voice and sang like an angel. Even for non-Scots the address to a toothache though difficult to understand, was a further delight. Pipe music was provided by the Edinburgh Chevaliers. Interesting speeches entertained the crowd.
Chris Tait as Robert Burns
We drank wine from Argentina and whiskey from Scotland (which made me forget what wine we drank). I would like to end with another quote from Robert Burns:
“Whatever mitigates the woes, or increases the
happiness of others, this is my criterion of goodness;
and whatever injures society at large, or an individual in it,
this is my measure of iniquity.”
Hail the great Poet of the Scots and to another successful, prosperous and happy year.
Congratulations to the Java St Andrew Society, its chieftain and its members for organizing this wonderful evening.
Postscript: When we get home after a Robert Burns Supper, we usually put on the music of Eddie Reader who “Sings the songs of Robert Burns” which is a great collection of marvelous music. I can only recommend it.
The Man from Mosel River 