Three Burns Celebrations in one week!

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 3rd February 09, 07:19 PM

I was lucky to be able to toast Robert Burns three times on this very special year.

My first toast was at a dinner was with friends at a new local pub on Jan 24th. For the last few years my friends and I have picked a pub in either Brockville or Ottawa, to have dinner, catch up and try our hand at reading some of Rabbie’s works. (kilted of course) It went really well this year, with a near by table asking if they could come join in on the fun. I was having too much fun to take many pictures . The one below is our groups mascot, Gavin, in his kilt with the guest of honour. (My printer ran out of black ink a few years ago when we started this tradition, so the picture of Burns came out a little funny. After looking at it for a few minutes, I decided I liked it’s artsy quality and it has sat on my desk like that since then, except when it is out on a Burns pub crawl.)

The second toast was at a work lunch I organized on Jan 28th. It was the second year for the lunch and this time instead of making Cock-and-Leekie soup, I made Cranachan for my co-workers. I have learned that in an office environment, that if you bring food, people will celebrate anything! Sadly I have no pictures of this ..I keep forgetting my camera.

More to Come....

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 3rd February 09, 07:20 PM

The third toast was at Brockville’s newly resurrected annual Burns Dinner. This use to be a very important event in the towns social calendar. Sadly, the chief organizer passed away a few years ago and we have not had one in many years. In December, I received a call from my best friend saying that his Dad and a committee at the local Legion were poised to bring back the tradition. He asked if I was invited would I come. My answer was an astounding yes!
So without further ado.. pictures!! (But please note that our Legion has really bad lighting!!)

Our place settings included a postcard size version of the Selkirk Grace:

Our piper for the evening:

Before dinner there was a cocktail/ mingling hour that included a Scotch tasting bar…and then the festivities began!

More to come...

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 3rd February 09, 07:21 PM

The Haggis being brought in:

The Ode to the Haggis:

Dinner including haggis:

Then after some bread pudding, this lovely cart came around to bring the toasting drams!

(luckily for me my sister is not a single malt fan!)

More to come....

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 3rd February 09, 07:22 PM

There were toasts To Burns, The Queen and To Comrades Departed

Then there was the toast to the Lassies given by our Mayor:

The response from the Lassies from a member of the Ladies Auxiliary:

An explanation of the migratory patterns of the Haggis :-) :

Our piper played the tune “Irish Guards Welcome to Toronto “ by a local piper whose father fought at the Battle of Vimy Ridge:

Through out the night we were entertained by two performers from our local colleges theatre arts program. They preformed “Coming through the Rye“,” A Man’s a Man for a’ That”, and “My loves is like a Red Red Rose.” They were very good!

They then preformed Highland Cathedral with an intro from our piper:

The night wrapped up with a group sing of “Auld Lang Syne”:

It was my sisters first Burns Dinner and she really enjoyed it. I really liked the large blown up picture of Burns they had hanging over the stage. It gave the appearance that he was up there watching the festivities.

I had a great Burns week ..it’s too bad I have to wait another whole year to do it all over again.
Thanks for looking,
Sara

**McMurdo** · 3rd February 09, 07:33 PM

Sara
Glad you had a good Burns week, sadly I only made it to one Burns Night this year perhaps next year I'll make it to more, of course if you happen to be anywhere near Toronto around Burns night you would be more than welcome at the SOKS Burns Night.

**Sheep In Wolf's Clothing** · 3rd February 09, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by McMurdo

Sara
Glad you had a good Burns week, sadly I only made it to one Burns Night this year perhaps next year I'll make it to more, of course if you happen to be anywhere near Toronto around Burns night you would be more than welcome at the SOKS Burns Night.

Glen,
One celebration is better than none!! There have been none in out little town for a very long time, so my friends and I had to hold our own. But it looks like the Legion one was a success and that they will hold one again next year.
I would love to try to make it to an SOKS Burns night one year. It's looking like I might be in Toronto in August so I might make a kilt night.. I'll keep you informed!!
Sara