Brilliant Burns Night

We had such a great Burns Night this evening in the hostel at Newtonmore. Everyone had been walking in the area during the day so we all had quite an appetite. This was just as well because it was a very hearty Burns’ supper. We started with Bob’s famous Scotch Broth which was almost a meal in itself, then moved on to haggis, neeps and tatties with whisky sauce (provided by me but I got lots of help with the preparation and serving out). Finally Christine gave us a delicious lemon cheesecake and a cheeseboard. Wine and whisky flowed freely.
Although we didn’t followed the full format of a Burns’ Supper, Bob said the Selkirk Grace and Justin addressed the haggis complete with the appropriate dramatic gestures. They were both very good. After the main course I recited an adapted version of Tam O’Shanter which we used to use at one of my old schools. It involves audience participation and seemed to go down very well. Christine recited John Anderson my Jo very beautifully.
Replete, we cleared up and then relaxed. Many hands make light work as they say, and the dishes were quickly washed and put away. Gerry produced his guitar and we sang a selection of Burns’ songs using the song booklets that he had thoughtfully brought. I am a terrible singer but that didn’t hold me back and we all joined in and it was great fun. Justin and Willie also took turns of Gerry’s guitar and, branching out from our Burns theme, we sang House of the Rising Sun. By this time I was exhausted. Christine, Heidi and I had walked from Newtonmore to Kingussie today by a circuitous 11 km route via Loch Goykel. It was remarkably warm for the end of January and we saw some fantastic views of moor and mountains. As we passed the Loch we saw a remarkable bank of huge moss covered boulders among the trees, and many of the trees were covered in pale green lichen which looked as if they had been swathed in lace. It was an excellent walk but as 11 p.m. approached I was ready for my bed. So I said my good nights and headed across the road to the Glen Hotel. My dear husband joined me an hour later in what could be described as an extremely jolly state.