Once a year, Scots celebrate the life of Scottish poet, Robbie Burns,
who was born in 1759. He wrote romantic poetry and is the author of the song, “Auld
Lang Syne”. Burn’s day is January 25th,
but on the 23rd, Jim’s school held a Burns’ supper. We had decided
to go earlier, and then at the start of the week, Cara was asked to
participate. She got to be the Poosie Nancie!
She wore a white bonnet and apron
over her tartan dress and carried in the haggis, following along behind the
piper. Let me tell you, the haggis was HUGE! It was on a big silver platter
that they had been warming in the oven and fortunately had mashed tatties
(potatoes) around the edges of the tray so the haggis didn’t slip off.
The home EC class at Kirkcaldy high school was in charge of the food
and did a wonderful job. One of the teachers gave the address to the haggis and
several older students sat at the head table and read poems and told about Robbie
Burns. There was more piping and a chorus who sang traditional songs. We
thoroughly enjoyed the evening, and yes, Jim & I like haggis (and both the
kids tried it again!)
Saturday brought another Burns’ celebration, this time hosted by the
Scottish Teachers Exchange Club. The Scotland exchange teachers are very
fortunate that there is such a strong group to welcome us and who hold almost
monthly events in different parts of the country in order to share more of
their culture with us. They are all previous exchange teachers to either the
US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, so they know what the experience is
like.
The dinner was held just down the road at Gillian’s house. We had a
houseful of teachers from the US, Canada and newly arrived Australians with
their families. We enjoyed a meal of haggis, neeps, and tatties and lots of
talking to others about their experiences so far. After dinner, we had a time
to do some of the traditional Burns day activities, and Jim was nice enough to
give the Toast to the Lassies. We fortunately had a previous toast to work from
as well as adding our own twist to it, as you can see here:
Toast to the
Lassies 2013
Once more the
time of year returns
For us to
honour Robert Burns
The ploughman
lad who wrote in verse,
Which now folk round
the world rehearse.
Our honoured
Bard, if he were here
Would
be two hundred and fifty-four this year.
What
would he make of modern days,
And
all our energy-consuming ways,
Folk
travelling round the world in planes
And
cars and powered ships and trains?
His
Scotia now an oil-rich land
(The
money nicked by Eng-er-land).
Of
Canada he might have heard,
But not as we now know the word.
And he was a youth of seventeenBefore the USA was seen.
And he was a youth of seventeenBefore the USA was seen.
As
for Australia, Captain Cook
Had
still not even been to look!
And
crossing the wide Tasman o’er
Maoris
still ruled Aotearoa.
The
British Empire’s come and gone.
From
it the Commonwealth was born.
And
thanks to it, we here are gathered,
The
children Empire’s links have fathered.
But
what would Robbie make of CFE
I
dinnae ken, don’t ask me
A
school inspection from HMI
I
just wish they’d pass me by
No
matter. Robbie would approve
Of
every year a treasure trove
Of
new exchangees, mostly women.
He’d
think he’d died and gone to heaven!
For
each lass he met became his own -
He
didnae lack testosterone!
With
fifteen bairns from several women -
No
wonder he died at 37!
This
New Year has brought us plenty:
Today
we number over twenty.
Now
filled with haggis, neeps and tatties
Let’s turn
attention to our lassies.
First let us
head our shores beyond
To greet those
from across the Pond.
Our North
American seasoned vets
Who’ve seen how
cold our winter gets!
First up – a group of Yanks
Leaving behind huge petrol
tanks
From sea to shining sea they
arrive
Where on the other side they
drive
We have Stacy, Christy,
Nicole and Niki
Teaching the ABC’s is tricky
All day the kids they want
to blether
O’re here in the land of
Heather
Australians
- now then, where to start?
They really are a race apart!
Condemned to living upside-down
Their body-clocks turned all around
Amanda, Lyn, Anne-Marie and
Jenni
We’re fortunate to have so many
Escaping Oz’s summer heat
You’ll find some cool upon Arthur’s Seat
Now Tracey’s from the Great White North
Transitioning to the Firth of Forth
From the rainy city the weather’s unique
But in Scotland it’s just dreich
She shops at Tesco after five
It’s the only place in Alloa that’s still alive.
It’s fab to have her here today
Don’t you think so, eh?
Tis another group we have to shout
To our wee bonnie lassies running bout
Things will be different over here
But they’ll easily adapt never fear
And now to home
of Irn Bru,
We have Trisha,
Joyce, and Tracy too,
With Angela present
to complete my summing,
Plus any others
I didn’t know were coming!
But Gillian is
not forgotten
To do so would
be simply rotten!
She merits
thanks and praise the most
Our generous
and gracious host.
So,
Today we stand, here in praise,
So join me lads, let your voices raise.
Prepare to toast, fill up your glasses,
Join me now, to our bonnie lasses.
To the Lasses.
Today we stand, here in praise,
So join me lads, let your voices raise.
Prepare to toast, fill up your glasses,
Join me now, to our bonnie lasses.
To the Lasses.
To top off our afternoon of festivities, we had our own Highland Games!
This included tug of war, a relay race, a caber toss, and and Irn Bru slide!
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| Carter tossing the caber! |
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| Throw it, Cara! |
