Sunday, January 25, 2009

Burns Supper 2009


This year is the 250th celebration of the birth of Scotland's National Bard, Robert Burns. Along with countless others, we had a Burns Supper, complete with the Selkirk Grace; the address to the Haggis and many performances of Robert Burns's work. The company was good as was the food; and the whisky and wine flowed freely, with no driving being considered.
Along with the 250th birthday of Robert Burns, Scotland is celebrating Homecoming 2009. Events all over Scotland will highlight Scotlands heritage and it all began with the World Famous Burns Supper. Ours was part of this and we few contributed to the over three and a half thousand registered Burns Suppers held all over the world.



Another memorable event held to celebrate the Bard's 250th birthday was the Auld Lang Syne concert in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. Highlights of this can be found on the BBC Scotland's Celtic connections. I loved Eddi Reader's performance of Willy Stewart. What a wonderful celebration - oh to have been there.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Walking again!

We are enjoying a cup of hot chocolate from our Chocolatiere after an invigorating walk to Newlands Corner and back. Not very warm and pretty soggy underfoot after the storms of yesterday. Lots of small branches have been blown down, and one thin tree covered in ivy had been blown down across the path as we walk up onto the downs at Newlands. But it was great to be out - the first of many walks in 2009, we hope. We passed the bench on the way up Martha's hill, so I will blog it on the Bench Project as no-one has yet, I think! We will have a slice of Pain d'Epice and some delicious Christmas biscuits to accompany the hot chocolate!



Is that the new kitchen or the new chalkboard?
The chalkboard is in the new kitchen, but we have just made it so the chalkboard is new, too! We couldn't find a decent one - they are all very cutesy, so we made one from an unused picture frame. B & Q have chalkboard paint and we painted up some back board from a second broken frame and here it is. Big draw back is the lack of chalk at the moment. Will have to get down to Smiths for some - should really make a note on the chalkboard to remind us!