Having moved back to Scotland, for the first time in decades I haven’t been invited to do an Immortal Memory anywhere, after delivering it all round the World. That seems ironic. If anyone is short of a speaker, do get in touch via the contact button top right. I do reflect Burns’ bawdy side, so not for the prudish.
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Sounds interesting. I know this is really for Scots and from what I understand your fees are reasonable. How much? That must be the question on every north of the border lips.
Would you come to Birmingham Left Unity? I have to consult first of course.
I have attended exactly one Burns Supper. Oddly enough (or maybe not) in Birmingham. There was a lot of Scotch, and I got a chance to eat some haggis, which I quite enjoyed. Scotch was never my drink, but I had a fair bit anyway. There was a lot of singing and telling of bawdy jokes.
All in all, a good night was had by all. But I suspect that Burns Supper was one of the more well-behaved versions.
Oops, there was poetry too. But at least 90% of it went over my head, because some of those reading (or reciting) had really strong accents! (and Burns is not easy for us outsiders at the best of times … )
Yes Inverclyde are having a Burns Night..Would love to have ya.. And Wild Party Afterward, Time you got to these parts anyhoo.
Will we Need to Know Fees… I hadn’t thought of John’s point regards…
I seen that you met some of the Greenock crew.. at Edinburgh Last time i saw you… They are ok.. And you have me as Body Guard 🙂
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): My Lords, the United States Food and Drug Administration does not allow animal lungs in products for human consumption. My right honourable friend the former Secretary of State Owen Paterson lobbied the US authorities during his visit in the summer, and we continue to encourage them to adjust their ban on haggis containing sheep lungs as part of the wider European Union negotiations on lifting the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy restrictions on EU lamb.
Lord McColl of Dulwich (Con): I thank the noble Lord for his usual courteous and informative reply. Is he aware that the United States Government are depriving 24 million American Scots of this wholesome food, which satisfies hunger very much more than the junk food the Americans consume? It would help to deal with the greatest epidemic they have—the obesity epidemic, which is killing millions, costing billions of dollars, and for which the cure is free. Will the Minister encourage the Government to redouble their efforts to persuade the American Government to have much freer trade and lift the 1971 ban on the wholesome haggis?
Lord De Mauley: Well, my Lords, there is quite a lot in that. Perhaps it would help if I explained that two hurdles are involved in what the noble Lord proposes. We have to get over, first, the US restrictions on the import of lamb. We are working with the US authorities towards achieving approval to lift those restrictions with, I think, good prospects. Secondly, there is the US’s unwillingness to recognise animal lungs as an acceptable foodstuff. In this regard the most promising avenue in the short term is the production of haggis omitting the inclusion of lung—and the Scottish Government recognise this.
Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD): My Lords, I appreciate that not everyone fully understands the haggis. Once for a Burns supper in Germany, Burns’s,
“Great chieftain o’ the puddin-race!”,
was translated into German and then retranslated back as, “Mighty Führer of the sausage people”. Will the Minister make sure that this ridiculous ban comes to an end? If it is not too late, I see that the Prime Minister is with President Obama today, so can my noble friend send an urgent message to make sure that this visit is a triumph by having a private word with the President to make sure that the ban is now lifted?
Lord De Mauley: Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee a rapid resolution of the problem, but I hope I have made clear that we are working extremely hard towards it. Promoting food and drink exports more generally is a key government priority. We are working hard to champion UK food and drink overseas with, I think, considerable success. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is currently in China doing just that.
Lord Winston (Lab): My Lords, I confess to being a little surprised that one of the most senior qualified medical practitioners in the Chamber is asking this Question, seeing that there is a questionable issue about haggis—which I, personally, find a revolting food. Would not charity be better at home? If haggis does indeed deal with obesity, perhaps we should promote it a little in Glasgow.
Lord De Mauley: My Lords, what a good idea. As the noble Lord does not appear to like the taste of the,
“Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race”,
I recommend a large tot of whisky.
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Con): My Lords, given the seriousness of this matter, should the Government not consider appointing a special envoy with energy and imagination to go to the United States and stay there until this matter is resolved? Could I suggest that Alex Salmond is currently looking for work?
Lord De Mauley: My Lords, I was going to say that it is a question of priorities, but that is an eminently sensible suggestion.
Lord Cormack (Con): My Lords, what is served at the British embassy on Burns Night?
Lord De Mauley: What else, my Lords? Haggis.
United States – Haggis Ban
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201415/ldhansrd/text/150115-0001.htm#15011571000300
15.1.15
Little dig at Salmond I note. Forsyth could not resist it.
I don’t charge a fee!
@ Craig “Having moved back to Scotland, for the first time in decades I haven’t been invited to do an Immortal Memory anywhere, after delivering it all round the World.” Perhaps, since you live in Edinburgh, they now consider you part of the English. 🙂
Cheers Craig….
Busy with this…Not fucking Happy… looking to more highland joints.
You are too far away as Stephs birthday is on the 26th. and our 30th. wedding anniversary on the 28th.
Rather than celebrating in the quiet solemn way, we shall have a gathering/demonstration in front of Norwich Forum on the 28th, 10 am tyo 12 noon, with friends, families and past activists being invited.
We have been politically active for over three decades and proportional representation has always featured in our past.
so the days theme is all things proportional, for fair votes, fair wages, fair proportional election coverage, etc. We have some speeches and will go for an orange juice/beer afterwards.
anyone who support PR is invited to join us, we want to show the candidates that it still matters to voters and that we deserve a choice of systems, not a forced ultimatum.
you are, off course very welcome and give us a blast of your best, I can put you up as well should it be required.
Nevermind…. Can you be in Glasgow…. Stillmarillion bash we shall put you up…after a Party..Sorry to be ot
Sorry just seen yir last post..nevermind..always another time.
Hi Craig
Welcome home! Having seen you speak in Ghana, I wish I was in a position to invite you to speak somewhere, but as you have probably figured out by now, there are hundreds of people involved on the Burns scene here (good, bad or indifferent). There are a few good speakers here, but not many. I can empathise, after singing all over the world myself, I can tell you that it’s not easy to find a gig on Burns night in Scotland, no matter how talented you are. We should get together and plan something for 2016 perhaps?
Slainte
Kirsten
I have never been at a Burns night and proper haggis is sparse, but I will get one. Do you soak it in whiskey after you boiled it?…;)
nevermind : “I have never been at a Burns night and proper haggis is sparse, but I will get one. Do you soak it in whiskey after you boiled it?…;)”
You soak it in whisky after you eat it!
A Burns Night is being held by the Scottish Socialists for independence at St Peters Church hall in Partick, Glasgow.
The event will take place on the 24th from 7pm to 10pm
…………………….
Jean Freeman co-founder of Women for Independence will introduce an event in the Ballgreen Hall Strathaven at 7pm Thursday Jan 22nd.
All welcome contact Mairi Tulbure on 07841113924.
…………………………………
Trade Unionists for independence, will hold a rally on Sat 24th Jan from 1pm to 3pm in st Bryce Kirk Kirkcaldy.
Interestingly the event is being held within the “vow makers” constituency (Gordon Brown).
Ironically the venue is where Browns father used to preach, confirmed speakers include Dennis Canavan.
……………………………….
Craig above is a few events you might like attend, and possibly speak.
After all, A man’s a man fir aw that.
Forgot to add this one Craig.
Stirling Women for Independence are having a meeting on Sunday Jan 25th at the Smith Art gallery from 2pm to 4.30pm speakers are Philippa Whiteford and Anne McLaughlan.
contact.
http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/stirling-wfi-meeting-january-tickets-15090840109
Somebody in my local pub educated me today, he said that you have to first catch the three legged Haggis. If its three legged it will run in a circle, that’s a doddle, unless it is really fast.
my question, can you bait it with something? like the lower shin of a lying Westmionster toad?
An excellent Immortal Memory.
http://www.burnsrecitals.co.uk/Immortal%20memory.pdf
Thanks for that RoS, he seems to have been a lively, good humoured sensitive and quiet horny bon viveur. I can drink to that any time.
“I have never been at a Burns night and proper haggis is sparse”
Is it really?
I’ve just done a quick scout and came up with this
http://www.sausages.co.uk/haggis/cooking-and-serving-haggis
It’s Crombies of Edinburgh, but that would be a bit far away for you …
Thanks for that Dreolin, I shall order one now. so much easier than chasing it round the Narfuk countryside.
Now to the piper…..;) would you believe it, our very own pipers for hire.
http://piper2hire.com/
🙂
…so much easier than chasing it round the Narfuk countryside….
They only live on hills – there aren’t any in Norfolk. Due to the three legs, they never meet to breed on flat ground (and are almost impossible to catch)
Burns was a dirty young sod, though a very fine versifier. And distinctly unimpressed by the upper classes.
O’ lordling acquaintance ne’er boast
Or duke that ye dined wi’ yestreen:
A crab louse is still but a crab
Though it crawl on the cunt o’ a queen.
Comfortable Edinburgh Burns Nights in expensive hotels full of businessmen tend not to include that in the entertainment….
Oh well, if nobody else is going to post it . . . . . .
[Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation is a Scottish folk song whose lyrics are taken from an eponymous Robert Burns poem of 1791. It derides those members of the Parliament of Scotland who signed the Act of Union with England in 1707, contrasting their treachery to the country with the tradition of martial valor and resistance commonly associated with such historic figures as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace. It has continued to be associated with Scottish nationalism and also been referenced in other situations where politicians’ actions have gone against popular opinionSuch A Parcel Of Rogues In A Nation (Wikipedia)]
Nevermind Lol…i miss you Two already.
Node thank you for that Brother.. I think its time to post more Poetry on Squonk… now Which one.. i’m a Libran.. Time.
Didn’t Burns work for the British Government? Excise man I believe.
“Didn’t Burns work for the British Government? Excise man I believe.”
Aye, Fred, but he didn’t take himself or his position too seriously. We could all learn from that, eh?
Thanks for the invite Brian, would have loved to experience the the real thing and give us two enough time to sink/drink ourselves under the table…..:) you first…
maybe later this year, a re enactment of Burns night at the DTRH, how does that sound? I’m sure Craig would support it and offer to be master of ceremonies…
So he was an excise man, hmm, that explains his love for wiski, he had plenty at hand
“Aye, Fred, but he didn’t take himself or his position too seriously. We could all learn from that, eh?”
Tae a fart
Oh what a sleekit horrible beastie,
Lurks in yer bellie efter a feastie,
Just as ye sit doon among yer kin
There starts to stir an enormous wind.
The neeps and tatties and mushy peas
Start working like a gentle breeze
But soon the pudding wi’ the sauncie face
Will hae ye blawin’ a’ ower the place
Nae matter whit the hell ye dae
a’body’s gonnae hae tae pay
Even if ye try tae stifle
it’s like a bullet oot a rifle
Hawd yer bum ticht tae the chair
Tae try tae stop the leakin’ air
Shift yersel fae cheek tae cheek
Pray tae god it disnae reek
But a’ the efforts go asunder
Oot it comes like a clap o’ thunder
Ricochets arrond the room
Michty me! a sonic boom
God almighty it fairly reeks
A’ hope a’ huvnae shit ma breeks
Tae the bog a’ better scurry
Whit the hell, it’s no ma worry
A’body roon aboot me choakin’
One or two are nearly boakin’
I’ll feel better for a while
Cannae help but raise a smile
It wis him! I shout and glower
Alas too late, he’s just keeled ower
Ye dirty bugger! They shout and stare
I’m no that welcome any mair
Where e’re ye go let yer wind gang free
That sounds jist the joab fir me
Whit a fuss at Rabbie’s party
Ower the sake o’ one wee farty.