Robert Burns Night 2012

January 29th: Mother Nature was kind to us this year…no snowstorms, temperatures in the high 30’s.   A perfect evening for our Robert Burns Celebration at the Cottage Cafe.  A wonderful turn-out of members...27 gathered together.    Many were handsomely attired in their Scottish finery.
     
Dale Perin, our Master of Ceremonies, started the proceedings wearing a Jimmy Hat and then shared a number of awful jokes, which you couldn’t help laughing at! At the table settings was our program created by Brian Nichols, and a small bag of coal with a Hogmanay Explanation Sheet.  The coal is a traditional offering for the New Year to keep your home fires burning.
      
Our Highland Dancer was Rachel Courville, Lee Gwyn’s niece.  What a lovely presentation she did of the Highland Fling and the Seann Truibhas – a dance created to celebrate England’s repeal of the ban on kilts. Pete Deneen accompanied her on the pipes, then Rachel brought in the Haggis with Pete piping them in. Edward Gardner gave the Toast to the Haggis and we enjoyed a delicious meal.  While we were eating, a number of members came forward and shared readings from Robert Burns.  Dale Perin started it off, followed by Clyde Buchanan, Alan McColl, Brian Nichols and Shirley Perin.
  
Once again, Alan McColl outdid himself with the reading of The Immortal Memory.  He started off his speech by the ringing of a bell, and setting the scene of wives talking around the square over 200 years ago, about this Robbie Burns.  Then he shared some conversations the men folk had in the pub. Alan reported on the visit Robbie made to a mansion as he flirted with the Dame and other women gathered, and shared his poetry to certain beauties he admired. Great job as always!
  
Harry McCandlish Daniels did the Toast to the Lassies, and Glad Remaly did the Reply and Toast to the Laddies.   Pete Dineen delighted us with his expert bagpiping as he played a number of tunes.  Pete has been playing since he was 14 years old. Mel Gee led us in singing Auld Lang Syne before we ended our celebration.  It truly was a congenial gathering of the clans…friends meeting together to laugh and enjoy the festivities.   

Below are some photos.