Oh it's been a bit of a while since we've had a wee gathering of the clans! And so all are invited to our online 'Robert Burns Night' as we celebrate not only the birthday of Scotland's favourite son, but the Scottish heritage of this community! So put on your tartan, make sure you have a cuppa and some shortbread and, of course, a wee dram of your favourite scotch (whisky will do!) as we raise a toast while enjoying music from some of the Glen's finest, some of 'Robbie's' poetry, some Scottish trivia, and a few (clean if we can find them!) Scottish jokes! Admission is free but donations will be gratefully accepted by John Graham via e-transfer at jdgraham1215@rogers.com with a note saying it's for this event. Cheques will also be accepted by making them out and sending to Glen Morris United Church, 453 East River Road, Glen Morris ON, N0B 1W0.
Join us online here at 7:00pm for all the festivities!
And just in case you've never made traditional Scottish shortbread, check out this wonderful recipe here. If you want to know how to make the perfect cuppa, check out these instructions from the Edinburgh Tea Company here.
And to get you in the mood, enjoy this video of one of Scotland's loveliest songstresses, Eddi Reader, as she dedicates Robert Burn's words 'Aye Fond Kiss' to his 'Nancy.' The poet penned it on December 27, 1791, when 'Nancy' was about to depart for Jamaica to attempt a reconciliation with her husband, James. The song expresses Burns’s despair at the end of their relationship. They had first met four years earlier in Edinburgh when Burns was unmarried. The couple exchanged a series of love letters using the pseudonyms Sylvander and Clarinda. It was a delicate situation given that Nancy was a married woman, and the relationship remained a platonic one. Written by Burns in Dumfries, the letter, now held by the National Library of Scotland, informs Nancy that he is sending her some recently composed songs. Then, for the first time ever, he presents a song that has become famous around the world with its familiar opening lines:
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae fareweel, and then forever!
The complete lyrics are:
Ae fareweel, alas for ever
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee
While the star of hope she leaves him
Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me
Dark despair around benights me
Nothing can resist my Nancy
For to see her was to love her
Love but her, and love for ever
Had we never loved sae blindly
Nor never met, nor never parted
We would never have been so broken-hearted
Fare thee weel, my best and dearest
Thine be like joy and treasure…
Peace, enjoyment, love and pleasure
Ae fareweel alas, for ever
Deep in heart-wrung tears I’ll pledge thee
Warring sighs and groans I’ll wage thee