Burn's Night

Hello Dear Peeps!

I think my stomach has finally reduced to normal again after Friday night's Burn's Night Supper. It was an enjoyable evening and the food was good, but definitely "hearty"! It didn't help me that - to reduce the amount of wine I drank - I poured myself glass after glass of sparkling water. I think I may have drunk about a litre of the stuff!

The Supper was a joint event, organised by ChristChurch, but shared with an Association supporting Anglophone/Francophone connections. Mr FD & I ended up on a table with French people from the Association who we didn't know, but who were charming, and reasonably chatty.

So here is the room prepared:

and the menu as placed on all the tables

It was a tad tricky translating it for the French people on our table, but there is an Auvergnate dish similar to Haggis, so it wasn't completely unknown - although "clapshot" was harder to translate - especially as we weren't sure of the translation of "swede". The smartphone Google translate could only offer us "Suédoise" - which means Swede in the sense of "coming from Sweden"! We ended up saying "yellow turnip" which was at least vaguely understood!

The Haggis was duly addressed, with Caireen, the rector's wife (who comes from Scotland) reading the traditional Scots version, while Rob (the rector) read his own slightly scurrilous translation. Here he is sporting his kilt and a cheeky smile:

As a Canadian of Scots descent he wears his kilt with pride

 

(I don't know who the other two guys are!)

The Scotch broth was delicious but filling - full of pearl barley, carrots and turnip. Then, after being addressed, (and toasted with a dram of whisky) the haggis arrived:

 It was very pleasant- lightly spiced and peppery, although my clapshot needed more seasoning! The whisky sauce was also very nice. By now I was starting to feel very full, but who can resist sticky toffee pudding?!

 

The French were slightly bemused by the cheese and oatcakes coming after pudding - in France cheese is served before the dessert, but they gamely joined in, slathering chutney onto their oatcakes as if it was jam....Near-bursting point had been reached, and I was stating to feel a bit nauseous by now (though I still managed coffee and shortbread!!!)

There was a raffle - we won twice! I chose a pair of whisky glasses for the first prize, and the second time I insisted that the French couple who were on our table & hadn't won, went to choose. (Also I knew there wasn't that much on the table that I wanted - so I hadn't been all that generous!!) She chose a vegetarian haggis (the meaty one had gone!) She tried to press the haggis on me - not literally, you understand - but I was happy to let her keep it. 

There was a very amusing "Toast to the Lassies" given by Nick, from church, who is a very garrulous Welsh man. Here is Nick at the Convention a couple of years ago:

 

Lawrie's return "toast to the Laddies" wasn't quite so funny, but still very good. 

We left at 10.00 pm, before the dancing (I couldn't have danced anyway!) as we wanted to get home at a reasonable time. The cats were happy to see us. And Zantac was definitely welcome (twice!)

Maybe I'll try to get some tartan before next year!