To prove that the club gets its money's worth from the secretary's honorarium, here goes again from where I left off.

Ist June was the Excom meting, well chaired by the president, but with its associated traumas and notable for the absence of the treasurer due to an "accident". Members passed a resolution expressing regret. Reports from the club Bowling Night and the SSCBA AGM caused some hilarity but the new club tie was well received. Spent Wednesday afternoon on first draft of the minutes before heading out for a welcome drink with friends. Thursday night, accompanied past p. Bert Hastings to Ruthwell to discuss the running order for the Brow Well Service with Rev. Jim Williamson. This will be Jim's final service before retirement. Also, checked out the Well which needs a clean and last year's bog is still there. Will ask the Council to arrange to drain the bog before the Service. Friday morning, out to Calside for discussions with the treasurer who was displaying accident damage but determined to attend the John Lapraik Speaking Competition at Muirkirk where he is a judge. Friday night was the "workshop" at the Globe to create some letters for the Burns Banner. This was great fun as Gordon, David Miller, Jane Brown and I each drew a decorated letter from the alphabet, using poster paint, with varying degrees of skill and talent, but the "conceptual artist", Stephen Raw, was patient. The results may be displayed in Edinburgh on 8th August, or possibly not. Saturday morning. I did my bit for the Children 1st street collection, with the president, pp David Miller and jvp Frank Manson. I fear the burghers of Dumfries are becoming mean-spirited as it took 'till noon to get rid of the balloons. Worse, a busker arrived at the entrance to the Loreburn Centre where I was and murdered Paul Simon and Bob Dylan on what seemed to be a loop until I suggested politely that he might wish to relocate. This drew an abrupt response in language to take the shell off an egg so I thought it prudent not to pursue this. Later, met up with the rest in the Globe for a well-earned pint and nibbles. Monday morning, met with Peter Westwood and pp John Lauder to meet John Burness from Toronto, a distant descendent of Burns, for a pleasant hour and a ten-cent tour. Wednesday evening, accompanied pp David Miller to Thornhill to inspect the bust of Joseph Laing Waugh, located on the wall of the former Savings Bank. Found on arrival that the extending ladder was not required as the bust was accessible from the pavement. The bust needs some renovation and a report will be sent to the SSCBA who have some funding available. Thursday afternoon, back to the Globe to meet the treasurer who is recovering and did not require reconstructive surgery, to sign some cheques and review the list of members in arrears of subs. Whilst there, met two Burnsians from Fife and conducted another ten-cent tour. The highlight of the week was the "Scocha" concert at the Buccleuch Centre, Langholm, on Saturday night when the president, senior vice and I travelled in a splendid equipage, expertly driven, down the scenic route to Langholm where, on arrival, we met Alex Pool and Iain Scott from "Scocha" who is looking forward to the Dumfries gig in September. Our seats were in the balcony from where we could look down on the floor, set out with tables, cabaret style. The full five-piece band performed with their usual energy to great interaction with the audience. Their repertoire included crowd pleasers like, "The Reivers" and "Ye Jacobites" to the stirring "Saltires in the Sky" and "Flower of Scotland" in which we all joined. Novelty numbers included "Granny's Muckle Soup Pan" and the Goons "Ying Tong Song" which brought the house down. Their encore was "Honky Tonk Women" featuring a risible impression of Mick Jagger by David Chapman. Super show but marred slightly by a raucous section of the audience who had clearly been on the sauce for some time. On the return journey, the president entertained with details of his duties as "Baillie" in the forthcoming Guid Nychburris celebrations. Yes, a night to remember!

DS