Edinburgh: Yes! South Africa: No!

 

The annual conference of the Robert Burns World Federation was held in Edinburgh over the weekend of 4/5/6 September, the events are listed in the secretary’s blog, so I wont repeat the ‘on gans’ other than agree it was a super weekend with great company!

It’s at gatherings such as this, I realise just how much the Howff Club is respected and regarded by many. Whilst proudly wearing the President’s ‘chain’ I was greeted by people from far and wide asking what the ‘chain of office’ was and when replying ‘Howff Club’ they were all complimentary to myself for holding the valued position of President but more so for the high esteem the club has within the Federation and amongst its members.

Although enjoying the weekend I was always reminding myself I could have been at HampdenPark watching Scotland take on Macedonia in their quest to qualify for the World Cup finals next year in South Africa. Delighted to hear the boys had won by two goals to nil, I was now eagerly awaiting the following Wednesday when I would be able to attend Hampden for the now crucial game against the Netherlands.

When the Wednesday came I was there amongst the other 52,000 Scots cheering on the boys in the hope that we would make the playoffs! But alas it hadn’t to be, here we are, where we have been for many years now ‘glorious failures’ once again.!

So Edinburgh played its part as a super choice for the conference as I’m sure Aberdeen will next year.

My dream of a trip to watch Scotland compete in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa is sadly, all it is.

 

 

JOHN M CASKIE

PRESIDENT

BURNS HOWFF CLUB

SEPTEMBER 2009

Most of the summer activities have been covered in the President’s comprehensive and well-crafted blog but here are a few ...   more »

HOLIDAY OVER, BUT NOT BURNS!

 

August (Part three)

 

My holiday from work is near over but my Burns events keep coming.

Earlier this year I attended the Burns Supper hosted by the Presiding Officer at the Scottish Parliament, it also saw the opening of an exhibition ‘As ither’s see us’ photographs and quotes from Scottish people of all walks of life beside their favourite Burns works. I was therefore pleased to hear that the exhibition had arrived at Kirkcudbright and along with D Smith, J Lauder and G Johnston we travelled through to the town hall to view it on Wednesday 19^th August. I personally walked round , read and viewed the exhibits a couple of times just marvelling at the great photography and linking the photograph and the quotes, of the eminent Scot’s, to the works of Burns. An excellent exhibition. I was pleased the club purchased a copy of the book which accompanies it, for the club library. After words we viewed a painting exhibition also on view at the hall called ‘Coming home’. Paintings of Kirkcudbright artists from many years back, returning home to the town for Homecoming.

After and enjoyable lunch and a ‘fraught journey’ home it was then out to the club room at The Globe Inn for an office bearers meeting, eventful! although there were no fights!

The weekend saw my holiday over and back to work but after my early shift on Sunday 23^rd I called in at Ellisland Farm, by invitation , to sing a few songs to the assembled at their Descendants Day celebrations organised by the Friends of Ellisland. The weather was unkind and it was pouring throughout the day but the marquee and the barn where the settings where along with Lee McQueen I entertained with a few favourite songs of Burns. My final Burns engagement of August was to chair the executive committee meeting at the Globe Inn on Monday 31^st this was another lively Howff meeting and it was especially nice to hear the various reports (15 in all!) on all the activities members of the club had undertaken during our ‘summer recess’.

 

I had also visited the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which had a Burns theme and of which I thoroughly enjoyed as well as calling dances at another wedding and organising the grand jumble sale and tea dance at Locharbriggs Community Centre. I did purchase two Burns books at the jumble sale for 10p each!! Although they will be a nice addition to my Burns collection I don’t think they will ever make me rich!

 

So there we have it a short holiday from work which was nice, a range of Burns activities which was even nicer and it’s off to Edinburgh for the RBWF Conference at the end of this week.

 

 

JOHN M CASKIE

PRESIDENT

BUNRS HOWFF CLUB

SEPTEMBER 2009

STILL ON HOLIDAY AND STILL BURNS!

 

August (Part two)

 

Continuing my look back over August and my holiday from work, Sunday 16^th August was a special day.

When I became President of the Howff back in April it had always been my intention to arrange a club outing and make Ayrshire as the port of call especially this year on the 250^th anniversary of the birth on R Burns and it being Scotland’s year of ‘Homecoming’

Well it happened!! On a wet Sunday in August (16^th) 20 members and friends took off through the Nith Valley and Upper Nithsdale to Tarbolton and the ‘Bachelors club’ where two excellent guides from the National Trust ,who run the premises, gave us a marvellous tour and talk on the activities of the club. Back to our mini bus and onto Mauchline where we gathered in ‘Poosie Nancies Pub’ for lunch and refreshments. After a superb lunch there was time to view the Burns contemporaries’ graves in Mauchline Kirkyard. These are all marked by small plaques telling of whose graves they are and what their association was with Burns.

From Mauchline we then travelled through to Irvine to be greeted by members of the ‘Irvine Burns Club’ where we shown round there very impressive club and allowed to view many of the interesting pieces they have relating to Burns and the Burns movement. We returned through Mauchline and to ‘Poosie Nancies’ for further refreshments! And to collect John Lauder’s umbrella that was left as a ‘plant’!  We viewed the Jean Armour statue that stands outside the library in the village before embarking on a pleasant journey home. Wet when we left in the morning but the sun had shone throughout the day and as we arrived back in Dumfries everyone agreed that a great day out was had by all and hopefully we can revisit other places of interest in Ayrshire on our next ‘outing’.

I personally thank the Secretary D Smith for the hard work in securing our guides and arranging most of the day’s activities.

 

My holiday's running out! But still more of August to follow

 

 

JOHN M CASKIE

PRESIDENT BURNS HOWFF CLUB

SEPTEMBER 2009

HOLIDAY WITH BURNS!

 

August (part one)

 

As I undertook a short holiday from work during August,  I have been able to take in a few Burns related events some of these are mentioned on the club web site so will make them bullet point mentions on here.

August 3^rd

Meeting at the Globe Inn with the Secretary to go over the forthcoming ‘outing’ and arrange visitations etc, always an enjoyable ‘get together’ meeting up with David. Always amazed at his vast experience of all things relating to Burns.

August 5^th

Burns Centre Dumfries for a meeting with Professor Kevin Thomson from Hong Kong to talk on ‘Burns time in Dumfries’ and was joined for the chat by D Smith and D Baird, this session was recorded and will be broadcast on Radio Hong Kong between Christmas and New Year.

August 11^th

‘Ae Fond Kiss’ Musical theatre production  as part of the Edinburgh festival fringe at the Scottish mining museum at Newtongrange. This was an excellent show encasing the life of Robert Burns, performed entirely in rhyme, by a theatre company from Edinburgh with four talented actors and two equally talented musicians. The show was awarded five stars in The Scotsman with the reviewer saying she would have given more (stars) but she was only allowed to go up too five! I could only agree this show was Brilliant!!!

August 14^th

Met with club members at Gracefield arts centre in Dumfries and viewed the ‘Zig Zag’ exhibition which was on display. Everyone agreed it was good to see so many artefacts and limited edition materials on show but the whole thing was spoiled by poor lighting!

After the exhibition we assembled in the club room at the Globe Inn for an enjoyable ‘tapas supper’ and friendly company and banter.

August 15^th

Back at the ‘Zig Zag’ and also visited the Mid Steeple and the Burns Centre where along with John Lauder, David Smith and David Baird we were acting as guides for seven members of The Largs Cronies Burns Club who had came to Dumfries for the day.

 

In between these Burns themed activities entertained at Parkhead Court in Dumfries for an evening sing–a long, Called dances at a wedding in Penicuick ,visited numerous shows at the Edinburgh fringe, Enjoyed the summer sing song at St Georges Church and Joined in the dancing at Linlithgow Palace for their summer ‘Scotch hop’

Half way through my holiday and half way through August, more to follow!!

 

 

JOHN M CASKIE

PRESIDENT BURNS HOWFF CLUB

SEPTEMBER 2009