Surprisingly good weather and the Dock park isn’t swarming with the dreaded Midge, things are looking good for the annual competition for the Draffan Cup, team selection is going well, oops... lets try this again and finally.  Bob has the plan, 3 end per game number of winning ends count not the number of scoring booools. 

Bill welsh and I start with a couple of practice shots,  the green appears to be a bit sticky, it seems that they have applied fertiliser and it hasn’t rained enough to wash it in, but despite the arduous green conditions the challenge goes on and it soon becomes obvious that the skills of most of the club member hasn’t been lost to the ground conditions when it is decided to use GPS satnav to measure the nearest bool to the jack as the tape measure isn’t long enough. 

Just as light is starting to fade Bob announces that we have a winner and that we retire to The Globe Inn where Jane Brown had arranged for sandwiches as well as some cake to celebrate David Baird’s Birthday.

A bit of a judgely huddle and the winners are announced Elaine Whitehead and John Caskie take the Trophy to mutters of you can have it from Ian Whitehead and John saying that he has just the space for it in the coal bunker.

But a great evening although not very serious.

The final meeting of the committee was held on 5^th April and was reasonably harmonious although this particular committee tended to lack dynamism, in spite of the efforts of the president. To the astonishment of many it was necessary to cancel the Whisky Tasting Night due to lack of Support!!

Out with Gordon Johnston to Solway Offset on Friday to collect the club’s 17 copies of the “Big Issue”. Well worth waiting for and a super record of the 2009 anniversary year events.

Saturday 10^th April saw a visit from a party from the Glasgow Haggis Club. This is an old and prestigious club which is affiliated to the Burns Federation and have been before. Well organised and enjoyable visit. Tuesday 13^th, met up with the president to hand over his copy of the “Big Issue” and discuss tactics for the AGM.

A party of 26 secondary school head teachers from Norway, on an educational visit to Scotland, came by the Globe on Friday 16^th and a high powered team assembled for the ten cent tour. Unfortunately, time constraints meant they could only stay for 30 minutes and they decided to settle in the close with a drink while Bill Welsh gave them a potted history. Saturday 17^th April, duty visit to the Dumfries Ladies Coffee Morning at the Cumberland Street Day Centre. This was a surprisingly lively affair with delicious shortbread and sparkling conversation. Agreed to a suggestion from Ted Murray for repair to the Globe afterwards for a soft drink.

Monday 19^th, the traumas of a computer upgrade in the morning and glad to escape to the pub in the afternoon. The highlight of the month was the Dumfries Male Voice Choir’s 60^th annual concert at DG One. After a slightly shaky start, the choir delivered an excellent programme of favourites, old and new but the special guest stars, the three tenors, “Caledon”, brought down the house with a fantastic repertoire which included a Harry Lauder medley as well as some stirring and patriotic airs. Still not sure about the acoustics in this venue. Monday 26th assembled in St. Michael’s Kirkyard with sundry members to attempt a clean-up of the commemorative plaques at the graves of Burns’ contemporaries. This was well organised by Gordon Johnston who supplied all the materials including H2O and was completed in a surprisingly short period which allowed time for a scoop o’ the sauce at the Globe,  Thursday 29^th April, the AGM. John Caskie is a class act but other than a hiccup with last year’s Abstract of Accounts, the meeting went well and the accounts were approved. The Chain passed seamlessly and Neil conducted the second half with some skill. The theme in his closing remarks was “friendship, camaraderie and inclusiveness” and bodes well for the future. The new presidential team is an interesting mix and the new committee will be an improvement. The supper at Sinos Restaurant which followed the AGM was excellent and thanks are due to the organiser.  Saturday 1^st May, to a marquee in the grounds of Friars Carse for the “Nithsdale’s got Talent” concert, featuring Nicky Spence, Emily Smith and Claudia Francis Wood as well as the Buccleuch & Queensberry Caledonia Pipe Band and Sanquhar Silver Band and others, all combined to produce a magical evening of immense talent and enjoyment, expertly MC’d by John Caskie, if you can discount the blasts of hot air from the  portable heaters followed by icy draughts, but all in a good cause for the MacMillan Cancer Support. Wednesday 5^th May, a party from East Kilbride Burns Club were picked up at Burns House and scuttled round St. Michaels, the Mausoleum and back to the Globe. This was another enjoyable visit and the reception committee are becoming practised. Saturday 8th May, drove David Baird in his capacity as RBWF senior vice president, to Coatbridge to attend the Federation’s primary schools festival at Coatbridge High School. An interesting afternoon networking with old friends from the Fed and a superb display of talent from the kids.  Sunday 10^th May, to Coldstream for the annual ceremony at Coldstream Bridge, marking the crossing of the Tweed by Burns in 1787 on his return tom Scotland from his English tour. A good run over and the customary warm welcome from Coldstream Burns Club. The weather was excellent and the ceremonies well conducted. This was Neil Johnston’s first official duty as president and he placed the club’s wreath on the hook with great dignity. The buffet and social hour which followed was much enjoyed. The first meeting of the new committee took place on Monday 10^th May and followed the group photo, this year outside Burns House. The meeting was constructive and harmonious and it was agreed to assemble information on alternative venues for a club outing during the summer. The soiree which followed was enjoyable although the baked spuds were sparse as a result of more punters than had notified.  Saturday 15^th May, the SSCBA AGM in the Globe Inn, presided over by the genial president David Baird who reported that Mike Duguid was home from hospital but would be out of circulation for some time following his road traffic accident. Secretary Rose Edgar was absent due to ill health and your “blogger” was asked to take the minutes. Bert Hastings donated two medals of office for the vice presidents and it was agreed to make no nomination for junior vice president of the Federation and to give delegates a discretionary vote at conference. Club members lost no time in gathering in the bar before lunch.

DS

It was a beautiful Sunday morning Hon. secretary David Smith, treasurer David Baird, librarian Gordon Johnston and myself navigated our way through the muckle toon (Langholm), Hawick, almost Selkirk if volunteer driver David Baird had listened to my direction, then on to Jedburgh and along to Coldstream.  We arrived a little earlier than expected as the roads had been fairly quite infact we were so early that The Besom Inn hadn't opened it door, we weren't the only early birds as we meet Isa and Alec Hanlon were looking for somewhere that was open to get a tea, coffee, or other refreshment. 
It was interesting to hear reports hot foot from the previous days RBWF schools competition in Coatbridge which seem to have been an excellent day for all involved and once again schools local to dumfries, but to the main activities we assembled in the Legion hall and were piped all the way through the town and along the banks of the Tweed to the Bridge, where the polis stopped the traffic to allow us to lay wreaths at the centre of the bridge to  mark the place and time Robert Burns had first left Scottish soil as he travelled to England.  Floral tributes laid we retired to the greens below the bridge where we toasted the bard in the shadows of the impressive Coldstream bridge the pipers played a lament.  The gathered members and guests of Coldstream Burns Club were then piped back to the Legion hall for a buffet lunch and local entertainment was enjoyed before we travelled home.