Burns Supper - Houston, 2004

The National Poet of Scotland is Robert Burns (1759-1796). His birthday is 25 January and is celebrated across the world in Scottish communities in the Burns Supper. This is a formal dinner at which kilts and evening attire are worn. Speeches are made about the life of Burns and toasts proposed and made. The menu always includes Haggis, potatoes and turnip. We like to go to Houston Texas for the weekend to visit my sister and her family. We join with various Scottish families in Houston for a Burns Supper.

This year the hosts were Rosemary and Jim Haggarty - and it was truly a glittering occasion. Jim addressed the haggis from memory - a truly impressive achievement. Robert made the key-note toast "To The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns". Alistair proposed the toast "To the lassies" and Kirsty replied. I made the toast "Land of my birth and adopted country".

Robert was wearing his new kilt - tartan "Boyd" of course (his name is Dr Robert Boyd), and of course I had my new "California" kilt. The other guests were dressed in their finest - with lots of tartan in evidence. We returned home well after midnight with the intention of some more boozing - however I fell asleep. A really great night.

Kate and Alan McCartney have always been there in the past - however this year they were off on a cruise. We were joined by an American couple Richard and Sammy Burnett who visited Scotland for the first time in September 2003. They walked the West Highland Way, and visited Skye, Inverness and Edinburgh.

Thank you Jim and Rosemary for doing the honours.

Robin in the gear	Robin and Ali in the gear	Robert and Irene in the gear
Ali in the gear	Robert ready to go	Kirsty in the gear
Everybody ready to go	Everybody again	Jim - our host
Kirsty, Ali and Irene	Robert reaching for first drink	Rosemary - our hostess
Robin and Rosemary	Richard	Sammy
Mary - out of focus	Mary and Robert	Alistair
The lounge	Dinner table1	Dinner table2
The guests	Alistair and wine	Talking bollocks
Looking east (to Ayrshire)	Rosemary awake	Jim and the haggis
To a haggis	Ahhhhh haggis	After dinner drams
The Immortal Memory	To the lassies	More to the lassies
Kirsty - reply from the lassies	Mary, Robin and Rosemary	No improvement
Robert looking thoughtful	Irene looking thoughtful	Alistair looking thoughtful
Richard again	Sammy, Robert, Mary and Robin	Kirsty, Sammy, Robert and Robin
Alistair again	Ali and Jim	Richard and Ali
Robin in blue	Irene smoking	Rosemary and Irene
Ali and Jim again	Sammy again	Richard, Ali and Jim
Robin - Scotland and the USA	Robin speaking	And so
Robert and Robin	The gentlemen	The ladies
Robert in Boyd tartan	Irene and Robert at home	Robin and Kirsty