This was very different from the Burns night we celebrated in Barcelona a few years ago. It feels so much better celebrating with good friends and being relaxed even though there wasn’t so much room for the Gay Gordons. As I was mugging up on all things Robert Burnsy I also learnt quite a lot that I hadn’t known before.
- Lots of people all over the world know Auld Lang Syne but have never heard of Robert Burns.
- In Catalunya they call that song ‘És L’Hora Dels Adiéus’
- Burns died age 37 only a few days after writing to a cousin pleading for money to pay a bill
- As with many genius’ he died in poverty but his funeral was attended by thousands
- The traditional of Burns Suppers was started by his friends after his death and the food is based on his favourite dishes
- The bawdy poems are available on the internet and some of them are very funny*
- For 5 people you do need two vegetarian haggis – everyone had second helpings!
- Cock-a-Leekie soup has prunes in it but you can’t tell when you eat it
This was our menu
- Cock-a-Leekie Soup
- Haggis with Neeps and Tatties
- Cranachan with ginger biscuits instead of shortbread
- Oatcakes with French cheeses (in honour of the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France)
- Whisky – 10 year 12 year and 18 year
I had bought the haggis and turnips in the UK last week but I wonder if you can get them in Barcelona? Must look into that for next year when I hope to have my first home grown potatoes.
The whole menu was vegetarian although I read last week that the vegetarian haggis is a mythical creature – they are a carnivorous species!
Here are our lovely MacGuests- thanks so much for getting into the spirit of the evening!
And I’ll finish with a Scottish joke to remind us of the strange link between the Scots and the Catalans who are both the butts of this kind of joke!
A Thoughtful Scottish Husband
Did you hear about the thoughtful Scotsman who was heading out to the pub? He turned to his wee wife before leaving and said, ‘Jackie – put your hat and coat on lassie.’
She replied, ‘Awe Iain that’s nice – are you taking me to the pub with you?’
‘Nah, I’m just switching the central heating off while I’m oot.’
*If you want to see the one I read out then leave me a comment and I’ll print it!
jejejejejejejeeeeee the Catalan husband is laughing too.
hahahahahaha! I have actually been in relationships like that….
Anyway, I may be more interested to learn what neeps and tatties are!
Hi there!
Glad you liked the joke – I am trying at the moment to translate some Scottish jokes into Catalan – sort of interesting! Perhaps I’ll print some here when I’m done.
Bodhi – Neeps are turnips (the big orange vegetables) and Tatties are potatoes.
Noone so far has asked for the poem – are you all feeling too prim?
Prim? Certainly not, gies the joke!
Hello Christine I knew you wouldn’t fail me! Everyone else who is feeling prim, turn away now!
Nae Hair On’t
Yestreen I wed a lady fair,
An ye wad believe me,
On her cunt there growes nae hair,
That’s the thing that grieves me.
It vexed me sair, it plagued me sair,
It put me in a passion,
To think that I haed wad a wife,
Whase cunt was oot o fashion.
I thought it was funny and very modern with the current trend for total Brazilians! R. Burns
Kx