The Knitting Continues

Knitting my gorgeous Yorkshire yarn I purchased back in England.  I am almost done.

It should look like a big cowl scarf when done.

Stay tuned.....

Robbie Burns Night and the Wee Haggis

"And there's a hand, my trusty fire!

And gie's a hand o' thine!

And we'll take' a right guid-willie waught,

For auld lang syne."

At New Year's Eve everyone sings this Robbie Burns poem, turned song at 12:01am.  Sung at Hogmanay, we

 know it as "Auld lang Syne."  There are 6 verses, this is the last verse.

Robbie Burns Day in Scotland is held on or near the poet's birthday, January 25th every year to celebrate the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796).

This year we have been so fortunate to be in Edinburgh to partake in Robbie Burns Day with the locals in the Miter Pub on the Royal Mile.

"Edina!  Scotia's darling seat!

All hail thy palaces and tow'rs,

Where once, beneath a Monarch's feet,

Sat Legislation's sov'reign pow'rs;

From marking wildly scatt'red flow'rs,

As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd,

And singing, lone, the lingering hours,

I shelter in they honour's shade."

-Address To Edinburgh, Robbie Burns

In organizing a Robbie Burns Dinner, a few things that must be included.

Scotch Whiskey, the Haggis, and reading Burns poetry....maybe not in that order.

  I am wearing my Scotland kilt, which is a very close tartan to the Wallace tartan of Stirling.  My wee broach is the Heather stone which I purchased here in Edinburgh.

Angela MacPherson is ready and has left the building.

Fortunately for us we made reservations for dinner and a good thing we did.  The pub was jammed packed when we arrived.

"Fare thee weel, thou first and fairest!

Fare thee weel, thou best and dearest!

Thine be ilka joy and treasure,

Peace, enjoyment, love and pleasure!

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever!

Ae fareweel, alas, for ever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee,

Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee!"

-Ae Fond Kiss-Robbie Burns 1791

Our waiter was fantastic.  When he served us the traditional Neeps & Tatties and Haggis with Whiskey sauce, he also explained that it was tradition to toast the Haggis, with a shot of whiskey and recite the words below....

"Address To A Haggis" by Robbie Burns

"Fair Fa' Your Honest, Sonsie Face, Great Chieftain

O' The Puddin-Race!  Aboon Them A'Ye Tak Your Place"

For those who may be skeptical of eating the haggis, let me start by telling you that it is very tasty.

Everything... is minced up with mixed herbs.  The sheep's heart, liver and lungs.  Add salt, pepper, allspice, suet, onions, lemon juice or a good vinegar.  There is also one pound of oatmeal mixed in, which might explain my wee puffy stomach after dinner.  The sheep's stomach, which you put the haggis mixture into, is not eaten. ( It holds it all together such as a sausage skin does).  You then simmer the haggis for three hours.

It is served with Neeps, turnips, and tatties, potatoes.  Pour the whiskey sauce, gravy, over the lot and eat without thinking.

Delicious!

(There are 8 more verses to this poem, "Address To The Haggis", if you are inclined to read it).

Dessert is a brownie square with ice cream, topped with a chocolate and carmel sauce.  Not a requirement in the Robbie Burns Dinner but very yummy. The Scottish people love their sweets and we LOVE the Scottish people and their sweets.

TO ROBBIE BURNS!

A Beach Day in the Middle of January?

Trains, planes, buses or automobiles?

Today a train trip to the sea coast of eastern Scotland, a wee village called North Berwick.

Only half an hour from Edinburgh, a direct train, and only 6.50 sterling pounds each.

Sold!

A sleepy fishing village along the Firth of Forth.  Which is home to spectacular seasonal seabird.....over 300,000.

Tide is out.  The coast is vast.

Can you imagine how many people would be on this beautiful West Beach in the middle of summer?

"A fishing village with drying nets, scolding wives, the smell of fish and seaweed and the blowing sands" was how Robert Louis Stevenson described North Berwick.  He spent his childhood holidays here visiting family and spending his time playing at the beach.  It must have made an impact.

 Fidra Island where there is a 1885 lighthouse, was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island.'

   Bass Rock is a bird sanctuary.  It is only one mile off the main land of North Berwick.  It has been described as "one of the twelve wildlife wonders of the world."

Gannets occupy over 80,000 nests on the island.  The gannet is Britain's largest seabird with a wing span of just under two meters.

The other wildlife that are in the area are puffins, grey seals, bottlenose dauphins and whales.

We arrived in between seasons and there were no boats going out or birds to see.

April through to early October.  We will be back here to see them.

Incredible coast line with many different and very interesting rock formations.  

Behind the beach is a putting green that is open during the summer months.  An awesome green path follows along the beach if you don't want to get your shoes sandy?  Or wet?

Hiking group heading down the beach for a day of waterfront exercise.

The photo does not do justice to the size of the waves on the beach this day.  But considering that the locals were sharing with us that the waves have been coming in at 17 feet tall, you can imagine how big this is.

Six hours at the beach and Debbie nearly had to drag me off.

I LOVE THE SEASIDE!

The salt air, the shells, the birds, the crashing of the waves, the critters, the interesting rocks, the sun, the  miles of beach to walk.......need I say more. 

Waterfront property.....North Berwick style.

Lunch time.....sea weed?

A view through the huge rock formations on the West Beach, passed the rock break wall, and enormous waves.....you can see the island of Craigleith.

A Herring Gull looking for lunch.

Monstrous towering rocks on the beach.  This particular one is surrounded by sand.  All alone and very cool to check out.

As well, there is a 'rock graveyard.'  Massive boulders that are just placed on the beach???

How does that happen?

I am trying to stay mostly dry while I take photos, but the waves keep getting closer.

Ok....how the heck did this boulder find its way on these two rocks??

Staying dry.....

The view of Bass Rock from the Milsey Bay beach.  The huge waves coming in are actually from the Firth of Forth.....but their strength would suggest a sea or ocean behind them.  Apparently not the case.

"Does anyone know where we are going?  I feel like we have been hiking in circles.  We have passed those two gorgeous Canadian girls twice now?"

An Oystercatcher catching a snack.

No need to explain that the tide is out.

Tide is in....much prettier looking.

Also suggests that we have had a great long time enjoying the seaside.

West Beach with it's long stretch of sand.  

During low tide, Debbie suggested I stand on this platform while she took a picture of me?

Really?

Not long after.....a few hours.....my 'platform' is now almost totally underwater with the tide coming in.

I don't think I like it either way for posing for a photo?

A view of West Beach and the town of North Berwick from a rock outcrop.

Along this break wall there is a pathway built on the rocks.  With more panoramic views of the vast body of water.  Possibly closer to the wave action too.

We keep heading out and the waves are definitely right THERE.  Pretty close and totally exhilarating.  There is a possibility that we could get wet?  Let's go regardless.  We will be very careful.

Stunning sunset over the North Berwick town and beach.

Gorgeous to witness.

A picture of two really happy Canadians who are thankful to have been blessed with all this fantastic weather in the UK when our family and friends are having a brutal winter.  Everyone should just head on over to Scotland.  They are having unusual weather this year....thus why it is so mild.

Those waves are really getting close.....we actually shouldn't have our backs to them....just in case one accidentally should hit the rocks we are on..........oh oh........oh oh..........hold on Debbie....

AWWWWWWWWWWWW!

..............don't turn your back on the water.......just saying!