Burns in Edinburgh

Taylor's Hall Hotel - Cowgate - Edinburgh

The Bard and I had a busy weekend! After the Globe in on Saturday we had two gigs lined up in Edinburgh on the Sunday. The first was a short guest spot in Taylors Hall Hotel. This was a charity night for Children of Chernobyl - a very worthy cause which I was delighted to support. Fellow Fencible David Purdie started the night off with his slide show of Burns Edinburgh. This was followed by a group of children who were all Burns Competition winners and were simply superb.....well done all! The first half was finished with a short spot from yours truly encouraging some audience participation (from the 200 strong crowd) for the first time in the evening. Well done to Mike for arranging all this for a very worthy cause.

Robert Louis Stevenson's House - Edinburgh

A quick dash up the road then, for David and myself, to Robert Louis Stevenson's house which was the venue for a dinner of the Atlanta Burns Club - currently touring Scotland. A very enthusiastic audience of around 30 joined in some of the Bard's well known works with gusto and were left wanting more...... Good luck to them on their up-coming tour of Scotland in the capable hands of Ian MacMillan, President, Wester Ross Burns Club and a friend of the Bard from a previous tour......

Burns in Dumfries

Some of the audience with the 'Bard' in the Howff Club room

The Bard and I were delighted to return to Dumfries this weekend as guests of the Howff Burns club. The show which was originally planned for the Theatre was rescheduled into the Club room in the Globe Inn due to small numbers. This was a double edge sword....unfortunate because the numbers were small but exciting in that it meant the show would take place in the very building Burns frequented.

Rantin Rovin Robin

However, those that were there had a great time and joined in the songs with much enthusiasm. A special mention to the lady from Australia who found her way to join us. It was a long way to come for a gig but hopefully worth the trip!

As an additional bonus I got to sleep in the room RB shared with Anna Park - how cool is that?! (A big thanks to Jane, Manager in the Globe, for making that happen).

The Burns Room in the Globe Inn - the room RB used to meet Anna Park

Of course the love song Burns wrote for Anna - Yestre'en I had a Pint o Wine - went down very well and it was quite an emotional event singing it in the very place where it all happened! Thanks to the Howff Club members who showed up to support the show - and for their fine hospitality.

Burns in Poolewe

Laide Caravan Park

The Bard and I visited lovely Wester Ross this weekend at the invitation of Wester Ross Burns Club. Poolewe village hall echoed to the Burns' story with club members, locals and some holiday makers attending.

Poolewe Hall

Thanks to the ladies who put on a great spread at the interval and a BIG thanks to Ian and Jean to who set the whole thing up and accommodated us in their lovely house over the weekend.

We also managed to visit Inverewe gardens and take in the fantastic array of plant-life there.