Musings from the Merse
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Coldstream pulled out all the stops, as only the First (or last) Toon in Scotland can to mark the 250th anniversary of Burns' birth with a special commemoration of the Bard's visit to Coldstream with his Dinger friend Robert Ainslie and his dramatic foray onto English soil. The gory details are here
It is never been satisfactorily explained to Huttonian why the Rabbi's visit to England (his only one?) was so brief. Late Running Stage coach to Dumfries to catch? Expected for a pint or three at the Black Bull in Duns? No convenient toilet facilities in Northumberland? Did he take such a scunner to Enger land that he could not bear to be a way from his native hearth a minute longer?
Apparently he never returned to Coldstream either.
That's more easily explained.
(The image from the Berwickshire shows Burns and Ainslie looking quite chuffed at being on English soil.
Aa so they might)
Ye may be scared of English Folk
And timorous venture across the Tweed
But summon forth Alba's might
And do not the bluidy Saxon heed
Aye, put on woven hose and Aussie hat
Jimmy may chuckle behind your back
Care Not the sniggers of your mates
Come on.Ye are no Sleekit Beastie
A Man's a man for 'A' that
(From 'Undiscovered Burns'-awaiting publication)
Labels: Coldstream, Rabbi Burns, The Homecoming
Comments:
When Burns visited Duns he stayed at Berrywell where my GGG Uncle Shuggie was a shepherd. He later became a hedger and ditcher and moved to Allanton Mill. 2 of his Welsh nephews became excise men, one being dismissed for being lazy.
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