Another entertaining evening held at the Freedman’s house (think Grand Theft Auto meets Southfork) saw 54 clubmates gather for food, toasts and entertainment to the soothing accompaniment of flute and guitar from Margaret Forrest and Richard Lathe. Gordon was MC for the evening and kept things moving nicely. Mike Andrew took over the Selkirk Grace duties, the haggi were duly served (freshly caught by Nicola Dunn that afternoon), drinks were poured and we moved on to the toasts. Britton Smith did a wonderful job interpreting Burns from the angle of (his words) an American doofus, Neil Burnett toasted the lassies, and his combination of quadriplegic jokes and references to a woman’s place in the kitchen will ensure he’ll never be asked to do so again. Nikki Innes came back with a reply from the lassies and then it was on to the entertainment. Bill Gauld kicked us off with a rousing medley of fiddle tunes, then I trotted out the old favourite Green Grow The Rashes O on guitar, followed by a trio of mandolin/guitar tunes from Jane Jackson and me (Short Cut to the Pub, Back o’Bennachie and the Burning Quads of Digby (AKA Tinto Jig)). There followed ‘The Toast Song’ by Tracy Ballinger (a unique piece, if ever I witnessed one), then ‘Tale of the Lonesome Pine’ by Tracy and Bob Johnson, complete with bowler hats (and sincerest apologies to laurel and Hardy). Alison Caldwell treated us to a tremendous Highland Fling, proving she still had it after 11 years, Moira Stewart and Gio Macdonald both demonstrated their considerable singing voices, Kate and Nicola Freedman did a couple of excellent flute duets (the highlight of the night for me) and Jane and I rounded off with Dirty Old Town on the ukeleles. If I’ve missed anyone then humblest apologies, but you were brilliant.
There is a distinct lack of pictures this year (must get organised next year), but all of the above really did happen.
Mike Lynch