Burns' Supper at Wolfson College

Thursday 23 January

We and our friend Priscilla were invited by Fergus and Susanna Millar to the annual festivities in honor of Robert Burns, as held at Wolfson College, where Barbara is a visiting scholar these days.  It's a formal occasion, so we had been careful to pack the right clothes; Brits wear black tie rig more often than we do.

Priscilla came to the flat, and after some wine, olives, and zhujjing of our various costumes, we walked to Wolfson, which is only a few blocks away.

We met Susanna and Fergus at the entry, and had a glass of wine while waiting to proceed into Hall.  Everyone admired Martin Goodman, the night's chair, who was wearing his nephew's kilt. 

Once we were seated at High Table, we were promptly served cock-a-leekie soup and more white wine.  Pretty soon, we heard the sound of bagpipes, and in proceeded the piper, leading the ceremonial haggis.  A student named Garlen Lo addressed it with Burns' poem (suitably hammed up), and it was cut up and served on top of big slices of roast beef with horseradish sauce, bashed neeps, chappit tatties, and whatever is Scottish for green peas.  We drank red wine and saved our Drumguish malt whiskey for later, with the coffee.

As the course ended, Fergus rose and gave his address to "The Immortal Memory," which was much acclaimed; as it should have been, since he was one of the few Scotsmen present.

We enjoyed two students' cross-talk "Toast to the Lassies" and "Reply" while imbibing apple frushie (tart, really) and whiskey cream.  Then upstairs for coffee while they cleared the room for the Ceilidh, accompanied by the band "Mouse & Trousers."  The dancing was much fun, and even Holt got claimed by a Lassie for a turn on the floor.

So thanks, Fergus and Susanna, for a most memorable evening!