The date was 25^th January 2012 when muirhoward colleagues representing territories as far away as New Zealand provided a fitting tribute to the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns.

Every Burns Supper has its own special form and flavour, ours being no different with some honouring the Haggis on the side of a mixed grill! The thought of the savoury pudding  - sheep’s pluck (heart lungs and liver) minced together with onion, oatmeal suet and spices – proved a little too much for some to stomach though many brave attempts were noted! Sticking to tradition a little more closely however dinner was washed down with more than a few wee drams of malt whisky.

Such celebrations are typically marked with a number of recitals of the Ayrshire Bard’s work and muirhoward’s offering was no different. The plaudits going to expat Ken who took up the mantle delivering a wonderful rendition of My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose. He would soon be joined by India and her own take on My Heart’s In The Highlands.

It has been noted that early celebrations of Burn’s life were undertaken by formal gatherings of academics and scholars, while latterly the celebration has been hijacked by “uproariously informal rave-ups of drunkards and louts”.

I would say we finished the evening somewhere in the middle!