[John Beaton]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1K4xmdukq8

[Michael Cantor]

Well intoned, John, and I suggest you bring the outfit and piper to West Chester with you. Was it something special for the occasion, or do you go about like that back in BC all the time, always preceded by a man blowing into a sheep's bladder?

My understanding of charitable events of this nature is that for about a $100 per person donation you get the meal and entertainment, including a nice portion of haggis; but the real key to the fund raising is that for $250 you are given a note from a doctor and permitted to skip the haggis. (If that is not how it works, you might consider it for the future.)

[John (J.D.) Smith]

First, congratulations. Bagpipes and that which goes with them are underrated.

Second, if anyone needs a so-far-unpublished Toast to the Lassies, do let me know. I have one that's been gathering dust.

[Allen Tice]

Your cumulonimbic (and very enjoyable) blaasts and brreezes at West Chester were much, much easier to understand, and an equally hard act to follow! Good fun.

[Martin Elster]

I didn't understand the words, but it was fun to watch and it appeared that you had a lot of fun, too. I also liked the bagpipes.

[David Anthony]

Nice recitation, John.
The blonde on your left didn't seem too impressed. Is she your Missus?
Best regards,
David

[Rick Mullin]

Looks like liver, tastes like toothpaste! That's the stuff!

Tremendous performance, John. And I found out by accident that it is also really good with the YouTube sound all the way down and Wagner playing in the basement.

RM

[Alex Pepple]

Burns Day is tomorrow, January 29. Today I am teaching Burns to 1200 kids in a great Catholic high school. And all of the kiddies will be seeing this remarkable YouTube of our John Beaton performing Address to the Haggis at a Burns Supper in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, where John ended up settling down after he was uprooted from the Highlands. The Scottish burr is so thick, the performance so grand and exaggerated, that it will be helpful to you to have text in hand. Here it is with a translation:http://www.robertburns.org.uk/Assets.../toahaggis.htm
This amazing performance was linked at Accomplished members last year, and the responses are a riot. Now gae bow yer froisty pows in memorie o' Rabbie Burns. Tim

---
That was me, impersonating Tim! ...Alex
& I moved this thread from the Accomplished forum to launch this year's Burns Day.

[Tim Murphy]

I'm all screwed up, here. Burns Day is Jan 25 (It was originally celebrated Jan 29). Doesn't matter for Shanley High School. We chose Friday, Jan 28, when I teach (i.e. sing! cringe) Rabbie Burns to six high school classes. Then Monday Jan 31 I teach six units on the basics of iambic pentameter. Then judge the annual Poetry Out Loud competition in the school auditorium. Poor kids. It will be good to have John riding wing, and I hope you'll all enjoy visiting or revisiting his Burns Dinner at Qualicum Beach, BC.

[Mary Meriam]

Loved your hacking and hewing, John!