It's the 25th of January...

Which means that it is The Conversion of S. Paul Burns' NIght, in honour of Scotland's most famous poet.* My parents will be at a Burns Supper tonight, where my father is giving the Immortal Memory (quite an honour, given that he's English); normally I'd organise a little Burns Night party myself, but I lack the space and the haggis this year. However, I will be going out to drink whisky later on with some friends - and will probably be expected to provide an introductory lecture on Burns, as well as choosing everyone's whisky for them (an onerous task).

With that in mind, a Burns poem under the cut: 'one of the most characteristic effusions of his muse': chippy, funny, egalitarian, and written for the masons (OK: it lacks the skirt-chasing, but you can't have everything...) Also, as a bonus, one of Hugh MacDiarmid's better efforts.

( Sorry, this cut was meant to be here! )

A historical moment?

There's actually an amusing thread on Comment is Free: On Haggis. Of course, it is the Guardian, so there's a debate about the ethics of haggis farming versus hunting...

Birthdays!

Happy birthday to

dreamer_marie

and a day belated - sorry! - to

dolabellae