Chief: Sandra Strang 041 373 6311
Consort Bruce Strang 041 373 6311
Hon Secretary Frances Dickson 041 360 8263
Hon Treasurer Frances Dickson 041 360 8263
Newsletter February 2012
Dear Members
‘Cynthia & I have thoroughly enjoyed our “Official” visit to PE. Were impressed with the venue and the standard of entertainment’. These were the words written in our Shire Book by Provincial Chieftain, Dr Elliot Murray on his visit to our Society for Burns’ Nicht.
I would like to thank all the people who took the time to email, phone or send messages to say how much they had enjoyed the evening. Your feedback is so important to us.
The PE Women’s Club went out of their way to make our evening a success with a delicious meal, elegantly served.
On my part, I must give special thanks to various people, who, in my opinion, made the evening such a success.
Jim Carpy who so kindly agreed to be Master of Ceremonies, who with his skill as an MC and Scottish sense of humour kept the evening flowing nicely.
The Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Derek Soutter, who always look so smart and entertain us well.
Ray Gate, a very talented lady, who recited the humorous poem by Robert Burns ‘To a Louse’.
Dr Elliot & his wife Cynthia who did the ‘Toast to the Lassies’ and the ‘Response’, both done with tongue in cheek and a sense of humour.
Bob Thatcher who sang (as he has done for a few years now) The Star O’Robbie Burns and this evening led everyone (especially those not too familiar) with Auld Lang Syne.
My Husband & Consort, Bruce, for his Immortal Memory (with a difference). There have been requests for a copy of his poem, which was part of his Immortal Memory and this is attached at the end of this newsletter.
PESA Committee for organising and putting the whole function together.
Pipe Major Derek Soutter & Haggis Bearer Ivan Dickson. Piping in of the Haggis
Provincial Chieftain 2011/12 Dr Elliot Murray & Provincial Lady President Cynthia Murray
My apologies to the people who left booking to the last minute. I am sorry, but we cannot accept late bookings. The last date for bookings is given is newsletters and we cannot make exceptions, so please, in future, diarise the cut-off dates.
MEMBERS NEWS
Ill members
Willie Mew had an eye operation on 14 February. He said that the operation went well and he has to go back again in two weeks for another check-up. At the moment he is seeing everything in double vision, but he can see more than he has been able to for a long time. When I spoke to him he told me that his wife, Elsie, had been in hospital last week with heart problems. Willie, our thoughts and prayers go with you and Elsie and hope that you both recover soon.
Agnes Bean. Agnes insists she is not ill, just a little bit incapacitated! She had a fall at the 6th Avenue Shopping Centre and managed to break her humorous bone. Those of you who know Agnes will appreciate how frustrating this can be for someone who is always ‘on the go’. She is not letting this stop her doing what she wants to do and even came to the braai on Sunday with her normal delicious ‘pud’. Agnes we all hope you soon get your ‘complete’ mobility back.
To anyone not feeling too well, we hope you recover soon.
Birthdays
Happy Birthday to:
Jan van der Mey 9 February
Molly Trumpp 10 February
Agnes Bean 6 March (Agnes will be celebrating 80 years. Congratulations!)
Cathy Stewart 16 March (not saying!!!)
To anyone else having a birthday in February & March ‘Happy Birthday’.
Please let me know when your birthday is (you don’t have to give me the year!!) and I can include you in our ‘Birthday’ list.
Ceilidh Dancers
Don’t forget the Ceilidh Dancing on the first and third Tuesdays, time 2.30, at Aldersgate. If you feel you need a bit of exercise in good company come along. I can vouch for it! Great fun also.
For more information please contact either Jill (041 368 5239) or Jannette (041 368 4520)
FUTURE FUNCTIONS
Monthly Braais :
11 March (see below)
April – no Braai due to Easter
13 May
10 June
8 July – Annual General Meeting followed by Braai
Should it be raining, obviously the braais will be cancelled.
11 March : Friendly Bowling Match with PESA and Victoria Park Bowling Club. The cost will be R20 for Green Fees and the odd R2’s for ‘fun fines’. This is not a Bowling Match purely for Bowlers, but a game for anyone who is interested in having a fun game followed by a bring and braai.
I am useless at Bowls – they never go where I want them to, but I am prepared to give it a go, so come along and join in. We will be meeting at 10.00am at the Victoria Park Bowling Club. I would appreciate it if you could let me know if you will be coming along, so that I can inform the Club. Apparently the Club have spare sets of Woods, so don’t be put off if you haven’t got any.
Please phone me if you are interested so I can liase with the VPBC (041 373 6311)
17 March : St Patrick’s Day Ceilidh at the Victoria Park Bowling Club – time 6.30 for 7.00pm. The supper will be fish & chips, salad, dessert, tea and coffee. Glenys Bannister, Harpist, will be there to entertain us with the Harp and Cello. The cost for the evening is R50 per person. Dress casual, and if possible, something green. For bookings please email bruce_sandra@telkomsa.net or phone 041 373 6311. Please note bookings close on Wednesday, 14 March.
7 April : Eastern Cape Highland Gathering, East London. For more information please phone 041 373 6311 or email bruce_sandra@telkomsa.net.
21 April : Garden Party: Venue 9 Summerwood Village, Summerstrand. Cost R20 for tea and cake. Bookings please phone 041 373 6311.
5 May : Musical Trivia Evening: Venue Victoria Park Bowling Club, with Compare Nick Pienaar. Nick organised a very enjoyable evening two years ago and by special request we have managed to hire him again. Cost R50.00 per person and we would like teams of 6 people (we can organise this). It is a bring and share picnic evening with your team. The VPBC bar will be open for drinks, or you can bring your own and pay corkage. Booking essential. For more information please contact me on 041 373 6311.
2011 Edinburgh Tattoo – keep watching the newsletter
8 July : Annual General Meeting & Braai
In addition to these functions, there will be the Official Visit of the Federation Chief & Lady President Dave and Sandy Brown, but at the time of this newsletter, no date has been decided upon.
Please keep an eye out in your newsletters for details.
Regards
Sandra
This poem was written as part of The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns at a Burns’ Supper held at Port Elizabeth Women’s Club for the Port Elizabeth Scottish Association on Saturday, 28 January 2012.
In 2011, I visited St Michael’s Church, Dumfries, the Church where Robert Burns and Jean Armour worshipped and are buried. As I left the Church a mortally wounded bird fell at my feet and I used this incident for the opening lines of this poem.
The Dream after a meal of Haggis
by Bruce A Strang
Dove of Peace, Dove of Love,
Why did you fall from above?
Why this time? Why this hour?
Did you fall from St Michael’s Tower?
Here you lie at my feet
When Rob & Jean their friends did meet.
No more will you grace the sky
When over fields and towns you fly
That day and night you were in my head,
I ate some Haggis then went to bed.
I tossed and turned, I could not sleep,
Remembered ‘Poor Malie’ so counted sheep.
Suddenly there were flames and crashes,
And all was still and you rose from the ashes,
No more suffering, no more pain,
Like the Phoenix you would fly again.
You took me on your maiden flight,
Oh! What a wonderful and glorious sight.
Over the fields and towns we flew,
All over Scotia – what a wonderful view.
Up in the blue we did twists and turns
In the sky we wrote ‘Robert Burns’.
Wow! There goes Maggie at a canter
And on her back rides ‘Tam O’ Shanter’,
I see Meg has a brand new tail,
Tam probably bought it at a car boot sale.
I must say it looks a bit ‘wonky’,
Probably belonged to some old donkey.
There is a field mouse looking so forlorn,
No place to hide from the winter storm.
There stands Rob at his plough,
He lifts his hand and wipes his brow.
The work is hard, to plough is slow,
But he must plant for seeds to grow.
The seed is bad, the soil is poor,
Poverty will soon be knocking at his door.
Robert said in a fit of despair,
‘I’ll go to Jamaica, but I’ll need the fare.
I’ll leave my Scotland, so close to my heart,
Sell my poems and make a new start.’
‘Print my poems, this I beg,
Please let it not cost an arm and leg.’
The cover was plain and not embossed,
Only three shillings was all it cost,
Six hundred & twelve copies were quickly sold,
Or that was what I was told.
Now I hear that Rob’s gone all posh,
Since he sold his poems and made some dosh.
Across the sky we zoom,
Off to Edinburgh, I presume.
Now you hear his name on every street,
And in the homes of the elite.
Ladies swoon when they see his face,
And fall in love. What a disgrace!
And then there’s a Dandy,
Who says his love poems come in handy,
When wooing a lady
In lanes that are shady.
His fame has spread all over the land,
Even to the Women’s Club in Summerstrand!
I knew that my flight had ended,
When spiraling down to ground descended.
Then I felt a hand upon my head,
And heard a voice saying ‘get out of bed’.
Do you know the time? Do you know the hour?
You’ve only time to have a shower!
If we are late we will miss our flight,
I thought to myself ‘I’ve done that all night!
If you’ve eaten Haggis and cannot sleep,
It does not help counting sheep.
You won’t believe, it’s quite absurd,
I think Haggis is a type of bird.
To get a good night’s rest,
It has to be ‘Addressed’,
With Robert Burns’ Grace,
Starting with Great Chieftain of the Puddin’ Race!