As many of you will know, I left the Town Hall early with the intention of having a couple of hours sleep before

heading up to Dumfries during the early hours of Saturday Morning.  However, by the time we had settled, had

a cup of tea it was mid-night and we decided to leave Dover then and head straight up to Scotland.  So, having

said our goodbyes to bleary eyed, sons and our dog Sasha, we headed north, taking advantage of the Free Toll

at Dartford Crossing and discount on the M6 Toll !  After a couple of short breaks, it was north staffordshire,

200 + miles after leaving Dover that I succumbed to tiredness and partook of a sleep at a Motorway Service

station which was all white with frost !  This served as a barometer and compass - that we were no doubt

heading in the right direction !  After a refreshing coffee we set off again after a couple of hours - Davina says

I was fast asleep before she had got back from the shop - we arrived at our Hotel - The Aston Hotel Dumfries,

just in time for breakfast at 9.15 am.  A hearty breakfast, including Haggis, a couple of hours sleep and we were

ready for Dumfries and a visit to Palmerston Park the home of the "only team in the bible" Queen Of The South

Football Club.  I had not actually seen them "live" since the Scottish Cup Final, in May last year, when they were

robbed of glory by Glasgow Rangers 3-2. 

 

   

  "Immortalised in Brick" on the wall          Celebrating Sthephen Dobbie's opening goal

 of The Main Grandstand.                          against  Partick Thistle

 

 

 The pitch was sloping towards Partick's end

   - as most of the action was doon there !

 

Davina is thinking of starting the Dover Dobbie Fan Club as she thinks he has a nice smile!  He did actually

play very well with some intricate footwork and nice moves!  The Queens deserved to win but some defensive

frailty allowed Partick to equalise twice and the match finished 2-2.  Nice to see a crowd of well over 2800 there.

 

Back to the hotel for a fine meal and some "Scottish entertainment" which unfortunately only consisted of a bloke

prancing about with a microphone (not using it) and playing CDs of Scottish music - but at least we did get to meet

some nice Scottish folk and we were still very tired.

 

Sunday - early breakfast, again wi' haggis, and off to St Michael's Church for the Burns' service and unveiling of

the new stained glass windows by the Duke of Buccleuch.  (St Michael's and South Parish Curch, Dumfries)

 

       

 

 

 

 

 

        

Burns' Mausoleum.                  Burns' stained glass window.       Jean Armour stained glass window.   

 

  The new Burns' Bust at the Church.

 

   A fine service, where Lord Provost of Dumfries, Mr Jack Groom was heard to call Reverend Maurice Bond,

"Count Dracula" - all in good spirit and also attended by Linda Fabiani Scottish Minister for Culture, Mike Russell,

Scottish Minister for the Environment, Russell Brown, MP, David Mundell, MP, Elaine Murray, MSP, Dr Alison Elliot,

former moderator of Church of Scotland.  There were entertaining interludes by Ewan McCall, champion Burns' recitor,

accompanied by excellent Bill McNab on violin, vocalist John Caskie with My Love is like a Red Red Rose, young bagpiper,

Garth McIlorum, young musical champions, Dora Lewis and Robert Carter and a briliant tribute to Jean Armour by

Jane Brown, who portrayed herself as Jean in a convincing and amusing style.

This service took more than the usual "hour" as you can imagine and following the service there was the usual wreath

laying at the Mausoleum.  Unfortunately, I had already arranged to meet someone at lunchtime and therefore could not

get to the mausoleum - where my Dad Harry has been every year for many years, signing the guest book on behalf of the

Society. Never mind - at least we were there for the service and unveiling of the windows and the Bust.  The bust was

presented to Dumfries and St Michael's Church by the World Burns Federation.

This was the first church service I can remember being at which closed with joining hands and signing "Auld Lang Syne" -

was very moving and uplifting !

 

Can't wait for the video !!

 

Then it was BURNS' LIGHT Lantern procession in Dumfries.

 

I had been persuaded by my good friend Margaret Wallace to wear my kilt, so dressed in my MacDonald tartan and

Prince Charlie Jacket, without thermals I might add, we welcomed the provision of a nice broth at Margaret's before

heading to Whitesands for the opening by Alec Salmond, First Minister, and the subsequent lantern processions.

 

 

Alex Salmond - addressing the       The Fantastic Mary Barclay Band

burgeoning crowd

 

   

  Impressive lanterns - sponsored by

    Aston Hotel.

 

 

 Davina - with her new lugs !

 

  

            A flock of lantern sheep                              A wee massive moussie !

 

 

   

 

The Tam o' shanter wicker sculpture   Then set ablaze before a packed Whitesands  - some

15000 people estimated to have turned up.

 

What an impressive celebration for Burns' 250th Anniversary, Dumfries put on. The bands were good,

Mary Barclay, Skerrimore and Dangleberry's and some of the lanterns were absolutely brilliant - the hard work

and innovativeness of designs was very evident and we were so glad we had made the effort to attend - only

a round trip of about 900 miles.  It did get rather cold and what a welcome the log fire our kind friend Margaret

provided and mysel and her partner Derek, also persuaded to don his kilt, stood in front of it to bring some life

back into our frozen parts, whilst knecking a hot cuppa !

 

Then back to the Aston Hotel for a fine dinner and a wee malt !

 

The Aston Hotel is set in the grounds of The Crichton which is a marvellous setting, now part of Glasgow University,

Dumfries Campus!

 

It was grand walking amongst the historical buildings - my father worked for 8 years as a painter and decorator at

The Crichton - better get back here Harry, I think it needs a recoat!

 

On Monday, I had wanted to take in the National exhibition, opening at Mid-Steeples in Dumfries, entitled

"This is who we are" basing itself on the many Scots who left the homeland for Canada and named some 1000 places

in Canada.  Unfortunately, inspite of leaflets saying it was opening on the Monday it had not opened by the time we

had to leave to head back to Dover.  I will be writing to the organisers to find out what went wrong.   Anyway, after a

short retail therapy trip to Gretna, it was non-stop to Dover where we arrived some 6 and a half hours later.  Great trip

and feel that I have really taken part in Homecoming Scotland 2009.

 

     

 Plaque on Burns' house             Yours truly at the Nith                         Davina at Jean Armour statue

 

 

  Graham and Davina in the snug at

                 The Globe Inn.

 

It was a pity we had to rush back to Dover but we have promised ourselves next time to have a meal at

The Globe Inn but at least we managed to say hello from Harry to Jane and co at The Globe Inn and also

bumped into Bill Dawson, President of The Burns World Federation.

 

I'll leave this page with something that Davina said