Yesterday 24th March 2024 our parish Kirk saw its final Sunday service. The old place was packed to the gunnels, the singing loud and glorious. Even the Lord Provost sang like a linty.

Then all was quiet…

Sheila the gardener too…

Snowdrops and daffodils

And people came too.

Ah Springtime

Snowdrop and Aconite

Winter lasts the longer

For the dreadfu wintry blast

But snowdrops come on stronger still,

An icy gust outlasts

And side by side with aconite

Points out yon winter

Is mere outcast.

Richt fair the day A aften saw

When Standard English gans awa

An bairns git a bonnie treat

An teachers dress in tartan

Fae their bonnie heids tae their tappin feet

Aye, BURNS DAY

When the Oxford Dictionary’s pit awa

An wee Jimmy an Mary tak tae the ha

Fir a dose o Highland fling

An a braw bit sang tae sing

Until the morn when the school bell tolls

An yon Standard rises crushin souls

An Burns an his entourage retire in defeat

An soundless bairns “please repeat”

The way I say my peas and gravy

You see, my Standard has a navy.

Alan

Wild Alaskan Salmon with Scottish mashed potato in a lemon and parsley cream sauce with beetroot.

The smithy looks hard at the iron

Hammers it out, blow on blow

No Lord Byron

But poetry in worth to show.

For Spring fights back.

May this year hold for special memories of loved ones and of things achieved, some beyond our ken and others from the everyday. But let not our dwelling hold us from the wonders yet to see and the love yet to behold.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Alan❤

Late spring in Starbank Park

Summer by the River Tweed

Autumn in Grand Central

Winter in the Scottish Borders

Here’s tae another ain!

Aw the best tae each an every yin!

Alan❤