The Burns Supper was a roaring success with many excellent contributions. Thanks to all who were involved especially to Alan and Robert for making it happen. It showed exactly what we've been missing all these months and lifted the spirits, both mentally and physically.
At the request of some of the company, I've posted last night's Ode to the Ooters : the Covid Year(s)
The virus from China was nothing to fear
The Brits treated it with an initial sneer
And then events in Italy made us doubt
But we’re GREAT Britain, we’ll keep it out
It would never reach our shores
However, our borders had open doors
The first wave knocked our country for six
As the politicians and scientists sought a fix
Lockdown came and the country was jolted
The stable door was shut after the horse had bolted
In March the Ooters were forced to stop walking
But with Zoom at least we kept talking
By summer the restrictions began to be eased
And back to walking we were teased
No pubs, no coffees, no FRT
But getting together it was good to be
And just as we thought it was safe to be out
The second wave hit us with a clout
Too many folk had been to Spain
Returned with a tan and a brand new strain
The schools re-opened and so did the unis
Mismanaged by some of our elected loonies
And before we knew it restrictions were tightened
Alert levels everywhere all were heightened
By September we were back to Zoom
Locked away in our own wee room
By Christmas full lockdown was imposed once more
No surprise given the numbers were sore
But the guys who had toiled for success in the lab
Had produced a saviour in the form of a jab
It remains to be seen where we go from here
Will we be back to normal by next year?
Covid-19 was what it was named
For so many lives it was rightly blamed
From bats, wet markets or escape from a lab
No matter, we still have to pick up the tab
Maybe Donald was right, it’s difficult to say
The Chinese were to blame and should be made to pay
No chance of that, so we just have to pray
And borrow more money for our weans to repay
In 2020 the Ooters lost a lot
But we’re still here, are we not?
So what was there that we all did miss
Well, here’s a go at a reminisce
No walks, no beers, no birthday curries
Replaced with ‘stay at home’ and lockdown worries
No Christmas panto and then to the Jewel
At least we saved on our bill for fuel
No Burns Night out in Johnny’s house
No stabbing the haggis or ‘To a mouse’
No Arran, Cumbrae, Galloway, but still
No shouts of ‘Get me aff this fecking hill’
No Glasgow, no canal walk, no Castle Semple folly
And sadly, no more walks with Holly
No Wetherspoon’s, Drouthy Neebors, or the Brown Bull
No Crown in Sanquhar, there to sit on a stool
No Empire Bar with its less than fine dining
At least every cloud has a silver lining
No Dalmellington Inn and its free Kit-Kats
No Black Bull in Mauchline with its copious snacks
No River Ayr walk wi’ the water in spate
No Ness Glen circle or figure of eight
No Isle of Bute or the Greenock Cut
No journeys down to Alan’s hut
No Lowthers, Tinto or Culter Fell
No Carlin’s Cairn or Rhinns of Kells
No Portencross or Arthur’s Seat
No valley walks then the pub for a treat
No New Lanark or even old Lanark at that
No lost villages including Benquhat
No Grey Mare’s Tail or Falls of Clyde
Or icy paths down which to slide
No Cumnock circuits or Deil’s back door
No Ballageich or Whitelee with turbines galore
No four lochs, four tops or Durisdeer
No Windy Standard or Cobbler to fear
No Ballantrae or Dailly Hills
No leaving Blackcraig with its thrills and spills
No Dumgoyne or up Ben A’an
No Whangie and a curtilage ban
No Merrrick with its thunderous rain
No Hill of Stake or Beinn Bharrain
No coastal walks or Culzean Castle
But at least no more parking hassle
No Blacksidend or down to Glenbuck
No Barony Hill and a trail through the muck
No Corsencon or to the Lunky Hole
No Cairn Table which can take its toll
No Muirkirk Sanquhar, the very first walk
Too far now? Some might baulk
No Lochranza to Sannox and the chase for the bus
No sloes at Penpont over which to fuss
No drive to Maybole to go on tour
To Kirkoswald or even Dunure
No chance to do the Luss horseshoe
Or visit Dollar, the Ochils to view
No Dumfries House, Ochiltree, or an ‘A’ Frame day
No Hurlford to Galston and the Chris Hoy way
No Carrick Hills over which to drool
Then back to Rex’s for a game of pool
No Knock Hill or the Gogo Burn
But, but, the Ooters they WILL return
And when we do start to get on the move
It’ll take a wee while to get back in the groove
We’re not as fit as we used to be
And have to stop more often for a pee
Maybe some moderate walks for a start
That to me would be more than smart
So from the big hills, for a wee while, we might refrain
When the Ooters bandwagon hits the road again
