Burns Night

I've just enjoyed a big plate of haggis, neeps and tatties - and I added some green beans for colour - to celebrate the birth of Rabbie Burns. Of course I'm old enough to remember when he'd be on the telly every Hogmany. He'd be resplendent in his kilt and he'd sing his famous songs including "Donald where's yer troosers", "The Battle's O'er" and the rousing "A Scottish Soldier". Moira Anderson and Kenneth McKellar often appeared and the pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards would bash out a couple of tunes.

You'll not be surprised to know that the image above is not of my haggis. I had a Macsween's full fat rather than the vegetable stew offered here. I'm sure that it's very tasty and all that but it really and truly isn't haggis - haggis contains lamb (bits and bobs - usually lung and heart), beef (suet), oats, stock, onion, salt, pepper, spices.