https://www.threetowners.net/forum/

A wonderful effort by Penny Tray as George and others have said. Thank you, PT for the foresight in starting this very unique topic. No doubt it will be referred to often as time goes by.

creamolafoam wrote: ↑Fri Jan 25, 2019 7:56 pm

bonzo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 25, 2019 6:45 pm Hello PT, can I echo what George has said I have thoroughly enjoyed your daily bit of Burns. If this is the last one then thanks for doing this, if it's not then even better.
Incidentally, I see we are getting 2 hours of English football on bbc1 Scotland too celebrate the bard's birthday, the afore mentioned program from BBC northern Ireland and a 15 minute "re imagining" of Tam o'
Shanter and nothing on Scottish television ....shocking.

STV are showing Robert Burns: Hidden treasures @ 8pm, or alternatively, just go into the internet for your Rabbie Burns fix. I had my haggis, neeps & tatties earlier & may I say they were delicious. Grandweans were doing a wee thing to commemorate the bard today & the weans had to wear a wee bit of tartan. But I’m still off to watch the Arsenal/Man Utd game though

Missed that one. Was not on the planner earlier this week. Thanks anyway, you talk of this internet thing I'm still waitin on channel five.

Well I'll take that back TAM was really good.

I've had a chance now to look at the three main contributions to BURNS on TV last night.

I enjoyed the contributions on Burns by the Lagan but still don't understand why it needed to be broadcast from a location that sold Belfast and Northern Ireland as opposed to Ayrshire and Scotland. Hats off, however, to BBC Northern Ireland for the best of the three programmes by far.

Scottish Television's Hidden Treasures was just alright but not a penny spent - everything shown was an excerpt from a previously broadcast programme, many of which were in black and white.

BBC Scotland's Tam, in my humble opinion, was in several respects a disgrace. I would have been mortally embarrassed if anyone had recited the poem used at an actual Burns Supper. I hope nobody outside Scotland saw the programme. Somebody at BBC Scotland should get the sack!

Burns on TV 2020

BBC Scotland Tuesday 10pm repeated Saturday at 9.40 - inside the mind of Robert Burns - with some parts showing Burns’ attitude to women in a different, perhaps disturbing light.

Not like the BBC to trash Scots heros is it!!!!!

Meg, thanks for the forward notice - recorded the programme and watched it last night. Suffice to say, I won't be watching the repeat. Don't let any weans watch it either. A wee bit disappointed too that the only other tribute to Burns on television tonight seems to be the BBC's repeat of 'Tam,' which I moaned about last year.

Don't miss " Dad's Army" though

The BBC Scotland programme was excellent.

George

I hope you enjoy this wee song

I watched the program from Ellisland Farm on Saturday night and it was excellent. Tonight was Janey Godley’s Big Burns supper on YouTube - lots of different acts, one better than the next. Much better than last year’s offerings on TV.

Kate Humble’s Coastal Britain on Channel 5 tonight 20.00

Kate walks a rugged and scenic route along Ayrshire's coast, the birthplace of Scotland's National Bard, poet Robert Burns.
Dont know if it will be any good... i have recorded it.

We all went down to Alloway to visit the Burns Cottage, but It was closed. There Is however a Burns Heritage Centre nearby with information, souvenirs and dining facilities. We prefer eating across the Road at the Brig O'Doon restaurant which Is always a must when we come to Scotland. It's unbeatable for Scottish atmosphere and good food. But It It was closed too, only catering for weddings. It will re-open to the public at the end of February. However as we were driving away we nearly ran into a Piper, kilt 'n all, who was leading a bride and her father into the restaurant in an old White vintage car. We felt very lucky to have caught and filmed the scene. We ended up eating in Troon at the Lochgreen Hotel.

Not as widely known as many of his poems, but a favourite of mine, and always worth a read on the 25th of January, or any other day for that matter: -

MY FATHER WAS A FARMER

My father was a farmer upon the Carrick border,
And carefully he bred me in decency and order,
He bade me act a manly part, though I had ne'er a farthing,
For without an honest manly heart, no man was worth regarding.

Then out into the world my course I did determine,
Tho' to be rich was not my wish, yet to be great was charming,
My talents they were not the worst, nor yet my education,
Resolv'd was I at least to try to mend my situation.

In many a way, and vain essay, I courted Fortune's favour,
Some cause unseen still stept between, to frustrate each endeavour,
Sometimes by foes I was o'erpower'd, sometimes by friends forsaken,
And when my hope was at the top, I still was worst mistaken.

Then sore harass'd and tir'd at last, with Fortune's vain delusion,
I dropt my schemes, like idle dreams, and came to this conclusion,
The past was bad, and the future hid, its good or ill untried,
But the present hour was in my pow'r, and so I would enjoy it.

No help, nor hope, nor view had I, nor person to befriend me,
So I must toil, and sweat, and moil, and labour to sustain me,
To plough and sow, to reap and mow, my father bred me early,
For one, he said, to labour bred, was a match for Fortune fairly.

Thus all obscure, unknown, and poor, thro' life I'm doom'd to wander,
Till down my weary bones I lay in everlasting slumber,
No view nor care, but shun whate'er might breed me pain or sorrow,
I live to-day as well's I may, regardless of to-morrow.

But cheerful still, I am as well as a monarch in his palace,
Tho' Fortune's frown still hunts me down, with all her wonted malice,
I make indeed my daily bread, but ne'er can make it farther,
But as daily bread is all I need, I do not much regard her.

When sometimes by my labour, I earn a little money,
Some unforeseen misfortune comes gen'rally upon me,
Mischance, mistake, or by neglect, or my goodnatur'd folly,
But come what will, I've sworn it still, I'll ne'er be melancholy.

All you who follow wealth and power with unremitting ardour,
The more in this you look for bliss, you leave your view the farther,
Had you the wealth Potosi boasts, or nations to adore you,
A cheerful honest-hearted clown I will prefer before you.