Robert Burns loved his country, women, and booze, and spent time calling out out hypocrites, plowing through nests of mice, and eating haggis …. and then writing about it.

He was a blogger!

And like many bloggers, he obviously didn’t like sitting for pictures, because it seems the picture above is one of the few available of this great writer.

Today is Robert (Rabby) Burns day – a day to celebrate this amazing poet. Why today? Today was his birthday, January 25, 1759. Why do I care? Because he and I share the birthday (I’m much younger mind you) and I learned a lot about this man because of this.

Tonight Michael and I will be at The Bothy to enjoy a Robert Burns supper. An event celebrated, now, around the globe, and seemingly gaining popularity every year. Interestingly, I found out most of these suppers start at 6:30 p.m., and end at 11:00 p.m.

Traditionally, there is a welcome, the piping in of the haggis, eating the haggis (I hope it doesn’t make me gaggis), toasts, replies to toasts, readings of his poetry, and I’m certain by 11:00 p.m., when we are all fast friends, wind up by all of us singing Auld Lang Syne (which was written, or at least written down on paper, by Robert Burns, so yes, you do know his work).

Doug and his gang will be feeding and watering us well at The Bothy. There will be haggis, yes, but also other Scottish delights like Cock-A-Leekie soup, and tatties and neeps. There will be four courses, and four whiskys to try.

Cheers everyone!