Last night we were invited to friends to celebrate a Burns Supper.   I was slightly concerned before leaving, as it is traditional to do a "party piece" at such ceilidhs, and not being one who likes to be the centre of attention I always struggle to think of something to do.  So I was offered a challenge by the hostess, which I accepted, and that was to knit a hat while merriment was made by others at the celebration.

I chose some suitably chunky yarn (cheating, I know!) and large needles:



and we set off for our dinner.  I know it isn't everyone's cup of tea, but we both happen to love haggis, especially when it is well prepared by the butcher (in this case Stephen Greenlees in Lochinver) and beautifully cooked by the host of the evening.  The Haggis was piped to the table by Wilson, the son of our hosts Dorell and James, and of course it would not have been a Burns Supper without the Address tae the Haggis, which was diligently presented by Clare - who was quite fearsome with the dagger in her hand:



Kia, a well known Clachtoll resident, found the whole thing rather tiring:



She somehow managed to sleep through much of the music which ensued after the wonderful dinner of Haggis, Neaps and Tatties.  Our hosts are an exceptionally musical family and so we were treated to bagpipes, small pipes, whistle, low whistle, guitar and piano, and while everyone joined in the singing of Burns songs I diligently knitted, and by the end of the evening we had one extremely non traditional Tam o'Shanter:



After all the haggis and merriment (to say nothing of the beautiful meringues, trifle, and tablet) a restorative walk was called for today.



On the shop front, I am waiting with great anticipation for the delivery man tomorrow, as I am hoping he will be bringing me some new yarn to dye.  Unfortunately this is not the silk which so many of you have been asking me about - that will be another week or 10 days before it arrives, but this is a donegal nep tweed yarn which I am very excited about.  So I will be dyeing up a storm this week.  In the meantime, to keep you going, I have added more colours to the bluefaced leicester / nylon 4ply in the shop for you to enjoy.