Elske Centre

Tartan Lass

Queen's Birthday Weekend - Scottish Program

Charlie assisting me with my costume.

Elaine Swanney and I performing at the Eileen Mary Retirement Home on Friday afternoon, May 30th.

There was another row of chairs situated behind the photographer, and staff and other residents peeped around the corners, their number increasing as the hour progressed.

I had SO much fun. So did the audience. I've never seen them so invigorated. They sang along and clapped and cheered. Mrs. Sedcole, who appears to be asleep in every photo Mum took, was nevertheless watching me with bright eyes every time I turned to look at her (she was directly behind me), and by halfway through the program, this old and fragile lady was actually sitting forward in her chair.

Clearly, we picked a good program! It included: My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean; I Love a Lassie; Stop Your Tickling, Jock; Roamin' in the Gloamin'; Bonnie Scotland, I Adore Thee; The Dark Island; Donald, Where's Yer Troosers?; Loch Lomond; My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose; The Skye Boat Song; Westering Home; The Northern Lights of Aberdeen; Scotland the Brave; Highland Cathedral.

After 'Auld Lang Syne', Mrs. Buchanon commented that they always had that at the end of a community dance. "We couldn't go home until we'd sung 'Auld Lang Syne'," she said. I replied, "Now that I've sung it, am I allowed to go home?" There was a protesting chorus of no's.

I closed with 'The Lord's My Shepherd' (Crimond) and they seemed to know it better than I did. I only added it to the program the day before, so that's my excuse for not lilting over the tricky phrasing with precision. I'll work on that, as I'll certainly use it again.

They all LOVED the hat!

Wearing that hat was actually a bit of a hazard when travelling by car. I had to hold onto the feather tip so I could figure out which way to bend my head when entering and exiting the vehicle, and while in the car, I couldn't turn my head to talk to the driver. In the days of feathered caps, no wonder people rode horseback!

Hopefully I'll soon have some sound clips to add. Thanks for the photos, Mum! Elaine, I love working with you! The best praise must go to the Lord Jesus for enabling me to perform, because only 4 days prior I was in no condition to do anything. Truly, He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.

New recordings available

Anzac video recordings are available on the audio page here. I will be adding wee bits of my Scottish program over the next few days.