Who Pays the Piper?

Well, if you want to take a picture of him or record his music, then you have to pay him.  

I happened to record this particular piper playing "Ae Fond Kiss" by Robert Burns (follow the link to view the video).  For those unfamiliar with Burns, he is Scotland's national poet and almost emigrated to America.  Promoted and encouraged by the influential and prominent historian William Robertson and the Edinburgh professor Hugh Blair, Burns is certainly a popular Scottish figure.  Known for his poetry, he is beloved by many and Burns Suppers on 25 January commemorate his birthday (replete with recitations, readings, and toasts to the bard).


"Ae Fond Kiss" (1791) is a rather melancholy poem, as Burns and his true love must part.  The first verse reads:

Ae fond kiss, and then we sever

Ae fareweel, and then for ever!

Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee

Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee

Who shall say that Fortune grieves him

While the star of hope she leaves him?

Me, nae cheerful twinkle lights me

Dark despair around benights me

Nothing Mr. Whippy can't fix!

"Accio cuppa!"

Having had a long day of reading books and thinking about the nature of Scottish society during the 1760s, I nipped into The Elephant House for a cuppa (this means a cup of tea, although saying it with a southern accent somehow causes it to lose something).  J.K. Rowling - author of the rather obscure Harry Potter novels - wrote much of her early work here.  No butterbeer, though.  How disappointing, as it is the drink of aspiring young wizards...

The enigma for the day is "rolled lamb."  While sipping my cuppa, two gentleman were discussing "rolled lamb," and it did not appear that this is something tasty.  To hear them talk, one does not want to get the end of the rolled part.  Perhaps this is Scottish spam?