British Ambassador’s Burns Night In Budapest 2019

The British Ambassador brought together a friendly group of expats and locals at his home last Friday 25 January for a private Burns Supper. Team XpatLoop joined-in and we've put together a gallery for you to see a few of the merry moments from this enjoyable annual event.

H.E. Iain Lindsay recited 'Address to a Haggis' by Robert Burns (AKA Rabbie to Scots like the Ambassador) after Scotland’s national dish, the haggis, was piped into the room and then ‘killed’ with a traditional dagger, the Sgian-dubh. Here's some of that verse by the Bard of Ayrshire, translated into English:

“Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang ‘s my arm...

His knife see Rustic-labour dight,
An’ cut ye up wi’ ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!

Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi’ perfect sconner,
Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view
On sic a dinner?

Ye Pow’rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o’ fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!”

After the event Ambassador Lindsay told XpatLoop: “It was wonderful to kick off what is now a Budapest Burns Festival with a fun reception on Burns Night itself, replete with wonderful pipers and a fiddler from Scotland, haggis, whisky, lots of tartan and a touch of Rabbie Burns poetry.”

Photos by Russell Skidmore for XpatLoop.com
After an extensive career in advertising as an Art Director & Creative Director in London, Paris and Budapest for leading agencies, he transferred the skills and knowledge gained to his own successful company covering wedding, event, PR & portrait photography. Visit his Facebook page here.