Happy Burns Night.

For my Scottish readers (and Robert Burns fans) – enjoy your Burns Supper.



Burns Night, effectively a second national day, is celebrated on 25 January with Burns suppers around the world, and is still more widely observed than the official national day, St. Andrew's Day. The first Burns supper in The Mother Club in Greenock was held on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 they discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759.[30] The format of Burns suppers has not changed since. The basic format starts with a general welcome and announcements, followed with the Selkirk Grace. After the grace, comes the piping and cutting of the haggis, where Burns' famous Address To a Haggis is read and the haggis is cut open. The event usually allows for people to start eating just after the haggis is presented. This is when the reading called the "immortal memory", an overview of Burns' life and work, is given; the event usually concludes with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

Burns supper - Wikipedia

Robert Burns - Wikipedia

mrYen holiday papergoods.

This little shop, based in Leeds, has some lovely papercut tags and cards.




mrYen — Welcome!

Remember, remember the Fifth of November...

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, 'twas his intent
To blow up the King and Parli'ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England's overthrow;
By God's providence [or By God's mercy] he was catch'd
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Hulloa boys, Hulloa boys, let the bells ring.
Hulloa boys, hulloa boys, God save the King!

There is also a second verse, though it may not be considered politically correct, that completes the poem which is:

A penny loaf to feed the Pope.
A farthing o' cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down.
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar.
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head.
Then we'll say ol' Pope is dead.
Hip hip hoorah!
Hip hip hoorah!


Happy Guy Fawkes Night, where ever you are.

Difficult difficult lemon difficult.

"Talk to that Chad boy. The boy from The Shining. He knows things."

And, in case you need a daily reminder, perhaps a cross stitch will help.



(Cross stitch by the brilliant shootcoward on flickr.)

Puccino’s Coffee Shops packaging.

My favorite? The sugar packet that says "Sprinkle onto shoulders of enemy."



I've got to find one of these shops in London when I'm there later this summer.

Puccino’s Coffee Shops Packaging | Minimalissimo

London bus print.

I just love this graphic.



London Bus Print

Phone box has new life as library.

Things like this make me ridiculously happy.


The traditional phone box was bought from BT for £1.

A traditional red phone box has been recycled into one of the country's smallest lending libraries - stocking 100 books.

BBC News - Phone box has new life as library

(via @jizo_sama)