The Cambridge News Reel ~ Newsletter #4 In this Edition… Tuesday 31 December 2019 • Hogmanay Editors - James Scott & Caron Rogan • Tuesday Programme (Please approach either James or Caron, or leave a • School Notes and Scottish Word note at the office, for any items / anecdotes • New CD Release and Light Relief. to be considered for the daily newsletter).

Hogmanay!

Why do the Scots more than any other nation celebrate the New Year with such passion? Why should a tall dark stranger be a welcome first foot visitor after midnight, carrying a lump of coal and a slice of black bun?

'Hogmanay' is accepted as the Scottish New Year and regarded by some in Scotland as a bigger celebration than Christmas. Your MC tonight - Alec Calderwood - will guide you through a celebratory evening of dancing, song and ritual - with a modern twist!

You'll experience the Address to the Haggis immortalised by Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, and eat traditional fare of Haggis, Tatties (potatoes) and Neeps (turnips) for your supper. A Haggis by nature is not vegetarian or gluten free!

At around 11.40pm, we will group together in front of the big screen for some popular Scottish songs - the words will be on the big screen for you. Following the singing, there is the symbolic reaping of the debris from 2019 and a sweeping up of the vestiges of the old year - we'll sing Amazing Grace while this happens - most people know the words but it's ok to hum along softly.

Then.... the clock strikes midnight...there is a knock at the door...it's the First Foot. The traditional bearer of good wishes and gifts ensures a happy and prosperous new year. The First Foot proposes a toast to the RSCDS Patron (The Queen) and the RSCDS NZ Branch President. And - you should respond 'Slainte' (pronounced slan-je') as you drink your nip of whisky (or sherry or OJ!).

Everyone then makes a big circle to sing 'Auld Lang Syne' - generally two verses with interspersing choruses. Everyone then wishes fellows and friends a "A guid new year to ane' and all" with the traditional greeting - and enjoy some Black Bun and shortbread together before recommencing the dance programme in 2020!

Tuesday Programme 9.00am: Dance Classes

12.30pm: Lunch

1:30 pm: Unit 5 class

1:45 pm: Sanatorium Hill Trip –Additional drivers required! Private vehicles - (meet at Vallentine Centre)

2.00pm: Musicians’ Class (Vallentine Centre)

4.00pm: Hogmanay Walkthrough (Horton Gym)

4.00pm: Pool Open (adjacent RSC)

5.00pm: Happy Hour (Vallentine Centre)

6.00pm: Dinner

8.00pm: Hogmanay – Briefing by: Helen Smythe Music by the Ian Muir and James Gray.

Auld Lang Syne

(At the beginning hands are held at sides, gently swinging)

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne Chorus #1 For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne." (NOW you cross arms)

Here's a hand my trusty fier and here's a hand o' thine

we'll tak' a right guid willy wort for auld lang syne Chorus #2

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, We'll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne."

( a 'willy wort' is a good dollop of whisky!)

If you want to read more about Hogmanay: http://www.rampantscotland.com/know/blknow12.htm

School Notes:

1. Mock Court - Glenna (and the rest of the committee) would love to know of any Summer School misdemeanours for the mock court in the dining hall on the afternoon of Saturday 4th, from 4 - 5 pm.

2. Walk-through: for Hogmanay (Tuesday 31st December 4-5 pm) and the President’s Ball (Friday 3rd January 4-5pm) will be held in the Horton Gym which is over the far side of the dining hall, below the bank and adjacent to the lower fields and tennis courts.

3. Recycling and Waste Bins - there are recycling options outside Wrigley and Beaufort entrances. Please use these correctly for recycling and waste: • Small Blue bin = plastics & tins • Yellow bin = paper & cardboard • Green bin = general waste • Please place glass bottles alongside the waste

bins outside (drinking is not normally catered for at the school).

4. Wooden Spoon – A tradition of the New Zealand Summer School is the awarding of a wooden spoon to a person who, in the opinion of the organiser, has been the biggest stirrer during the school. The wooden spoon and a list of previous recipients is on display in the shops.

5. Discount – a 20% discount is offered to Scottish Country Dancers for purchases during the Summer School at Simply Divine Bed & Bath in Duke Street, Cambridge.

6. New Year’s Day – If you are looking for an excursion on New Year’s day, then you might consider a trip to Hobbiton (near Matamata) or the Waitakaruru Arboretum (outskirts of Hamilton). Admission charges will apply.

7. International Branch – Will meet on Thursday afternoon from 4pm in the Vallentines Centre. Come along if you are a member or are interested in joining.

8. RSCDS NZ Summer School 2020-21 – talk with Ian or Su Marshall or Alice Shankey.

9. Residents – be aware that the self-closing fire doors to bathrooms and bedrooms slam noisily, so please be considerate by closing the doors gently.

10. If any attendee wishes to go on a formal bus trip, but it clashes with a session at Summer School, they may like to organise their own visit on New Year’s Day.

Scottish Word of the Day

Bonailie: Definition: a parting drink

If you are a somewhat bibulous sort, and enjoy taking a parting drink, then you will be relieved to know that there is a word for this. And if you are an exceptionally bibulous sort, and enjoy taking more than a single parting drink, you will be relieved to know that the English language, in its synonymic glory, has provided us with multiple words for this. In addition to the bonailie there is the doch-an-dorrach (from the Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic deoch an doruis, meaning “drink of the door”), grace cup, one for the road, and also stirrup cup.

There were, at one time, numerous drinking usages connected with departures. We need only notice the bonalie (Fr. bon allez), or, as it is sometimes called, a foy (Fr. voie), a festive drinking at the away-going of servants or of persons in a still higher degree, once common in the Lowlands of Scotland … For the moral and physical evils connected with drinking usages, and the means taken to redress them, we refer to the article TEMPERANCE.

From Chambers's Encyclopædia, 1870

New Release CD

“Robertson – a musical heritage”: recorded by Ian Robertson and Muriel Johnstone. Eighteen tracks of reels, jigs, strathspeys plus a couple of waltzes and a march on sale in the Record shop. Limited number so be in quick.

Light Relief Scotsman Mourns For His Wife: Dougal was a typical Scot. His wife Janet had just died, and he wanted to place the least expensive death notice. He went to the newspaper office and wrote on the lodgement form, “Janet died.” The clerk explained that there was a minimum charge and he could have five words. Dougal added three more words: “Janet died, Toyota for sale.”