Monthly Meeting - “Out With The Old, In With The New: May You Be Happy The Whole Year Through”
Tuesday 14 January
Anne Artis welcomed the group to 2025 which has previously felt like a date in ‘the future’ and ‘science fiction’ but we are here now! Helen Little confirmed that the finances are all in order and encouraged members to pay any outstanding subscriptions. Anne then summarised the activity in December since our last meeting including the Start-up Stirling donation, panto and Christmas meal; visits to honorary members with small gifts had also been organised. Forthcoming events include the Forest Theatre Company in Gartmore and their production of Beauty and the Beast on 14 March (names to Liz Black) and also this years Ruskie Rural Summer Adventure – a trip to Peebles in the borders for three days of friendship, fun and food! The initial planning meeting is next Tuesday 21st and anyone who is interested is welcome to attend. Anne also encouraged members to buy Federation Quizzes at £1.
Everyone then raised their glasses in a toast to health and happiness for the new year – cheers!
Alison Smellie opened the entertainment for the evening singing an Ally Bane tune on the Ukelele to mark the turning of the new year. We enjoyed an early supper of Haggis (by Anne Artis supplied by D Campbell & Sons, Neeps (Liz Black), Tatties (Heather Millar and Christine Bauer) and Onion Sauce (Liz Elizabethg Dykes) before the entertainment resumed with Robert Dykes and Archie Paterson accompanied by their accordions playing a series of reels starting with Hamish Menzies Tune and waltzes before new tunes along with familiar favourites to sing along to (even the bothy ballads!) finishing with a series of Burns songs to celebrate his 266th birthday and a rousing chorus of songs from the legendary Harry Lauder and a series of marches to much toe tapping, cheering and appreciative applause. Anne thanked Robert and Archie for joining us, and in return they thanked Ruskie for inviting them along and to judge the tablet competition (they offered to return any time!)
Competition Winners: 3 x Squares Plain Tablet; 1) Liz Black 2) Allison Mcleod 3) Elsie Dougal
Favourite Tartan Item 1) Libby MacGregor (with tartan silk from Bonnie Prince Charlie’s piper at Culloden in 1746) 2) Norma Brewster 3) Sharon McRobert
An extensive raffle draw closed out the evening and after another super Ruskie meeting to kick off 2025, members and friends headed out into a snow and frost free evening!
