Ah, poor Keith. Such inflexibility is not a good trait in a mercenary; he'll have bought it if he doesn't allow himself to be bought. Hobbes will no doubt be reporting.

Burns Night feast is indeed something worth the anticipation. My father's mother is the branch of the family that brings Stewart blood into my veins, by the way.

There was the story of the "Address to a Haggis" being printed up for a Burns Night feast being held in a mess of one of the regiments of the BAOR. They engaged the local German printer to make up the evening's programmes and asked if he knew it. He said he had it in hand so it was an easy job. What no-one thought to ask him about was the small fact his reference was Burns translated into German, so when he translated it back for the pamplets it came out with some interesting phraseology; rather than "Great Chieftain o the puddin' race" the printer had it as "Mighty Führer of the Sausage Race" as only one example.