Burns Night Band

Up at silly o'clock to take Luke to school for his week away. On the drive home, I listened to the extended shipping forecast, a rare treat. It's like poetry, but not for sailors in the Rockall area, who were being promised "Hurricane Force 12 for a time".

The bad weather arrived even on our shores, and the warden from Caerlaverock phoned to say that they were abandoning the litter pick we were supposed to help out with, because the rain was getting worse.

Instead, we watched birds from the Tearoom at Glencaple before queueing for ages in the rain to see the Hackney Colliery Band in the Spiegeltent. They were worth getting wet for.

Rounded off the day by being part of the Homecoming Carnival parade, carrying our lanterns with the Multicultural Association through streets thronged with enthusiastic Doonhamers.