Snow has fallen, but fortunately not as the hymn says “snow on snow” but just five or six inches or whatever that is in centimeters.\u00a0\u00a0 It arrived on Thursday night and is already melting fast and it looks like it will be another green Christmas here again.<\/p>\n
Lady Aberdeen 11<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Lady Aberdeen 10<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Alison commented “The information was gathered off websites etc. It is only the basics of the wealth of historical and current information available. I included only the older ‘regiments’ – there are many other corps and units, plus naval ships and Air Force squadrons – and Engagement or Battle Honour information up to World War II. There is much more about each regiment’s more recent activities in Korea, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and many Peace-keeping duties.” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <\/em><\/p>\n A Spanish Teacher was ‘House’ for instance, is feminine: ‘la casa.’ A student asked, ‘What gender is ‘computer’?’<\/p>\n Instead of giving the answer, the teacher split the class into two groups, male and female, and asked them to decide for themselves whether computer’ should be a masculine or a feminine noun. Each group was asked to give four reasons for its recommendation.<\/p>\n The men’s group decided that ‘computer’ should definitely be of the feminine 1. No one but their creator understands their internal logic; (THIS GETS BETTER!)<\/p>\n The women’s group, however, concluded that computers should be masculine (‘el computador’), because:<\/p>\n 1. In order to do anything with them, you have to turn them on; The women won.<\/p>\n ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Cove Harbour<\/p>\n The only thing left in 2013\u00a0is the Betwixt and Between dance on Saturday, December 28 <\/span>(see information below.)\u00a0\u00a0 All members of the Vancouver Branch are admitted free of charge<\/strong> thanks to the generosity of a former member, Mary Wattum.\u00a0 For many years Mary always paid for the band for this dance and she wanted to make sure this would continue more or less forever.\u00a0 We are very grateful to Mary and continue this dance in her memory.<\/p>\n You can download the crib notes for this dance at www.rscdsvancouver.org<\/a><\/p>\n If you have not already done so you should be ordering your tickets for one or both of the Burns Suppers listed under “Coming Events” below<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0 There are many Burns Suppers of course but two are put on by Scottish Country Dance groups.\u00a0\u00a0 The first one is the 20th edition of the Tam O’Shanter’s Burns Supper which will be held on Saturday, January 25 in the Star of the Sea Hall in White Rock.\u00a0\u00a0 Tickets are $55 and can be ordered by contacting Duncan at duncanmackenzie@telus.net<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 The second one is one week later on Saturday, February 1 and is hosted by the Vancouver Branch and held in the Scottish Cultural Centre.\u00a0\u00a0 Tickets are $55 \u00a0 via PayPal at www.rscdsvancouver.org<\/a> or from club rep or even patcavers@shaw.ca<\/a> .\u00a0\u00a0 I can recommend both these events.<\/p>\n An<\/strong> article in a recent edition of the National Post is applicable to the Ball and to Scottish Country Dancing in general. Check out<\/strong> https:\/\/life.nationalpost.com\/2013\/11\/02\/jane-macdougall-it-battle-of-fun-vs-the-gym-scottish-dancing-wins-every-time\/<\/a> Thanks Gill for the tip.<\/p>\n ===========================================================<\/p>\n The dance competition has now closed and a group of dancers\u00a0will meet to try out the dances that have been submitted.\u00a0 If you are interested in being part of the decision making please contact Jean – jeedwag@shaw.ca<\/a><\/strong> or Fran – caruth@telus.net<\/a> note that those who devised a dance will not be included in this group.\u00a0\u00a0 Good luck to all the devisors.<\/em><\/p>\n XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX<\/p>\n Sunrise on the Cromarty Firth<\/p>\n BRAINS OF \u00a0<\/b>BRITAIN (these are \u00a0real) Jeremy \u00a0Paxman: Contestant: Jeremy \u00a0Paxman: BEG, \u00a0BORROW OR STEAL (BBC2) <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jamie \u00a0Theakston: Contestant: Jamie \u00a0Theakston: Contestant: &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&<\/p>\n The Highland Games Committee still needs volunteers for next year. They need to fill these positions: Children’s Events Co-ordinator<\/strong> – organizing the line-up of events which is pretty easy to do, and day of just making sure everything runs smoothly Programs<\/strong> – this job takes more work in the last couple of months prior to the games, making sure all copy is submitted, having it put into a program and submitted to a printer. Sponsorship\/Advertising and promotion<\/strong> – Cher is going to do the social media aspect, Mary Jane may be around to help out again for sponsorship and advertising, but we need extra help. Someone to develop an advertising plan, to find new advertisers and sponsorships, and to be responsible for writing requests for grants and sponsorships from a list that the City of Coquitlam has provided.<\/p>\n Any volunteers can contact Jim – james.e.bain@gmail.com<\/a> Joan – jdrabyk@shaw.ca<\/a> or myself. Glenna Urbshadt – gurbshadt@shaw.ca<\/a><\/p>\n xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<\/p>\n The Vancouver Branch RSCDS has found a webmaster.\u00a0\u00a0 Many thanks to Mary Ann McDevitt for agreeing to take on this task.<\/p>\n \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7\u00a7 \u00a7\u00a7<\/p>\n Crowlista in Uig Bay<\/p>\n With the snow on the ground I drove Margaret to the Soup Kitchen.\u00a0\u00a0 No it is not what you are thinking – she volunteers there very Friday.\u00a0\u00a0 It was the big Christmas lunch so I packed my snow shovel but someone had already cleared all the sidewalks.\u00a0\u00a0 I stayed to see if I could help and started by handing out Christmas cards then graduated to rolls and later to emptying the dishwasher and putting the dishes, pots, etc. away.\u00a0\u00a0 I think they said they served close to 150 lunches which, as we had some too, were very good.\u00a0\u00a0 It was ham with potatoes, lots of veggies, apple sauce, coleslaw, buns etc. and there was cake and ice cream as well with coffee, tea, juice too.\u00a0\u00a0 It was a busy place for the three hours we were there.\u00a0\u00a0 A good friendly atmosphere.<\/p>\n There is no lunch next week but a couple from Calcutta came in to volunteer to prepare an East Indian Curry lunch on January 1 if there would be enough volunteers to help so I am signed up!<\/p>\n We took our 100+ year old friend to see Philomena last night.\u00a0\u00a0 It had been showing in White Rock for the past few weeks but unfortunately they dropped the early showing so we went into Silver City in Richmond which was quite an eye opener for our friend who still lives by herself and is Margaret’s winter bridge partner.\u00a0\u00a0 Quite the Gal!\u00a0\u00a0 We brought her back for a cuppa and it was nearly midnight by the time I got her home so we could have gone to the late show in White Rock after all!<\/p>\n EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE<\/p>\n WHERE IS IT?<\/p>\n Yet another of these pictures of Scotland that I have been sent without any note as to where they are. Last week’s picture brought no guesses so here it is again. In these days of face recognition someone must have come up with software that recognizes places!!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Send your guesses to ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org <\/a>\u00a0You can look back at prior newsletters and see previous mystery pictures etc.by going to our website www.vancouverceilidh.org.<\/p>\n llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll <\/strong><\/p>\n The next Ceilidh Dance is the on Friday\u00a0January 10th, 2014.\u00a0\u00a0 Right at the end of the festive season.\u00a0\u00a0 A great way to work off all those goodies you have eaten as well as to have a great evening of fun, exercise and laughter.\u00a0\u00a0Please call all your friends and arrange to bring them along to the Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street, Vancouver to the class from 7 – 8 p.m. and the dance following from 8 – 11 p.m. with the live music of Calanais.\u00a0 Admission at the door is only $10 (students etc. $8).\u00a0 No partner or experience necessary – just bring your smiles and I would suggest flat, comfy shoes.<\/strong><\/p>\n Michelle has very kindly made up a Facebook event page for the Ceilidh which you can forward to your friends.\u00a0\u00a0 The link is:\u00a0 https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/events\/597360563665264\/597360566998597\/<\/a><\/p>\n Ceilidh Dances are great ways to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries etc.\u00a0\u00a0 Invite all your friends to come and join you at the Ceilidh.\u00a0\u00a0 You are welcome to bring your own cake and we’ll even sing for you!!<\/p>\n kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk<\/p>\n There were some very good pictures taken at the January 4, 2013 Ceilidh Dance which have been posted on the RSCDS Vancouver Branch Facebook page. If you do not want your picture on that page please contact web@rscdsvancouver.org<\/a>. The link for the pictures is: www.facebook.com\/media\/set\/?set=a.316825198419573.56421.149674745134620&type=3<\/a><\/p>\n rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr<\/p>\n SFU’s Tartan Day celebrations featured the launch of the long-awaited “Scots in BC” website with information on how you can add your family history to the site. The website can be accessed at: https:\/\/www.scottish.sfu.ca\/scots_in_bc_project<\/a>\u00a0It is well worth a visit.<\/p>\n hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh<\/p>\n Dawn over Glasgow as viewed from Queen’s Park which is near where I was brought up<\/p>\n Some fun and interesting sites:<\/p>\n I loved this!!! And we spend a small fortune on expensive instruments………..<\/p>\n This is something you don’t see every day.\u00a0\u00a0 Nice to see kids away Notice: the 600 students are clean-cut looking, and obviously well-disciplined to carry out this routine….very impressive.\u00a0 Click the following….<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.flixxy.com\/the-cup-song-you-re-gonna-miss-me-when-im-gone.htm<\/a><\/p>\n Often a dolphin will assist divers, but it’s not often a dolphin will ask a diver for help.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This video is a testament to this mammal’s intelligence. A great video.<\/b><\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/m.baba-mail.com\/View.aspx?emailid=4120&source=mobile_share<\/a><\/p>\n Something to make you ponder a while!<\/b><\/p>\n ttp:\/\/www.spoon-tamago.com\/2012\/09\/18\/deep-sea-mystery-circle-love-story\/<\/a><\/p>\n zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n It doesn’t hurt to have a little Biblical humor <\/b>to start the day….<\/p>\n Q.. Who was the greatest female financier in the Bible?<\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n A.. Pharaoh’s daughter. She went down to the bank of the Nile and drew out a\u00a0little prophet.<\/p>\n xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<\/p>\n Auld Country Tours are a big supporter of our Ceilidh Dances James Johnson [auldcountrytours@gmail.com]<\/p>\n “““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““<\/p>\n ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““`<\/p>\n Dumbarton Rock<\/p>\n The next Ceilidh Dance will be held on Friday,\u00a0January 10, 2014. Same time, same place, same price, same amount of fun and entertainment. Now it is up to you all to help by planning on coming along and bringing loads of friends, family, acquaintances, etc. We need to improve the attendance to make the dances financially viable. Please do your best to spread the word. Let me know if you would like a poster to put up.<\/p>\n Fingal Road, Birse, Aboyne<\/p>\n An elderly man goes into a brothel and tells the madam he would like a young girl for the night. A new website for kilts and accessories. Prices seem excellent, no idea of quality or trustworthiness though: www.aglowmusichouse.com<\/a><\/p>\n ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo<\/p>\n Now, after the purge,\u00a0subscriptions are back under the 400 mark. This newsletter will go out to\u00a0375 people in many cities, provinces & countries. Now my goal is still to get to 500!! Please pass along the website to your friends and maybe they will subscribe – www.vancouverceilidh.org<\/a><\/p>\n I thought that at least the % of people opening the newsletter should be higher after removing over 50 “subscribers” who were inactive but despite that only 210 people (56.5%) opened last weeks newsletter!!\u00a0\u00a0 That is a lot lower than some previous weeks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Note: the Celtic Treasure Chest has just received large orders of Christmas items. For information on specials etc. call one of the stores – Vancouver 604-261-3688; Delta 604-940-5366 www.celtictreasurechest.ca.<\/a><\/strong> \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\<\/p>\n An online contact for dance and marching shoes (ghillies, pumps, brogues, etc.) is Bruce Griffith at www.avriel.com<\/a><\/p>\n lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll]]]]]]]]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Events happening in the immediate future include the Betwixt and Between on Saturday, December 28. – see website www.rscdsvancouver.org<\/a> for date, time and location. Please see “Coming Events” below for all information.<\/p>\n Note: \u00a0Please order your tickets for both the Tam O’Shanter’s and the Branch Burns Suppers soon – all information is shown below.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Frost on a fence post<\/p>\n ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||….<\/p>\n If anyone has any suggestions or complaints regarding the newsletter, please let me know – ceilidh@rscdsvancouver.org<\/a>\u00a0Please do not complain to your server that this is junk mail. There is a link on the e-mail should you wish to unsubscribe.<\/p>\n COMING EVENTS IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS:<\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Countesswells-Woods.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nexplaining to her class that in Spanish, unlike English, nouns are designated
\nas either masculine or feminine.<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n
\n‘Pencil,’ however, is masculine: ‘el lapiz.’<\/p>\n
\ngender (‘la computadora’), because:<\/p>\n
\n2.The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
\nincomprehensible to everyone else;
\n3. Even the smallest mistakes are stored in long term memory for possible later retrieval; and
\n4. As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half your paycheck on accessories for it.<\/p>\n
\n2. They have a lot of data but still can’t think for themselves;
\n3. They are supposed to help you solve problems, but half the time they ARE the problem; and
\n4. As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you had waited a little
\nlonger, you could have gotten a better model.<\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Cove-Harbour.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"Animated_Xmas-tree_dancing\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Animated_Xmas-tree_dancing.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Cromarty-Firth-sunrise.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/b>UNIVERSITY \u00a0CHALLENGE (BBC2) <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
\nWhat is another name for \u00a0‘cherrypickers’ and \u00a0‘cheesemongers’?<\/p>\n
\nHomosexuals.<\/p>\n
\nNo. They’re regiments in the \u00a0British Army who will be very upset with \u00a0you.<\/p>\n
\nWhere do you think \u00a0Cambridge University is?<\/i><\/p>\n
\nGeography isn’t my strong \u00a0point.<\/p>\n
\nThere’s a clue in the \u00a0title.<\/p>\n
\nLeicester<\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Crowlitsa-in-Uig-Bay.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"-](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/snow.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Animated-Xmas-tree-animation\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Animated-Xmas-tree-animation.gif\")
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<\/a><\/p>\n
\nfrom their computers.\u00a0\u00a0 They do this flawlessly and take great pride in what they have
\naccomplished.\u00a0 That\u2019s the kind of fun kids are supposed to have . . . working together.<\/p>\n![\"Beat_up_Santa_Clause\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Beat_up_Santa_Clause.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Dumbarton-Rock.jpg\")
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\n
\nSurprised, she looks at the ancient man and asks how old he is.
\n‘I’m 90 years old,’ he says.
\n’90?’ replies the woman. ‘Don’t you realize you’ve had it?’
\n‘Oh, sorry,’ says the old man. ‘How much do I owe you?’
\n<\/b>&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&<\/p>\n
\n![\"santachimney3\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/santachimney3.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"santachimney2\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/santachimney2.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"santachimney\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/santachimney.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-frost-on-fence-post.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Glen-Isla.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-Glen-Sligachan.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Christmas](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Christmas-train.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"christmas_animated_santa-dancing\"](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/christmas_animated_santa-dancing.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/Winter-ice-flower.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"dancing](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/dancing-tree-2.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.vancouverceilidh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/drunk_dancing_deer_santa.gif\"){kind=link}