Burn's Night 3rd

It really doesn’t seem like a year ago that Nathan and I attended our first Burn’s night function but here we were 12 months on gearing up for another fantastic night out.  To make things even better, I was able to pick Nathan up early from work giving us a few hours to take a better look around Bristol before the event.  The children, much to their excitement, were having a sleep over with the Peach family so we knew they were in good hands!

After checking in at the Bristol Hotel, which was also the venue for this evening’s function, we wasted no time heading back out into the freezing cold afternoon.  Our first port of call was the Bristol Cathedral.

 The origins of Bristol Cathedral lie in the abbey founded in 1140 by Robert FitzHarding, a wealthy merchant, Provost of Bristol and Lord of Berkeley.  FitzHarding brought Augustinian monks, known as Black Canons, to serve God and the community at this spot across the river from the then walled city. Their abbey church was dedicated to St Augustine the Great and was constructed in the Romanesque style, known in England as Norman.

In 1540, at the time of the Reformation, the Abbot was forced to surrender the abbey to the King.  Bristol had been part of the diocese of Worcester up until this time, but two years later was made a city.  The abbey church became the Cathedral of the new see of Bristol, with the dedication changed to The Holy and Undivided Trinity.

 In front of the Norman Abbey Gatehouse, with 15th Century upper storey

The interior of the Cathedral is said to be unusual and unique with “lierne” vaulting and its "hall church" eastern end, meaning that the aisles are the same height as the choir.  I am sure this is all true but whatever the case it was rather striking and beautiful in its apparent simplicity and was well worth us popping in

 The Chapter House is Norman with fine arcading and dog-tooth mouldings, typical of the period.

 With some culture under our belts it was time for a ‘warming’ ale so we headed indoors firstly to the Graze then in the more ‘pub like’ Hole in the Wall.  I must say it was nice just to sit and chat with not an ipod touch or colouring book in sight!

 With the afternoon marching on, and turning progressively colder, it was back to the hotel to prepare for our evening out. 

 View from the hotel (with Bristol Cathedral in the distance)

 At 1830 it was time to join the crowd for pre dinner drinks.  Unlike last year where we knew no one, 12 months on Nathan had actually organised our table including two other Australian couples, one American couple and a gentlemen from Northern Island whose ‘Devonian’ girlfriend was the only ‘non colonial’ of the group.  As with last year the evening was a roaring success with the piping in of the Haggis followed by a very entertaining address.  The food was fabulous (although Nathan said the haggis flock must have been smaller this year) but the highlight was definitely the dancing with a traditional Ceilidh band – just the thing to work off that bottle of Scotch!

 Piping in the Haggis

 Haggis, Neeps and Tatties no less!

 Nathan and ‘the American’ Kris

We danced into the wee hours of the morn and were happy we had decided to spend the night and did not have to head home into the cold night air. 

Our ‘mini break’ continued in the morning with a relaxing hotel breakfast followed by a driving tour of some of the sights of Bristol.  Expecting to pick up the kids around 11am we received word that they were headed out for a morning ramble and would be dropped home at a later point – who were we to complain as we didn’t see sight nor sound of them until almost 3pm.  Thanks Kate!!