Mr Burns comes to Bushey (From Watford Observer)

Mr Burns comes to Bushey

10:57am Sunday 1st February 2009

• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

The lure of the haggis brought us a full house for our Burns Supper with Colin & Les our 2 hosts who`ve just come down from the Isle of Skye in fine form.

Highlight of the evening for many was seeing the haggis piped in ( or maybe that should read Ipodded in ) to the strains of “Scotland the Brave” followed by yours truly expertly carving it up whilst reciting a word perfect address, well that`s how I remember it.

The evening was summed up nicely by one of our regulars who brought along a Russian friend and later told me, “ She hadn`t a clue what was going on but she had a great time and wants to come next year”

For the 12th consecutive year I was honoured to judge the Rickmansworth & Chorleywood district Scout cooking competition.

In innocent days gone by I loved my boyhood days in the Scouts and am still close to those I shared days under canvas with.

Scouting taught us basically how to fend for ourselves and work as part of a team though on occasions it did revert to every man for himself like the midnight hike when we discovered we`d pitched our tent in a field occupied by Highland cattle

If this comes across as an advert for Scouts then it`s meant to be, during my time our small Scout troop in our small town ( Lanark, population 8,000 ) produced Ronnie McNab who founded Caledonian Alloys a multi-million £ company, Derek Ringer who was co-driver for the late great Lanarkian Colin McRae when they won the world rally championship and Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Telfer MBE from the Royal Scots who was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service.

In this years competition I sampled 5 teams 3 course meals and would say you just have to be there to enjoy the looks on their faces when their culinary efforts work out as intended

Congratulations to Mill End from Rickmansworth who won, Rickmansworth for a memorable lemon cheesecake, Batchworth for originality ( all 3 courses were wrapped up and served inside a rucksack as if on a hike ) & Charlie Hammond & Chorleywood for putting up a good show with only half a team.

Meanwhile back at The Three Crowns we took delivery of a 6 foot 4 cardboard cut-out of Lawrence Dallaglio who is there to remind everybody that the 6 nations starts soon and to entice our customers to quaff Green King IPA ( official beer of the English rugby team ).

Part of the cardboard cut-out kit was a risk assessment form which we had to complete for Elf n`Safety, basically this absolves everybody of any blame should 6 foot 4 Lawrence bump his head on our 6 foot 0 oak beams, accidentally tackle any of our customers or England fail to win a match after quaffing the sponsors ale.

We wish him well during his stay with us

Closer to rugby home my youngsters team have finally won a game this year ( 10-0 v Henley ) though his inaugural try is still to come he was pleased with himself as he got to play in the second half.

Coach Dave has promised he can make an appearance in their next game, the first round of the cup no less, against Welwyn Garden City

I think coach Dave is fairly cunning as he knows that only players are entitled to an after match hot dog, which could be why he played 12 second half substitutes

Just leaving now for the game and promise to update you later on the hot blogs