Two Mornings In Moffat
The thing I love about driving to Moffat is that when you take that slip-road off the A74 you very quickly find yourself in another world. It's like a little part of Scotland where time was made to stand still because the town is just so charming.
I found myself there at ten o'clock on Monday morning because I'm one of the eight judges in this year's event. I was due to meet the others in the Moffat House Hotel at noon, so I had plenty of time to wander among the tea-rooms and toy shops on the main street. I even had time to get a haircut. £3.50, it cost me and what a bargain. The lady with the scissors told me that the local school term resumed the following day and so she was expecting a last minute rush of small boys. No sooner had she said this than the door opened behind me and her prediction came true.
Chimes like Big Ben's wee brother told me it was noon and I made my way to the hotel. I'm not allowed to reveal anything about the judging process, nor reveal any of the winning songs, but I can tel you we sat in that hotel conservartory until almost eleven o'clock on Monday night, taking one main meal break (no pudding) but otherwise ploughing on through the CD's.
It has to be said that every other judge had a credible background in music performance or production. I bluffed may way through the night making the odd reference to Noel Coward and Cole Porter until I was beaten senseless by the others. No, just joking, my fellow judges were remarkably tolerant of my "I know what I like" approach to the whole affair.
I was particularly impressed by , who had arrived with her beautiful two-week old boy in tow. I was a little less taken by Karine's sudden observation that she was probaly the youngest judge in the room and that subsequent Burnsong panels should try to recruit at least one member who was still in her or her twenties.
"But I'm only twenty-two, " I protested, "I've just had a hard life."
It was at that point we decided to call it quits for the night. I shuffled off to my room, thankful that I can still manage the stairs.
