Idea for haggis song really was an offal idea
THE best laid plans of mice and men sometimes work out fine, thank goodness.
Last week I organised and hosted a Scottish bash in Los Angeles and the evening was held in aid of a great cause – The Kiltwalk.
Among the famous faces attending was my good pal Gary Barlow, who fairly enjoyed tucking into the haggis.
I suggested he sing a song in praise of the Scottish dish. How Neep Is Your Love, perhaps? He told me that was an offal idea, though.
The highlight of the evening was the wee sing-song that did happen, however.
Mari Wilson – who sang the hit single Just What I Always Wanted in 1982 – led the crowd, including Gary, in a few choruses of Bonnie Wee Jeannie Mccall, and it was sensational.
Mari sang a heart-stopping cover of the Etta James single At Last at my wedding in 2015 – I consider her a good pal.
Nicknamed the Neasden Queen of Soul, Mari’s full name is Mari Macmillan Ramsay Wilson.
Her mum and dad, Jimmy and Helen, came from Scotland, so she was right at home.
Also there was Scottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter. Of course – I get an MBE and a knight has to turn up and ruin it!
It was great to see Sir Tom there. He had a great time despite me trying to get him to pay for my drinks bill at the end of the night.
Why else invite a millionaire if you’re not going to tap him up?
I even wore a kilt as part of proceedings – but thankfully the sight of my pasty Scottish knees didn’t put too many guests off their cranachan.
Speaking of which – did you see the Super Bowl? It went from a very Scottish evening here in California to a very American one.
There was glitz, glamour, patriotism, national anthems, a show-stopping Justin Timberlake performance… and there might have been some sort of sporting event in there too.
Of course, it wasn’t the first time Justin has performed at the world-famous half-time show.
The last time he and Janet Jackson made a bit of a show of themselves, as my granny might have said.
We should all sympathise, though. Who hasn’t experienced a wardrobe malfunction and shown a bit too much flesh?
I speak as someone who’s been wearing a kilt recently…