Joel came over to Dulwich to join us for Burns Night in 2020, just before Covid took over the world. Anna could not come because she had an architecture essay deadline which was dominating her life at that time. The menu included Cullen Skink and Buttery Rowies, followed by Roasted Lamb Shoulder which had been cooked for ten hours in garlic, lemon and rosemary, with Vegan Haggis, Rumbledethumps and Clapshot. (This all sounds like something from Harry Potter, but wasn't, I promise!) We finished with Prune and Whisky Tart, Drambuie Ice Cream and a Compote of Fruit cooked in elderberry wine, with Scottish cheeses and Scottish oatcakes to end the evening. Anyhow, what was most memorable about that night was most definitely not the food - although I could not resist listing it just now as I do think it was rather a good menu. I had planned that each of us would have all sorts of things to say to contribute to the festivities but what was best of all was Joel asking, tota;lly our of the blue, if he could recite Robbie Burns' To A Mouse, which he did - in full and wonderfully well and totally off by heart. Wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie, O, what a panic’s in thy breastie! Thou need na start awa sae hasty, Wi’ bickerin brattle! I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee Wi’ murd’ring pattle! This is only a fraction of a very long poem...... He said it was the only Robbie Burns' poem he knew but, my goodness, it was the star turn of the evening. Nothing else I had planned rivalled it in any way. You cannot imagine the number of times I have related this incident. I was so impressed. Over the years Joel continually surprised us by revealing more and different talents. How on earth and why on earth had he ever learnt this poem? That was Joel...........