Today is the official opening of the national Burns Museum at Alloway in Ayrshire. The museum ,which is built around the old Burns family cottage, contains a number of interesting displays and information about the bard, including information boards in the Scots language. Liz Lochhead, who has recently been appointed Scotland's national makar, or master poet, will be attending the opening along with First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond MSP. A Burns Weekend festival will follow at Alloway.