That Was Scotland

They spent their evenings in quality hotels, enjoying excellent dinners before heading off to bed not long after 10 pm to prepare mentally and physically for the journey to the next port of call, where they would find their belongings awaiting them, magically transported by coach.

It was my function to be guest at their function, and over the course (three) of dinner I would sing local songs, tell stories about this part of the world and answer any questions they might have. Over the weeks I began to see a pattern emerging and I was able to compile a list of Most Asked Questions.

When I remind you that these cyclists were from North America and many had come to Scotland with the express purpose of ancestor spotting, you won‘t be at all surprised to learn that the questions most often put involved the clan system, the Holyrood Parliament, Robert Burns and - from the menu - what exactly is Cullen Skink?

One question which appealed to me came after I had sung The Loch Tay Boat Song, carefully explaining beforehand the meaning of the Gaelic words nighean ruadh - red haired maiden. I had forgotten that there was another Gaelic phrase in the song and was asked by a very serious lady librarian the meaning of ‘ho ro’!

Another eye-opener came at an event in East Perthshire organised by a clan associated with Lady Nairne (she who composed Charlie is My Darling, Will Ye No’ Come Back Again?, The Auld House, Wi’ a Hundred Pipers, The Rowan Tree and Caller Herring) and for which I was a member of The Last Gask Ceilidh Band.

The Clan Chieftain and most of the committee seemed to be property developers from Southampton, but the highlight of the evening was a special strathspey for which the instructions and the tune had been found printed on an antique fan (no - not a follower of the band) bought recently at auction in the USA. The members of the clan, benefitting from expert tuition from the band‘s caller, danced their hearts out and ensured the preservation of another piece of clan lore, legend and light fantastic.

This is Scotland....

Finally, I have just completed fourteen weeks presenting a one-man show This is Scotland … and You’re Welcome to It! in which I tried to educate and entertain on the subject of Scotland and, in particular, this wonderful part of the world. I now have in my possession a visitors’ book crammed with comments from audiences from places as far apart as Florida and Fearnan, Kenmore and Kentucky, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and parts of Europe which, if they entered the Eurovision Song Contest, would necessitate a second or third night’s broadcast.

People are indeed curious about Scotland, and perhaps we should provide more in the way of traditional entertainment and leave the quiz nights and karaoke for the long hard winter ahead; well, you don‘t think we‘re going to get away with this summer, do you? (Voices off: ‘aye, we’re doomed …’)