The Big Strike o 19&26

A wus nae mair nor seiven yeir oul whan the big strike o 19an26 cum. Times wus haird in them days. Fer tae kaep the hoose wairm an hait the watter fer the things it wus needed fer, me an a wheen o ouler yins kerried brenches an sticks frae Forgeson’s plantin.

Mister Forgeson telt usyins tae kerry as monie as we wantit fer he cud dae wi gettin thon place redd up. It wus nae aisy jaib whan ye wur burdened up an the thocht o kerryin yer ermfu fer maist o twa mile didnae mak it onie aisier. Some gat their firin nearder hame. Monies a guid ‘sa’ wus loast whan an oul fermer wud creep up on some o the boys wha haed eeyed oot a nice wee aish or beech aboot fyve or sax inch thick, the jist haed tae boult an mair affen than nae wud rin intae a boag or waur still, laip a dyke only to fin there wus a lint dam at the tither side.

The weemin wud a telt ye that a stick fire wus a hale lot better nor yin done wi coals fer harnen yer bannocks on.

Times then wus puir. Nae biroo nor naethin, sae gin ye cud git a day at the pu’in o lint or the tyin o coarn, the facin o hedges, sneddin turmits or mowin an oul meada that baith horses an raiper wud hae sunk intae, ye wur mair nor lucky.

Wi thon strek ower, the coals ris to yin an sax a beg (Scotch) an twa shillin fer Inglish. Slak wus aye a wee cullour chaiper. Times wus haird whan A wus a wean.

A hae min o the Big Strike o 19&26. A min weel oor hame fires burnin wi nae coals an naethin but sticks. A can smell the reek o the wuid yit.

Anon (Cairncastle)