Last year I was asked to sing Border Ballads at a Border Gathering. Having checked that I did actually sing some Border Ballads,off I set. I got there to find out that no one really knew what was going on,still we organised ourselves,two ballad singers and an English duo into something resembling a performence. Now the duo had been travelling from the deep south and had been on the road since 6 am and it was now afternoon,and freezing.......Scotland in August!!!! The clambered up on to the side of a huge lorry,that was an entertainmemt in itself and started the set,two verses in,the organiser hirpled up as fast as she could and stopped them - mid song- the horses were next so could they please stop. I am not making this up. Then we unaccompanied balladeers took the mike,now I don't know if you've ever tried to sing into a mike with a howling gale whipping the words out of your mouth.....but its an experience. Still we soldiered on, ably assisted by Willie Beattie dressed in a kilt,into his 80's,clambering onto the side of the lorry. Made of Stern stuff these Borderers. So the day continued and we enlisted a few of our friends to come up and sing with us,fortified with a few brandies to keep out the cold. We gave up the Border Ballads and decided to do a few things we could all sing together. By late afternoon we decided we'd had enough and went to get our expenses......they could'nt find the treasurer and it looked for a momemt that no cash would be forthcoming. However they did eventually find the man with the cash and we went on our merry way. Its about time for the gathering this year and I can't think why my friend hasn't been on the phone about it!!!!!