This fella is a real credit to caithness.
Enjoy it now there is no second lap.
This was an ode to Dan Murray, I am not sure was it before or after he died.
The wife's grandad did tell her the story but like many things you can never be sure when there is nobody left to ask.
OOR DANS DREAM
Let this be a warning to all those who may be contemplating
Taking up fishing as a hobby:
Oor Dan had a dream that he had quitted this life,
Said guid-bye tae the fishin’ and guid-bye tae the wife:
Before passing away he packed rod, line and reel,
Spinners, flees, and his baits, he took them as weel.
But when Peter espied all this fishin’ gear,
He said tae oor Dan “You’re a fisher, I fear,
And as fishers are leers, of course, you must go,
And join your fishin’ mates, “way doon below.”
But when they were standin’ by Jordan’s fair river,
Dan saw a troot rise, it fair made him quiver;
He got mounted fu’ haste, Peter gazed on in wonder,
As Dan hooked and landed a bonny fower punder.
Then Peter tae Dan said “ I wish you’d show me
How tae catch troots wi’ what ye ca’ a dry flee.”
But Dan said tae Peter, “Man, wi’ this hae a go,”
And he handed tae him a wee pot of roe.
Peter thought it was jam, but his very first cast,
Saw him intae a whopper, aye firm and fast,
And when it was landed, Peter danced round in glee,
And shouted tae Dan, “Man, this bates your dry flee.”
Then Dan shouted to Peter, “ye’ve naething at a’.
I’ve something tae bate roe, dry flees an’ a,”
So oot in the boat went the saint and the sinner,
Peter managed the oars, while Dan spun the spinner,
Then all of a sudden, Dan saw a tail swish,
He struck and cried—“ Hell, I’m intae a fish!”
It towed the boat here, it towed the boat there,
Sometimes it jumped nigh ten feet in the air:
The boat kept gan round, Peter felt kind o’ seek,
But Dan kept on fechtin’ and got oot his cleek,
Twa oors now had passed, and the fish it was game,
But came yince ower near, and Dan sent the gaff hame.
And when at land last, on the bank it lay still,
Dan felt in his pocket and took oot a gill,
He gave Peter a dram (a wee ane, nae doot),
But a sixty pund salmon deserves mair than a troot.
Then Peter said, Dan the law ye ken states,
Nae fisher can enter the Pearly Gates.”
“Nae fishin’ in Heaven,” quoth Dan, “ Then by heck,
Gie’s my ticket tae Hell, and a pass-oot check,
I never could sing and I never could flee,
So a harp and wings wid be nae guid tae me.”
Said Peter, “Right o’, for spinners, roe and flees,
I,ll gie ye a pass tae come oot when ye please:
Ye’ll act as my boatman, and teach me tae fish,
What mair can a man that’s damned ever wish?”
“ Right ye are, then,” said Dan, “That’ll suit me just fine,
I’m begginin’ tae wish that I’d died lang, lang syne!”
Last edited by corgiman; 04-Jul-07 at 13:56.
What a wonderful thread ,thanks to everyone who posted a thread or told a story.
Its made an interesting history lesson to an "outsider"
Never judge someone until you have walked two moons in their moccasins.
Native American Indian saying.
I'll add a couple more piccys soon folks!
Last edited by thirsaloon; 04-Jul-07 at 15:20.
The Castlegreen Manse is today known as Goldenacre.
Below is Sir John's Square taken around 1906. You'll notice that the war memorial was not in situ at the time, instead the fountain in memory of Sir George Sinclair. It was moved to the back of the square to make way for the memorial which was erected in 1922.
Below is the Clett Rock which was taken in 1864.
Notice the Edwardian Bandstand in the background: my favourite photograph of it was taken from the top of the Town's Clock. The Bandstand was removed by Thurso Council in 1976 as a "town improvement." They were great visionaries back then, too. A petition was set up in 1999/2000 to restore the Bandstand but was met, predictably, by the council's refusal despite a large amount of signatures by the local public - and the support of Lord Thurso.
Well done Thirsaloon, you are famous now, you have made the headlines in the CCWS
Once the original Grumpy Owld Man but alas no more
These photos are fantastic, Thirsaloon, thanks for posting them. Its hard to believe how different Thurso once was!
"Step sideways, pause and study those around you. You will learn a great deal."
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