Category: Writings
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Gladys Len’s a Han’
After Barrowsgate made a hash of things, Mistress B sends for her sister Annie to look after her while she is confined to bed. However, Annie can’t come and sends her daughter Gladys instead. After some crossed wires, the mince and tatties turns out a little odd …
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Boiled Herring
In Flanders, in 1917, a spy is suspected to have infiltrated the Allied lines. A sentry is posted at “the Gap” with orders not to let anyone through without a pass from the General. Before long, an officer by the name of Boyd Heron attempts to pass and is challenged by the sentry. Note: Barrowsgate…
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Chicken Broth
Mistress Barrowsgate is unwell and he is advised by the doctor to make her some chicken soup. Which he does. Eventually.
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Kyeonomy, Beuk Two
In response to brother-in-law Alec’s request, Barrowsgate continues his sermon about cows. This time, Mistress B ends up with her head in a bucket.
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The Buchan Banquet
“Meal and Ale” gatherings were held in celebration after the harvest was completed. The ever-present oatmeal was mixed with whisky and served with mutton or vegetable broth. Afterwards the pipes or fiddles sounded and the dancing began. In Barrowsgate’s version, people came from all over the Buchan district to the “Meal and Ale” gathering, and…
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Gloriana R.I.P.
Barrowsgate is saddened to read of the demise of “Gloriana”, his friend Rob’s motor car.
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The Gentle Warrior – Darling of Otaheiti
The subject of this story, published in the Buchan Observer in September 1936, is Ernest William Darling, who became famous as a result of meeting the novelist Jack London in Tahiti and was the subject of London’s own story “The Nature Man” published in an American magazine in 1908. According to London, Darling had studied…
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Explodin’ a Fallacy
Barrowsgate puts city folk straight about the economic realities of farming. Context: By 1936, the UK farming sector had been in decline for several years and the Conservative government elected in 1931 had brought in subsidies and price regulation.