Gala Fails to Ding A. Apparently

The team doing the extension and associated works on the small-house-in-Duns mostly hail from, Galashiels. One of the first things we learned on our arrival in the Borders 11 plus years ago was that people from Gala were apparently heartily disliked by many of their neighbours and near neighbours; we were never told why but 'he is from Gala' seemed condemnation enough in many quarters. It is surprising as our Gala builders are a very friendly, personable (and efficient) bunch so I supposed the origins of this suspicion and hostility lies in the murks of history. Duns people are of course known as 'Dingers' 'Duns Dings A' is the informal town motto. I asked our joiner what the Gala people were called by the cognoscenti. It depends, it seems, on who is doing the calling but in the Borders they are known as 'Pailmerks'

This is nothing to do with being the wrong sort of Reiver in bygone days but refers to the fact that Galashiels was the last major Border Toon to get plumbed in toilets. So long after Melrose and Hawick were flushed with success the Gala people were still sitting on their buckets.Not always user friendly on the nether regions.

Hence 'Pail Merks' or if you speak proper :

Pail Marks'

Gettit?

And asks Robbie of Reston would a Galashiels Stand up comic (Beyond the Pale in this instance) be known as a

Galawag?

(The image is one of 1100 of Galashiels on Flickr-this was captioned 'The Best Thing in Galashiels'

The bus out of it?

Rather like Dr Johnston's comment that the Scotsman's favourite sight was the Highroad to England.)

Labels: Dingers, Galashiels. Small House in Duns, Pail Merks

  ¶ 12:19 PM