Musings from the Merse
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Beggar your Neighbour?
Huttonian could hardly believe his eyes. A Mendicant in Berwick. It must be the credit crunch. This was in the station just outside the main door. He seemed familiar-could it be my old friend the Princes Street beggar? On a short break holiday?The wee dog and its snug warm jacket was very similar but this was a younger man. No requests for small change, no sardonic 'Have a good day' as you slunk past, trouser pockets unentered, and praise the pigs, no bagpipes. Just an empty tin.
Grateful for the absence of the pipes (It is England after all, if only just) I dropped in a pound. The wee dog wagged its tail, the bloke gazed into the middle distance. A slight curl of the lip. Jumped to his feet, picked up his tin, flicked the coin into his jacket pocket jerked the wee dog after him and disappeared in the direction of the ticket office.
Got the final bit of his dosh for his ticket?
Kings Cross?
First Class?
Mission accomplished
Glad to have been of service
Huttonian could hardly believe his eyes. A Mendicant in Berwick. It must be the credit crunch. This was in the station just outside the main door. He seemed familiar-could it be my old friend the Princes Street beggar? On a short break holiday?The wee dog and its snug warm jacket was very similar but this was a younger man. No requests for small change, no sardonic 'Have a good day' as you slunk past, trouser pockets unentered, and praise the pigs, no bagpipes. Just an empty tin.
Grateful for the absence of the pipes (It is England after all, if only just) I dropped in a pound. The wee dog wagged its tail, the bloke gazed into the middle distance. A slight curl of the lip. Jumped to his feet, picked up his tin, flicked the coin into his jacket pocket jerked the wee dog after him and disappeared in the direction of the ticket office.
Got the final bit of his dosh for his ticket?
Kings Cross?
First Class?
Mission accomplished
Glad to have been of service
Labels: Berwick Station, Mendicant Piper, Mendicants
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
The Campbells are coming. For Christmas. Unfortunately
It was bound to happen. The Mendicant Piper (MP) on the south side of Princes Street has severe and sustained competition. Not from another nearby McBusker but from the dreadfully kitsch 'Scottish shop' just around the corner on the other side of the street now blaring forth, tinny but strident pipe music (or rather Macmusack) from strategically placed loud speakers-strategic in the sense that a well intentioned and public spirited axeman can't quite reach them. Usually it is all the old favourites so beloved of Jimmy Shand but to day a sinister new development:
'Away in the Manger' on the pipes or a rough approximation. Very rough*
I suspect there is big money to be made in Gallicising the old carols -surely all out of copyright by now
Jimmy Wenscelas set out
early in the gloamin
'If I canna find me tartan troos
I'll have to quit the roamin'
* Don't try this at home. Please
(The image is of a Scottish piper in Swaziland. Now if we could all club together and buy a ticket to darkest Africa for the MP of PS.....One way would be fine)
Labels: Carols in Kiltsc, Embra, Mendicant Piper
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Wanna a Band?
This weeks odd letter in the Berwickshire is as follows
SIR, - Malicious rumours are at present circulating in Eyemouth and the surrounding district stating that the Eyemouth RBLS Branch Pipe Band is in the process of being disbanded.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
The band led the parade from the parish church to the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday as it has done for many years.
The band meets for chanter practice in the British Legion Club on Wednesday evenings 7pm. Band practice is held in the community centre on Friday evenings at 7pm.
A warm welcome will be extended to any child or adult who wishes to take up the free piping or drumming lessons which are available to anyone interested in piping or drumming.
Any enquiries relating to the availability of the band should be made to the honorary secretary Anne Nisbet on 018907 61327.
The Borders can be a hot bed of rumours but one about the possible disbanding (npi) of a Pipe Band seems a bit OTT. Who would want to spread such a tale-and maliciously to boot? Some tone deaf incomer perhaps?
Me, I had heard a non malicious rumour-more like wishful thinking, one supposes, that the Princes Street Mendicant Piper had been disbanded-handed in his violin case, deflated the pipes and had gone to take violin lessons in Damascus. But as in the case of the Eyemouth musicians just not true.
A pity.
(Thankyou Mr David Divine and Flickr for this image of the band in question)
Labels: Eyemouth Pipe Band, Mendicant Piper
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Barren Rocks of Where?
"Do you do military tunes requests?" Asked the grizzled old veteran to the Princes Street Mendicant Piper having deposited a whole 20p piece into his violin case. " Its a Scottish Soldier you will be wanting" responded the MP starting on his tom cat warm up. "No. Its the Barren Rocks of Aden' I'll be wanting" said the GOV " I know all the tunes and I don't know that one" replied the MP " You must have the name wrong" Now Listen Jimmy" said the GOV "I have marched behind many a proper Piper up every ******* back alley in Aden, I've marched with the ******* Argylls, I have marched with that ******* Mad Mitch and don't tell me I have the name wrong. Many brave Jocks died with that tune in their heads. What ******* piper does not know the Barren ******** Rocks of ******* Aden?
He retrieved his 20p piece and stalked off towards Waverley Street steps, almost marching, no doubt, to the sound of distant drums (and pipes)..The MP broke into 'Will ye no come back again'
I may be imagining it but the 'no' sounded underlined to my uneducated ear.
Twice
(The image is of another MP in London-his specie container is even bigger than the one in Princes Street)
Labels: Barren Rocks of Aden, Embra, Mendicant Piper
Monday, February 04, 2008
Yanks that with Wallace Bled
Back to Embra for another bout of academia and a nice bright sunny day for it. My route to the uni avoids crossing the path of Embra's most photographed Mendicant Piper as judged by Flickr entries-see image above which was entitled ' Piping for Money' and taken by a rather disapproving tourist-I wonder if the 'musician'had his palm crossed with silver for allowing the photograph to be taken or was the Japanese Method used-snapped from safely across the street with a telephoto lens, out of range of the cavernous begging bowl. My route involves two Big Issue sellers, now, invariably Eastern Europeans, and a social drop out who dosses down on the Fleshmarket Steps but he is generally not at his station until the Spring.
Once going up the steps I was trapped behind an American Tour party who had brought their own Dragoman or tour guide with them all the way from Stateside. He had a very loud carrying voice and was explaining to his flock; 'This is the Fleshmarket-so called because it was a notorious hang out for local prostitutes' Cameras clicking away at the most unphotogenic part of Embra including the poor beggar who had shrunk into his sleeping bag in case he was mistaken for indulging in a trading revival.
I am not sure from which bit of WikiMacpaedia Hank. S. Dragomann had got his facts about Embra but he needs to do a bit more resaerch, methinks. I last heard him proclaiming as the Yanks reached the Royal Mile : ' We have a choice :Left to Holyrood Place where Mary Queen of Scots founded the first Scotish Parliament or right to the Castle built by the patriot William Wallace to keep out the English invaders'
They went straight on to Mc Tatt-the Scottish Souvenir Shop. Closer, their feet hurt and enough culture for one morning. Apparently
And one of the party was asking a Big Issue Vendor if he 'carried a copy of USA Today'
Back to Embra for another bout of academia and a nice bright sunny day for it. My route to the uni avoids crossing the path of Embra's most photographed Mendicant Piper as judged by Flickr entries-see image above which was entitled ' Piping for Money' and taken by a rather disapproving tourist-I wonder if the 'musician'had his palm crossed with silver for allowing the photograph to be taken or was the Japanese Method used-snapped from safely across the street with a telephoto lens, out of range of the cavernous begging bowl. My route involves two Big Issue sellers, now, invariably Eastern Europeans, and a social drop out who dosses down on the Fleshmarket Steps but he is generally not at his station until the Spring.
Once going up the steps I was trapped behind an American Tour party who had brought their own Dragoman or tour guide with them all the way from Stateside. He had a very loud carrying voice and was explaining to his flock; 'This is the Fleshmarket-so called because it was a notorious hang out for local prostitutes' Cameras clicking away at the most unphotogenic part of Embra including the poor beggar who had shrunk into his sleeping bag in case he was mistaken for indulging in a trading revival.
I am not sure from which bit of WikiMacpaedia Hank. S. Dragomann had got his facts about Embra but he needs to do a bit more resaerch, methinks. I last heard him proclaiming as the Yanks reached the Royal Mile : ' We have a choice :Left to Holyrood Place where Mary Queen of Scots founded the first Scotish Parliament or right to the Castle built by the patriot William Wallace to keep out the English invaders'
They went straight on to Mc Tatt-the Scottish Souvenir Shop. Closer, their feet hurt and enough culture for one morning. Apparently
And one of the party was asking a Big Issue Vendor if he 'carried a copy of USA Today'
Labels: American Tourists, Embra, Japanese tourists, Mendicant Piper
Friday, July 06, 2007
This image from Flickr is not the Princes Street Mendicant Piper-thankyou 'Cam McAzie' .Mores the pity as he might play a bit better than the PSMP, not that would be very difficult. Get a pig and kick it and you will have a much more harmonious melody.
He was in Waverley Station plying his trade as the weather was inclement. Two Japanese visitors hurried past, fingers in ears ignoring the offertory violin case. It seemed to me that one was humming a tune to the other as they headed for the Waverley Steps and safety :It was familiar, yes , the old Scottish air:
' Will you no come back again'
A message to the piper in a language he can understand.
With the emphasis on the
NO
He was in Waverley Station plying his trade as the weather was inclement. Two Japanese visitors hurried past, fingers in ears ignoring the offertory violin case. It seemed to me that one was humming a tune to the other as they headed for the Waverley Steps and safety :It was familiar, yes , the old Scottish air:
' Will you no come back again'
A message to the piper in a language he can understand.
With the emphasis on the
NO
Labels: Embra, Mendicant Piper
Monday, May 28, 2007
He who Pays the Piper-is in a tiny minority
A quick trip to Embra this morning to pass over more specie to the dentist but at least he makes undergoing a filling an enjoyable experience.
En route down Princes Street I checked up on the former mendicant and his wee dog whom I last saw a month ago selling the Big Issue and with no sign of a begging bowl. I thought then what an improved sense of self esteem he must have holding down a job and no longer dependent on hand outs from passers by. Stuff self esteem it appears. Begging brings in the Bucks. So it is out with the bowl. And has also requisitioned the coat he had previously given to the wee dog; the latter had to make do with a tatty blanket.
The Mendicant Piper was apparently having a bad day. On my way West he was desperately trying to prise heavy metal out of a group of Japanese?/ Chinese? tourists all clicking away with their digitals. With this smart push button technology it is possible to shoot with one hand and cover your more sensitive ear with the other-at least you then get 'A Scottish Soldier' mixed with the 'Bonnie Bonnie Banks' abominably murdered in mono rather than stereo. The MP just did not get it-had he stopped at the first wince they would have paid him handsomely out of sheer relief. But he soldiered on with his entire Medley and drove them out of sight or at least out of earshot-across the road just about covers it
When I returned. He had gone. And so had the Beggar and his dog from their pitch outside Jenners exactly opposite. Perhaps they work in cahoots-the piper drives the tourists across the Princes Street to escape the caterwauling of the MP. They then express their relief by topping up the bowl with large denominations(and pat the dog)
Later they meet in the pub and enjoy splitting the proceeds.
So perhaps not such a bad day after all.
A quick trip to Embra this morning to pass over more specie to the dentist but at least he makes undergoing a filling an enjoyable experience.
En route down Princes Street I checked up on the former mendicant and his wee dog whom I last saw a month ago selling the Big Issue and with no sign of a begging bowl. I thought then what an improved sense of self esteem he must have holding down a job and no longer dependent on hand outs from passers by. Stuff self esteem it appears. Begging brings in the Bucks. So it is out with the bowl. And has also requisitioned the coat he had previously given to the wee dog; the latter had to make do with a tatty blanket.
The Mendicant Piper was apparently having a bad day. On my way West he was desperately trying to prise heavy metal out of a group of Japanese?/ Chinese? tourists all clicking away with their digitals. With this smart push button technology it is possible to shoot with one hand and cover your more sensitive ear with the other-at least you then get 'A Scottish Soldier' mixed with the 'Bonnie Bonnie Banks' abominably murdered in mono rather than stereo. The MP just did not get it-had he stopped at the first wince they would have paid him handsomely out of sheer relief. But he soldiered on with his entire Medley and drove them out of sight or at least out of earshot-across the road just about covers it
When I returned. He had gone. And so had the Beggar and his dog from their pitch outside Jenners exactly opposite. Perhaps they work in cahoots-the piper drives the tourists across the Princes Street to escape the caterwauling of the MP. They then express their relief by topping up the bowl with large denominations(and pat the dog)
Later they meet in the pub and enjoy splitting the proceeds.
So perhaps not such a bad day after all.
Labels: Beggar and wee dog, Embra, Mendicant Piper
