I Love a Parade ...

I missed them setting off, but I could hear the Pipe Band playing down in town while I was gardening this morning.

Some laundry and a bit of sewing also got done, till at tea-time it was time to head down the hill to see the cavalcade returning. 

They'd ridden 20+ miles over moor, up hill and down dale, pausing to listen to an address up at the Redeswire, just over the border. 

It was the site of a skirmish between the Scots and the English in 1575 - supposedly the last one in which the two nations actually faced off. And also the last time bows and arrows were used in battle on British soil.  Well, the story goes that the Scots were getting the worse of it till the men of Jethart arrived and in local parlance 'set about them'.  

All the Borders towns have their festivals and they all have to have a story to re-enact, and that's ours.

Tonight the Instrumental Band played and the riders rode in past the Abbey to the Market Square. Medals were presented to the first-time completers (some very young). This year's Callant, Euan Munro, gave out the prizes for the best-decorated shop-windows ( he looked in desperate need of a soft seat and a long drink). The town turned out to greet them and to have a good blether.

I always like to have a go at capturing the reflections as the euphoniums go by, and this year I got rather more than I bargained for.

Thank you, Admirer, for bringing us Silly Saturday. Lots and lots of fun!