The Finale

Well i managed to survive the first day back at the office, if only just! The day was broken up with a lovely lunch in M&S with Jack Black She had spent a leisurely morning mooching around town (she claims she did do some housework beforehand!) and had purchased a new camera related book! Methinks she is getting serious about the blip mularkey :)

For those of you who have been following the epic of the tattie field, today sees the finale in progress. Up here in Fife we traditionally have what is known as the tattie holidays in October. In times gone by, children were let out of school for the fortnight to go pick tatties and earn some cash in the process. The days of hand picking are now gone and although there we still call them tattie holidays, the chances of the kids getting their hands dirty are zilch.

I have only ever howked tatties once when I lived on a farm shortly after I got married. The money was good - I think we got about £100 in our hands at the end of the week and that was a good haul in the early 80's. Even back then it was mechanised and we sat on the back of vehicle you can see in the picture, sorting as the tatties were mechanically picked and removing stones. Hard work, but it was great being out in the cooling autumn air and working with proper Fifers (an experience!!)