Broomhill Reminiscence Group (Mr Robbie, New Aberdour)
I started work fin I wis 13 year auld, on a fairm at Rathen, aboot sax miles frae the Broch, deein odd jobs aroon the place. I'd hae pued neeps, or swypit oot the byre, or mucked oot the horse, jist fitiver I wis telt tae dee. At that time durin the hairst the corn wis still scythed , an the sheaves bund bi haun, so there wis aye plenty o jobs tae keep me busy. I didna bide on the fairm, bit I wis within waukin distance o it, an ma workin day started aboot hauf past 6 in the mornin, an feenished aroon 6 o clock at nicht.
I wis born in 1910, an ma first fee at 13 year auld for ma 6 months work wis nine pounds. I bocht claes an sheen wi thon, tae pit in ma timmer kist. Aa the feed men on the fairm hid a timmer kist tae keep their things in. Mine hid a lock on't! I still hiv ma timmer kist.
Sometimes a fish wife wid traivel up on fit frae the Broch, cairryin a creel full o fish fresh catched frae the sea. I myne seein een, and thinkin it wis a fair wecht that she wis cairryin. She wore a shawl roon her showders an a lang skirt.
Fyles, the fairm hid anither visitor, a tramp caad Willie Lummie. He wis as black's the lum, ye see. He'd come roon cadgin a meal for a day's work, an the fairmer wad let him doss doon in the barn tae sleep amangst the strae. I'd a caff bed masel, at hame, a mattrass stappit wi strae. Near aabody hid that. They were comfy eneuch.
Some o the fairms roon aboot keepit dyeuks an geese, as weel as hens. I tell ye this, ye widna get a better guard than a pucklie geese. They skreich ooto them if they hear onybody strange gaun aboot. And that can be handy, if ye bide awa at the heid o a park. The geese soun the alarm if onybody comes up tae the fairm withoot warnin!