DORIC COLUMN ROBBIE SHEPHERD

To contact Robbie, email yourlife@ajl.co.uk and mark your message FAO Robbie Shepherd

‘Jouk an’ lat the jaw gae by, Tak a’thing as it comes, An nivver wyte the grozer buss For no bein’ fu’ o’ plums.

THE PHILOSOPHER – DAVID RORIE

‘Are you Robbie Shepherd?’ Reversin oot o my drive the tither day an haudin up anither car, the driver screw’t doon his windae an I got at cheery greetin an a wee news. It did the aal hairt gweed as he mynt on fittin a new byler in oor hoose some thirty eer syne an, still a keen distance runner, foo prood he felt back then tae hear me bawlin oot ‘next to enter the field is John Buchan fae the Brig o Don’ on him comin back intae the arena in the Hill Race at Braemar Gaitherin.

Comin the day efter ma eichty-sixth birthday it brocht aathing back as tae foo lucky I hae been been in life an that humblin feelin ye get fin yer aaler.

Gin I made his day back then, ye made mine John es time roon. At’s foo the snatch o at poem cam tae myn an, bi coincidence, publish’t an eer afore es sooter’s loon fae Dunecht first saw the licht o day.

Gin ye be strugglin wi the fower short lines an fit it aa means, tak it anither wye – ‘avoid bi jinkin in an oot an lat the coorse tongues ging by ye. Tak aathing as it comes’. Syne the sage advice at the eyn nae tae aye blame the warl ootside for yer misfortunes,

‘Nivver blame the gooseberry bush for nae being full of plums’.

Ay a body nivver kens fit’s afore them an some hinna hin their sorras tae seek ae wye on anither as I think es verra day on the passin afore his time o that fine Moray fiddle player, composer an music teacher James Alexander efter a sair chauve in bravely fechtin serious illness. James will lang be remember’t for his great services tae traditional Scottish music in his ain airt an richly deservin the MBE in 2011, forbye bein inductit intae the Scottish Traditional Hall of Fame in 2017. I wis tae ken him best sharin the stage as compere wi Fochaber Fiddlers, a maist talentit group o energetic young players he set up an develop’t owre the eers. My sympathies tae aa faimily an freens on the loss o a champion o oor music, yet bidin aye the same douce gentleman.

I think tee on twa gweed freens an ex-neebors on the daith o a son recently, haein lost anither twenty eer syne, baith loons in their prime. Nae wirds can dull the pain felt within the family at es time. It’s ill for them tae thole.

Ay an here’s me aye chappin awa, knypin on wi smaaer steps, sae back tae the birthday an I wis fair trickit wi an email fae a pal, a thochtie younger than masel, suggestin he drap a wee message tae the Queen speirin for her tae myn tae sen a caird tae me on ma 100th. His problem wis he wisna sure gin she wid still be aroon. Maybe he shid ask Prince Andra, bit the Duke wid probably sen me a celebratory letter alang wi’s bill !!

Na thank ye. Fit wis’t at Dr Rorie’s philosopher said again?

‘Dinna look for muckle an ye winna be disappintit’ See ye neist wikkeyn.