November Martinmas Winter Term
The winter ‘Farming Fee-ing’ day
So important in a farm hand’s life
When hired by a farmer for a full year
He’d have wage and home for his wife.
Farmers and farm workers would appear
And if on terms they did agree
To stay and work there for a year
It was soon all sealed by taking a Fee.
Married men lived in cottar hooses
For perks they got milk and meal
Many renewed their yearly contract
When a’body got on rale weel.
For man and horse became a team
As they kept turning o’er the soil
Bonding together - perfect dream
That nothing could ever spoil.
Single men lived in a bothy there
And were aye mair ready for a flit
Moving at the spring May term
Just to spread their wings a bit.
Remembering, when just a wee lassie
The Term fun day in Kirrie Square
Spending a ha’penny at the Muckley
At the stalls all erected there.
Walking in wi’ my Gran and Grandy
To me it was a real holiday
Toddling hame tired but happy
Clutching toys at the close of day.
Gone now are those simple joys
That filled 0ur hearts with delight
To see a field of horses now
And men ploughing – a lovely sight.
Fields of stooks drying in the sunshine
High stacks built up in farm yards
Are some things you no longer see now
Yet was real fodder to the Bard.
Life no doubt is much easier now
The old Term dates met their fate
But I’m glad that I was born back then
Such Happy Memories they still create.