From Wednesday Night at the Exiles Reception until Saturday on returning to Thornwood tired and very happy we savoured and enjoyed every second of the celebrations. It is difficult to highlight any single occasion as so much had so much meaning and feeling but we can both say that The Colour Bussing was simply splendid. For me, seeing the colour bussed at such close proximity and with trepidation, addressing the audience was a real buzz.

I got the feeling after the first minute that I had order and had hit the spot that would interest the crowd. The buzz simply got better and when we followed the Cornet, Right and Left and the lassies to the cheers and applause, I felt I was the proudest man in the world, probably next to Jamie and Malcolm!

Karin said, as she was not so wound up, it was probably better than her wedding day and just as memorable.
The Hut for me was electric and epitomised my Colour Bussing speech when I said that there was a real blending of body and soul among everyone.

Driving around in the Parade on Friday morning and seeing the hundreds of Teries waving and cheering from the street and from their windows was something I will always remember. What unity, what pride, what honour …it made us very humble and proud!

Ex-Cornet Ian Nichol gave Karin her highlight at The Ball when he invited her as his partner to Strip The Willow which took her a few minutes to realise what was happening and found muscles afterwards that she didn't know she had.

The other highlight for both of us was the people of Hawick and the visitors who warmly thanked us and brought us into their hearts with such typical Border welcoming that brings on pangs of homesickness if you allow your mind to take you there.

The help and warm support of Hon. Provost Zandra Elliot, Frank and Jeanette Scott, John Hope, Stuart Marshall, Ian Landles all the ex Cornets we met and all the Committee Members, Bailiffs, Councillors and Eck and Rob the halbediers as well as Les and Jim our drivers was so pleasing and made us feel pairt o the family, which of course we are.

Karin has known Hawick for 25 years now and has attended nine Common-Ridings but now has a totally different perspective of Hawick, its folk and my passion for everything about Teries and The Borders.

The final ceremony of handing back the Flag and dismissing the Right Hand Man and Cornet from their duties was to me not a sad moment, more a moment to savour of a job well done and a welcoming into that unique band of fower hunder and mair. It was a real lesson in the progression of life and showed how we should progress through life, with order and by doing our duty. I know thochts and emotions are different for individuals but I felt pride for Graham Robertson and Jamie at that last ceremony rather than sadness.

We both consider ourselves to be blessed and very lucky for being given the opportunity to be Chief Guest and Wife. The company and warmth of the Big Four was something we will never forget. We were just a wee bit vexed that we didn't say Cheerio to the Lasses after the handing of the flag as we had gone our separate ways in the busy schedule. They were magnificent and all of them were the Guinevere's of their bold Knights which was great to see close up.

I suppose that the low point for me was falling through Edna Taits' chair on the Saturday at the Mair when The Provost, Karin Edna and Jill had the greatest difficulty extracting the chair from my ample girth and getting me on my feet again. It was such a surprise that I suggest that a "chairing" becomes an annual event for the Chief Guest.

Our experience was definitely one to be felt rather than telt and now that I am back in Exile, I might start considering myself as a roving Ambassador rather than a Teri that's fled the nest!

We are looking forward to the harmony and buzz in the years to come when Hawick shows its true colours and once again , the story of Hornshole and The Queen o a the Borders electrifies the toon and its Common.
GEORGE AND KARIN THORBURN