The cheek o'd. Oo must hev been dreamin' when oor community came the gither an' fair enjoyed thumsels whilst at the same time respectin' ancient traditions.

Mibee it didni happen? Here was us, baskin' in another best of a', fair chuffed how weel it went again, an' accordin' ti a reporter in the Border Telegragh it was a weekend o' shame. Here was us, chuffed oo got mare sunshine than rain an' yet somebody wants ti piddle on oor parade. Aye, the cheek o'd.

Div ee hink this reporter was even here? At least The Scotsman printed a super pictur o' oor Cornet gaun up the chase. Bit the Border Telegragh hed ti dae the dirty on oo. A'm no takin' the bait. A could verri easily gee in ti the temptation ti git inti a tit for tat mud chuckin' game an' remind folk how the toon where that paper is based is kent es the land o' the Pailmerks, due ti the fact they were the last toon in the Borders ti git a sanitation system. So they hed ti yais pails and es a result got reed rings roond their hint ends. Hence the name pailmerks.

Bit A wadni suggest sic a thing. So ool no gaun there. Besides, a wad bet whaeever wrote eet isni even fri Gala, for alang wi oor freendly banter an' rivalry oo git oan juist grand. An' there's plenty folk fri Gala come ower ti oor Common Riding an' they're welcomed yin an' a. An' vice versa.

What a guid letter in the paper fri Ex Cornet Ben Graham aboot eet. An' even the Police hed their hackles up. When an Inspector says aboot the article, that hie's niver read sic load o' rubbish, it kinda makes ee wonder if the reporter hed yin or twae ower mony nips umsel.

Mibee hei was feelin' a wee bit doon that day, an' lookin a wee bit pale. Bit, nut, a'm no gaun there. Mind, fer be it fri mei ti suggest ulterior motives, bit a couldni help bit notice that the same paper is reportin' its disappointment that Gala hes been left oot o' the Lonely Planet tourist guide. Oh what a hoo ha they're makin' aboot that. Angry reactions, oor telt. Gala's the capital o' the Borders oor telt. Is that right? Whae telt ee that?

Ti be fair, Hawick's no in eet either. Bit whae wants ti be on a lonely planet onyway. Eed hev naebody ti speak ti. Mind oov been weel heraldeed be other guides, particularly aboot oor Common Riding. A wonder if the reporter didni like that. A wee bit jeelous mibbee? So they wrote a blackenin' story aboot eet. Na, a telt ee a'm no gaun there.

The article says that a Gala Cooncillor says the number yin reason ti come ti Gala is the Braw Lads Gaitherin'. Which oo wad say pales inti insignificance compared to oor aincient Common Riding and a the events that suroond eet. Bit how niver, like a said a'm no gaun ti let eet git mei roosed. A should relax an' listen ti some music. Mibbe; A Whiter Shade O' Pale.