 |  | | | Tattie howking | There are 7 messages in this section. |
Fraser MacDonald from Perth. Posted 25 Mar 2003.
I remember that even during the 70s and 80s the October holidays at school were called the 'tattie holidays', even by the teachers! I hated that, and picking the berries. Back breaking work for little in the way of pay, it was tantamount to slave labour. | | |
|  | John Watson from Kalamunda, Western Australia. Posted 28 Mar 2003.
My secondary schooling was at Possil Senior Secondary, in the early/mid Nineteen Forties. Our summer holidays were split so that we were available for the tattie howkin'. We had to be at the assembly point in Balmore Road, each morning at fivethirty. We took our ''piece'', I am not sure if we were given any liquid refreshment. We worked until about four each afternoon. I cannot recall the exact place of the farm but it was passed Lambhill. As I was a bit bigger than the average twelve year old my task was to empty the creels into cart. It became even harder when we thought the cart was full and the ''capes'' were put on the cart. We were paid 7\6, each day which were earning nearly two pound for a six day week. We thought we were well off. But most of mine went into the family kitty. Generally I have good memories of these times, including the occasion when the tractor broke midmorning and we were stood down for the rest of the day. The farmer paid us for the full day, which we thought very generous of him. When we arrived the next day we were confronted by an angry farmer, who wanted to know which of us had been there yesterday. We all denied being there, so he gave up and left us to get on with the tattie howkin'.
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| | Archibald (Archie) Rollo from Delta, British Columbia. Posted 31 Mar 2003.
I was 14 in the autumn of 1947 and attending Riverside Senior Secondary in Parkhead, Glasgow. Before we broke for holidays that summer the class was asked if we would like to go potato picking for three weeks in October. I was among several boys (no girls in our class) who put up their hands. The summer slipped by and the volunteers were off to Callander to be billeted at McLaren High School for three weeks. There was a sweet shop opposite the school and I used up my month's chocolate ration by buying six Mars bars. Another recollection was that twice a week at dinner we were served Pom (dried potatoes!!)The three weeks passed quickly and I was on my way home with 14 shillings in my pocket. Every spring when I plant my potatoes I think of Callander.
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| | Bob Sutherland from Kintore Aberdeenshire. Posted 18 Nov 2003.
In the late fifties we should to spend our October school hols at the tattie picking. Some farmers were generous and gave you 15 bob a day and a plate of broth at lunchtime others were less gemerous at 12 bob and nae denner! They were happy days and I reckon we were better off than today's generation of spoilt "couch potatoes", excuse the pun!
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| | Gordon from Taiwan. Posted 24 Oct 2003.
I remember the "Tattie Holidays" in and around Crieff with the likes of Scougal and Halley and names like that flying around. I think they were the "fermers". Anyway, it was hard work and murder on the back but it was nice to have a pocket full of money to spend on fish and chips at Jonnie Grilli's fish shop. I remeber one time I didn't go to the tatties but went up to meet my mates comeing back in the back of the trailer that the tractor was pulling. There I was, in my nice clean checked troosers and when my pals saw me standing there all clean and smirk, I got beaten up. To be honets, I deserved it that day.
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| | Ewan Cramb from Ohio ,USA. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
Geez,you were gettin 15 bob a day back in the 40's (75p now),in the 1970's when I was growing up in Callander we only got 5 quid a week ! and a pint o milk at lunch time.
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| | Ewan Cramb from Ohio ,USA. Posted 16 Oct 2006.
The wee sweetie shop was still across the road from the school (it was the primary school then ) I went there from 1966 to 1972.Best home made tablet you could ever find.The owners name was Mr.s Easson and she gave my dad the recipie as he had done some brickwork for her. My mum tried to make it,but it still did'nt taste the same !The shop was called the "tuck shop" and at lunch time the que would stretch doon the street at bridge end not only from us primary kids,but also from the new high school at mollands rd.
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