0:00:06 > 0:00:08# Katie Morag
0:00:08 > 0:00:11# Fly away across the ocean
0:00:11 > 0:00:13# Katie Morag
0:00:13 > 0:00:15# Over the sea to Struay
0:00:15 > 0:00:17# Katie Morag
0:00:17 > 0:00:19# Far away across the ocean
0:00:19 > 0:00:21# Katie Morag
0:00:21 > 0:00:24# Over the sea to Struay
0:00:24 > 0:00:26# Katie Morag. #
0:00:26 > 0:00:29LAUGHTER AT PARTY
0:00:29 > 0:00:31I love parties, and I reckon
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Grannie Island's are the best in the whole wide world.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37They go on way past our bedtime.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41But as long as we've brushed our teeth and put on our jammies,
0:00:41 > 0:00:43we're allowed to stay up.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45Grannie Island doesn't call them parties -
0:00:45 > 0:00:47she calls them ceilidhs.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54BIRDS SCREECH
0:00:54 > 0:00:58Right, then, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02let's gather round - who's ready...
0:01:02 > 0:01:05tonight for some real entertainment?
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Most people think ceilidhs are all about dressing up
0:01:10 > 0:01:13in kilts and whirling each other around the room,
0:01:13 > 0:01:15but at Grannie Island's ceilidhs, we don't just dance,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19we sing songs, play music and tell stories as well.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25FOLK-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS IN BACKGROUND
0:01:31 > 0:01:35VOICES DROWNED OUT BY MUSIC
0:01:37 > 0:01:42Now, whose turn is it to pin the tail on the island?
0:01:42 > 0:01:43Me! Me! Me, me, me!
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Oh, Agnes, I'm afraid not!
0:01:46 > 0:01:48I think it's John's turn!
0:01:48 > 0:01:51- APPLAUSE - Ah, yes.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02We always play pin the tail at Grannie Island's ceilidhs.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05The children take turns at sticking a wee pin
0:02:05 > 0:02:06on the map of Struay,
0:02:06 > 0:02:11then one of the grown-ups tells us a tale about that part of the island.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Oh! It's the Port of The Man.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25Now, does anyone know a story about the Port of The Man?
0:02:28 > 0:02:29I do.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32Oh! Now, for those of you who don't know,
0:02:32 > 0:02:35this is my very best friend from the mainland,
0:02:35 > 0:02:37the lady author!
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Come away.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50- Well, this is a story- I- know about the Port of The Man.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Long ago, there was a famous boat-builder on Struay,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57who lived at the Port of The Man.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00When he was born, he was given two first names,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02just like you, Katie Morag.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05He was called Hugh Andy.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09But when he grew up, he was called Hugh Handy,
0:03:09 > 0:03:12because he was so good at making things -
0:03:12 > 0:03:14boats, especially.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18They were so well-built, he became the famous
0:03:18 > 0:03:20master boat-builder of Struay.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24This is also the story of how he got
0:03:24 > 0:03:28his final nickname - Hugh Handy, The Man.
0:03:28 > 0:03:34And how the bay beside his workshop was named the Port of The Man.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37The ruins of the deserted village are nearby.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Everyone on Struay lived there, long ago,
0:03:40 > 0:03:45before your village and school and your village hall were built.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Er, wait a minute - have I missed anywhere?
0:03:49 > 0:03:53The shop and post office, of course! CHUCKLING
0:03:53 > 0:03:56The most important building on Struay -
0:03:56 > 0:03:59would you agree, Katie Morag?
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Everyone had boats in those times.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04The Struachs would often sail over to visit friends
0:04:04 > 0:04:10and relatives on the neighbouring islands of Fuay and Coll and Tiree.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14Nobody ever went to the island of Bickersay,
0:04:14 > 0:04:18because the people that lived there were very argumentative.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22On still summer's nights when the sea was silky smooth,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24you could hear voices.
0:04:24 > 0:04:29"That's them arguing again," some folk on Struay would say.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32"No, they're having a party," said others.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36"So long as they don't come here," said everyone.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41As Hugh Handy's reputation spread, he got lots of orders
0:04:41 > 0:04:43to make more boats.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47He decided to look for a young apprentice to help him.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52Maxie Ina, who was just leaving school, wanted to be the next
0:04:52 > 0:04:55boat-builder on Struay.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Girls never made boats.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Her mother was stunned but pleased when Hugh Handy said he would
0:05:03 > 0:05:08give Maxie Ina an apprenticeship and see how she got on.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11He was a kindly man.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16Meanwhile, the Bickersay men got jealous of Hugh Handy's reputation.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20They thought THEY built the best boats.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24They sent a passing seagull with a message for Hugh Handy to say
0:05:24 > 0:05:27that they were coming to challenge him.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31When Hugh Handy got the message, he was worried.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35He had never boasted about his boats or himself.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41Master craftsmen have special clothes to wear on important occasions.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47A velvet cloak, a feathered hat and a big gold chain.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Hugh Handy never wore his -
0:05:49 > 0:05:53they hung on a hook in the workshop gathering dust.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59"This is what we'll do," said Hugh Handy to a wide-eyed Maxie Ina,
0:05:59 > 0:06:04as the flotilla of Bickersay boats appeared on the horizon.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09He told Maxie Ina that she was to pretend to be the master
0:06:09 > 0:06:12and he would pretend to be the apprentice.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15He took his cloak, hat and chain off the hook
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and told Maxie Ina to put them on.
0:06:18 > 0:06:24Hugh Handy told her to politely welcome the Bickersay men.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26They would think she was the master, of course,
0:06:26 > 0:06:31and then told her what to say if they challenged her.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34The Bickersay men were soon surfing ashore, colliding
0:06:34 > 0:06:38and barging into each other, the port became littered
0:06:38 > 0:06:43with broken boats and oars. Maxie Ina walked regally towards them.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46"Welcome," she said.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50The biggest Bickersay man rudely ignored her politeness
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and shouted, "We have come to challenge you
0:06:53 > 0:06:59"for the title of the Best Boat-builder in the Western Isles."
0:06:59 > 0:07:02"As you say," replied Maxie Ina.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07"But I suggest you have a competition with my apprentice first."
0:07:07 > 0:07:11"Easy, peasey," scoffed the big bully,
0:07:11 > 0:07:16looking at Hugh Handy and seeing how shabby he was in his work clothes.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19"Show them, apprentice, how you will put the legs on that stool
0:07:19 > 0:07:25"you are making," said Maxie Ina in a very superior voice.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27She was enjoying herself.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Hugh Handy carefully balanced the carved wooden seat which had
0:07:31 > 0:07:37four holes at each corner, on top of four separate wooden legs.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42He then took four wooden pegs which normally would be hammered
0:07:42 > 0:07:45into the seat and join together everything.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48He put them in his pocket.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51The Bickersay men burst out laughing.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54"Anybody can put a stool together!"
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Hugh Handy left the work table
0:07:56 > 0:08:00and walked to the far end of the workshop.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04He flung one of the wooden pegs the length of the room.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05It curved up in the air
0:08:05 > 0:08:10and flew directly down into one of the seat holes firmly joining up
0:08:10 > 0:08:14with the leg underneath without having to be hammered in.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17"Ha, ha, bet you can't do that again,"
0:08:17 > 0:08:19guffawed one of the Bickersay men.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Hugh Handy took another peg from his pocket.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27He twirled round ten times and at the last giddy turn,
0:08:27 > 0:08:32he let the peg fly into the air, and the same thing happened.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35The Bickersay men were amazed.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40"Two more pegs to go, apprentice," ordered Maxie Ina.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43The third time, Hugh Handy flung the peg up
0:08:43 > 0:08:47and over the high rafters with the same result.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51The fourth time, he turned his back on the stool
0:08:51 > 0:08:57and bent down and threw the peg backwards through his legs.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01The last peg again flew perfectly into place.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07If the apprentice is as skilful as that, then the master must be
0:09:07 > 0:09:10doubly skilled, the Bickersay men muttered.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14"I think we should go home," said the biggest Bickersay man,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16feeling rather small.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18"But our boats are all smashed up,"
0:09:18 > 0:09:21said the second-biggest Bickersay man.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24But kindly Hugh Handy had an idea.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29"Why don't we build one big boat all together,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31"and that will take you home?"
0:09:31 > 0:09:34And so it was decided.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39"What a man Hugh Handy is," all the Struay islanders whispered.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43But everyone knew they had to keep the secret
0:09:43 > 0:09:45until the Bickersay men left.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Maxie Ina had a grand time ordering everyone about,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52but it was Hugh Handy who showed
0:09:52 > 0:09:55and shared his skills with the Bickersay men.
0:09:55 > 0:09:57They learned a lot.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01When the magnificent boat, with a beautiful mermaid
0:10:01 > 0:10:04carved on the bow was launched, the Bickersay men thanked
0:10:04 > 0:10:09the master and the apprentice and said they would be back next year.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13Not for a challenge, but for a ceilidh!
0:10:13 > 0:10:16"We've heard that the best ceilidhs are on Struay.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19"We'll bring our wives and our children."
0:10:19 > 0:10:21Hugh Handy and Maxie Ina
0:10:21 > 0:10:25and all the islanders heaved a big sigh of relief when the boat
0:10:25 > 0:10:30full of happily waving Bickersay men disappeared round the headland.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Although Maxie Ina had enjoyed being the master,
0:10:33 > 0:10:39she was glad to take off the heavy cloak, the hat and the chain.
0:10:39 > 0:10:43"But I'll have to wear them next year when they come back, won't I?"
0:10:43 > 0:10:46she said cheekily to Hugh Handy.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50"Aye, but you have a bit more to learn before then,"
0:10:50 > 0:10:53smiled Hugh Handy, The Man.
0:10:54 > 0:10:59APPLAUSE
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Well, that was a great story, Lady Author, thank you.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Now, Alasdair and Jane, how's about a tune?
0:11:05 > 0:11:09We loved the Ceilidh stories and always want to hear more,
0:11:09 > 0:11:13but Granny Island says the same thing - "Time for another tune."
0:11:13 > 0:11:17But the thing I really love is when it's my turn to sing
0:11:17 > 0:11:20and I sing my favourite song.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25# Step we gaily on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe
0:11:25 > 0:11:30# Arm in arm and row on row All for Mairi's wedding
0:11:30 > 0:11:35# Up the hillways, up and down Myrtle green and bracken brown
0:11:35 > 0:11:41# Past the shieling through the town, all for sake of Mairi
0:11:41 > 0:11:46# Step me gaily on we go Heel for heel and toe for toe
0:11:46 > 0:11:51# Arm in arm and row on row All for Mairi's wedding
0:11:51 > 0:11:56# Past the shielings up and down Myrtle green and bracken brown
0:11:56 > 0:12:02# Past the shielings through the town, all for sake of Mairi. #
0:12:02 > 0:12:04APPLAUSE
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Granny Island's ceilidhs were just perfect.