Oor Early Days in Finechty
Annabella Flett (Coull) Taylor
Banffshire Advertiser, November 2001
Here's a tale it's a richt tae tell
O' Iris and Mairi and Annabell
Fin we wir quinies ain an' a
We a' bade up the Tattie Ra'
We played at hoosies in the ferns
Up Brae Flett fin we wir bairns
Brae Flett--it wiz nae like nae ither
For pickin' bluebells fir yer mither
Thir wiz swings an a that at Portknockie
But we slid doon the slippery rocky
Or in the sanny hole we'd play
Half wie doon the Stroop Wal' Brae
At Dyce's corner we'd have fun
Playin' games like `Run sheep run'
`Farmer, farmer' and `Go, go stop'
Or skippin' wi ' an aul lang rope
For rocks that we hid Wast the Toon
Wiz the Aul' Grannie and Edindounne
Thir wir ither fine rockies and a cosy neuk
Far wi wid af'en hae a dook
Fin we wir aul'er we'd go doon the Slip
A favourite place tae hae a dip
McKenzie's beachy wiz a good place tae
Fin the tide wiz in, we jumped aff the quay
Noo and then if we wir keen
We'd go tae the pool at Strathlene
If it wiz shut we widna care
Cos thir wiz bonnie sannies there
Aince a year (or maybe mair)
Aye roon the time o' Peter Fair
Beside Haff's sheds we'd go a lot
For a shottie on Bittel's showdy boat
Young we were withoot any grummles
Fin off we'd go tae gaither brummles
Ower the Truffle or intae the Pleasure
The things we did fin we hid leisure
Hope ye likit these few lines
A story o's fin we were quines.
Click to return to our Poets' corner
Annie's granite seat is located by the war memorial, overlooking her beloved Finechty.
The inscription reads:
"Annie Bella Coull 1938-2000.
In loving memory of a wonderful lady.
Wife of Ian Taylor architect,
mum of Callum Duncan & Andrew"
