Waltzing the Stones – Caithness
A one minuter “interstitial” was created from this to show on BBC2 December 07. This is my own version of a video I created for the BBC Highland Lives workshop. It is about a local man who still lifts flagstone from the quarries by hand, and then goes on to build tranditional Caithness Flag Fence. This is a true Caithness accent. The website features a host of videos and slideshows from different areas in the Highlands of Scotland and can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk Music by Dick Clarke Partial Transcript: “Moving the stones, aye it’s the same as though ye’s waltzing, in fact I mind a woman saying ’til me, you’re like that you’re waltzing out there at the back” “Born and brought up in the quarries, ye know… we started this then…. just before…. Wully, ye know Wully…. He wis wantin…… all, I did all ‘at fences for Wully all aroond til ye, all at you’re seein, so now, whenever efter they left here with the quarry, we was needin some flagstones so we came up here an…… I knew what I’s wantin ye see, ye know the type that ye’s wantin and at so……..that’s how it started here and this.” “I’ll be 84, I think, in December, aye” “There must be thousands of flagstones as that was miles of, miles of fencing, you know, and whoever, whoever was squared it out, somebody must have laid it all and squared it all……” “there’s something fine about it, about the flagstones” “look at that fine line itsel’ here, look at this line here, look, straight aways, no bother, ye …
Video Rating: 5 / 5

February 5th, 2012 at 10:18 am
well i can understand this clear as day!!
but i’ve lived in caithness all my life lol
February 5th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Fas at ye sayin ?
February 5th, 2012 at 11:25 am
Hector – how wonderful to see a clip of him at work and it takes me right back to being a child and watching him construct new fences and dykes on our farm when I lived in Caithness. I always wanted to help, and Hector being the kind man, gave me a hammer and staples and a 1/2 pence for each completed one – thank you for this – Catherine Sutherland
February 5th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Lord shanis… I haven’t a clue what he’s saying!
Can make oot small parts, but that’s about it..
February 5th, 2012 at 11:54 am
what is the name of this music _??
February 5th, 2012 at 12:04 pm
fas at ye say ? Could ye chust loose at fake penny whistle in the background.
February 5th, 2012 at 12:11 pm
lol hard to belive he is in his late 80s new his brother peter very well
February 5th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
lol hard to belive he is in his late 80s
February 5th, 2012 at 1:22 pm
@daveyfuckingG Hi Davey…I’ve never met a Polish person that I didn’t like, great people all of you!
February 5th, 2012 at 2:13 pm
Davey Grant in Poland says “Thank fuck for the real men o Caithness”
February 5th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Gaelic was never really spoken in the North East, the traditions of the North east are more Nordic.
Gaelic was the language of the West.
February 5th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
I’m from Caithness and even I’m struggling, not many people talk like that anymore
February 5th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Lovely film..good work once again.
February 5th, 2012 at 4:38 pm
@ GrandmaDig –
Do you know these men? You know Hector Sutherland?
February 5th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Nice to meet you too.. I would love to come to Caithness and meet my present day family members from there even though im all the way In South Carolina in the united states..
February 5th, 2012 at 5:20 pm
Nice tae meit ye! Ma family are Hendersons as well! Caithness and Sutherland area
February 5th, 2012 at 5:32 pm
could s1 tell me what is the name of this Music i really like it i need it ….
February 5th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
This is simply amazing, and the accent is just incredible. Thank you for posting this, it is always very interesting to see people preserving every aspect of their ancient culture, including their language.
I also have a stonemason video on my profile, which I recorded down here in Brazil.
February 5th, 2012 at 6:08 pm
Really nice.Choosing music,Theme reality work etc. all perfect.Respect 5 *****…
February 5th, 2012 at 6:20 pm
What a treat to see this fine art! I love your county. Reminds me of the time I visited my friend’s family near Wick. Her Dad spoke just like this gent and I had to ask her to interpret quite frequently. Mind you, Dad had similar problems understanding my Suffolk accent.
February 5th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
Glad you liked it!
February 5th, 2012 at 7:41 pm
brilliant video folks!
February 5th, 2012 at 8:15 pm
I’m glad you liked it Reid. Thank you for watching.
February 5th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
It seems that they were speaking really thick Scotts and not Gaelic.. I could make certain words out.. But the rest I had to use your dialouge.. My family is from Caithness so it is nice to hear accent from my great ancestors homeland…(Michael Reid Henderson)
February 5th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Shuut eeeee dooooor an keep eeee draaaft oooot.Lol lol I think ………