We began the weekend on Friday 20th May with a visit to the writers' 'openmike' evening, which was held in Byre Books and hosted by the Wigtown Scribblers. Andrew Forster, literary development officer for Dumfries & Galloway Arts Association, served well as our MC, introducing each of the writers as they took centre stage to recite their poems and prose. It was a most enjoyable evening, sipping wine and comparing notes with like-minded others in such amiable surroundings. Well done to all in attendance!

It was a glorious sunny day on Saturday 21st May - a fine day for any fair or festival. We decided to make the trip to Bladnoch on foot, rather than take advantage of the free mini-bus service that was available. After absorbing the scene of the book maze and listening to the piper, we had a wander around the market stalls here in Wigtown. I treated myself to an old leather-bound, copyright edition of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - and then got side-tracked as it set me to wondering who originally wrote the music to which Robert Burns had written 'Scots Wha Hae'. This probably sounds mad to many - unless you have read Longfellow; I am convinced he had some great love for our native lands and, indeed, for Rabbie Burns.

Another diversion and another 3 books later, after a return trip home to drop off our latest purchases, we set off on our stroll to Bladnoch. It was one of those days when you met everyone you knew, stopping, chatting, starting and then finding yet more books to absorb your attention. There were two full barns at the Bladnoch Distillery, conveniently converted to house the visiting book traders. Within the main building, there was a tearoom, the crafts fair and, upstairs, an exhibition of original art. Decorating the lawn between buildings were the most amusing sculptures of the Belted Galloway cows.

We meandered around the craft fair, looking at various cottage-type crafts, before taking a trip around the Bladnoch Distillery visitors' shop, returning to the book barns in time to listen to the Samba's rhythmic beat.

There's a small caravan site behind the distillery, which backs onto a garden area leading to the riverbank. From the picnic tables there, we sat and reflected on our day, taking in the spectacular view of the old Bladnoch Bridge, before setting off on our walk home. All in all, I would say that our day had been most enjoyable, and would happily recommend it to anyone.

Sunday morning arrived amidst a downpour, soon to be followed by the glorious sunshine of the previous day. Ah, the joys of our good old Scottish weather!

We headed off for a quick trip around the food fair in the County Buildings. I managed to avoid the temptation of Wok fried noodles, despite the tasty aroma that wafted from beneath the stall canopy in front of the main building! Continuing towards the 'Mercat', we had a brief browse around the Sunday stalls, then spotted the next little shuttle bus arrive; we couldn't resist a second visit to Bladnoch.

Once there, I enjoyed a brief chat with the miniature book seller (the books were miniature, not the seller) as I studied his handmade books. I learned, then, that he was Lockerbie based and involved with the local writers there, so we exchanged details for future reference. It was then that I spotted Rab Wilson, engrossed in conversation, as expected, about Burns. I took the liberty of asking if he knew the writer of the original music for 'Scots Wha Hae' and we had a brief exchange on the Longfellow - Burns connection. It was exactly a year since we interviewed him beneath the cherry trees in Wigtown at the launch of his book. (Refer to archive news page here). I still can't tell you who wrote the original music of that timeless 'Tutti Tatti' tune.

After a leisurely stroll back to the riverside, retracing our steps of yesterday, we headed for the mini-bus to return home. As the little 8-seater bus trundled its way along the country road back to Wigtown, the five minute trip brought to mind another, completely different scene, that made me laugh. Listening to the blend of Irish, English and Scottish accents, along with the chattering of a child and the Celtic melodies that played from the stereo, I couldn't help like feeling as though we were characters from some ficticious storyland - perhaps somewhere like Balamory. If a fine malt was a cacophony of sound, the trip home was the finest I had heard in a long time.

We arrived home around 4pm, sunburned, famished and the proud owners of yet another few books - and one postcard dated April 1906; I couldn't possibly have passed up such an opporchancity! It features the village where I was born, the street in which I later bought my first house - Bonkle - the place that features in my little tale of of 'Childhood Memories'. Now You Know... What a challenge life is for a scribbling, babbling book addict living in Wigtown!

PS: The County Building and monument also form part of the backdrop for the cover of Edition 11 of 'Now You Know'.

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