Valerie Gillies

They do feel, oh, I've felt like that before in one of my fiercer moments.

And also that they are our heritage in Scotland.

Certainly in the Southern Uplands, you can get the sound of ballads, you know, today in somebody like Gerda Stevenson, who grew up in the Borders and comes from a very musical family.

And Thomas A. Clarke, he's always telling you a story while his poem is going forward.

And the wonderful Border poet Will O'Govey,

who is still read in the borders and learned in schools in the borders.

So these are all helpful to know about.

Yes, although I can't ask them to write a ballad because that would be too difficult.

They might write one off their own bat, but I don't order them to do it.

Well, I have one all-time favourite.

which came from somebody called Larry.

And it begins, take as your first three words, the thing is, and then write on.

Yes, yes.

She's a wonderful writer.

well, you definitely gave it to me.

You were first.

And yes, it never fails.

Lovely, yes.

Very true.

Yes, I spent what I thought was going to be three years...