Come along and join us at the Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry, on Wednesday, 1st May from 7.30pm til 9.30pm for an evening of tales loosely based on the subject of “Spring”.
Choose to listen to stories and perhaps poems told by our members or perhaps you’d like to tell one of your own.
On Wednesday, 17th April, our storytelling session had the theme of “Trickster Tales”. We were treated to a variety of stories and poems on this theme.
Firstly, we listened to the tale of “Kitty Illpretts and the Giant”. Kitty was the youngest of three sisters. a poor but clever girl working for the king, who brought good fortune to her elder sisters and herself by outwitting the giant who lived nearby.
The second offering was the true story of “Gregor MacGregor”, who conned and lied his way through life in the 19th century.
Thirdly, a poem was told, “The Trickster”, composed by one of our members herself. It told of the trickster in her house, who left a mess behind them, ate all the biscuits and left wet towels on the floor. Perhaps you have a trickster in your house?
Next up was another original poem, “My New Friend”. It told a tale of romance fraud, an all too common form of tricks in the internet age.
Our penultimate offering was “The Devil and the Farmer”, set in Fife, after a terrible storm destroys a farmer’s grain store. An odd wee man comes to his rescue… or does he?
Our last story was “A Home of Their Own”, a Swahili tale of the unlikely “house share” between a leopard, a hare and his ever growing family.
We enjoyed a wonderful evening once again, in the comfortable setting of The Woolpack Inn, Tillicoultry.
Our second February storytelling meeting will be in The Woolpack, Tillicoultry, on Wednesday, 21st February, 7.30 – 9.30pm.
Our subject will be “Spring”.
Please join us to listen to stories, poems and perhaps even songs, base loosely around this subject.
We hope to see you there!
Our session on Wednesday, 7th February, on the subject of “Love and Romance” was very well attended. We had so many stories on offer that we almost ran out of time!
Firstly, we heard more about Pwyll, the Welsh prince, his beloved lady, Rhiannon, and their star crossed romance.
Secondly, one of our newest members told his first story, written by himself, called “The Little Mouse”, a poignant tale set in Germany.
After that, we were treated to two traditional Scottish songs, “The Ballad of Mary Hamilton” and “Maids, When You’re Young”. The latter warns young women not to marry older men!
Next was another original work, a poem, “The Bus Stop” which was most thought provoking.
After that, we listened to “The Storm”.
This was followed by a Selkie story, wherein the selkie makes her own decision about whether to stay on land or return to the sea.
The penultimate tale was the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche, and how they fell in love and lived happily ever after – after a series of mishaps along the way.
Our final tale was of “Clarinda and Sylvander”. “Clarinda” was the name Robert Burns (Sylvander) used when addressing his lover, Agnes MacLehose, who was separated from her husband. Burns also wrote “Ae Fond Kiss” about Agnes.
Come and join us next time, Wednesday, 21st February 2024, to listen to tales about spring. Or come and tell your own!!
Our next session will be held in The Woolpack, Tillicoultry, on Wednesday, 7th February, 7.30 – 9.30pm.
Our theme will be “Love and Romance”, as Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.
So come and join us to share your own story of love and romance, or just come to listen. Everyone is welcome!
on Wednesday, 24th January our second session of 2024 was held in the Dunmar House Hotel, Alloa.
Our theme was “Burns”: Robert Burns, things that burn, watery burns…. our themes can be widely interpreted.
We heard not one but three poems written by our national bard: “To A Mouse”, “Naebody” and “Tam O’Shanter”. They were all wonderful to hear. We also heard a parody of “My Love is Like A Red, Red, Rose”, which was most entertaining.
In addition, we listened to the tale of “Pwyll and the Lady on the Horse”.
We had a lovely evening once again, as the stories told chased the January blues away.
Our second January session takes place on Wednesday, 24th January from 7.30 to 9.30 in the Dunmar House Hotel, Alloa.
The theme is “Burns”, in honour of our national bard, Robert Burns, whose birth we celebrate on 25th January every year.
We are looking forward to listening to some of Burns’ poems as well as tales on the subject of “Burns” of any kind, perhaps tales about a watery burn or something burning…..
Come and join us to share your tale on the subject of “Burns” or indeed on any subject, or just to listen.
It’s a lovely way to relax and forget about the wintry weather and January blues!
Our first meeting of 2024 will take place in the Woolpack, Tillicoultry, on Wednesday, 10th January at 7.30pm.
Our theme is “New Beginnings”.
Come along and listen to our storytellers’ stories based on this theme. You may like to tell your own tale, or just listen. Everyone is welcome!
Our next storytelling session will take place in the Woolpack, Tillicoultry, on THURSDAY, 14th DECEMBER 2023. Please note, this is our only meeting in the month of December, as we know that it can be a busy time for everyone, Hillfoots Tales included.
Our theme for this meeting, is, of course, Christmas. So come along and share your story or poem about Christmas, winter, snow…. or anything you like! Or just listen to Hillfoots Tales members share their stories.
Everyone is welcome!
Wednesday, 22nd November: “The Supernatural”
We were back in the Woolpack, Tillicoultry, for our recent session, where we heard a variety of stories and poems with a supernatural theme. Some new members joined us, too.
On this occasion we heard not one, but two original poems composed by two of our long-standing storytellers, “Ghost” and “Last Summer”. Both thought provoking pieces!
Next we listened to a traditional tale, “Assipattle and the Stoor Worm”. The stoor worm was a fantastical, gigantic sea creature which terrorised communities on the coasts of Scotland and other northern lands.
After that, a local legend of Black Bess was shared. Bess was a female innkeeper of a pub in Alva, which Robert Burns is said to have visited and who was possibly a witch, buried in a shady corner of Alva cemetery, where the sun never reaches and it is always cold…..
Another traditional tale, “Mor of Lochlann” was retold. In this tale, the deceased of a graveyard in Scotland rise up one night to the astonishment of the local woman who is watching over the graves.
We also listened to an original story from our youngest member, “The Viewing” in which a young woman finds that the house she is viewing has a lonely ghost in residence!
And finally, we learned “How Changelings Came to Be”. A changeling is the offspring of fairies or elves substituted by them surreptitiously for a human infant.
It was a wonderful evening filled with laughter and learning!
