Great Scot: Greyfriars Bobby

What if a dog's loyalty could echo through the ages, leaving an indelible mark on history? Join us on a heartwarming excursion with Owen McMichael, fondly known as "the Mick," as we celebrate the timeless bond between a man and his devoted Sky Terrier. Travel back to 19th-century Edinburgh to meet Greyfriars Bobby, whose steadfast watch over his master's grave won the hearts of an entire city. This touching tale not only illuminates the emotional connection between humans and dogs but also offers a delightful peek into the quirks of Scottish culture, including their renowned love for fried foods.

But our conversation doesn't stop there. We dive into the broader topic of canine companionship, particularly the terrier breed's unwavering devotion. By sharing personal stories of our own furry friends, we explore the serendipitous nature of certain relationships, be they with pets or people. As we wrap up, we add a sprinkle of humor with a playful look at UK accents, examining the charming yet sometimes baffling Scottish and Irish dialects. With the festive season upon us, we extend our heartfelt holiday wishes, expressing gratitude to our listeners for their continued support.

Chapters

• 0:50 Loyal Dog
• 8:57 Dog Bonds and Regional Differences
• 22:09 Festive Podcast Discussion

Transcript

Speaker 2: 0:50

Oh, hey, hola Como esta. Hey, how's it going today, on this fine winter? Or we're creeping up into Christmas, which is, you know, an exciting and scary time of year being, as the year's the crampus is Santa, and we're not talking about that today. We're going to talk about something that's a little different and it's kind of oddly, I feel, like a very Owen episode. Well, not even oddly, because you know, it's about Scottish history of sorts, and also it's about dogs, and that's very much our friend here, owen, the Mick McMichael, do you want to lead us into this, my friend?

Speaker 1: 1:31

Yeah, this is the story of John Gray and Gray Friars. Bobby, oh nice, a Sky Terrier. In 1850, john Gray became a night watchman for the Edinburgh police. The nights were long, particularly in the winter, and eventually, in 1855, john would take on a partner. A loyal and tenacious Sky Terrier named Bobby was faithfully by John's side as he walked his beat. Referred to as a watchdog, while Bobby's appearance was less than intimidating, his company was indispensable. The pair were well known to the people of Edinburgh and, no matter the weather, they could be seen walking the cobblestone streets together. Sadly, john developed tuberculosis and, despite the efforts of a police surgeon, he passed away February 15, 1858. Despite the efforts of the police surgeon, he passed away February 15, 1858.

Speaker 1: 2:15

With his master laid to rest in Greyfriars' kirkyard. Bobby refused to abandon him. Local residents were amazed to see Bobby, even in the harshest Edinburgh weather, loyally guarding John Grey's resting place. Though the caretaker and gardener of the kirkyard tried to run Bobby off several times, the persistent carrier always returned. Of the Kirkyard. Tried to run Bobby off several times, the persistent carrier always returned Go Bobby. Eventually, the caretaker built a structure, a bit of a shelter, at the side of John Gray's grave. And uh yeah, word of the loyal Sky Carrier spread through Edinburgh and said almost daily crowds would gather to see Bobby leave his master's grave only as the one o'clock gun sounded, announcing his time for his midday meal. There was a cabinetmaker by the name of William Dow who would lead Bobby to the same coffee shop he and John Gray had frequented, where a meal waited for him daily. That's cool. For 14 years after John Gray passed away, bobby would loyally guard his grave again, only to leave for his midday meal.

Speaker 2: 3:20

That's amazing, that is that's a Go ahead.

Speaker 1: 3:26

Oh, just you know. We all know how loyal dogs are.

Speaker 2: 3:32

Yeah, that's a very, that's a heck of a testament to that. Yeah, um, they moved, like you said, as uh, in 1850 they moved to edinburgh as, as he was a gardener, ended up being a night watchman for the police, which you know back in the day may have been with your little club, walking around just making showing your presence in neighborhoods, knocking on doors, making sure shopkeepers are locking up cool, you know, know all that sort of thing. The Sky Terrier he reminds me of you know a little lap dog-ish, you know, like my dog Benson, you know so kind of like a Yorkie or somewhere in that size range. He's not. That's why he's not very intimidating. Was spot on. Size range. He's not. That's why he's not very intimidating, was spot on. But nonetheless I bet she was fun to have coming along with and kept him company, like dogs often do. I mean, obviously you got boogie over there, he's your, he's your bobby for show, right well, and I hope I'm not.

Speaker 2: 4:28

Yeah, sorry, I mean like he's your homie, but yeah sorry damn uh yeah, no, let's not talk about that kind of shit. Yeah, I know, and uh, it does get pretty cold there in edinburgh as well. I mean, it's, it's very much so. I don't know if it would be quite like one of your montana winters there, my friend, but you know the uk does have some snow, so it's a thing.

Speaker 1: 4:53

Yeah, just being an island in the North Atlantic, yeah, not as north as some of your people's, but you know it's still up there. And yeah, just anyone who's been near, like you know even Southern California, at night it gets cold. Oh yeah, when you're by the beach it's just like, yeah, stuff. And I don't know the exact location of Edinburgh, I don't know how close to the coast it is, but I know they fry everything there to go on a food tangent. Of course, again, my people's culinary, yeah, Other than fried chicken, oh hell who knows.

Speaker 2: 5:32

Culinary skills are lacking yeah, no, yeah, other than fried chicken, that's for sure I, I love that. I mean you guys very much, or you guys the scottish fried twinkies and all sorts of stuff. I'm sure whatever their version of that would be over there. I read something briefly on it how they, they just they literally do fry everything. It's insane.

Speaker 1: 5:55

So yeah, slice of pizza, mars bars um yeah, seriously everything. But yeah, not to bash my people's cuisine again, but any chance I can.

Speaker 2: 6:06

Well, yeah. But they got some things right, like loyalty and Well, not so much when they were all killing each other and whatnot, trying to be, uh, like they. Man, there was a year in scottish history I think it's still back when they called it alba right where, uh, they went through like six kings in one year. I was just listening to some shit on that. So at one point they weren't as loyal, but the dogs there apparently very much so, and you, my friend, who has some Scottish.

Speaker 2: 6:37

Well, I'm loyal to your clan you know, oh yeah, there you go. Okay, clan in the front, let your feet stomp, owen.

Speaker 1: 6:44

Alright, yeah, nothing to do with the Ku Klux. We're talking Scottish clans here. People or we're dead. Both acceptable clans, not that other one.

Speaker 2: 6:55

Yeah, no, hey. On another side note of this, yes, this dog, the little, the guy who built the little enclosure for him, that's kind of neat. I love that because that really just started it all off. You know, after the he kept trying to evict him or whatnot, and the dog just kept coming back with you know he just would not take no for an answer. Whatever you want to fucking say, I don't know where I'm going with this. Nonetheless, it went on and on and they actually have a fountain that they put up for Great Fires, robbie, right there by the cemetery, and that's pretty cool. Did you see that?

Speaker 1: 7:34

I right there by the cemetery and that's pretty cool. Did you see that I did? Yeah, and they have a sculpture of him. Yeah, I don't know if it's done in bronze or but yeah, it sounds like people visit it quite often and there was some dispute, as there is like if any heartwarming tale, there's gotta be somebody. That's like oh, I don't know if it was exactly like this or that, and it's just kinda like it seems like tribute to him and enough people saw that there's something to this. I mean, maybe often stuff gets exaggerated, as you've discussed and whatever, but it's still. This was clearly a dog that was loyal to his long dead master still, and people took note of it.

Speaker 2: 8:15

So yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:16

I choose to just be like okay, let's look at the goodness and not just have to like right, I don't know, no, pick it apart For real, bro.

Speaker 2: 8:24

That's the thing. Everybody wants to be. Mr Negative, miss Negative, sleuth over there. Why don't you fucking investigate something real, all right, something that'll help people, instead of tearing down this heartwarming story of Greyfriars Bobby? All right, you know it is Scotland's most famous dog, they call it as well, and his headstone reads Greyfriars Bobby died 14th January 1872, aged 16 years. Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all. Alright, out there, podcastlandia.

Speaker 1: 8:59

Oh wow, I didn't see that.

Speaker 2: 9:00

Yeah, podcastlandia, it's wonderful I didn't see that.

Speaker 2: 9:01

Yeah, podcastlandia, that's wonderful. Listen to that, that's for real. Yeah, no, it's pretty cool, man, I don't see any harm in letting this story right out as it is. I hope my dogs are that loyal. I think they are. They're pretty cool, except they do try to get away sometimes, but that's probably more of a sign of I should take them on more walks, I'm assuming. So you know, it is what it is. Terriers are a very loyal breed of dog. I've never really ran into and I'm talking, I'm just like the whole, you know Pitbull to Sky Terrier, they just are. All terriers seems to be our very you know, it's a thing. I don't know why people don't recognize that more often. Instead, they go buy chihuahuas and stuff like that. I don't know who knows, but and no, no, knocking you chihuahua owners out there. Okay, guys, I've just never had a good experience with them.

Speaker 1: 9:55

That's all okay, and I love dogs yeah, I know somebody said, uh, and I was on the one time customer at the shop, but he's very happy to meet boogie and he said you know he had a dog and his comment was everyone thinks they have the best dog in the world and they're right. Yeah, and they are, although boogie is actually considered like even people I know that have dogs they love they're like boogie's the best. Yeah, but no, I just thought that was really cool because he's they're like Boogie's the best dog there is. Yeah, he's pretty, but no, I just thought that was really cool because he's right, even if it's some dog that no one else likes. If there's a bond between a person and a dog, there's really almost nothing like it, because it's just a different.

Speaker 1: 10:38

You know I have a lot of, I'm blessed with a lot of very good people, um, but they can't just hop in the car and go with me everywhere you know there's so many moving parts or a dog. It's just sort of like, yeah, they're, you're their universe and uh, I mean, that being said, if someone offered boogie, a bacon cheeseburger or a walk with me, we know which way he's going. Yes, but he probably just wolf it down and then go on the walk Most likely.

Speaker 2: 11:05

So yes, I feel like that may be the actual answer to that question. You know, I was thinking about it just while you were talking there and he did this Grave Friars. Bobby sat at the grave, returned to the grave, whatever happened, you know, slept there, obviously, stuff like that. He did it for 14 years, they say, and he was 16 years old. So that means that he was only with his master for two years and he developed that bond with him to the extent to where he just didn't want to let it go. So that's intense.

Speaker 1: 11:45

I'd like to see it is, is and that is. I mean I'll never forget when he first brought boogie back to the shantyplex garage and I mean I was like it sounds corny, but pretty much my life changed like instantly. I just he sat on, sat over my shoulder and and he was shaking, he was so young, scared to be away from his mom, yeah, I got it. I was just like I instantly knew, I was like there's a connection here.

Speaker 2: 12:11

Yeah, it was meant to be Me and Nicole talked about it the kids. It definitely was supposed to be your dog, my friend, that's how I feel. I received the dog and passed it on where it meant to be. You know, it's the universe, guys. It doesn't always work in mysterious ways, but sometimes it does, and sometimes we notice it and sometimes we don't. I don't know. Take that how you want it. I hope it confuses everybody out there, but nonetheless, it was definitely a meant to be situation and that is how common in life most our relationships are. Just like that, it seems. You know, and they're often when you're not looking for them as well. That goes for friends or you know partners and all these things and dogs, right, so yeah, go I. I say good job. What would they say over there in Scotland? I agree, friars, bobby, I don't think that's right, but Say something you couldn't understand.

Speaker 1: 13:12

Yeah, I mean even in England. Honestly, I felt bad. I had trouble. There's a waiter and it's since closed, sadly, but there's a place that's called oh, what was it? Oh no, it was something like Hillbilly sounding, but I don't know. This story's going nowhere. Oh, you want to say you don't want to put it in Excuse?

Speaker 1: 13:37

me, oh you want to say you don't want to put it in, it's an add-on to this, and what he would say was like for dessert, sticky toffee pudding was the national dish, but I would have had an easier time understanding Mandarin Chinese. And then you go north into Scotland and they're even harder to. I mean, it sounds like I don't even. It sounds like words were not invented. They're just kind of like grunts and blah, blah, blah, right.

Speaker 2: 14:04

Well, it's like I feel like most people in the US see the UK in general Like you know, england is just London, you know, and how people are over there, like one of those shows that you see on TV, the Downton Abbey or whatever. It is stuff like that, you know. So they think it's like that. And then, when it comes to Scotland and Ireland, I think they just kind of think they're all leprechaun sounding, you know. They don't realize these people are like there's a lot of different like Welsh people, even though they're within England. They're very different. Right, is Wales actually, are they in the UK? Right, see, this is how bad we are, yeah definitely in the UK.

Speaker 1: 14:41

It's to the south, where Scotland's to the north of England. I'm not 100% clear on how the I know Scotland finally got independence in 1999. Yeah, I am unclear how it works with Wales. I'm really pretty uneducated about my people's island.

Speaker 2: 15:03

Yeah, but there's a lot going on there yeah my name's Welsh. There's a lot going on there.

Speaker 1: 15:08

Yeah, for such a little.

Speaker 2: 15:10

Yeah, well, and here's the thing is, you know, and then also, as Americans, like you know, our UK listeners are like probably thinking we're fucking idiots, you know. They probably think it's funny that we don't know anything. I don't know who knows, but nonetheless, Wales and the Welsh people are very different. There is like a whole separate deal, like Scotland and all these things you know, and I don't think that anybody would put that together so much and it's it's it's even more distinct. No-transcript. You know, there's a lot of that down there, but also there. Uh, you know, all these different regions in the united states are so different, but you could amplify that like by at least a hundred and then apply that to all these regions. Uh, in the uk, you know, because there's so much history there, we're, we're still pretty transplanty over here, whereas, um, but yeah, it's very different, they're whole different fucking people's guys Just saying and let me just say I have met multiple educated people from the South.

Speaker 1: 16:19

I have several friends that are wonderful people from the South that said they're more rednecks in Montana than they are in Georgia.

Speaker 2: 16:28

Oh my God, yeah, well, georgia's a little different. Atlanta is a mecca. You know what I'm saying. Like there's a yeah, you're right. I mean you could go into hills in Georgia and I'm sure you'd find some weird stuff, but I would assume more Like that's why I use Bama as my example, or like Arkansas would be the best, probably, I feel, maybe, I don't know I mean there's still, I'm sure, so many wonderful people, wonderful places.

Speaker 1: 16:54

Yeah, of course, that is again just the people that are on the like negative, or just my shit's the best, and you've never been anywhere, and it's kind of like you know, why don't you go go somewhere you think you might not like? Even yeah, just check it out, talk to something that doesn't have the same opinion as you. It might, yeah, might, learn something. So we're not here. Basically, I have to say we're not here to trash any part of, oh, any part of the world?

Speaker 2: 17:19

oh, I am for sure. No, I'm just joking like no, yeah, thanks for saving that, bro, because I wasn't trying to go off on mr negative there either. You know, it's just how it happened. But uh, yeah, apparently scotland has some Scotland has some amazingly loyal dogs.

Speaker 2: 17:36

There's actually some, I feel. The Scottish death of the Fair Folk Like you know how we have death, obviously, and he's with his sickle and all these things Well, there's a from the old Celtic beliefs there's their death is like a dog, I guess, and he's a green dog, I think. I don't know. I was looking up into that. I think we were going to do a Halloween episode on it and they also have a pretty crazy otter over there that has to do with all that mess. Maybe we'll have to get into some fairy folklore eventually. I don't know. The fair folk are pretty crazy, man Just saying but yeah, go Scottish dogs and you know fried chicken, right?

Speaker 1: 18:22

Yeah, oh, and I can't remember if we mentioned this, I just recently learned that Braveheart was not William Wallace's nickname, but Robert the Bruce.

Speaker 2: 18:32

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 18:33

But it was a catchier deal. So yeah, and we must revisit the horrible allegedly William Wallace statue. Oh my God, it looks like Mel Gibson. So bad that almost put on a Donald Trump-owned golf course.

Speaker 2: 18:53

That's where it belongs, that piece of shit.

Speaker 1: 18:56

That is. I hate to trash artwork, but I'm very proud of my.

Speaker 2: 19:00

That is the worst thing.

Speaker 1: 19:01

Hey, you know what that wasn't artwork that was an affront to humanity, yeah.

Speaker 2: 19:06

And it wasn't your Scottish people who, like, did that.

Speaker 1: 19:09

It was some American guy, you know, or something, wasn't it, yeah, and then they said like they had to put cages around it because the scots were the most low artwork yeah, yeah, they call it the most low artwork in scotland at one point in time, or something like that.

Speaker 2: 19:25

Yeah, yeah, no, william, that that braveheart movie, anything mel gibson touches is fucking crap. I don't give a shit, like there's always so much, it's just whatever fits his little weird racist Christian ideals, I guess, is what he does. But yeah, robert the Bruce is a whole different deal, guys. Thanks for pointing that out. Man Kicking the canology today on I Tell Stories, and you know, if you want to subscribe to this show, that'd be great. We just use it for things that do with the show at this point. We do plan on putting up some extra content. Eventually there should be a link within the show notes that can get you there Pretty easy. Also, if you want to check out some shirts, you know we got some I Tell Stories shirts at pitlocksupplycom. And if you're in Billings Montana you can stop by Cold Smoke Boogie's Bodega on First Avenue North. You can go ahead and rattle off the whole address if you want, but it's on the north side, pretty much people 1802 First Avenue North and Boogie's fame actually grew.

Speaker 1: 20:25

Last week A wonderful woman, heather, who works for Billings Bird that's a non-profit sort of just promoting revitalization of downtown Billings she came in and was very happy to meet Boogie and happy to see all the pasta and cheese and she took a bunch of pictures and made some nice posts and just a really, really nice. I can't understate how kind and genuine Her excitement about the dog and what we had going on in there was. Amazing. That's cool.

Speaker 1: 21:01

Hey, real quick, here's a shameless plug, but also just a thank you to Heather and the Billingbirds. That's great yeah.

Speaker 2: 21:10

I love that Real quick. Since we were talking about Greyfriars Bobby, we should get some more info in on that. I feel In 1867 in Edinburgh a new bylaw was passed that required all dogs to be licensed in the city or they would be destroyed. Apparently, sir William Chambers, the Lord Provost of Edinburgh I don't know what that is and I probably pronounced the provost thing wrong, I don't know decided to pay Bobby's license and presented him with a collar with a brass inscription that said Gravefriars Bobby from the Lord Provost, 1867 Licensed, and this can be seen at the Museum of Edinburgh as well. So that's a thing that's pretty cool. I mean, that's probably where his nickname took over. There was when that lord like did that, did a very lordly act, I guess I don't know something. So there's our gray friars bobby episode. People, I thanks man, you brought it to my attention. I didn't know about this story. Yet again, another gem from gem from Owen McMichael, the Mick himself.

Speaker 1: 22:13

Wow from the universe. I just happened to catch the wind of it and thought we should discuss it, yeah.

Speaker 2: 22:21

Well, it's like you've seen the fruit ripen, you plucked it and you put it on the show. All right, let's go.

Speaker 1: 22:34

So, hey, everybody out there in Podcastlandia, I hope you're having a great day and a good holiday season. Indeed, happy Festivus. We are actually two weeks from Festivus 2024. Yeah, Much love everybody. Thanks for watching.