Documentaries Prògraman Aithriseachd

[Calum] Tha Stephen a’ leigeil orm a dhol am broinn aon de na h-Eich-Uisge.

[Calum] So, I’m going in this way?

[Stephen] This is the way in.

[Calum] Cool, right thanks for your time.

[Stephen] Good luck

[Calum] Cheers.

[Calum] Tha mi a’ dol a dh’fhaighinn a-mach ciamar a tha iad gan cumail ann an deagh òrdugh.

[Calum] Nice to meet you Bradley. How are you?

[Bradley] Yeah, well thank you.

[Calum] Right, what are we doing?

[Bradley] Nice one, right, today we’re here to inspect the structure. Basically, I need you to be roped up and ready to go.

[Calum] Haha, nice one. Right, I’m up for that!

[Calum] Agus tha agam ris an àradh craicte seo a shreap chun a’ mhullaich. O cuidich mi!

[Calum] All righty, so, off I go?

[Bradley] Off you go!

[Calum] Ma tha eagal agad bho bhith suas gu h-àrd, na coimhead idir air an seo.

[Calum] O mo chreach sa thàinig!

[Calum] Tha mi cho sgìth ri seann chù mar-tha.

[Calum] Chan eil mi airson coimhead sìos idir, idir.

[Calum] Oh, my goodness.

[Calum] Chan eil sin furasta idir, idir.

[Calum] O mo chreach sa thàinig.

[Calum] You’ll be fit for that job Calum!

[Bradley] Oh yes indeed

[Calum] Bha mi dìreach air chrith a’ dol suas. Tha mo làmhan dìreach…

[Calum] When I was climbing the ladder there Bradley, I think I had a panic attack almost. I just like, I I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t think, the only thing that was going through my head was: get to the top as quick as you can.

[Bradley] Happens to everybody.

[Calum] Gee-whiz. So, when you’ve reached the top of a structure, what’s involved in your inspection?

[Bradley] Well, first and foremost: safety. And the actual work itself is to check the structural integrity. Just to make sure all the steel is intact, bolts, paint, everything is good, no rust.

[Calum] So, what else should we talk about, my mind’s gone a bit blank you know.

[Calum] Tha mo chridhe… tha mi dìreach air chrith. Flipping heck, tha mi an-fhoiseil!

[Calum] Tha an sgioba-ròpa a’ sgrùdadh gach pìos stàtainn, a’ dèanamh cinnteach nach eil cron sam bith air nochdadh.

[Calum] Bradley, what goes up must come down. So, how do we get off this platform?

[Bradley] Well, the quickest, easiest way for us to get off this platform is on these ropes.

[Calum] Oh man, I’ve got to go over there?

[Bradley] You do.

[Calum] And then ‘peeugh’.

[Bradley] And then down.

[Calum] Agus tha agam ri mo shlighe a dhèanamh sìos a-nis. O mo chreach!

[Calum] Tha mo dhòrn seo cho geal ris an t-sneachd.

[Calum] O uill, seo sinn ma-tha.

[Calum] So, how do you reach, like, place bits over there then?

[Bradley] You just have to manoeuvre the ropes. Sometimes, we have to climb. How are you feeling? OO?

[Calum] Yeah.

[Calum] Tha mi ag innse bhreugan. Tha mi dìreach air chrith. Tha e a’ faireachdainn cho mì-nàdarrach a bhith crochte ’s an èadhar mar seo.

[Calum] O mo chreach sa thàinig.

[Calum] An talamh! An talamh! An talamh… an talamh… yasss!

[Calum] Thank you so much, man!

[Bradley] You’re welcome.

[Calum] Gee-whiz, tha mo làmhan dìreach air chrith às dèidh sin. Tha mo chridhe a’ dol aig astar cuideachd. Tha mi cho taingeil gu bheil mi air talamh a ruighinn. O mo chreach.

[Calum] Agus, fhad ’s a tha mise crochadh anns an èadhar aig na h-eich-uisge, tha Niall Iain air a bhith ga ghabhail gu socair aig Cuibhle na h-Eaglaise Brice.

[Calum] Niall Iain.

[Niall Iain] Sin thu a Chaluim, bha mi a’ gabhail dragh mu do dheidhinn.

[Calum] An robh?

[Niall Iain] Cà’ robh thu?

[Calum] Bha mi aig na h-eich-uisge.

[Niall Iain] Tha mi dìreach a’ toirt sùil air an fheadhainn bheaga a tha seo.

[Calum] oh-ho bha nan fheadhainn seo tòrr nas motha ge-tà.

[Niall Iain] An robh e math?

[Calum] Bha, bha mi nam broinn cuideachd.

[Niall Iain] A’ dèanamh dè?

[Calum] Uill, dìreach a’ gabhail sùil mun cuairt ach bha mi a’ leantainn mo shròn ’s bha mo thon gam stiùireadh.

[Niall Iain] Mar as àbhaist.

[Calum] O mar as àbhaist. Bha e gu math inntinneach.

[Niall Iain] Thug mi sùil air a’ chuibhle mhòire a tha seo. Tha mi a’ sùileachadh a dhol oirre, tha mi a’ smaointinn.

[Calum] Agus a bheil thu?

[Niall Iain] Tha mi an dòchas. Tha e dìreach a’ coimhead gu math àrd. Tha e a’ coimhead eireachdail ge-tà, dìreach an seòrsa cumadh a th’ orra, an seòrsa dreach a th’ orra. Ach tha e math dìreach a toirt cuimhne ort, tha mi a’ smaointinn, an seòrsa gnìomhachasan troma a bha anns an sgìre seo o chionn, tha mi cinnteach, airson ceudan de bhliadhnaichean air ais. Tha mi a’ faireachdainn gaisgeach agus tha mi a’ smaointinn gum bu choir dhomh fheuchainn agus a’ dol suas gu h-àrd. Chì sinn ciamar a thèid dhomh.

[Calum] A’ bheil thu air chrith fhathast?

[Niall Iain] Tha, ach seall sinn. ‘S dè tha thusa a’ dol a bhith ris ma-tha?

[Calum] Uill, fhad ‘s a thusa air bòrd bàta beag bìdeach, tha mise dol a dh’ionnsachadh beagan a bharrachd mun a’ chuibhle agus mu mar a tha e ag obrachadh.

[Niall Iain] So fhad ‘s a tha mise air, tha thusa a’ cumail smachd air?

[Calum] Tha, tha mise a’ cumail smachd air a h-uile sìon. Na gabh dragh sam bith, a dhuine. Right, bidh mi gad fhaicinn an ceartair.

[Niall Iain] Cheers, man, cheers!

[Niall Iain] ‘S ann mar phròiseact na mìle bliadhna a chaidh an eisimpleir iongantach de h-einnseanaireachd seo gu bith. Chosg e seachdad ’s a h-ochd millean not agus chaidh fhosgladh ann an dà mhìle agus a’ dhà. Bhon uair sin, tha e air a bhith na tarraing mhòr do luchd-tadhail, a’ tàladh luchd-turais bho air feadh an t-saoghail.

[Calum] Stephen is letting me go inside one of the Kelpies

[Calum] So, I’m going in this way?

[Stephen] This is the way in.

[Calum] Cool, right thanks for your time.

[Stephen] Good luck

[Calum] Cheers.

[Calum] I’m going to find out how they look after them.

[Calum] Nice to meet you Bradley. How are you?

[Bradley] Yeah, well thank you.

[Calum] Right, what are we doing?

[Bradley] Nice one, right, today we’re here to inspect the structure. Basically, I need you to be roped up and ready to go.

[Calum] Haha, nice one. Right, I’m up for that!

[Calum] And I have to climb this crazy ladder to the top. Ah help!

[Calum] All righty, so, off I go?

[Bradley] Off you go!

[Calum] If you’re scared of heights, don’t watch this.

[Calum] Oh my goodness.

[Calum] I’m already as tired as a dog.

[Calum] I don’t want to look down at all.

[Calum] Oh my goodness.

[Calum] This isn’t at all easy.

[Calum] Oh my goodness.

[Calum] You’ll be fit for that job Calum!

[Bradley] Oh yes indeed

[Calum] I was terrified going up. My hands we like…

[Calum] When I was climbing the ladder there Bradley, I think I had a panic attack almost. I just like, I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t think, the only thing that was going through my head was: get to the top as quick as you can.

[Bradley] Happens to everybody.

[Calum] Gee-whiz. So, when you’ve reached the top of a structure, what’s involved in your inspection?

[Bradley] Well, first and foremost: safety. And the actual work itself is to check the structural integrity. Just to make sure all the steel is intact, bolts, paint, everything is good, no rust.

[Calum] So, what else should we talk about, my mind’s gone a bit blank you know.

[Calum] My heart, I’m shaken, I feel uneasy!

[Calum] The rope team have to inspect every piece of steel, to make sure that no issues arise.

[Calum] Bradley, what goes up must come down. So, how do we get off this platform?

[Bradley] Well, the quickest, easiest way to get off this platform is on these ropes.

[Calum] Oh man, I’ve got to go over there?

[Bradley] You do.

[Calum] And then ‘peeugh’.

[Bradley] And then down.

[Calum] And I have to make my way down now. Oh my gosh!

[Calum] My fist is as white as snow

[Calum] Oh well, here we are.

[Calum] So, how do you reach place bits over there then?

[Bradley] You just have to manoeuvre the ropes. Sometimes, we have to climb. How are you feeling? Ok?

[Calum] Yeah.

[Calum] I’m lying. I’m absolutely terrified. It feels so unnatural to be hanging in the air like this.

[Calum] Oh my gosh.

[Calum] The ground! The ground! The ground… the ground… Yassss!

[Calum] Thank you so much man, gee-whiz!

[Bradley] You’re welcome.

[Calum] My hands are shaking after that. My heart is beating so fast as well. I’m so thankful that we’ve reached the ground. Oh my gosh.

[Calum] And, as I’m hanging in the air in a Kelpie, Niall Iain has been relaxing at the Falkirk Wheel.

[Calum] Niall Iain

[Niall Iain] There you are Calum, I was starting to worry about you.

[Calum] Were you?

[Niall Iain] Where were you?

[Calum] I was at the Kelpies.

[Niall Iain] I’ve been looking at these small ones.

[Calum] Oh-ho, these ones were much bigger though.

[Niall Iain] Were they good?

[Calum] Yes, I was inside them too.

[Niall Iain] Doing what?

[Calum] Well, just having a look around but I was following my nose and my bum was leading me.

[Niall Iain] As usual.

[Calum] Oh, as usual. It was really interesting.

[Niall Iain] I had a look at this big wheel. I thinking about going in it.

[Calum] And will you?

[Niall Iain] I hope so. It just looks very high. It looks beautiful though, just the type of shape it has. But it’s good for reminding you, I think, of the kinds of heavy industries that were in this area for hundreds of years. I’m feeling brave and I think I should try and go up. We’ll see how I do.

[Calum] Are you scared yet?

[Niall Iain] Yes, but look at that. And what will you be doing?

[Calum] Well, while you in the tiny wee boat, I’ll be learning a bit more about the wheel and how it works.

[Niall Iain] So while I’m on it, you’ll be controlling it?

[Calum] Yes, I’ll be controlling everything – don’t worry! Right, I’ll see you soon.

[Niall Iain] Cheers, man, cheers!

[Niall Iain] This wonderful example of engineering was created as a project for the millennium. It cost £78m and was opened in 2002. Since then, it’s been a huge attraction for visitors, bringing tourists from around the world.