Heat, Drought, Price of Petrol and ‘Going for the Rations.’ 1

Finally, after days of record temperatures, the air is cooling and we are more comfortable. The garden suffered a bit, and since we are under water restrictions, because of the drought, we didn’t water as often as we’d like.

We’re doing all we can to save water and we’re glad we installed low flow toilets and showers. But, we are diligent in cutting down our water use.

Should I start to live the way I did in Buckie, in a house with no bathroom, dishwasher, or washing machine?

We were a household of 4 adults, Mam, Dad, Granny, Granda and myself, the quinie.

The lavy (toilet) was in a wee cupboard in the shed where we cooked, kept the coal and did the laundry, by hand, in the 2 sinks, with the mangle between them.

I stripped washed daily, at the laundry sink, washed my hair once a week and had a full bath in a tub by the fire on Friday evenings.

Food was prepared simply, without the aid of food processors, chopping devices, or blenders. When I had to dispose of the contents of the house for sale, after Dad died, I had to toss the blunt knife that Mam had used to peel and chops all the vegetables she used in the Sunday broth. I am really sorry I never bought her decent chopping knives, but I left home before I knew anything about knives and I forgot about the blunt knife with the broken handle.

Buckie Paper Restored

Earlier this year, I said I’d not be renewing my subscription to the Buckie Paper, (Banffshire Advertiser) because of postage costs.

I’ve changed my mind and will be receiving my paper, soon.

But if postage costs increase much more, it might be cheaper for me to go Buckie and pick it up myself!

Maggie Adamson

Maggie Adamson is a fifteen-year old fiddler from the Shetlands. She has a wonderful gift and already plays the fiddle like a professional.

Enjoy Maggie and Brian Nicholson playing ‘The President,’ composed by J. Scott Skinner. Maggie was only thirteen when she performed this.

She maks the fiddle greet.

Billy Connolly

On April 9, Richard and I went to see Billy Connolly perform at the Post Street Theatre in San Francisco.

What an outrageous, energetic performance from a 65 yr. old man who spoke and pranced about the stage for 2 hours with no pause.

I first saw Billy in the late 1960s at the George Square Theatre of Edinburgh University, when he appeared with Gerry Rafferty. They were the Humblebums and I bought their LP. Stupidly, I sold that LP. I was a poor student and how I regret selling it.

I have been a fan of Billy Connolly for 40 years and I am happy for his success.

His profanity doesn’t bother me. For some reason, it cheers me up!

The English American. A novel by Alison Larkin.

I met Alison on March 30, when she was performing her comedy routine and reading from her novel of the same name, ‘The English American.’ Alison was performing as part of a fund-raising for PACT.

‘The English American’ comes from Alison’s own experience of being born in USA, and adopted by British parents (English mother, Scottish father.)

As a Scot and an adoptee, I related to so many of the witty observations Alison made in the novel. I want everyone to buy this book, so I won’t give away the plot, but I have a few teasing comments to tempt you.

Pippa (the heroine) grew up with a father who enjoyed Scottish country dancing.

I loved the description of an evening of dancing in the local village hall. One character says, “I’ll tell you the secret to Scottish dancing.”—”You need to count, you see. I still count, even though I’m an expert.”

Yes! We Scots count the steps at the dancing. “ROUND for eight, BACK for eight! 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-TURN!”

But the book’s main purpose is to talk about the adoption experience, for all concerned. I need to talk about my feelings about this in another blog.

But, in the meantime, we’ll dance. Set to your partner, pas de basque and turn!

Alison uses ‘pas de basque,’ but I grew up with the spelling of the step ‘pas de bas.’ We pronounce it ‘paddyba!’ This is just more to talk about!

Doric Variations

It wis affy interesting tae hear Robbie Shepherd read oot a wee bittie o my story, ‘Scottish Hospitality.’

Bit fit he read oot wis different Doric tae mine. I noticed richt awa that he said I wis “hyne oot in California.”

In my ain Doric, I’d say, “hing awa in California.”

Robbie was born in Dunecht, Aberdeenshire. His Doris is cwintry and mine is fisher. Bit there’s a kin o variations o the Doric, depenin on far ye come fae, or furry boots as fowk in Aiberdeen wid say.

I’ll be kyavin awa at this affy interestin subject.

Robbie Shepherd’s Doric podcast – I’m on it!

Every Saturday, Robbie presents a podcast in the Doric.

This past Saturday, February 9, he read a piece of a story I’d written, ‘Scottish Hospitality.’

I’m fair chuffed!

The transcript of the show appeared in the Aberdeen Press and Journal.

Spike and OorMargit

On his last 2 programmes, ‘The Reel Blend,’ (BBC Radio Scotland) Robbie Shepherd has mentioned my Doric writing. On his most recent broadcast, February 3rd, he also mentioned that I used to write with the late Bob Johnstone. Bob had worked at the Aberdeen Press & Journal. That’s the paper in which Robbie’s Doric column is published.

I knew Bob Johnstone as ‘Spike.’ That was the pseudonym he used when, for many years, he wrote serial stories, in the Doric, for the Buckie Paper (Banffshire Advertiser.) Granda enjoyed Spike’s column so much and when I was a wee quinie, he read it aloud to me. We’d baith be greetin wi lachin.

I loved all the characters Spike created: Peter Rawn, fa wis skipper o the Mochba; Q. Coull, the poet o the Catbow; an Q.’s brother-n-law, Silas Jappy. Silas wis Buckie Thistle’s No. 1 supporter an finiver the team lost, he’d chase peer Q. doon tae the Yardie beach, threatenin him wi the widden drifter.

Syne there wis Geordie Plowter, the fairmer o Muckledubs, fa’s claim tae fame wis funnen a kangaroo-shaped tattie. There wis Julie McClype, the bus conductress, fa aye accused Spike o swikin’ on his ticket. There wis Feel Wisset, an Gerrick, the bobby an a hale curn mair. Fit an imagination an talent Spike hid!

Bit he wis affy generous tae me an gied me characters tae write aboot. I took “OorMargit” as my writing name. That, of course, means, ‘Our Margaret,’ which is what Mam and Dad called me and I’ve been “OorMargit” ever since.

I hid Dinah Dottie and her husband, Clint Coup. They ‘lived’ in San Francisco and my contribution was to describe their reactions to life here in the Bay Area. It certainly gave me a lot to think about, but Spike was very encouraging. He told me he wrote his column in about 30 minutes, but I struggled away with mine.

I miss Spike a lot. He was a great mentor and a classic Doric writer.

An naebody cwid read Spike oot loud like Granda!

Sir Jimmy Shand, MBE

Fowk fa ken me weel, will nae doot be wonerin fit wye I’ve nae mentioned the late Sir Jimmy Shand.

Sir Jimmy Shand would have been 100 years old on Monday, January 28th.

There have been many celebrations, including Robbie Shepherd’s “Take the Floor,” which was broadcast on Radio Scotland on Saturday, February 2nd.

This programme will be available on the Internet for the rest of the week.

Up Helly Aa!

A friend in Whiteness, Shetland, sent me these You Tube clips of Up Helly Aa!

• “Little Red Can Drinker Me” - Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2008
• Up Helly Aa Procession 2008

This festival is never cancelled, for any reason. This is a celebration I’d like to explore further and one of these winters, I’ll leave California to experience it!

Thank you for sending these clips, Wee Annie, and I hope you are feeling refreshed after sleeping for a month after the festivities.