LANARK-L Archives

From: "marybegger" <>
Subject: [LKS] Fw: Scottish Snippets - 2 November 2002
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 21:34:28 -0800

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A wee bit nostalgia for ex-pat tenement dwellers.


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SONGS and POEMS of SCOTLAND
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David Reilly wrote his book "Oot The Windae" to recall Glasgow's east end
in the fifties and sixties. It is based on observations and anecdotes about
growing up in the days when he was a lad. This poem is the about the
popular past-time in those days of sitting, looking out of the window at
the world going by. In the days before TV, it was a good way of passing the
time - and seeing what was going on. See also the Oot the Windae Web site
at http://www.stewartbooks.com/Oot_the_Windae.htm if you would like to buy
the book.

Oot The Windae

Hingin oot the windae and watch the world go by
up a close in Glesga three stories high
Ma and Da and all the weans
oot the windae until it rains
get yourself comfy for the show is free
a couple of biscuits and a wee cup of tea
a coffee for dad laced with scotch
your very original neighbourhood watch

We had a grandstand view from our top floor flat
two to each windae and still room for the cat
the street was alive and a hubbub of noise
children playing games as they didn't have toys
woman chattering at the foot of the close
going ten to the dozen to see who knew most
though men in the street were very scarce
either at work or stuck in their chairs

Regular visitors coming to and fro
each with a purpose with somewhere to go
just like the Green Lady who visited the sick
delivering babies being her favourite trick
it was her who gave me my third little brother
that was four in a row and still room for another
home births were common with minimum fuss
caught out being easier than catching a bus

One welcome visitor was the man from the gas
emptying the meters for the street en masse
he'd open the meter with his special key
and emptied it's contents for all to see
he'd count the money and place in a stack
took what he needed with the rest coming back
these were normally quite prosperous times
but he kept the shillings and returned the dimes

We would wait patiently for the ice cream man
who had just got himself a brand new van
he blew a whistle before they had chimes
unlike the Capocci man of more modern times
a far cry from his three wheeler bike
an ice cream cone any vanilla flavour you like
a wafer or a nougat or an oyster shell
and a loose woodbine he would gladly sell

The tottie man would come selling fruit and veg
delivering to your doorstep anything for an edge
carrots and turnips and Brussel sprouts
new Ayrshire potatoes he proudly shouts
Fife's bananas and oranges and pears
attracting the women down the stairs
and always on a Friday he brought some fish
when I was a child a discriminating dish

When the parish priest made his weekly run
all hell was let loose if you pardon the pun
his very appearance put us all on our toes
and we pray to god he'd go past our close
he'd visit the sick the elderly and the supposed meek
and those who missed mass the previous week
he had a reputation that would never be beat
the most feared man that ever walked in our street

We looked oot the windae for most of the day
watching the workers the wifie's and children at play
we would kneel on a chair with our arms in a fold
as the events of the day would slowly unfold
we were people watchers with thoughts to share
like most in Glasgow that lived up a stair
yes we were observers from dusk to dawn
not like them nosey Parkers with their curtains drawn

Meaning of unusual words:
up a close=the passageway from the street to the apartments
weans=children
woodbine=a brand of cheap cigarette
tottie=potato

For the index of all the poems and songs included in this Newsletter see:
http://www.RampantScotland.com/poetry/blpoems_index.htm
http://www.rampantscotland.com/songs/blsongs_index.htm

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SCOTTISH HUMOUR
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Slow Train to Craigellachie
The rail service from Boat of Garten to Craigellachie was not notable for
its speed. An Englishman travelling on the train complained repeatedly to
the guard every time he went by until eventually the official lost his
temper and said "If you don't like the train, sir, you can always get out
and walk." The Englishman raised one eyebrow and replied "My dear man, if I
were in a hurry, that's exactly what I would do."

Only An Excuse
Young Jimmy had spiked hair, a ring in his nose, never washed and wore
baggy combat trousers. But he confided to his friend "I don't really like
dressing like this but it stops my parents dragging me everywhere with
them."

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SPORT
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Sunday and Mid-Week Football Results
Aberdeen 0 Hibernian 1
Dunfermline 1 Celtic 4
Rangers 6 Kilmarnock 1
Airdrie United 1 Dundee United 2 (CIS Cup, 3rd Round)
St Johnstone 0 Livingston 0 (CIS Cup, 3rd Round - abandoned due to fog)

Celtic 1 Blackburn 0 (UEFA Cup, second round, first leg)

Bank of Scotland Premierleague Results - 2 November 2002
Dundee 0 Rangers 3
Kilmarnock 1 Dundee United 2
Livingston 1 Dunfermline 1
Partick 2 Motherwell 0
Celtic v Aberdeen and Hibernian v Hearts will be played on Sunday

Scottish First Division Results - 2 November 2002
Alloa 1 St Johnstone 3
Arbroath v Ayr United was postponed
Clyde 2 Ross County 1
Inverness 4 St Mirren 1
Queen of the South 1 Falkirk 1

League Tables
Rangers are at the top of the Scottish Premier League with 35 points from
13 games, followed by Celtic with 31 points but a game in hand. Dunfermline
are currently third, with 20 points from 13 games. Motherwell languish at
the foot of the SPL with 9 points, one less than Dundee United.
Falkirk stumbled today but are still at the top of the First Division with
25 points, two ahead of Inverness and six ahead of St Johnstone. Alloa
remain at the foot of the First Division with 8 points.

"Battle of Britain"
Billed as the Battle of Britain, the UEFA Cup, second round match between
Celtic from the Scottish Premier League and Blackburn from the English
Premier was closely fought. It took a goal by Henrik Larsson in the 85th
minute to give victory to Celtic after a John Hartson's header had been
blocked. Celtic had struggled throughout the match to breach the strong
Blackburn defence, including their American goal-keeper Brad Friedel. The
winning goal came from a corner kick.

Rangers Help Out Blackburn
In the lead-up to Blackburn Rovers UEFA Cup qualifying match against
Celtic, the Blackburn manager, Graeme Souness, arranged for his team to
train at Rangers Murray Park complex. Souness, a former manager of Rangers
made light of using Celtic rivals' facilities, saying that if the match had
been against Rangers, he would have been on the phone to Celtic asking to
use their training ground. The last time Souness was at Parkhead as a
manager, his Rangers team lost 3-0 against Celtic.

Starter's Orders for £60 Million Sports Centre
Both Edinburgh and Glasgow City Councils are bidding to create a new
international indoor sports arena which could host European and World
indoor athletics championships and a championship standard cycling
velodrome. The facility would also accommodate indoor football, rugby and
basketball. The outcome of the competing plans will depend on a consultancy
review of sports facilities which has been commissioned by the Scottish
Executive and sportscotland, the quango which allocates funding to sport in
Scotland.

Ski Slopes Open Early
For only the second time in 20 years, the ski slopes at the Cairngorm Ski
Centre opened before the end of October. The Lecht had opened a few days
earlier as blizzard conditions swept across the Highlands. But milder,
wetter weather later in the week will have caused the slopes to
deteriorate.

Yours aye

Scottie
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• [LKS] Fw: Scottish Snippets - 2 November 2002 by "marybegger" <>