Ullan’s December article

Noo that Krisamas is jest roon tha corner A tuk tae switherin aboot tha deys awa in baak whun A wus a wean. A mine awa baak tae aboot 1948 whun A wus jest fower year oul an leeved in a wee cottar hoose outside Stranocum. In them deys thaur wusnae a big loc o siller aboot, mine ye thaur’s naw a hale loc aboot noo ether. Onywye A thocht aboot tha wye tha weans baak then dinnae seem tae bae aye girnin aboot haein naethin tae dae. Toys in them deys wur thin on tha grun an whun ye h’ard aboot Santa ye wur ower tha moon. A mine aroon aboot 1950, that wus tha last Krisamas A spent in guid oul North Entrim an it sticks in mae heid mair nir ony ither Krisamas’s o mae childhood. Leevin baak in tha countrie wus aa sae different nir it is noo-a- deys, nae rinnin water, nae electric licht, nae waather closet, nae bathroom an nae central heatin. Aff coorse as weel as that thaur wur nae mobiles, nae tv’s, nae computers ir ipods. Boys a boys A daenae know hoo wae iver leeved ava. Hooiniver folk wur happy tae leeve in tha times they wur boarn intae an dane thaur best tae maak tha maist o what they had. A mineo hingin up mae stockin on tha hab on Krisamas Eve an puin a big tap coat ower tha blankits tae try an stye het in tha coul December nicht. On Krisamas moarnin mae feyther wud hae lit a big roarin peat fire an ye shane forgot aa aboot tha coul bedroom. Aff coorse tha oul boy wae tha rid shuit had dane his guid deed durin tha oors o darkness, mae stockin wus as fu as it cud houl. Inside tha stockin wus tae me as a wean, jest magic, a big rid epple, a big orange, a wee packet o colourin pencils, a colourin book, a jotter, a pencil, a pencil sharpener an a rubber. On the hearth alow tha stockin wus a wee tin tren set . Ye kan see that things wud bae aa sae different noo-a deys but A wunner if tha progress that we hae made frae then tae noo haes made is ony tha happier. A Merry Krisamas an Happy New Year tae yin an aa.

Tha Poocher Dec 2012.