Bob

Anither yin fae tha poet fairrmer - Brian Rankin

(Note - Because of Bloggers own flash based video/audio system the above video will not appear on iphones or ipads)

This poem (Bob) appears in Brian's first book, 'Walking Through The Heather'. 

Brian has since published two other volumes of poetry - 'Big Mary' and 'Waiting for a Miracle'. 

The proceeds from these books go to help orphans in Uganda.

If you'd like to buy Brian's books you can contact him at the numbers below.

Tel; 02877763082

Mob; 07961486401

or email him at

bjrankin_20@hotmail.com

Waiting for a Miracle

If you want to put a smile on someone's face this christmas. I suggest giving them a copy of Brian Rankin's latest volume of verse: 'Waiting for a Miracle'. Like Brian's previous books 'Walking through the Heather' and 'Big Mary, this book is full of good rural humour and clever twists. From the complexities of love and marriage to the innocence of our childhood Brian's latest offering, complete with complimentary whimsical illustrations, will keep you entertained from cover to cover.
Here is a offering to wet your appetite.

Building Bales

A Clergyman was out for a walk one day
Down a quiet country lane
He went round a corner - what did he see
A young farmer who was going insane!

For his load of hay had fallen off the cart
The chap's patience was all but gone
He was huffing' and puffin' his face bright red
As he tried to build them back on.

The clergyman said "You look hot my son.....
Why don't you take a wee rest
Calm yourself and we'll have a chat
It really would be for the best"

" Oh no thanks!" said the young farmer-
" My father wudnae like that
I have to get these bales lifted
I hannae any time to chat."

"Don't be silly" said the clergy
Everyone needs a break
Don't you know all work no play
A dull boy doth make"

But the young man never slackened
He kept up a furious pace
Finally the man of the cloth got angry
Said "Look life is not a race"

Your father must be a real slave driver
And son - those days are no more
Look at you all drenched in sweat
Your hands all red and sore!"

"Young man tell me where I can find him
I could talk to him - I could pray"
"Well prayer might be needed your reverence
For he's under this load of hay!!!"

As with his previous books all the proceeds from 'Waiting for a Miracle' go to the Africare Charity.
Books can be ordered from Brian at the following numbers.
Tel; 02877763082
Mob; 07961486401
or email him at
bjrankin_20@hotmail.com

If ye raired him

Simtimes ye cum across a craiter ye jist cannae thole. Aye...

'Ye cudnae like him if ye raired him.'

Tha mair ye dae

The mair ye dae the less ye’r thocht o.

A common complaint of women down through the ages, who feel that their efforts are not appreciated.  


This saying has affinities with, ‘The willing horse gets the heavy load’ (English), or the Scots version which is, The wullin naig is aye wrocht ti daith.


PS
A brave or foolish man could respone with the oul truism
'Aye but thur's nae lack in love' (good luck).

Up tha Lum

Taken at the Ulster American Folk Park

As a wean I often heard burning something on the fire referred to as sending it "up tha lum". The lum being the chimney.
References to the lum can be found in Scots / Ulster-Scots literature from 1700 onwards eg.
1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings 77:
    Puir buddy, she lukit startit like, an’ sut doon awa at the tither side o’ the lum.
1786 Burns Halloween viii.:
    Till fuff! he started up the lum. 
I also uncovered a few sayins regarding the lum on the Internet.
Someone with a cast might have been referred to as - 'One eye on the pot and the other up the lum.'
  'Lang may yer lum reek.' — was a common expression to wish someone prosperity and plenty. 


Note my mother whose takin up computerin sent me an email to tell me that the entire sayin is:
Lang may yer lum reek an yer spicket (spigot) dribble.


Lastly 'Cryin' up the lum.' - it has been suggested that this phrase was used to stress the importance of self reliance. However I'm not entirely convinced that this is correct. Any suggestions on the meaning of this sayin' would be most welcome.

Hame Again - Oor ain apples

Several weeks ago I was fortunate to be part of the Loughries Ulster Scots Trip or 'A Forenoon Doon the Upper Ards', (clydesburn.blogspot.) hosted by the Twa Marks. Although, because of the persistent rain that day, Mark Thompson (our guide) later dubbed it "A Forenoon gettin droont in the Upper Ards". 

Ecklinville Apple Tree back in Ulster 

One of the more obscure pieces of information we received that day was the story of the Ecklinville or (as Mark called it the) Ulster-Scots Apple.
The following extract is from the 'Bloggin fae the Burn' article entitled Scottish Bishops and Ulster-Scots apples


On 4 March 1613 Robert Echlin from Pittadro in Fife was appointed by King James I as the new Bishop of Down and Connor. Echlin (initially at least) tolerated the arrival of the Presbyterians and compromised with them in order to ordain them into service in Ulster. Echlin set up home at Ardquin (between Portaferry and Kircubbin - it is said he chose the location because it reminded him of the landscape of Fife) and built an Abbacy there beside the old church.
It is in this location that some of Echlin's descendants who remained on the Ards Peninsula invented the Echlinville / Ecklinville cooking apple. The description of the variety is:

"...the tree is vigorous and has decorative blossom. It is a cooker or sauce apple. It was popular with the Victorians and widely grown in gardens also recommended for an 'artistic' orchard...."

Daniel's Ulster-Scots Apple Tree

The Ecklinville cooking apple, once popular around County Down, all but disappeared by the 1930s. as it had become unfashionable when new varieties, that didn't bruise so easily, were introduced into the province. 
This research got me thinking about this small but unique part of our heritage. Determined to bring it hame I searched the Internet and eventually found Ecklinville seedlings at a fruit tree nursery on the Isle of White (Deacon's Nursery). The owner was extremely helpful and dispatched five 1st year seedlings which I distributed to a handful of Ulster-Scots patriots in Down and Londonderry (The Twa Marks included). So yince mere wae hae Ulster-Scots apples in oor hames'. (well not quite yet)

Weel creeshed

I recently heard someone remarking on how 'them that hae' (people with money) 'a seem tae en up wae mere' (always seem to benefit from financial transactions or windfalls).

I was reminded of an aul sayin that an old lady from Carrowdore was fond of using:

A fat soo's arse is aye weel creeshed (creesh- soft, thick grease)


(You may wish to modify the language somewhat but its a great idiom)
For a more comprehensive definition of the word creesh you may like to visit http://www.dsl.ac.uk/getent4.php?plen=8719&startset=7609727&dtext=snd&query=CREESH