Scotland - what is it like, compared to England!

jackieb

SueMaggie wrote: »

I've lived in the South of England for over 20 years now, but am originally from the Aberdeen area where I lived till I was in my 20s. This thread has made me really nostalgic!

The thing I now crave more than anything in the world is a Scotch Pie. Until a couple of years ago I could get them in my local Sainsburys but they stopped doing them.

Haven't had one for a year - since friends holidaying in the Borders brought me back some, having been given a detailed description of what it was I wanted.

Second on the list would be rowies (or butteries if you prefer), but would have to get those sent from Aberdeen.

I also love the Doric rapper - my Granda was a farmer who lived all his life in Aberdeenshire and he spoke nothing but Doric. Interestingly enough someone in the family married a German girl and she and my Granda could communicate no problem each in their own language. I'm just a Doric quine at heart.

I married an Englishman nearly 20 years ago, but sometimes I still come out with words he hasn't heard before. Latest was futret (ferret) (after watching Springwatch).

Have you heard the Scotland the What sketch about the futret?

I can't find a clip (very funny to listen to!), but found this: http://thecathedralchoir.org.uk/thecathedralchoir/futrets.htm

Futrets

What follows is an excerpt from an old Scotland the What? sketch in which a toy-shop owner from Ballater phones up the late Princess of Wales to ask her what kind of Christmas present she’d like for her then new-born son, William. It's included here as a tribute to my mate Gordon. Fit like Gordy?

From Scotland the What?, by Buff Hardie, Stephen Robertson and George Donald (Gordon Wright, 1987)

Noo, fit wid he like for his Christmas, the loon? Fit aboot a pair o’ fitba beets? Beets. Beets. B-O-O-T-S, beets. Weel, I ken that, but he’ll surely grow intae them. Weel I’ll tell ye fit I’ve got. It’s something very suitable. It’s oor ain special line in soft toys, and it is a cuddly futret. A futret. Div ye nae ken fit a futret is? Futret. F-E-R-R-E-T, futret. Now, cuddly futrets is exclusive tae the Toy Shop, Ballater. We get them specially made up by a wee wifie, in Hong Kong. Oh, an’ fit a job I hid explainin’ tae her fit a futret is. Ye wid like a futret? Oh we’ll fairly manage ye a futret. Noo fit size o’ a futret wid ye like? We’ve got a dinkie futret, a mini futret, a life-size futret, a jumbo futret or a mega-futret. Ye’d like a jumbo futret? No, it disnae hae a trunk. No, it’s got a string that ye pull, an’ it sings Run, Rabbit, Run. Weel, fit else div ye expect a futret tae sing? Now is there onythin’ else the loon wid like? Fit aboot a rubber duke...for his bath? A duke. No, no, nae that kinda Duke. D-U-C-K, duke. A quack quack duke. Like Donald Duke. Donald Duke. He’s a freen’ o’ Mickey Moose...Moose...M-O-U-S-E, Moose! God, div ye nae understan’ English, lassie?

SueMaggie

Thanks looby75 for the pie help - I've had a look on the Farmfoods website and there's a branch about 10 miles from me. Will be sending my husband to buy me Scotch Pies for my birthday on Saturday!

And thanks jackieb for the reminder about Scotland the What and the futret. My Dad loved Scotland the What and had all the records (shows you how long ago it was!).

The other sketches I remember off the top of my head was someone ringing Buckingham Palace to speak to the Queen and being told there was a fly past, to which they replied something along the lines of "of course her fly's past, it's nearly lunchtime".

Another was two gents bumping into each other and talking about one of their friends currently in hospital. The patient was in a bad way with tubes everywhere and "a thing up his nose" - but apparently no change there, as "Geordie aye had a thing up his nose".

I remember lots of Doric songs as well as my Granda was a great proponent of the Bothy Ballad and was even recorded for some kind of national archive.

jackieb

SueMaggie wrote: »

g the lines of "of course her fly's past, it's nearly lunchtime".

Another was two gents bumping into each other and talking about one of their friends currently in hospital. The patient was in a bad way with tubes everywhere and "a thing up his nose" - but apparently no change there, as "Geordie aye had a thing up his nose".

I remember lots of Doric songs as well as my Granda was a great proponent of the Bothy Ballad and was even recorded for some kind of national archive.

Have you looked on here. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/kist/search/cat_search.php?cat=Bothy+Ballad

*Scottish*Lass*

Just stumbled upon this thread & its totally cheered up a bad day!! :beer: I live in a wee place called Alyth (which most folk have never heard of!), in North East Scotland. I love the place I live & can't imagine ever not living here. There's some really good stuff on here, who needs Visit Scotland?! :rotfl:

hieveryone wrote: »

Not sure if this has been mentioned but in Scotland, if a battered mars bar doesn't take your fancy, then maybe a 'Buckfast Curry' will :o

Buckfast Curry???!:rotfl:I actually cannot think of anything worse!:rotfl:I tasted Buckfast once, it was the tiniest little sip & I could still taste it 2 hours later!!!!! My friend in drinks in a place called 'Nice & Sleazys' in Glasgow & swears by 'Buckaroo' cocktails! Its Buckfast, Taboo and Lemonade. I've never been brave enough to try them! lol

Glitzkiss

SueMaggie wrote: »

Thanks looby75 for the pie help - I've had a look on the Farmfoods website and there's a branch about 10 miles from me. Will be sending my husband to buy me Scotch Pies for my birthday on Saturday!

And thanks jackieb for the reminder about Scotland the What and the futret. My Dad loved Scotland the What and had all the records (shows you how long ago it was!).

The other sketches I remember off the top of my head was someone ringing Buckingham Palace to speak to the Queen and being told there was a fly past, to which they replied something along the lines of "of course her fly's past, it's nearly lunchtime".

Another was two gents bumping into each other and talking about one of their friends currently in hospital. The patient was in a bad way with tubes everywhere and "a thing up his nose" - but apparently no change there, as "Geordie aye had a thing up his nose".

I remember lots of Doric songs as well as my Granda was a great proponent of the Bothy Ballad and was even recorded for some kind of national archive.

IIRC, that's the sketch where one of them phones the Queen to ask her to open the Meldrum Sports. It's very, very funny :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I'm sure dad has a copy of it - I think I may go visit tonight and have a wee look for it

lexie55_2

suemaggie wrote: »

i've lived in the south of england for over 20 years now, but am originally from the aberdeen area where i lived till i was in my 20s. This thread has made me really nostalgic!

The thing i now crave more than anything in the world is a scotch pie. Until a couple of years ago i could get them in my local sainsburys but they stopped doing them.

Haven't had one for a year - since friends holidaying in the borders brought me back some, having been given a detailed description of what it was i wanted.

Second on the list would be rowies (or butteries if you prefer), but would have to get those sent from aberdeen.

I also love the doric rapper - my granda was a farmer who lived all his life in aberdeenshire and he spoke nothing but doric. Interestingly enough someone in the family married a german girl and she and my granda could communicate no problem each in their own language. I'm just a doric quine at heart.

I married an englishman nearly 20 years ago, but sometimes i still come out with words he hasn't heard before. Latest was futret (ferret) (after watching springwatch).

you can buy packs of bells scotch pies in morrisons (by the pre-packed cold meats).

lexie55_2

I miss White Puddings, can't find them anywhere. Have seen the Irish ones in supermarket, but not the same.

SueMaggie

jackieb wrote: »

Have you looked on here. http://www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/kist/search/cat_search.php?cat=Bothy+Ballad

How wonderful! Thanks so much for the link.

Just sitting here having a blub as my Granda used to sing "Macfarlan o the Sprotts a Birnieboosie" to me when I was wee - because it's got my name in it.

I also remember one about Tipperty's Meg who wasy "aye in a sotter" but "still had time for drinking her tay!"

SueMaggie

lexie55 wrote: »

you can buy packs of bells scotch pies in morrisons (by the pre-packed cold meats).

Thanks for this. Nearest Morrisons to me is 15 miles away, so I'll try there if Farmfoods (which is closer) doesn't come up trumps.

WEEGIE

jackieb wrote: »

The doric rapper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP9BtScBQaI

And Hector Brocklebank. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxDNFwDjcFo&feature=related

If I remember rightly, Robin Galloway used to do the very same thing on Northsound Radio (Hector Brocklebank) before he moved to Real Radio (Scot FM as it was called before).