Monday 3 January 2011

Dreich

Well the Christmas New Year break is over and the weather can only be described as what my Glaswegian Mother would term DREICH. ("A combination of dull, overcast, drizzly, cold, misty and miserable weather").

It reminded me of her outlook yesterday when we were listening to Howard Jacobson being interviewed on Radio Four's Book Programme. He was describing his reaction when finding he had won the Booker Prize, instantly wondering what the deleterious effects would be on his writing and contemplating the down-sides. The interviewer, Jim (Jeremy Hunt) Naughtie, immediately cut in and enquired "You aren't by any chance Scottish?".

It's no coincidence that the word "dour" was invented North of the Border. If my Mum won the National Lottery the conversation would go as follows:

Me:  "Mum, I see you've just won a million pounds on the lottery"

My Mum: "A yes, but if only it had been last week when there was a double rollover"

Thank goodness I have a much more cheerful and easy-going attitude to life and am notorious for my light-hearted outlook. In fact this was one of my Christmas Presents this year:


I'm not really sure it was intended for me so will be passing it on to the Post Mistress of a local Village Post Office that we occasionally have to use.

15 comments:

Liz said...

You could pass it on to me; I think it would go down well in my office.

Geoff said...

We need our ironic Keep Calm and Carry On posters replacing with something like that.

Z said...

My great-grandmother was Scottish. Her name was Grace Buchanan-Woollaston. I was named after her, for my middle name. I wish they'd used the Grace part, though.

Christopher said...

Ah, but what does it say on the other side?

Dave said...

I am not Scottish. But you could tell that from the happy-go-lucky nature of my blog.

Macy said...

Yep. Today's tough question...What's the scots equivalent of "joie de vivre"??
My own favourite is the saying "May ye be as happy as ye wid wish to be" (because obviously we wouldn't want you unalloyed joy or anything...)

Roses said...

I'm going to have to nab that sign.

Ms Scarlet said...

Are you casting aspersions on Post Mistresses? But they are always so helpful and willing to please...
Sx

Dave said...

What is there post-mistress? Back to monogamy I suppose.

Ms Scarlet said...

I suppose I'm a post mistress and that would make Dave a master of posts... no, that can't be right.
Sx

Rog said...

Liz: I'm sure that's not the case!

Geoff: I thought they were "iconic" not ironic.

Z: Buchanan-Woollaston is a lovely Middle Name!

Christopher: Made in China. I think they are mocking us.

Dave: Ali McEast?


Macy: "...as ye deserve!". Private Frazer and Chic Murray are my heroes.

Roses: It's not a good career move in a small office.

Scarlet: Ah, now that's ironic!

Dave: If everything folded it would back to Origami.

Scarlet: He hasn't even got a black and white cat.

Richard said...

A propos of nothing, when your page loads, the top of it is missing making the header look like a bottom lip and set of teeth with a bit of carrot hanging from one. Just saying...

Rog said...

Richard: Isn't it time you upgraded from that Spectrum?

Rosie said...

Haud yer wheesht.

Madame DeFarge said...

A fine sign. I think we all should have one hanging by our desks at work.