You know what I just realized, JUST REALIZED, I love not having a car!!! I know that my 16 year old self would cry out in agony, but my older self is loving it and embracing it fully. I haven't even thought about it really before now. I haven't worried about parking, or driving on the 'wrong' side of the road. Stopping to get gas. Oil changes. Flat tires. I haven't even thought I was missing anything that I used to have. I haven't even really wanted to go anywhere beyond where I can walk. (except to look at sofa's as you recall the other day, and I certainly learned my lesson there!)
I JUST started taking the train and have only ridden it 3 times. Bus very sparingly. Taxis barely at all. I love being able to walk to wherever I want to go, and that includes TKMaxx (K for Kitty over here!). 😂 I can get to grocery stores, farmer's markets, pubs, parks, post offices, charity shops, schools and the library. The list is endless, I mean what am I missing? There is no Target here. I can't even believe how much I have reduced my carbon footprint. I simply LOVE this way of life.
Well I'll be gobsmacked, maybe I'll be European yet!
.....but I may have a while to go to 'become' Scottish.
With masks and plastic dividers, this Scottish brogue is sometimes far out of my reach. I finally got my hair done a full 3 months after my last appointment (sorry Sunny), and I was literally at a loss. I chose a very local place in Partick which is the place where all of the used furniture shops are located. It has loads of Salvation Army's, Goodwill's, and homeless patrons at the library. It is where I frequent Poundland (think the Dollar Store). It is on the fringe of nicer West End neighborhoods, but more hood and less West End.
I seriously couldn't love it more!
It is REAL, and Glaswegian to the core.
Anyway, back to why I am there that day, with the hairdryers going, mirrors to bounce reflections off of covered faces and many women talking to each other all at once like familiar friends often do ,,,, I literally could barely understand every 4th word (and that is being generous with myself). I teetered between shaking my head yes to pretend I understood what she was saying, and hoping like hell that if it were a question I could see it in her eyes. I was panicking a little and tried staring at my phone to inhibit conversation. But I couldn't focus, and my mind was freaking out.
I asked my hair dresser three times what she was saying to finally understand her to say
"What is it that you would like today?"
OHHHHH, as I finally managed to eek out, right, 'a cut and color please.'
Sheeesh, the trials and tribulations of a masked covid world with a Scottish brogue.
Did you know brogue does not only mean a strong accent, but also a heavy oxford shoe? The things you learn when you can't spell and have to look it up on google. I thought you should also know this neat little treasured meaning. I'm going to try and find places to use this. "Boys, go get your brogues on and let's go to the store."
I am loving the language here, even if I can't (cannae) understand it half the time. I gotta say, the women are easier to hear than the men. They seem to not be as lazy with their tongues! Or maybe my ears are clogged? Or maybe my ear is just more tuned to the feminine tone? Either which way, it is a lesson in listening hard, watching eyes for clues, and asking 'what' all the time.
With all of that said, here are some of my favorite words and phrases from the Scots so far:
Curtain twitcher - aka Mrs. Green if you lived on Verlinden St. growing up - the nosy neighbor. (I think this one is brilliant!)
Sleeping Policeman - traffic bump. (isn't that hysterical!)
'That's you then' - when you are done shopping and handing you the receipt
hen - girl or woman. Everyone uses this one
cannae - cannot
Whit's fur ye'll no go past ye - what's for you won't go past you. If it's meant to be, it'll be
Yer a chancer - you're pushing your luck
Heeeland Coooos - Highland Cows
Hiya - Hi Ya! I have incorporated this into my daily speak
Dreich - dull, damp day devoid of light, warmth and colour
Awe the best tæ yih,
Kitty of clan Cairn
ps. thx to Karyn, one of my Weg's, who may not be as excited about me not having a car! She has carted Levi to and fro these past couple of days to Mugdock Park for DofE. Thx a million Karyn!
Weg - West End Girls - my posse
DofE - see future blog from Lord Levi himself
No comments:
Post a Comment