SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 654 Title : Dipper: 42 - The Paddy Author(s): Dr James A Begg Copyright holder(s): Dr James A Begg Text Lines written after sharing a train joumey on the late-lamented Stranraer-Euston night-sleeper - affectionately known as "The Paddy" - with the Rt.Hon. George Younger M.P. Ayont the station ruif, smeekit wi the reek O a thousan trains, The lourin mirk masks the threit O forecast snaw. Flakes faa. Ootby's a platform, cleanswept o fowk By the snell Eastlin win. 'Ay, Ay!'.... a nidge an nod - 'We've company!' A wee man arrives, briefcase in haun, Trig in peen-stripe breeks an cuttie coat, Smilin the smile o a Politeecian; While twa big gairdian angels Cairt his bags an luik aroun, As if tae say - 'Wha daur meddle Wi Oor Majestie's Secretary o Defence!' Inby, forgethert, incommunicado, The nicht trevellers sit, poe-faced, Keppin their baggage like penned sheep, Wi ae lug cockit for their neebor's crack, An the tither for the Paddy. 'Is tat yew, Victor!' scowls an Irish vyce Intae the pay-phone. 'Oi'm at Ayr Station! Pick me op!' Slams doun the phone an leaves. On time, "Andra Carnegie", Airn Maister, King o the Railroad, Drub-drubs in, draggin an endless train That streitches back tae Girvan. Poe-faces jerk tae life, wi searchin een Seek oot their billets, fashd They'll no get aboard afore the wee gaird Blaws his whustle. The Meenister trots aheid, his minders Herd him tae his sleeper - Furst Class - As we wunner wha'll tak the spare bunk, An wha'll gaird the door. In the neist coach doun, A1 an 2, A wee bleck leddie ticks us aff For tea or coffee in the mornin. Hmm.... no bad for Saicont Class! But.... idle thochts.... will they search Ane-up for bombs?.... Thae Irish...! Aicht oors tae London.... aiblins we'll sleep An get oor money's worth O warm wool blankets, an snaw-white sheets. But somethin's no richt - nae clickety-click, Nae lullaby o linkit rails Tae send us ower. Wi steikit een we dover, deep senses alert Tae the hum o weldit steel; Slid up an doun oor bunks By G-Forces on the Nithsdale bends. Then lang straucht miles sae smooth Ye'd scarce ken we're movin.... Or are we - ....Keek roun the blinds - We're sittin at Carlisle! Coach jerks on coach, heids jerk on necks, Then rest in sleepy equilibrium At a hunner mile an oor doun Shap. Mair stops an sterts, whustles, bangin doors. A luminous watch tells us We're at Crewe.... But the sign ootside says Wigan! An oor late...! Then, wi haet a chance o sleep, It's "Deil tak the hinmaist", as we waltz An sway throu the Hert o England, At a hunner an twinty. Past an Arctic land whaur, in the grey licht, Pentit boats lie idle in pack ice, An the dreich, ramshackle ferms Are nane the waur o a lick o whitewash Frae new faaen snaw. Comes a chap at the door, An the wee Caribbean leddie Hauns in oor tea an biscuits Wi perfect timin.... As we gang throu Watford Junction, Ower the pynts, An jaups o het tea skail ower The snaw-white sheets! Lichts blink by in back-kitchens, As terraced London eats its breakfast. We slide intae Euston, An the Meenister glides awa In his big black caur. ___ smeekit/smoke-blackened mirk/darkness cuttie/short dover/doze haet/not a whit of skail/spill out This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience General public: Audience size: 1000+ Text details Method of composition: Handwritten Year of composition: 1986 Word count: 572 General description: Anthology of prizewinning and other Scots poems, and short stories in Ayrshire Scots. Text medium Book: Radio: Other: Audiocassette Text publication details Published: Publisher: Luath Press Publication year: 1991 Place of publication: Barr, Ayrshire ISBN/ISSN: 0946487227 Edition: First Part of larger text: Contained in: The Dipper an the Three Wee Deils: Tales and Poems in Ayrshire Scots Editor: Authors: Dr. J. A. Begg and J. Reid Page numbers: 101-103 Text setting Leisure/entertainment: Private/personal: Text type Poem/song/ballad: Author Author details Author id: 623 Title: Dr Forenames: James Initials: A Surname: Begg Gender: Male Decade of birth: 1940 Educational attainment: University Age left school: 17 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism Occupation: Medical Practitioner Place of birth: New Cumnock Region of birth: S Ayr Birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Ayr Region of residence: S Ayr Residence CSD dialect area: Ayr Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Clerical Officer, NCB Father's place of birth: Sandbank Father's region of birth: Argyll Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Arg Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Primary Teacher Mother's place of birth: New Cumnock Mother's region of birth: S Ayr Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Ayr Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: Danish Speak: No Read: No Write: No Understand: No Circumstances: A little Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Home, socially, at work Language: French Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Holidaying in France Language: Norwegian Speak: No Read: No Write: No Understand: No Circumstances: A little Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Home, socially, at work