SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 832 Title : Katie Morag and the Two Grandmothers Author(s): Mairi Hedderwick Copyright holder(s): Mairi Hedderwick: reproduced with consent of the Random House Group Text One sunny Wednesday morning Mrs McColl woke Katie Morag early. "Hurry up, now!" she said, drawing back the curtains. "Here comes the boat. Granma Mainland will be here soon and you've still got this room to tidy for her." Granma Mainland lived far away in the big city. She was coming to stay with them for a holiday. Katie Morag went with her other grandmother, Grannie Island, who lived just across the Bay, to meet the boat. "My, you're still a smart wee Bobby Dazzler," said Neilly Beag, as he helped Granma Mainland down. Grannie Island revved the engine very loudly. BUROOM... BUROOM... BUROOM... Katie Morag watched, fascinated, as Granma Mainland unpacked. "Do you like this new hat I've brought for Show Day, Katie Morag?" Granma Mainland asked. "Och, her and her fancy ways!" muttered Grannie Island to herself. Show Day was always a big event on the Island of Struay. At the Post Office, Mr and Mrs McColl were rushed off their feet. "Look where you're GOING!" shouted Mrs McColl, as Katie Morag tripped over baby Liam. "Katie Morag, I think you'd be better off helping Grannie Island get Alecina ready for the Show," sighed Mr McColl. Alecina was Grannie Island's prize sheep. She had won the Best Ewe and Fleece Trophy for the past seven years, but she was getting old, and everyone said that Neilly Beag's April Love would win it this year. Katie Morag ran as fast as she could, past the Show Field, where frantic last-minute preparations were in progress, and on to Grannie Island's in order to give Alecina an extra special brush and comb before the judging started. But when Katie Morag arrived at Grannie Island's, Alecina was up to her horns in the Boggy Loch. "A whole hillside to eat and she wants that blade of grass!" cried Grannie Island in a fury. "Look at your fleece! And today of all days, you old devil!" ranted Grannie Island when they eventually got Alecina out of the Boggy Loch. "We'll never get these peaty stains out in time for the Show"! "Granma Mainland has some stuff to make her hair silvery white..." said Katie Morag thoughtfully. Everyone looked in amazement as Grannie Island's old tractor and trailer hurtled past the Show Field, heading for the Post Office. "We'll be too late!" grumbled Grannie Island. Fortunately, no one was about when they got home, since Mrs McColl would certainly not have approved of this... [NOTE: picture of ewe in the bathtub] ...or this. [NOTE: picture of ewe getting rubbed down with a towel] And Granma Mainland would have been furious at this... [NOTE: picture of ewe being dried with a hairdryer, and having curlers put in] ...not to mention this. [NOTE: picture of ewe being dabbed with perfume] But all ended well. They managed to get tidied up and back to the Show Field just in time for the judging, and, at the sight of Alecina's shiny coat and curls, the judges were in no doubt as to who should win the Silver Trophy again this year. That evening there was a party at Grannie Island's to celebrate. "My, but thon old ewe is still some beauty for her age," said Neilly Beag. "Just like yourself, Granma Mainland. How do you do it?" "Ah, that's my secret," said wee Granma Mainland, fluttering her eyelashes. Katie Morag and Grannie Island smiled at each other. They knew some of the secret, but would never tell. And Grannie Island never frowned at Granma Mainland's "fancy ways" every again. I wonder why? 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 Children (under 13s): Audience size: 1000+ Writer knew intended audience: Text details Method of composition: Handwritten Year of composition: 1984 Word count: 572 Text medium Book: Text performance/broadcast details Where performed/broadcast: Inner Hebrides (Mull, Islay, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay, etc) in Aug./Sept. 2005 Performed/broadcast by: Mull Theatre Text publication details Published: Publisher: The Bodley Head Publication year: 1985 Place of publication: London ISBN/ISSN: 0099118718 Edition: 1st Part of a longer series of texts: Name of series: Katie Morag series Text setting Education: Leisure/entertainment: Text type Prose: fiction: Other: Children's picture story book Author Author details Author id: 336 Forenames: Mairi Surname: Hedderwick Gender: Female Decade of birth: 1930 Educational attainment: University Age left school: 18 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Protestantism Occupation: Writer and illustrator Place of birth: Gourock Region of birth: Renfrew Birthplace CSD dialect area: Renfr Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Isle of Coll Region of residence: Argyll Residence CSD dialect area: Arg Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Architect Father's place of birth: Luanza Father's region of birth: Belgian Congo Father's country of birth: Central Africa Mother's occupation: Housewife Mother's place of birth: Greenock Mother's region of birth: Renfrew Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Renfr Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Work and home Language: Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic Speak: Yes Read: No Write: No Understand: Yes Circumstances: Very minimal, basic, at home Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Minimal, basic, at home