SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 1012 Title : The New Mannie Author(s): Liz Niven Copyright holder(s): Liz Niven Text If ye want a nappy chynged jist gie us a bell, fir A'm a new mannie, can ye no tell? A'd've hid ma ain wean if only A couldv'e, an at the labour the wife says she wished A would've, fir then A could've breast fed them,bit A'm afraid A cannie. Aye there are some limits tae bein a new mannie. Bit she's doon the boozer wi her mates the night. She's worked aw week so it's only right. A mean A've had some sleepless nights A'll gie ye that, bit ye cannae complain jist look at ma flat. Spick an span no a bit a stoor in sight, the washin's aw done. A've been at it aw night. A'll dae a wee bit ironin, pit oan ma trannie. Oh, it's no that bad bein a new mannie. Ra morra, she says, A can go wi the lads, a bevvie, the fitba a wee gemme o cards. She'll take the wean tae it's gran roon the street get oot fir a drink an a wee bite tae eat, wi some o the lassies she's kent aw her life. She tells them she's lucky tae be such a wife wi a new man at hame tae look efter the kid, she'll mibbe hae anither when we're oot o the rid. A'd get a joab if A could bit A cannie, A'm needit at hame cos A'm a new mannie. She's thinkin o haein a holiday soon- a week in New York wi her pals fae the toon. Will A stey at hame wi the wean fir the week? A wisnae too sure if that wis a cheek, an takin advantage o me an ma role. A'm hauf considerin gaun doon the dole, gettin a joab an ma ain independence, bit she's says that's jist a load o auld nonsense. 'A don't want ma man workin', she says that A cannie, A'm no sure whit tae dae fir A'm a new mannie 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 Adults (18+): General public: Audience size: 1000+ Text details Method of composition: Wordprocessed Year of composition: 2001 Word count: 363 Text medium Book: Text publication details Published: Publisher: Canongate Publication year: 2001 Place of publication: Edinburgh ISBN/ISSN: 184195134X Part of a longer series of texts: Name of series: Stravaigin - poetry collection Text type Poem/song/ballad: Author Author details Author id: 19 Forenames: Liz Surname: Niven Gender: Female Decade of birth: 1950 Educational attainment: University Age left school: 17 Occupation: Writer Place of birth: Glasgow Region of birth: Glasgow Birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Country of birth: Scotland Place of residence: Dumfries Region of residence: E & Mid Dumfries Residence CSD dialect area: Dmf Country of residence: Scotland Father's occupation: Gardener Father's place of birth: Glasgow Father's region of birth: Glasgow Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Seamstress Mother's place of birth: Glasgow Mother's region of birth: Glasgow Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Gsw Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Work / home Language: French Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: With French people / films Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: Work / home