A Dash O Doric

The old man looked down at his lifelong friend, now lying in his coffin, and said: 'Man, there's even a smile on his face.' 'There is,' said the widow, 'bit Jock wis aye a bittie saft. He disna ken fit's happened til him yet.' And then there was the hapless crew from Sky TV on one of their periodic visits to check Highland reactions to various news stories. Spotting a likely interviewee in Academy Street, the reporter approached and said: 'Excuse me, have you got a few words for Sky TV?' 'I have,' snapped the man. 'Stick your microphone up your nose and bugger off back to Portree.' Or what about the Banffshire congregation who welcomed a new English member and were horrified to discover that at the end of every hymn or prayer the newcomer would cry: 'Praise the Lord and Hallelujah!'? The beadle scurried up to the new man's pew and hissed: 'Jist behave yersel. We dinna praise the Lord here.' Norman Harper and Robbie Shepherd are back with a third collection of stories which show the wit and wisdom of North-east Scotland at their finest. Find out inside why the ice-skating scoring system at a Donside tournament went so badly wrong; read of the forgetful railway guard at Fyvie and how the old passenger on the Culter train was celebrating her birthday; marvel at one Buchan oilman's tip for improving your love life on holiday. It's all here, and more.

When Sir Harry Lauder left a concert on Deeside he was mystified that his kokes had not got the response received elsewhere. It perked him up when, from the spilling audience, he heard a voice say, 'Fit a gran comic. It took me aa ma time nae ti lach.' The Humour of the North-east is found at less celebrated levels too. There is the tale of the middle-aged couple who had courted each other for almost thirty years, but had never got round to marriage. One day Jock decided to voice his thoughts on the matter, for he was worried that people were speaking about their phenomenally long relationship. 'Jean,' Is it nae time the twao's were thinkin' aboot getting mairrit?' 'Behave yersel, Jock,' said Jean. 'Fa wid hae ony o's noo?' The humour and dialect of the North-east forms a unique and hilarious blend. In this book, packed with anecdotes and stories covering childhood, work, love and marriage, the kirk, the school, old age and several others, Robbie Shepherd and Norman Harper provide a fascinating tour of the wit and wisdom of the North-east of Scotland. This book, the third in the series, presents the best of the two previous volumes - A Dash o' Doric and Anither Dash o' Doric - as well as a whole range of new material, making it the best introduction to the wit and wisdom of the North-east of Scotland available.

In the 11 chapters found in this book, each filled with humorous anecdotes and stories, Robbie Shepherd and Norman Harper provide a tour of the wit and wisdom of the North-east of Scotland. A glossary of Doric words is also provided.

This follow-up to A Dash of Doric is a collection of 200 true stories gathered throughout the North-East of Scotland, continuing the authors' exploration of the country's most distinctive senses of humour. It covers childhood, work, love and marriage, the Kirk and old-age.

Ever been lost for words or just completely mystified by what you hear? This is a new series of pocket books designed to introduce some of the wealth of the spoken and written word in Scotland to those who may not be familiar with them. For the 600 selected Doric words, as well as a simple meaning, the context and background to the word will be explained, along with examples of use (and, as required) a pronunciation guide. Forget about worthy dictionaries, this is a series dedicated to the enjoyment of language.

Reflecting on current affairs, books and films, Robbie Shepherd's weekly column in the "Aberdeen Press and Journal" has long enjoyed an enthusiastic following. Written in Doric, and prefaced by a quote from a Doric poem, each column discusses contemporary events in a tongue that, though still spoken today, is also evocative of the past. Delighting local readers, clippings of Robbie's articles also find their way all over the world, reuniting relatives and friends with the memories of their homeland and their mother tongue. For the first time, over fifty of Robbie's "Press and Journal" columns have been brought together in one collection. With superb illustrations by Graham MacLennan, this book will appeal to Robbie's long-established fans, as well as to those as yet unfamiliar with his wry observation and humour expressed in the Doric tongue.

This monumental work traces the development and growth of the worship of Zeus as the god of lightning and thunder.