Monthly Archives: October 2024

Scotstober Week Three.

24th October 2024Drawingadmin1

Week three. Each October a list, one for each day of 30 Scottish words, is published. Scotstober as an event is for fun, inviting anyone to have a go and publish the result on social media under the hashtag #Scotstober.

It can be a drawing, sculpture, poem, collage, blog entry, song, joke, story, comic, or whatever the day’s word inspires you to make. Do Scotstober every day of October or just the days that take your fancy. There are no rules.

Word 16: Howff.

Crypt lid, quilted, insulated and soundproofed on the inside, is held open in the early morning dark in the Dundee Howff by an attendant as a figure descends its stairs into the electric lit up to date equipped depths.In Scots: It's a heid scratcher tae aw o us, o immortal Lord, why ye settled yer secret eternal abode doonstairs in The Howff, it's got mair deid bodies than ye can shak a stick at. And it's owerleuked aw weys an there's aye some jakey or ither cuttin aboot in here no matter the day or the oor. Mind you, yer trust fund has kept us in marmalade oer the generations so massell and my descendants wul speir ye nane ahn we'll aye be here tae attend tae ye on yer annual October outings. But I suspect yer plans tae place solar panels on the roof o the crypts and wind generators tae replace the urns oan the pillars is going tae draw unwanted attention. Especially in Dundee. Translate: howff: An enclosed open space, a yard, in Dundee a particular old graveyard in the city centre. In English: It's a puzzle to all of us, oh immortal Lord, why you settled your secret eternal abode downstairs in The Howff, it's got more dead bodies than you can shake a stick at. And it's overlooked all ways and there's always some odd-body or other cutting about in here whatever the day or the hour. However, your trust fund has kept us in marmalade over the generations so me and my descendants wont ask any questions and we will always be here to attend to you on your annual October outings. But I suspect your plans to place solar panels on the roof of the crypts and wind generators to replace the urns on the pillars is going to draw unwanted attention. Especially in Dundee. — Word 16 Scotstober. Howff: An enclosed open space, a yard, in Dundee a particular old graveyard in the city centre.

Word 17: Lum.

Chimney sweeps on a very extensive set of roofs in a multiple choice situation.In Scots: “LISTEN! Ye jist roar queen mum doon each lum till ye hear big Erchie roar back." Translate: lum: chimney, chimney stack. In English: “LISTEN! You just shout queen mum loudly down each chimney until you hear big Archibald shout back." — Word 17 Scotstober. Lum: chimney, chimney stack.

Word 18: Tuim.

Two old furry alien guru professor types peering rudely either side into the ears of a sturdy young student held between them.In Scots: His heid's as tuim as we thoucht, ah can see the daylicht glintin aff yer ee Prof. Yet he's got the hauns o an ertist ahn the nieves o a fechter. So dae we pit him in the ert academy or the boxin academy? Translate: toom tuim: empty. In English: His head's as empty as we thought, I can see the daylight glinting off your eye Prof. Yet he's got the hands of an artist and the fists of a fighter. So do we put him in the art academy or the boxing academy? — Word 18 Scotstober. Tuim: empty.

Word 19: Squint.

Lord of the manor in the great hall complaining his family portraits very high up on the very high wall are not hung just right.In Scots: Weel done min, Captain Frumpsqualler the first is noo straicht jist like ye straichtened Skew Bazzer Whiffington ahn the ithers, but ah see Baw Graip Clatterbutt the third is noo the squint yin. Ye'll hae tae toddle up the ledder agin. The fourth jobbie in frae left as ye can see. I'm takin tint o yiz taking doon the ledder iviry time. Ye weel ken mha skelly ee disni tak distraction weel. Ye'll no be forgotten when ye get yer annual day aff at Christmas. Translate: squint: not aligned, off the square. In English: Well done my man, Captain Frumpsqualler the first is now straight just as you have straightened Skew Bazzer Whiffington and the others, but I see Baw Graip Clatterbutt the third is now the misaligned one. You shall have to toddle up the ladder again. It is the simple task of the fourth in from the left as you can see. I am taking note of you two taking the ladder down every time. You certainly appreciate that my awkward eye does not take distractions well. You will not be forgotten when you get your annual day off at Christmas. — Word 19 Scotstober. Squint: not aligned, off the square.

Word 20: Heilan.

Para Handy the captain and his engineer Mr McPhail are talking to a cattle dealer as a skinny cow looks on and the good ship The Vital Spark sits on the mudflats in the background of a low tide evening - as Glasgow puffers do.“If I wass buyin' a coo it wouldna be wan you could hang your hat on in fifty places. No, no, Peter, I'm Hielan', but I'm no' so Hielan' ass aal that.” Para Handy The Vital Spark by Neil Munro. Translate: heilan: highland, highlander; of or from the mountainous parts of Scotland, not defined, or described by any precise limits and also the habit, customs, manners, and languages of the area. “If I was buying a cow it would not be one that you could hang your hat on in fifty places. No, no, Peter, I may be regarded as simple, but I'm not so simple as all that.” — Word 20 Scotstober. Heilan: highland, highlander; of or from the mountainous parts of Scotland, not defined, or described by any precise limits and also the habit, customs, manners, and languages of the area.

Word 21: Sook.

Even the toughest employer rebels against a too keen, too good, too hungry employee."Ah've heard o sookin in wi the boss Smithers but this is takin it ower far. Yir fired!" Translate: sook: sycophant, crawler, toady, to fawn and flatter. "I have heard of sucking up to the boss Smithers but this is taking it too far. You're fired!" — Word 21 Scotstober. Sook: sycophant, crawler, toady, to fawn and flatter.

Word 22: Heid.

Woodcutters trapped in a tree by a ferocious Scottish woodland bird."Yon Capercaillie's totally lost the heid." Translate: heid: head. "That Capercaillie there has totally lost any sense it had in its fit of fury." The Gaelic name for this species, capall-coille, means ‘horse of the forest’. And they will chase you in the breeding season. — Word 22 Scotstober. Heid: head.

Scotstober 2024.

Week one: 1 tyne, 2 dicht, 3 noo, 4 haar, 5 clype, 6 boak, 7 tap.
Week two: 8 lang, 9 haiver, 10 thole, 11 bile, 12 jouk, 13 cuddie, 14 gowster, 15 puddock.
Week three: 16 howff, 17 lum, 18 tuim, 19 squint, 20 heilan, 21 sook, 22 heid.
Week four: 23 gled, 24 coo, 25 ben, 26 knap, 27 toon, 28 poke, 29 forret, 30 smirr, 31 neep, tumshie, baigie.

Continue reading Scotstober Week Three. →

Scotstober Week Two.

24th October 2024Drawingadmin1

Week two. Each October a list, one for each day of 30 Scottish words, is published. Scotstober as an event is for fun, inviting anyone to have a go and publish the result on social media under the hashtag #Scotstober.

Word 08: Lang.

Two girls explaining to a discombobulated boy the rules of the game that they are playing with a big dog. In Scots: We’re hae’n a competition tae see hoo lang we can streek the dugs slaver frae its mou afore it braks. The langest distance oot o ten tries or tae when the dug gangs hame is the winner. Nae measurin via the droop, it’s gotta be a straicht measure. We’ve been feedin it brussels sproots. Translate: lang: long. In English: We’re having a competition to see how long we can stretch the dogs slobber from its mouth before it breaks. The longest distance out of ten tries or to when the dog goes home is the winner. No measuring via the droop, it’s gotta be a straight measure. We’ve been feeding it brussels sprouts. — Word 08 Scotstober. Lang: long

word 09: Haiver.

Servant with hot water bottle is disturbing his master in bed, pointing out the cottage window excitedly at aliens and a flying saucer.In Scots: “Awa an wheesht min, yir haiverin!” Translate: haiverin: talking foolishly. In English: “Go away and be silent man, you are speaking nonsense!” — Word 09 Scotstober. Haiver: to talk nonsense.

Word 10: Thole.

A seated Laird roped by the waist to a free-standing wicker chair is gesticulating at his worried looking manservant who is standing by holding a cord, the other end of which is attached to a big bag of bricks teetering on the edge of a low wall overlooking a sheer drop of great distance.In Scots: Ah canni thole this torture onie longer John. Dae yer duty. Tie yer unbrakable cord fast tae this damned tuith ahn kick the bricks oer the cliff. Dinni look sae worried MAN! Ahm no goin anywhere I'm weel yokit tae this chair by stout rope, cos for tae quote the Bard. "Where'er that place be priests ca' hell, Where a' the tones o' misery yell, And ranked plagues their numbers tell, In dreadfu' raw, Thou, Tooth-ache, surely bear'st the bell, Amang them a'!" Translate: thole: To suffer, to be subjected to or afflicted with, to have to bear or endure. In English: I cannot bear this torture any longer John. Do your duty. Tie your unbreakable cord fast to this damned tooth and kick the bricks over the cliff. Don't look so worried MAN! I'm not going anywhere I'm well tied to this chair by stout rope, because to quote the Bard. “ … “ — Word 01 Scotstober. Thole: To suffer, to be subjected to or afflicted with, to have to bear or endure.

Word 11: Bile:

A Rat sipping wine, a Dragon heating a kettle with its breath and a Unicorn knitting are sitting around a picnic on a pleasant summer's evening.In Scots: I think the kettle's bilin noo Sparky, onie mair heat and ye'll hae its erse melted awa. And whaur'll we be with oor tea perty then! Oot! Oot o tea. That's what. Noo pit yer bilet water intae the teapot - ahm gaspin for a cuppa and yin o thon cakes. Ahn in the future listen tae yer kettle, when it biles it sings. Translate: bile: boil In English: I think the kettle is boiling now Sparky, any more heat and you will melt away its bottom. And where will we be with our tea party then! Out! Out of tea. That's what. Now put your boiled water into the teapot - I'm gasping for a cuppa and one of these cakes. And in the future listen to your kettle, when it boils it sings. — Word 11 Scotstober. Bile: boil.

Word 12: Jouk.

Pugilists, one standing, one not, in the ring.In Scots: “Aw his joukin aboot wis a waste o space." Translate: jouk: duck, dodge, avoid. In English: “All his ducking and dodging about was without value and lacking in worth." — Word 12 Scotstober. Jouk: duck, dodge.

Word 13: Cuddy.

A distressed haggisean galloping along the hillside uttering its bagpippean call of distress pursued by a highlander on a small sturdy horse during the final stages of the hunt.In Scots: 'Mad Hielander on a canterin cuddy aboot tae lassoo the Haggis whilst in its bagpippean skirl of distress.' Translate: cuddy, cuddie: a horse, a short thick strong horse. In English: 'Insane Highlander upon a cantering horse about to lasso a Haggis while it is in the throes of its bagpippean piercing call of distress.' Haggis recipe. Use the legs, skin, beak and pistle to make bagpipes. Then stuff all the remaining meat and organs into the stomach of a sheep along with loads of spice. Tie it off with a stout knot and boil the lot until sterilised. Serve the result with mashed turnip and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. — Word 13 Scotstober. Cuddy: a horse, a short thick strong horse.

Word 14: Gowster.

Mouse on the mouse trap is narrowly missed by the spiked hammer swinging overhead resulting in skinned knuckles, toes and ears cropped short plus the cheese bait in its hands got chopped in two.In Scots: Oooyah! Ah thocht ye were a gowster for certie there Widdles. That wiz a close squeek, yir cheese is in twa. Translate: gowster: goner, turned into a ghost. In English: Oh my gosh! I thought you were a goner for certain there Widdles. That was a close squeak, your cheese is in two. — Word 14 Scotstober. Gowster: goner, turned into a ghost.

Word 15: Puddock.

A person being ill while leaning on a dyke while a toad relishes its breakfast of a greasy slug at the base of the wall.In Scots: ‘The diet of a puddock wid gar ye boke.' Translate: puddock: frog Rana or (in this illustration) toad Bufo vulgaris. In English: ‘The diet of a toad is enough to make one vomit.' — Word 15 Scotstober. Puddock: frog Rana or (in this illustration) toad Bufo vulgaris.

Scotstober 2024.

Continue reading Scotstober Week Two. →

Scotstober Week One.

9th October 2024Drawingadmin1

Week one. Each October a list, one for each day of 30 Scottish words, is published. Scotstober as an event is for fun, inviting anyone to have a go and publish the result on social media under the hashtag #Scotstober.

Week one of Scotstober 2024.

Here are the first seven words on the Scotstober 2024 list that I illustrated. They are web screen grabs of the the relevant pages from my Scottish illustrated words site. If you click on an image they will open in a page that lets you swipe/click through the images rather than scroll. I hope you enjoy.