"...stories birling through my mind..."
A literary journey
Prose
Irish culture & folklore
Ulster-Scots
Literary Essays
Book reviews
"...stories birling through my mind..."
Och God, let me be a Butlins Redcoat! ah pray. Watch me skreich an scream an skelp the cowl water wi ma belly while ma mammy slarries suncream on her goose-speckelt skin. Och God, let us win! ah pray. Watch me race doon rows o chalets past the Tilt O Whirl an the Mexican Hat wi ma wee bruller on on wer way til the Donkey Derby. Och God, let him no come last! ah pray. Watch me dae the Time Warp aneath the skinkling lights o the Stuart’s ballroom wi ma babbie bruller afore the bonny baby competition. Och God, let me own a gress skirt! ah pray. Watch me souk ma Slush Puppy as ma big bruller jooks away tae the penny gambling machines, him in a blue futball shirt, his mate in green. Och God, let me no get caught! ah pray. Watch me sleek intae the bunged Beachcomber bar an keek at trees an plants lazin in ponds o fish where weemen in wide glesses gab atween sips o Bacardi. Och God, let me get back tae Butlins! ah pray. Watch me board a bus for Alloway tae learn aboot a deed poet who said sleekit like me and befreeded a wee moose in a field called the tim’rous beastie. Och God, let me be a Butlins Redcoat, ah pray, Or, mibbe even a poet Start Reading Angeline's novels by clicking the links below: Snugville Street: Tears, laughter and a French exchange between Belfast and Brittany. A Belfast Tale: A transatlantic story and uniquely Belfast Tale. Also by Angeline King Irish Dancing: A history of Irish dancing, focusing on the shared culture of 'festival Irish dancing' (Irish folk dancing) in Ulster: Children of Latharna: An illustrated keepsake of stories about growing up in 1980s Northern Ireland. Ideal for 'big weans' and 'wee weans.'
2 Comments
Alex McGhie
3/10/2018 14:32:42
Angeline, I enjoyed reading your blog as I've recently had a real nostaliga about Butlins, Ayr. It's very possible I was there around the same time as you as I was also 10 or 11 when I visited, around 1985/86. I have nothing but fond memories of the place, the miniature railway, the cablecars, the metal stairs at the chalets, the Beachcomber Bar, so many others. With most of the site now completely taken over as a caravan park, the memories and old photos become increasingly important. Best, Alex.
Reply
Angeline
3/10/2018 16:45:41
Lovely to hear from you Alex! Glad you enjoyed that blog! We used to go there every year. Yes, we're the same age :)
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
ProseScene from Snugville Street
The Wedding Wisp 82 Waterloo Road Ballysnod The Teacher Voice The Last Day of Summer Scheme The Children of Latharna The Band Stick The Bully up the Brae God Created Butlins History & folkloreLanguage Blog I
Language Blog II Language Blog III Language Blog IV Kailyard & Dusty Bluebells Jean Park of Ballygally Fiddles and Melodeons Martha Taylor's diary Jean McCullagh at 104 Ballymena & the McConnells Arms in Irish Dancing Catholics & Protestants in Irish dancing EssaysIrish Times:
Irish Dancing: The Festival Story The Protestant in Irish Fiction. The Protestant in Irish fiction II Ulster-Scots in Irish Fiction An author in Wonderland Belfast Telegraph: Irish Dancing Miscellaneous Dancing in Victorian Ulster Learning the Irish Language. John Hewitt Summer School Book reviewsArchives
March 2021
|