ANGELINE KING
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"...stories birling through my mind..."

A literary journey


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Ulster-Scots  
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Photograph by Billy McWilliams

To Butlins

24/3/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
That's me on the left skrieching!
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



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    Prose

    Scene 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 & folklore

    Language 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

    Essays

    Irish 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 reviews

    Wigtown Ploughman
    Jo Zebedee

    Lesley Allen & Helen Nicholl
    ​
    Orla McAlinden
    Du Maurier
    Anne Doughty

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