World Cup in winter

“Although the World Cup hasn’t been running long,” says a Dundee reader, “I just can’t get used to seeing World Cup football on the TV at this time of year.

“Normally, when it’s played during the summer months, we’re hoping for sunshine and setting up barbecues for watching the games, trying to rig up the television screen so that it can be seen from the garden.

“Now, anyone who wants to watch will have cups of tea at the ready and the fire on. It all seems a bit odd to me.”

Makes more sense

“My husband speaks Scots dialect all the time,” emails reader Norma Murray in response to a comment on old Scots slang that appeared a while ago in the column, “and we think ‘tike’ means ‘child’.

“This would make more sense with the comment about getting no sleep.”

Striped cup

Ruth Walker of St Andrews has been in touch. “Here is another poem for the Craigie page,” she says. “It is about my late father who was minister at Kemback for many happy years.

Saturday tea time, Dad at the table with his blue and white cup in his hands listening to the Scottish sports news. He liked the stirring opening tune, the litany

of names: “East Fife, Raith Rovers, Brechin City.”

In the outside dark, the hens were locked up snug in their own stone outhouse.

Daintily, they had made their way across the ground, pausing

now and then, one foot held high, gently crooning

before their stately progress up the ladder.

Sunday morning, my father walked over to the church.

I saw him pause, catch his breath halfway up

the steep incline. Robed and ready, he was led down the aisle by Jimmy Robertson, our beadle.

Light streamed from tall windows, trees nudged and nodded,

scratched the glass in whispered conversation.

Gently, we were led into another sphere and then brought back to our more humdrum lives, with its round

of sowing and reaping, herding flocks, paying bills.

Now Dad could return to our own little world – vegetables needed to be scrubbed, fruit stewed

before we could sit down and have our meal.

Then it was off to the woods to gather more sticks to feed the hungry Rayburn stove and keep its crackling flames alive!

Bad weather driving

Temperatures look set to drop over the coming weeks. Car insurance expert Alex Kindred at Confused.com comments: “Some motorists might avoid driving in bad or extreme weather conditions, but it can’t always be avoided. The weather might turn while motorists are already on the road, or circumstances might mean they have to drive regardless.

“However, there are steps all drivers

can take to stay safe in rain, wind or foggy weather.

“If the weather is bad before setting off, there’s a few things drivers can do to prepare – make sure the windscreen is clear, test the wipers and test the brakes.

“When driving on the road itself, drivers should be aware of potential deep water and avoid driving on things such as wet leaves. Wet and slippery surfaces can be dangerous, especially when travelling at high speeds.

“It’s recommended to reduce speed to ensure better control of the vehicle in these circumstances.

“Our online guide on driving in heavy rain and winds gives useful tips and advice for motorists.”

AUTUMN GLORY: David Forbes sent in this photograph of Kinness Burn in St Andrews showing off beautiful colours along its banks.