DORIC COLUMN ROBBIE SHEPHERD

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The bairnies cuddle doon at nicht

Wi muckle faught an’din

“Oh try an’ sleep, ye waukrife rogues” CUDDLE DOON – ALEXANDER ANDERSON

The wikk jist by markit the mid-term brakk fae skweel doon in Englandshire an we were trickit tae hae a three-day veesit fae the faimily as they motor’t up in stages fae the Sooth-East neuk. The welcome we got gaur’t the hairtie loup as sivven-eer-aul Dougie cam rinnin, airms oot-streech’t an aa kittl’t up, roarin oot - “Grannie, Granda”, near caain’s ower for a bosie an Rose nearly three, treetlin on ahin, haudin on ticht tae her bunny comforter efter the lang trip. Nae amount o phone calls nor the odd “face-time” cwid haud a cunnle tae sic a faimily reunion.

Fit we forget tho is we’re weel on in eers, nae doobt stuck in oor wyes, wi nae chunce o keepin tee tae the protticks o the littlins nooadays. Copin wi the odd tantrums micht o hid me optin for a wee skelp on the backside bit nae in es day an age. Gordon an Lucy tak aathing in their stride haein the patience o Job in settin fair the kids’ journey throwe life.

It gaurs ye winner on readin the day o teachers threetnin tae gie up on a classroom career cis o physical an verbal abuse fae brats o kids that fyles ye maun pynt the finger at the hame.

We’re prood o oor lot, safely hame noo efter jinkin oot an in the effec’s o Storm Eunice on the wye an I leave them aleen wi es pairtin shot. Wi aa the cases an orra trock bunnl’t intae the car, the rest o the faimily aa strappit in, Gordon comes breengin back pushin me aside an on speirin gin they hid forgotten something got es response - “the last stone”. Wis es some precious jewellery or maybe a bonnie pebble Rose hid pickit aff the beach. Damn the fear! Nae lang afore, he hid been watchin the men’s curlin foursomes on telly at the Winter Olympics an mangin noo tae see Scotland playin oot their hinmaist eyn. I wis fair teen aback bit nae sympathy fae the boss o the hoose fa thocht the hale game borin.

Ach weel, the men got their silver medal an congratulations tae Eve, Vicky, Jen an Hailey, Scotland’s crusadin quines on bringin hame the Gold.

Cheengin sports it’s confession time for es columnist anent last wikk’s screid. Nae only did I get ma prediction on the new Dons manager wrang bit’s name in aa, sayin it micht be Ross Jack. Cooriein doon hingin-luggit, I leave it tae ma gweed freen Charlie Smith, a Huntly loon, tae pit’s richt.

‘Noo that Aiberdeen hiv pick’t the new manager – nae fae Hibs – I remind yi that it wis Jack Ross an nae Ross Jack that wis in the frame for the Glass’ job. If it’s ony consolation Ross Jack played fitba as weel – he startit oot wi Ross County and is noo the manager at Rothes’.

Weel awyte an thanks Charlie. Wisn’t I the proper Charlie bit nivver myn here’s tae the new gaffer, Jim Goodwin an, livin up till’s name, we look forrit tae mony a gweed win in the days aheid for the Dandy Dons.

See ye neist wikkeyn.