Mindin's

Alfred Nobile

A bided in Glesca fae the minute o' conception tae the age o' fowerteen. Glesca then wis mair different than it is noo. Tramcaurs an' Trolleybuses in the streets. No as mony motors. Things called Play streets, The Steamie, weans playin' kick the can, chappin' an' runnin' awa. An fitba, an ropes an' ba's. But it wis lassies that played the last yins.

The thing A mind maist wis getting the caur fae oor hame in Dennistoun tae Sandyhills, whar ma Granny an' Granda bided. On a Sunday a' the family were there. Aunts, Uncles an' ma Cozins.

Thae Sundays wir special. Ma Faither an' his Brithers playin' cards, the kitty fu' o ' whit wis ca'd widden 3d bits. They hid hauf pints o' beer an' Capstan an' Senior Service fags.

This went on till three an' then we a' settled doon to watch the big film. Telly wis such a new thing an' maybe they thocht thae should be watchin' in the picturs the lichts went oot an' even the chairs were pit oot like pictur stalls.

Efter the pictur wis o'er, the lichts went back on a' the weemmen went intae the kitchen tae cook Sunday denner an' the men? Well they hid the important business o' playin' cards an' drinkin' mair beer!

Anither thing a awis mind is Uncle Tommy bringin' a pile o' comics, ones he hid read. Mammy said he awis wis a big wean. Uncle Johnny always hid copies o' Fitba Monthly as well.

Lookin' back a winder if ma Cozins hiv the thochts as me. Wir we as close as we seemed in thae days? Or is it a case o' absence makin' the hert grow fonder. Dis nostalgia wear Rose Tinted specks?