Well I was back in “Bonnie Dundee” and the last visit was great. I tried to keep a low profile as on the previous trip I had to curtail some of my meetings because I kept running into old friends. I wish I could take a full three month sabbatical to do the entire documentary research in Dundee; I’ve had plenty of offers of accommodation ranging from an auld settee to some very grand spare rooms.

 I had just about traversed half way along the top level of the Overgate when I bumped into Mary, Jane, Lynda, Elsie, Big Mary, Jennifer, Liz, Myra, Frances, Helen, Linda, Pattie, Bev, etc, having a coffee at the new cookie store.

 “Jesus God yer back” the girls say. “how’s yer family story coming alang” I start to tell them that it is going great and that I have now made contact with a huge number of people from the old days.

 “Mind yon laddie wha used tae bide in yer flat in Seafield Road? He was a right queer one” They both giggled. “He was aye going on about his mum and dad and calling them “moo" and “wanker”, he needed a guid skelp” God that took me back. We all had a good laugh, although I was cringing inside because I remembered all too well. “Funny you remember that” I said. “It’s no often that someone calls their parents that” they said. “He wis aye cadging fags af me” said one of the girls “and aye going on about his real dad being someone called Jim from the West End”. If only you knew, I thought.

 I manage to escape only to run into Ged, Boab, Tam, Dug, Jim, Willie, John. I tell them that I am off to such and such an office to locate an important document. “Ye should ask for Ged, Boab, Tam, Dug, Jim, Willie, John, Mary, Jane, Lynda, Elsie, Big Mary, Jennifer, Liz, Myra, Frances, Helen, Linda, Pattie, Bev, etc, coz they are the manager now an yell git any help that ye need”

 I thank them profusely and promising pints in the Trades Bar at the tap o Union Street, make a hasty exit. I get to the office in question and guess what, they were not wrong.

Gerry Creechan

Dublin 2009