Friday night 16

A quiet evening with all the usual characters absent.  There was life though so it was OK.  We learnt a new word - Golloch - seemingly a friendly term applied to people hailing from Caithness (which most locals tend to pronounce as Caitness).

I'm sure it's Tolkiens influence - but Golloch doesn't sound very savoury does it?

"And the pantry shelf came rattlin doon and he wis lying care-nae-mair,

Saft soap, paysmeal, coornflour 'n yearnin

Like a golloch amang treacle bit McGinty's wife wis girnin

At the sotter on her pantry flair and widnae let him be"

'Horny Golloch' is a Scot's name for an earwig - so perhaps Golloch isn't all that friendly a nickname.  Last night we spoke to a man who proudly proclaimed that his grandfather was known as Golloch because he came from Caithness.

Whatever - I think it's a great word.