Scottish word/expression to mull over in the new year - Gyte: I was bemoaning to Olive McDonald, who grew up in Newton Stewart, that there was no celery in the supermarket for my foray into attempted gourmet cooking...I won't "belay" you with the recipe...and told her that there wasn't a stock of celery to be found in the supermarket as apparently the rain had interrupted delivery. First time ever we've experienced this in the Central Coast area of California. Her response, "The whole world has gone gyte!" In Glasgow we used to refer to someone unflatteringly as a stupit-lookin' gyte! No doubt no translation is needed, but just in case! Gyte is a Scottish adjective for crazy or mad. As a noun, it means child: a first year boy at Edinburgh High School or Academy. Also gait, geit (get. offspring). Gyte is such a robust word to describe a situation which is not quite normal. I should add that I don't think the younger generations are using such old Scots words anymore. Even when I was growing up donkey's years ago, using the vernacular, especially the Glesga (Glasgow) patter, was frowned upon. Now I believe efforts are afoot to try to "teach" the "auld tongue" as well as (the) Gaelic. Olive should start a wee compendium of all the words used in the Newton Stewart area when she was growing up before they disappear the way of the dodo bird. Maisie