To Maisie, Jose, Len, Sam and all, Thanks for that bit of fun. I have been a bit eechie-oachie for a few weeks but now I am up to the challenge put down by my pal Maisie. For those not in the know, eechie-oachie means not quite feeling well. Someone will sort me on that one, I've no doubt. As for Maisie and my Irish accent, I think the answer to that is that I am a mongrel. Being a Canadian until the age of eleven, and then trying hard to fit in with the Minnigaff accent was quite a job. Being asked,"whaururyefaehen in one mouthful was hard to take. Translation? "Where are you from, dear?" I think 'hen' was a term of endearment. The accents in Galloway are quite fascinating to me. The Newton Stewart tongue is different from the Minnigaff tongue, and they could shout across the Cree at each other! Go a few miles to Creetown and the accent is different again. As for Kirkcudbright, I was struck dumb when I first met my cousins from Kirkcudbright with a totally different accent again. They said aipple instead of the Minnigaff epple when I said apple. Now I am living once again in Canada and having a great time with those funny Scottish sayings. I love to confuse people now. And yes, Maisie, I have often been asked if I am from Ireland. I put everyone right on the scons and scones. My favourite Saturday night meal is still bacon, egg and tattie scones. Cholesterol be darned. I'm scratching a gey aul' heid with nae bother ata' thanks to that kind of good food. Merry Christmas to everyone out there across the world, from BC, Canada; Olive.