New Year in Hamilton, New Zealand, 2010
“I wonder how the Umus are doing,” asks Keith of Julie.
“Don`t worry,” assures she, “Joe has them in hand.
“Well I can`t help it. Don`t want that "Willie" Wallace from Meaford complaining of waiting for his meal. These Canadian Leithers are the world’s worst for it.”
“Look it is about time we were getting ready. It’s not long before the Bells.“
I`ll put a CD on to make sure it is ok while we are getting changed."
"Aw Keith, that is sad. Didn`t you know Billy Fury died four days after that recording?"
"Oh dear, I didn`t know that. Ill put something more cheerful than that. How about this?"
A minute before midnight, Julie, Keith,and his mum and
dad, Chris and Alex alongwith Joe are ready, glasses in
hand.
On the first stroke of the Bells, they each wish each other a Happy New Year. 2010 has arrived.
Within a few minutes the first knock at the door.
Keith opens it and is faced by some strange faces.
"Happy New Year," they all cry out in chorus.
"Come away in," invites the host. "Introduce
yourselves. I`ve a feeling I should know you,"
he adds.
"You should, I am Alex Walllace from Meaford
in Canada and these others are fellow Canadian
Leithers. Ye can call me Eckie."
"This is Maureen Whitelaw and Sandra Cochrane. This is
oor singer, Roy," continues Eckie introducing them.
"Pleased to meet you. Heard all about you on the
site. Nice to meet face to face," replies Keith.
"Now meet my family," introducing them.
"Now as you know, I have arranged a bus for all of you who might be staying on for a few days after this," Keith explains. "However one of you will have to
drive it."
"Dinna you volunteer, Eckie. You never know where we might end up in." yells out Roy.
*Why no, am jist as guid as you?"
Replies Roy," It`s the wrang side o the road here. Firbye, yer power o concentration is no whit it yince wis."
That should bring back some memories."
Heres another, Edelweiss played by Mantovani Orchestra
"Are we the first to arrive," asks Sandra trying to change the subject.
"Yes. I don`t know how many are coming," says Keith.
"Anyhow, back to the bus. Here`s a photo of it in the daylight. Just to let you see what is available."
"Donald Peers, You either loved him or hated him. There were no half measures."
Just then the doorbell rings. On being opened, there are almost a dozen newcomers standing there.
In front there is Jessie, Ruth, and behind Scott, Magnus, Bob, Tom and Harry bringing up the rear.
"Did you come on the submarine you`ve been talking about? " asks Keith.
"Naw," replied Magnus. "When we heard o they whales last week that run aground they might hae thocht we were anither yin." "We jist fantasised like the rest." "Ah take it Eckie`s here frae Meaford?"
"Aye he`s here awright. Gettin stuck inate the hard stuff awready."
"Come away in and join the rest, and a Happy New Year forbye," adds the host.
"Aw ma girl freends," calls out Mr Wallace when he spies Jessie and Ruth.
"Did ye no bring Malcolm?" he enquires of Jessie.
"No ah can look efter masel and fine ye know."
" What aboot Pat, is she no here?" she adds.
"Naw, she`d be lost among aw this Leith patter,` he replies.
"Aw aye, any excuse," retorts Jessie.
"Look at him, Jessie," says Ruth. " Worse fir wear o drink as usual."
"Ah`ve only had yin," the man frae Meaford answers.
"Well, that jist tells ye," adds Ruth.
"Aw jist leave him alane," advises Jessie.
"That`s the door," Julie called out to Keith. "Away and answer it. I am busy ."
On opening it he was confronted by two lassies who then introduced themselves.
"We are John`s two daughters. Karen and Pamela."
"Thought we`d give our dad a surprise by turning up."
"Come away in," invites Keith, "I`m sure he will get a surprise."
"We are oldleithers like yourselves," adds Karen.
On hearing this, Jessie called them over. "It`s really nice to meet you face to face, We have been in contact
through the site," Jessie explained to the rest of the company.
By this time Julie is going around dishing out the drinks.
"Hope you know what you`ve let us in for, " whispers Keith`s
Dad to him. "I know Leithers when they have had a drink or two."
"Ach they`ll be all right. They` ve got their own policewoman with them."
"Do you want a song?" asks Roy.
"No frae you," calls out Alex.
"Dinna be rude," says Jessie and Ruth in unison. "Oh come on Roy,
we`ll sing along with you and never mind him.
Come on Maureen and join us."
"Noo," says," Jessie, "what about something
frae you guys?"
"What about the Wallace Brothers?"
"Are you game, Tom?" asks Eckie.
"Why no?" answers Tom.
"Look says," says Keith, "I`ll put a disc on and you
can all join in."
With that he switches on the Hi Fi.
"Is that the door?" asks Julie
"Come on in and join the flock.."
At that Graham, John, Morty, Murdo, Bill and others
make their way in.
"Where`s Shocker?" Graham is asked.
"He`s no cummin. Its warmer where he is," replies Graham.
Meanwhile Eckie and the others are exchanging
their own comments.
"Thought New Zealand would be warmer than this,
it being summer here," Eckie puts in.
"At least it`s a change from our New Year in the UK,"
adds Scott and Magnus.
"Anyhow, did you bring your camera?" asks Scott of Bill.
"No, if I get drunk I would probably lose it," is the answer.
"I think Donald Veale has his if he is here."
"I`m ower here in the corner. Naw, I forgot to bring mine.
I was too busy practising a dance routine for here.
Magnus and I are wanting to do a Laurel and Hardy dance."
"Well what`s stopping ye?" asks Scott. "Ladies and
Gentlemen, here are Donald and Magnus taking the stage."
"That was really entertaining," exclaimed the guests.
"Gies anither, but hae them singin!" ` "Awright then, pit it own Keith." Trail of the Lonesome Pine
Jessie to Ruth, "I always wonder why none of the younger ones don`t attend these reunions. I am thinking of Linda, and Carol. I know Karen and Pamela are here."
"Really don`t know why," is the reply. "In fact, its a wonder Jean frae Paisley is no here."
"Ye know something Jessie, I wis watching the
CD of Susan Boyle. She really is something. Ye
wid hardly credit she wis an unknown a year ago.
I believe she comes frae Blackburn, West Lothian."
"I almost feel I should get up and gie ye wan
o her songs."
"Well why dinnae?" urges Jess.
"Hey yells," out Sandra, "Ah wis gawn tae sing that yin!"
"Aw that wis great, Ruthie," everyone shouts out.. "Dinna think Sandra wid be as guid."
Keith to all, "Just had a phone call frrom Jack Mackenzie in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. As he is celebrating New Year with his family right now, he can`t be with us. However he asked me to pass on his his best wishes to you all."
"At thats awfy nice o` him,``
"Can I give you a song, now?" repeats Roy. "Sit doon wull ye," they all shout.
"Keith what about a Haka?" someone yells out.
"I`ll put one on the screen for you. If you want to join in you`ll have to go outside."
Cries out Eckie, "Roy why dinna ye lead it? Ye can make the funny faces, Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"Any of you hungry? I know I am. Lets have our umus," suggests Julie.
"We`ll all go outside to the marquee where Joe will serve up."
"What are umus?" asks the visitors of each other.
None could give the answer.
"We`ll have to wait and see," is the general opinion.
However, Keith comes to the rescue and gives a description.
"A Hangi or Umu. Hangi is Maori version , Umu is Island version.
This is where the food is cooked on hot stones in the ground. My
son in law`s dad is a Cook Islander so we have a few umus.
"An Umu is a three foot diameter pipe about 4 foot long standing on
its end about a foot into the ground. There is a layer of stones inside
the bottom bottom of pipe and he removes some sand from outside
of pipe and puts a gas torch in to heat up rocks.
"Once rocks are hot, they do the cooking and all the food,
pork, chicken, beef,fish, potatoes, pumkin, sweet potatoes,
and a few island things are put in wire baskets and places
on top of stones. A few twigs are put in between stones
and food to give smokey flavour.
"The top of food and pipe covered and food slow cooks.
It takes quite a few hours but at end of day the meat is
so tender. The Maori version uses wet covers so steams
slightly more than Island version which is drier and pork
ends up with crackling.
"For dessert as well as dumpling we can also have pavlova, strawberries
and icecream. Here are some pictures of the Umu I took earlier before
you arrived to show you what it looks like in daylight."
Thus informed, the company make its way outside to a floodlit back yard.
"How are we going to get through this?" asks each of everybody.
"It smells delicious." "What a serving!"
"Never mind, just get tucked in," says Mr Wallace, already with his plate
half filled. "Must get one for my backyard."
"I think we will leave the sweet until later," suggests Keith.
"It will give your stomachs a chance to absorb the main course."
Full and much satisfied, the company all begin to make their way indoors again.
"I believe you originally were from Bonnington Avenue,"
John to Alex, Keith`s dad. "You must have done your
minnow fishing at Puddocky."
"No, it was done at the Dams nearby."
" I was never in Newhaven Road in your part
except passing through it on the Nos 13 or 14 tramcars.
"You know, the Churchill Circular," adds John.
"Is that somebody at the door?" ask Keith of Julie.
"Well you`ll only find out if you open it," replies she.
On opening it he was met with a stranger with a sheepish grin.
"Sorry I`m late but I must have missed my lift or else it didn`t
turn up," says the newcomer.
"I`m Jim Gibson from Ottawa. Alex Wallace was supposed
to give me a lift but obviously he didn`t make it."
"Come on in and join the rest," invites Keith. "Actually,
Alex was one of the first to arrive."
"Let me get at him," threatens Jim. "Standing around in
that weather for all that time. Where is he?"
"Here I am," butts in Eckie. "I thought it was you who had
let me down. You told me you were in Oshawa."
"No I didn`t. It was you who was not listening."
"Look," says Keith, "its over and done now. Shake hands
and have a drink." "Ill see what`s left in the Umus."
With that they both shook hands and went off for a drink together.
"Hey Bob, come on ower, its oor turn for oor dance routine," calls out Graham.
"Righto, I`m ready, come on lets go," answers Bob.
"Aw that wis brilliant everyone!" Everyone calls out.
"Gies us another yin"
Well ah thocht ye`d never ask," says Graham and Bob in unison.
"Hooever, we`ll need a female partner as Betty."
Julie had just finished serving drinks when she was collared by the duo.
Withoot a struggle she joined the pair.
Poor Keith, he was flabbergasted. "Hey Julie there`s someone out there wanting a drink"
"I enjoyed that. Thanks Graham and Bo," adds Julie
"What`s a Scottish get together withoot an Andy Stewart?
Put on the one with the Scots Dragoon Guards," pleads Jessie.
"Glad to oblige," says Keith. "Thats one of my favourites."
Once everybody was settled with drinks in their hands again that Juie and Chris
were serving up, a cry goes out to Roy to give all a song.
"Too late," he replies, "`I`m completely bagged up with all that food.
You had your chance early on."
"I can believe that,` whispers Ruth to Jessie." " Did you see how he was scoffing it?
You would think he had never seen food before."
"Aw Ruth, we were aw the same. Couldna help masel.
Keith and Julie have really done us well."
Just then, Karen is seen whispering something to Keith. He then nods his head and addresses the company.
"Here is a song that Karen dedicates to her sister, Pamela." With that he switches on the disc.
"Karen, you besom," calls out Pamela, "You know I hated it after you and dad
made up your own words."
Karen," all because we sang, `Pamela , Pamela remember the day, when you
went out with your boy friend so gay. Ha! Ha!Ha!"
Jessie, "That was cruel of you," half smiling.
"Aw come on Roy, gies one." "Oh, alright. Its is a funny one. Here goes."
"Gosh, you sounded like Gerry Colona."
"Haw, Eckie, c`mon ower and jine us," yells Graham.
"Magnus is gien us some tales that take some believin."
"Naw," is the reply. "Am gawn ower to sit on Ruthie`s knee.
Ah wis telling her before ah came ah wis gawn ti dae that."
"You jist stay whir ye are," retorts the lady.
All round the room all are beginning to feel really carefree.
Aches and pains just seem to have disappeared.
Mr Wallace`s arthritis had gone. Even Murdo felt like getting
up to do some Rock and Roll.
"Come on Sandra, ye`ve been awfy quiet since ye arrived. Gies a dance."
With that Keith puts on a Little Richard record.
"Gosh ah feel as if the years have rolled away. Never felt as fit as this since ma twenties,"
confesses Alex Sandie as he escorted Maureen back to her seat.
"Must confess neither huv ah," replies Maureen.
Back beside Sandra, she asks how she feels. "Whit has this New Year Party done to us?
"Ah feel like a teenager again," Sandra says.
Nearby Tom and Alex Wallace are deep in conversation.
"When ur ye cumin ower ti Meaford ti visit us?
"Can ah say the same ti you aboot Pacifica?"
"Ah think we wid fa oot ti often," they agree laughing.
"We will stick to phone and emails."
"Can we have another dance?" is the general cry. "Aw git up noo fir it."
"Right then," says Keith. "Here`s Chubby Checker."
"Where are Magnus and Scott?" asks Graham.
"Haven`t seen or heard o them for a while. That goes for Roy as well."
"There`s Scott talking to Maureen, and ah think the others are ootside
ha`ein a breather or else looking for a Kiwi. Too much tae eat ah believe."
"Jist gluttons like the rest o us." "Canna waste guid food."
"Is this yer first time ye`ve been te yin o these, Maureen?" enguires Scott.
"Aye, it is the first and am fair enjoyin` it."
"They hiv been haudin them for a couple o years now.
Fantasy and the real thing. Aboot time they wir hivin yin
in the States and aye, even Scotland. Hiv tae talk tae John aboot it."
Jessie, " Can ah hae a song tae ma husband? Ah ken he`ll no hear it but at least its in spirit. Pat Boone can sing it fur me."
Aw right then here it is.
"Aw whit a soppy yin" derides Eckie.
"Trust you tae say that," gets away Ruthie.
"Anyone for more drinks?" asks Julie.
"No fir me hen, ah`ve had ma fill," admits Jessie.
"That goes fir me tae, Julie," says Ruth.
"No like ye, Ruthie," calls out Eckie.
"Aw hud yer wheesht man," rebukes she. "In fact, ah think ye should be calling a halt yersel."
Murdo, Bob, Scott , Magnus and Bill were huddled away in corner talking aboot what knows.
Going over to them, John asks how they are enjoying the occasion.
"We were juist saying its as well oor wives dinnae ken we are here.
Sitting amang aw thae strange women, drinking and aw that. They`d hae a fit."
"Whit aboot a sang frae the five o ye? Ye can always mime tae it," extorts John.
"Why no? Come on lets gie it a go," they reply in unison.
"I`ll get Keith to put on a suitable one. The girls shall love it," says John
"That was lovely. What about you guys gien us another song?" asks Maureen of the men folk.
"Nae bother hen," retorts Magnus. "Come on Scott, Alex and the rest o ye.. You tae Graham and Bob. Whit aboot you John?"
"Naw, Am thinkin o daien one masel later on."
"Come on then, mime to these words if ye can. At least ye can hum alang.
I`ll take the lead part."
Ruthie I`m gawn tae dae a Conway Twitty efter that
for ye seein yer ma cuzzin, " cries out Eckie.
"Aw that`s awfy sweet o ye," answers she.
"Now jine in if ye want tae," says Eckie
"Hey John, ah`ve no hud a chance wi a blether wi you the night.
Come on ower a sit doon." says Eckie sitting down.
Time passes when in pops Keith with the Clooty Dumpling
and places it on the table. He then begins slicing it.
"Come on over everybody and taste my own cooking.
Got the recipe from Oldleither."
Needing no second biddding, everyone was soon round
the table including Magnus and Scott who must have smelt it.
Much to Keith`s credit, not a single currant was left on the plate.
All suitably fed, the company fell back in the chairs relaxed.
Drink was now taken sparingly and some were beginning to show signs of tiredness.
"Come on," says John, "before you fall asleep let`s give the song
we were rehearsing its airing." "Before that ah`ll gie ye one o ma
ain." "Its Flower of Scotland but we can sing along as it has the words."
"Now the one we practised"
"Aye then," they all shout, "let`s go!" "You conduct us, Sandra."
That was great
However the sleep that was beginning to assert itself was taking its toll.
From deep in a corner of the room.They shall be nameless.
Just a sign that drink is now taking its toll.
All out of tune but the meaning is clear. The guys have had a skinful
Noticing this, John approaches Keith.
"Well Keith, I think it is getting near the time when we
should be departing for home," says John. "We`ve
been here quite awhile and I think Julie and you must
be ready for your bed."
Turns to the guests, "I think I speak for all of us when
I say thow much we have appreciated being guests of
Keith and his family. Keith, I don`t know where our next
gathering will be but I hope you and your family can join
us when and where it it is held."
Keith replying, "I must say it has been a great joy meeting you all outside the
Guestbook. Putting faces to names is very satisfying. Thank you all for coming.
However, before you leave we must have two more appropriate songs."
With that he turns to the HI Fi and switches on.
"Now what about transport?" asks Keith of John
"Don`t worry about that, remember it is all fantasy," John explains.
"All one does is close his or her eyes for a few seconds
and then they are back in their own homes."
With that they look around. Already there are empty chairs.
"See," says John, "some are off already to celebrate their own
lands` New Year in a few hours time."
"Right then folks a last three cheers for our hosts and then
its homeward bound for you all."
One by one they leave and all who are left are Graham, Alex and John. With hearty handshakes and hugs, they finally close their eyes and Keith and Julie are left on their own with the empty room and clutter.
"Don``t worry about that Dear, just you and I close our eyes. Remember it is a fantasy as John said."
"Before that," suggests Julie, "let`s have one for ourselves. Nobody here to say `Ahh!`"
Closing their eyes for a few moments they open them and behold a room that defied ever being used for a party
"Right, Keith, time for bed. Remember we have First Footing to do later.
A fantasy New Year Party with the Flocharts in New Zealand
Ah know we`re aw daft, but whae bothers
Jist gie yer imagination a treat
Frae
Yin an` Aw
tae
Yin an` Aw
A Happy New Year an` Aw the Best fir 2010
Cheers
Auckland Tower
Important : After each song you
must click the back button at top left
of PC to return to the party.
