Reader Review

 By Pam 'littlenell'

 

 

 

Superb Ron !

 

Just loved this book, so many laugh out loud moments and made me smile often. It gives a wonderfully atmospheric feel for life in the tenements of 1960's Glasgow and the author has a way of serving up the hardship aspect with a particularly incisive wit, capturing that wonderful Glasgow humour perfectly. The characters are warm and likeable and draw you into their lives making you really care about what happens to them so much that I find myself looking forward to the next offering from Mr Windward.

 

 

 

 

 

Translation For Toffs

 

The Shows’ / The Carnival

The Steamie / Place to wash clothes

The Barra’s / Outdoor Market

The Booly / Waste ground used for play

Bools / Jorries Marbles

Stank / Drain Cover

3/6d / 3 shillings and sixpence

A Close / Entrance to flats

Cludgie / Outside shared toilet

Manky / Dirty

Bo’z / Girls game bouncing balls

Moashie / Game with coins and 3 holes

Sidey / 2 teams playing football

The Minors / Saturday cinema for kids

The sony pon’ / Sand pits for playing

Single End / One room flat

Midden / Dustbin

Lucky Midden / Dustbin behind shops

Corpie’ Bus / Public Transport

 

Glaswegian words and phrases

 

Furra / For a

Geeza / Give me

Gonny / Are you going to

Gon’ / Going

Whit fur / What for

Wisnae / Wasn’t

Wiz / Was

Aye / Yes

Naw / No

Urny’ / Are not

Aye a ‘um / Yes I am

Naw yer no’ / No you are not

Fings / Things

Aff / Off

Oan / On

Am’ / I am

Am’ no’ / I am not

Roon ra’ back / Going round the backcourt

Geeza Brek / Cut me some slack

 

 

                 t

 
toffsinthetenement.co.uk Home Page

Please click on the link sign this guest book at the top right hand side of this page  to leave your comments or if you prefer you can email the author direct on ronwindward@toffsinthetenement.co.uk

 

 

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Current Comments:
Post number:
29
31st of January 2012 08:25 PM by John Middleton
Just watched the Braveheart video on you tube
Classic!!!! Ron

Ive just showed my wife and she has sent the link to her sister in Boston USA,
My neighbours were killing themselves laughing but i dont think they understood it, they are from London.

Great Ron keep it up, i have just subscribed to your you tube channel and facebook page.

John from Sydney, Australia
Post number:
28
31st of January 2012 07:11 PM by Maggie May
Loved the TV Programmes from the 60s, your video on You Tube is a masterpiece, I laughed out loud and I don't do that often.
Post number:
27
23rd of January 2012 10:39 AM by denny gallagher website: http://dennygall100@googlemail.com
love it . big time .
Post number:
26
22nd of January 2012 11:45 AM by jeannie mc clure
many big thank you.s great site .
Post number:
25
19th of November 2011 03:52 PM by Ann Toynton ( nee Crawford )
Hi Ron
just finished the Toffs in the Tenement and just wanted to let you know that it was the funniest and most enjoyable book i have read about Bridgeton and the tenements, I live in Christchurch NZ and there are a lot of Scots here, i will be making sure they know about the Toffs in the Tenement,
For the record i am originally from Fairbairn St and moved over here in 1978 from Castlemilk.

Really enjoyed it Ron,and can't wait for the Toffs in the Towerblock.

Thanks and all the best from NZ

Ann
Post number:
24
16th of October 2011 02:31 PM by robert rogan
hi ron, am an auld guy (81} an i was born in ruby st,number 60 next tae the steamie.ye certainly
jogged ma memories of those days in brigton.i was a caur driver and i also worked in sir william arrolls.ive been up here in beauly since 1960 but i often wish i had never left the dear green place.
rabrog45@yahoo.co.uk.cheers china.
Post number:
23
6th of October 2011 12:16 PM by Douglas Michie
Hi From Boston, USA Ron
Just finished the toffs in the tenement and had to let you know i thoroughly enjoyed it,i have lived here now for 26 years and your book brought back all the memories from the tenements i lived in on London Rd next to Fordnuek St bus garage, the characters are brilliant,(especially Mrs Campbell )and the trip to the barra's was hilarious a fabulous read and VERY funny.

All the very best Ron

Dougie fae boston.
Post number:
22
13th of September 2011 07:08 PM by Tom Mc Kenzie from Dubai
Hi Ron
I had to leave a note to say how much i enjoyed The toffs in the tenement, i laughed from start to finish, I read it on my kindle and have just ordered 3 paperback and 1 hardback copy for my Scottish friends here in Dubai, the trip to the Barra's was superb, i have lived here now for 8 years and your book brought back happy memories of my childhood in Reid St Bridgeton in the 1960s
When will the toffs in the towerblock be available ? I will definitely be first in line whenever it is.
Cheers
Tom
Post number:
21
18th of July 2011 01:42 AM by Johnny Maddock
Hello Ron
Just finished reading your book and i am still laughing,I am chairman of the Scots club here in Manitoba, Canada and i willl be putting a note in our next bulletin recommending your book, I was born and raised until i was 9 in Bernard St, and your book brought the memories flooding back.
The trip to the Barra's,the carnival at Glasgow Green absolutely hilarious Ron.
Great website by the way!
All the best
Johnny from Canada
Post number:
20
15th of June 2011 10:16 PM by Eleanor MacDonald
Just spent a great half hour playing all of the old TV theme tunes and looking at the old comics covers. Website is great and I think i will now buy the book. And I'm fae Edinburgh!
Post number:
19
26th of May 2011 10:24 AM by FIONA BLUES
LOVED THE BOOK RON IT WAS SO FUNNY JUST KEPT LAUGHING OUT LOUD WHEN READING IT LOVED ALL THE CHARACTERS ESPECIALLY RUPERT (WAS THIS YOU RON)
CANT WAIT FOR YOUR NEXT ONE
Post number:
18
11th of May 2011 03:15 PM by John Middleton, Sydney, Australia
Ron
I can honestly say that the Toffs in the Tenement is hilarious,surprising,hugely enjoyable and totally different from any other book i have read about old Glasgow. I emigrated here with my parents when i was 10 years old in 1970, we used to live in Dalmarnock Rd and i remember all the streets, shops etc you mention in your book, ah the memories.
Absolutely brilliant Ron ! I for one can't wait for a second helping of the Toffs???
Take care and o' ra best fae Australia.
Johnny
Post number:
17
23rd of April 2011 07:46 PM by Pam 'littlenell'
Superb Ron !
Just loved this book, so many laugh out loud moments and made me smile often. It gives a wonderfully atmospheric feel for life in the tenements of 1960's Glasgow and the author has a way of serving up the hardship aspect with a particularly incisive wit, capturing that wonderful Glasgow humour perfectly. The characters are warm and likeable and draw you into their lives making you really care about what happens to them so much that I find myself looking forward to the next offering from Mr Windward.
Post number:
16
13th of April 2011 10:49 PM by Derek Lomond
Hello Ron
I really , really enjoyed the Toffs in the Tenement, I laughed out loud so many times, the swan scenario in Richmond Park was absolutely hilarious, I now live in Canada but used to stay in Bernard St and went to Queen Mary st school in the 60s, any more books in the pipeline ?? once again Ron thanks for the memories and the laughs.

Derek Lomond Ontario, Canada
Post number:
15
13th of April 2011 10:37 PM by Laura
Hi Ron
Have just read the Toffs, O.M.G it is brilliant, I felt like I was at the "BARRAS" it was so funny Ron and so true to life.
Well done it was a great read and really cheered me up.
Laura from Perth, Scotland
Post number:
14
7th of April 2011 09:42 PM by Clare from Gateshead
HI Ron
What a funny book!!! I started reading the Toffs on the bus to my work and laughed all the way there, i got a good few funny looks, i couldn't put it down.
I am originally from finnart st bridgeton and knew all the places and streets,and the trip to the barra's brought back loads of memories.I have told my family in Scotland all about the Toffs.
Is there another book in the pipeline ?
Clare from Gateshead
Post number:
13
30th of December 2010 12:11 PM by lynn sim
Thoroughly enjoyed The Toffs and can't wait for your next book.I have put a link to your book on the GlesgaKeelies forum as I'm sure the members will love this wee book as much as I did.My husband complained bitterly about my laughing out loud reading the book while he sat next to me trying to watch a movie.
Post number:
12
5th of December 2010 05:20 PM by Fran Crossley
Hello Ron

I just finished reading the Toffs and i have to say well done !, i am still laughing at Mrs Campbell and the ragman, i havent enjoyed a book so much for years, I was brought up on Dalmarnock Rd and used Beatrices all the time, Thoroughly enjoyed it Ron. 10/10

Fran
Post number:
11
15th of November 2010 11:53 AM by liz from Tollcross website: http://www.firstclasstherapy.com
Hi Ron, thoroughly enjoyed the book and think the translations on your website is a great idea especially for those who do not appreciate the 'glasgow lingo'!!
I've been translating for my grandson who is going on about the 'old money' so I gave him a lesson in pounds, shillings and pence, and told him about decimalisation.
I have had to order him his own copy of the book.
We just love these stories and find the whole thing hilarious, thank you! Keep up the good work, is there a book two coming soon? We hope so!!
Post number:
10
23rd of October 2010 07:44 PM by Craig Murray
Hi
Can anybody tell me what year the trams stopped going through Bridgeton cross ??

Thanks

Craig Murray Transport and logistics student
Post number:
9
29th of April 2010 09:30 PM by Irene robertson
To post 7 I have modern photos of the Cubie st post office which was once a telephone exchange, let me know if you want them on.

to post 3 I remember going to Helensburgh from that station. and IM sure you could get a train to Blantyre too.. Ill look it up for you..

Does anyone remember Dunsdales in Dalmarnock road, it was a big shop that sold tools, before Woolworths.
Post number:
8
19th of March 2010 02:21 PM by Jack Butler Anniesland Glasgow
Hi
Does anyone have any info on the businesses in or around Poplin St, Bridgeton the names of shops, factories etc from 1950 to 1970 any info would be great no matter how trivial
Post number:
7
3rd of March 2010 04:24 PM by 3rd of March 2010 01:11 AM by Colin Mackie website: http://www.southernnecropolis.com
Great website and would really like to hear from anyone who has memories, photographs etc. of the Post Office building in Cubie Street (built 1910)
Post number:
6
5th of February 2010 10:27 PM by Kenny D Gateshead
For maggie may, that was the Booly at Dalmarnock train station, there was another station over at Walkers Pub, i used to watch the trains from orr st around 1965 i think.
Post number:
5
5th of February 2010 09:38 PM by liz
For Alec from cumbernauld the pub was called The Station Inn the same as the one on london rd, the storries ran it and my cousin worked in it, hope this helps.
Post number:
4
5th of February 2010 09:15 PM by maggie may
the train station was closed when i lived in bridgeton we use to walk through the tunnels one headed up to dalmrnock rd one went to london rd. we use to swing from the platforms on a rope swing! its opened up again and when i saw were i use to walk and play... its a wonder we didnt break our necks. happy days.
Post number:
3
25th of January 2010 02:03 PM by Brian from London
I remember the train station at Bridgeton X but can anyone tell me where the trains from there went to ??
Post number:
2
23rd of January 2010 10:57 PM by Alec from Cumbernauld
For Jim Radcliff, im sure that shop was called Barbour Bros, i used to live in Muslin St, right facing Sacred Heart School,can i ask one , does anybody remember the name of the pub on the corner where John St primary school was, me and my wife have been trying to remember for years.
Ta!
Post number:
1
23rd of January 2010 08:32 PM by Jim Radcliffe
I remember beatrices etc , but does anyone remember the name of a hardware store that was just along the road from beatrices, it sold light bulbs etc ??