“The inspiration behind ‘The Twa Brig Bussie’ came from using the No 1-2 bus service regularly. It’s a great way to experience a slice of Aberdeen, with the two universities and the two rivers, Dee & Don and the changing population using different stops. Though Doric is always in the spoken background there is such a cosmopolitan mix at each stop. Polish, Nigerian, Asian, Eastern European make a fine linguistic weave into our new city tartan!” - Sheena Blackhall
Sheena Blackhall
Sheena is a Scottish poet, novelist, short story writer, illustrator, traditional story teller and singer. Author of over 170 poetry pamphlets, 15 short story collections, 4 novels and 2 televised plays for children, The Nicht Bus and The Broken Hert. Along with Les Wheeler, she co-edits the Doric resource Elphinstone Kist, and has worked on the Aberdeen Reading Bus, as a storyteller and writer, also sitting on the editorial board for their children's publications in Doric, promoting Scots culture and language in the North East. In 2018 Aberdeen University awarded her the degree of Master of the University. In 2021 she was appointed SPL’s poetry ambassador for the Scots language. Under her maiden name of Sheena Middleton, she occasionally supply teaches in the city.
Ching: Gray's School of Art
Students, clarty claes an peint,
Humfin canvases an pieces
Bletherin intae a ringin phones
Fusslin new music releases
Ching :RGU
Omni Nunc Arte Magistra
Hong Kong, Camaroon Bahrein
China, India, Botswana
Hallelujah! Ranjit! Wayne!
Ching: Asda, Brig o Dee
OAPs wi eerins wechtit
Hirplin, gammie leggit, cauld
Vive the bus that’s free tae enter
Ae wee perk o bein auld
Ching: Trinity Haa
Here’s Trade Haa o Aiberdeen
Ghaists fa focht at Reid Harlaw
Saved the toun frae Gael invaders
Tradesmen skeelie, stinch an braw
Ching: Music Haa
Audience, aa shapes an sizes
Steppin oot, throw aff their cares
Halflins, auld yins, yin an yang
Past the beggar at the stairs
Ching: Mither Kirk/McDonalds
Ae side o the street, the deid
The ither side, far faimlies feed
Baps an graveyaird interweavins
Seagulls fecht ower aabody’s leavins
Ching: Toun Hoose/Justice Coort &Tolbooth
See the lawyers, wigs an gouns
The coort’s fur gallus quines & loons
Aa the ootlins, drunken orrals
Argyin in boozy quarrels
Ching: Mercat Cross an Castlegate
Gordon Heilanders stun guaird
Unicorn pynts tae the stars
Lichts the revellers stottin oot
O cheerie howfs an couthie bars
Ching: Pittodrie
Pittodrie! Fitbaa
Goals an singin
Reid scarfs wyvin
Lauchin, sweirin
Ching: Auncient Univarsity
Croon o Kings far scholars gaither
Elphinstane’s lang trodden girse
Waddings, graduations, blether
Don & doctor, teacher, nurse
Ching: Seaton Beach
Seaton seals an skyscrapers
Seagulls, sea, win ferms an ships
Boaties ridin oot at anchor
Storms an winter throw here rips
Ching: Balgownie/Danestone
By Balgownie tae the Don
Far the lan gaes knippin on
Tae the kintra’s farms an braes
Ching: sae eyns oor city’s praise