That's wot you said

I work with a bunch of folk who have certainly had life hurled at them and not necessarily in a nice way, yet they seem to surface through all that rubbish and blossom and grow whilst they work in the walled garden (puns fully intended). They are from all walks of society and bring with them their dialects and idiosyncrasies. 

Over the three years I have worked with the volunteers, some drop out fairly quickly, others stay for just the better weather whilst a few - a hardy few - land whatever the weather and what ever tasks I put to them with cheerful gusto. They are precious.

I have had to learn to be 'bilingual' and I say that slightly tongue in cheek as we all speak English but the variations and deviations within that language are far ranging ... very far....

I'll explain....

Lal (pronounced like the American 'ya'll') means little. Let me put that in context.

'Na then, I'll be a lal late on Friday, got t'dentist ta go to'

Then there is ... cockled up. This one had me confused for a while, so I would nod and listen to the full sentence and hope that helped (this method does not always produce what I need to know with some rather interesting results!)

'Me brovva-n-law was cockled up on t'sofa las' night,

he'd 'ad a bevvy or two and wuz not fitfer purpose' 

This one roughly translates as ... my brother in law fell asleep on the sofa last night because he'd had too much to drink and was not able to walk/drive/talk etc

This is one of my favourite - 

'I wuz gobble smacked' - I was utterly shocked!

Having said that, I have heard the term 'gob-smacked' (meaning the same) however the extra gobble really makes it for me!

There also several terms of endearment such as 'Cocker, Me-cock, Petal, Yas a Gud-un, Luvvy, and if you have been a bit of an idiot there is ... divvie, pillock, wazzock and slummock. And if you have made some one's day or made them laugh you are ... cracked or reet cracked. I like being one of those - cracked - I know I have made it if I have been called that.

Post Script - have I mentioned how much I love what I do and where I work? and yes, I am (attempting) to sew. That adventure warrants a post of it's own - that is if my sewing and I manage to get on.... watch this space.