Long-distance Farming

Some of our readers may have run across Davy and Linda Hoy, who founded the Christian Family Centre in Armoy, an organisation well known locally for doing excellent work with families and young people who are going through rough times. Davy is a particularly broad speaker of Ulster-Scots. More recently, the couple have been involved in a new Christian enterprise in Namibia, and in the run up to a visit home he sent us an emailed message, part of which is reproduced below. It gave us a chuckle, and we hope it does the same for you.

Hi …

We are glad to report that we are well and looking forward to the green shores of our native land …

Mind you, we did get a wee treat of the Ulster-Scots in Namibia when a work team from Buckna Presbyterian Church were with us for two weeks.

One of the frequent remarks was, “She’s a quare het yin the day” — as you know the sun nearly always shines in that corner of the world.

But without doubt the funniest moment was when the leader of the team got a call on his mobile phone from his wife in Buckna. Not aware that the call was probably costing something in the region of £3 per minute, Bertie acted just as if he was in Broughshane. What we heard went like this: “Naw, naebodie his bin ate bae onythin yit. Wae hannae seen onie lions. Has the coo calved yit? Oh, she hisnae. Did ye rub her elder? Oh, ye haetae feel her elder …”. At that point myself and the other fellow who was listening had to retreat, and agreed it was one of those priceless moments that one never forgets.

Please give me a call …

In His grip. Davey