Ghetto Pride

I grew up in an area of Edinburgh called Liberton. It was just beside ‘the Inch’. I wanted to be from ‘the Inch’. The Inch was tough. The Inch had a street gang. The ones my age had Raleigh Chopper bicycles. I saw them en masse one time, riding their bikes and swinging chains above their heads. Ooh I was well impressed! I wanted a Chopper, I wanted a chain, and I wanted to be scary!

Never happened of course. But ever since then I have been fascinated by areas of town other people profess to be scared of. Never had a problem with them myself. And in looking for legendary hard men, I only ever usually came across the most decent folk you’ll ever meet. And that includes; the Inch, Oxgangs, Muirhouse and beloved Craigmillar.

I never ever forgot that gang though:- ‘The Young Inch Cumbie!’ Someone once sprayed ‘YIC’ on a bit of my street. I was thrilled!

I’m not sure what my fascination for ‘tough’ areas was really about. I have stayed for short periods in them and lived beside them. I’ve also lived in the last proper working class part of the Canongate- although I never was a ‘Canegociant’.

But I have been aware that there are folk who look down their noses at these areas. Well they are probably missing out.

Mind you there might be a bit of a problem. Some statistics seem to show a link between poor housing and lack of aspiration. And you have to look at some of the houses in some areas and reflect as to whether any architect who designed them ever lived in them? I suspect not.

All these areas in Edinburgh are now on the up however. The worst flats (like Bobby’s hi rise in Oxgangs) have been demolished, and in many areas of the toun they have been replaced with affordable housing. This means previously less than attractive areas, such as West Granton, look utterly different to the days when I regularly drove the streets in my LRT Bus. I usually drove the 14 which older drivers refused to do. I quite enjoyed it!

Except on the occasions (2) that I was shot at. Local high powered airguns 1 – bus windaes nil.

I almost shouted back at them ‘Cumbie ya bass!’ But that might have only made things worse, as well as being a little disingenuous!

(This week’s reading follows on from the last one. When I started I was going to pick readings from all through the novel in order to make this point or that. I have now changed my mind and I’m reading passages in order as they come in the novel. If I continue this to the end there will be an audio book!

If you start with ‘c what I’m saying’ then listen to ‘wee jobs’ before listening to this you’ll have the ones that fit in order in that order! ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover doesn’t fit the running order.)