I was on my way out to the airport yesterday in the car and passed along Duke Street in Leith. Standing outside The Marksman Bar having a fag was Elvis.
Not THE Elvis. An impostor.
He was standing there getting what looked like a Superking fag down his neck. All wig, shades and jumpsuit. In typical Leith fashion, no one was even giving him a second glance. Elvis? Smoking a fag ootside the Marksman? Am ah supposed tae be excited aboot that?
On the subject of Leith, I’ve started reading Trainspotting. Twelve years behind everybody else but never mind. It’s actually a lot better than I thought it would be. I recently read “Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs”, another of Irvine Welsh’s books and thoroughly enjoyed it which is why I’ve decided to give Trainspotting a spin.
Scottish literature, film and television so often focus on Glasgow and Glaswegians. “No mean city” and all that. It’s refreshing to read about Edinburgh, particularly given the broad Edinburgh dialect in the book. Even though it’s set in the Leith of the mid 1980′s, many of the establishments mentioned are still in existence.
The Marksman bar is one of them. Elvis was probably kicking about back then as well. In those days though, he could have had a fag INSIDE the boozer.
on Dec 15th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I love Irvine Welsh. Especially his way to treat language. Let me know what you think of Trainspotting! Have you seen the movie?
Oh, and say hi to Elvis!
on Dec 15th, 2008 at 9:40 am
You think that’s good? Santa followed me home a week or so ago, riding a Harley Davidson. He wasn’t smoking a fag but then I live on the posh south side. There’s probably legislation banning the riding of Harleys while smoking and wearing a fake beard, and if there isn’t, the Parleyment will see to it that there is soon.