As I was saying – Yorkshire words of the week

Our recent weather has reminded me of an old gentleman who said to me: "Ez thoo ivver seen shoglings three feat lang an' sea thick thoo couldn't get thi neaver round em." Translated this becomes: "Have you ever seen icicles three-feet long and so thick you couldn't get your fingers round them.".

From: Joy Neal, Flamborough Head, Bempton, Bridlington.

May I say how interesting I have found reading letters submitted by fellow Yorkshire speakers. I spent my early years in Doncaster but as I was only young when we left I only remember one saying, used by my grandmother when she thought someone was trying to put one over on her. She would say: "They must think folks people." I always knew what she meant but have no idea how she arrived at that.

When I was 10, my father was appointed transport manager at "Scands" in Cleckheaton (BBA Ltd to be correct) and we were to live in Wyke, a small village near Bradford. It was like a foreign country to me with its own language but now I have to say that I actually understand and surprisingly still use many of the words and expressions, quoted by readers to your column.

I have lived in the East Riding for some years now but I still have to explain some of the words I use to my East Riding neighbours. Only the other day someone called out to me – and at first I couldn't make out who it was – then received a puzzled look when I said: "I hadn't owned you" (I hadn't recognised you).

Keeping the band in the nick was, and still is, used to keep quiet about something and/or not rock the boat or make sure everything runs smoothly.

Many thanks for printing such good and interesting reading, it's the first thing I look for in Country Week after reading Gervaise Phinn in the Yorkshire Post Magazine.