The Appalachians are filled with stories, none more convoluted and long-lasting than the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s feud. Suffice to say they didn’t like each other much. The names of the protagonists are enough for most. They include: Squirrel Huntin’ Sam Hatfield, Devil Anse Hatfield,  Asa Harmon Mc Coy, Nancy McCoy Hatfield Phillips and husband “Bad” Frank Phillips.

Squirrel Huntin’ Sam Hatfield. Looks normal enough to me.

Moving right along. Last night I met Walter Brennan’s dad. Who on discovering I was from “Ustralya” barraged me with a sting of questions about Steve Irwin (who apparently was very big in “these here parts”).

Walter’s Dad: Is it true he was a legend in your country too.

Me: Well they named a road after him. But I don’t know if that counts.

Walter’s Dad: They say he used to sleep with a crocodile.

Me: That’s entirely possible. I could check with his wife next time I see her.

Walter’s Dad: All them critters he played with an he ended up dead cause he stood on a dad-blamed stinger-ray.

Me: I don’t think he actually stood on it.

Walter’s Dad: Is it true he was a legend in your country too.

Me: Could be.

Walter’s Dad: I met a fella from Queensland, he says the “Abrignals” got this thing they swing on a sting called a “digera somthin”.

Me: That would probably be a didgeridoo. Its a hollow piece of wood that they blow through to ………

Walter’s Dad: I love that Ustralian accent.

Me: Well your’s is quite special as well, much different to up North.

Walter’s Dad: We call em Yankees down here. Can’t unerstan a lick of what they say. Is it true that Steve Irwin ……………..

And so it went Walter’s dad was a dictionary of fascinating phrases some from Texas such as “gully washer” and “frog strangler” both of which relate to a heavy down pour of rain. Quite different to the Amish, “making down wet”.

Fascinating.

Below a few words from The South as opposed to Texas.

Bob War = Twisted wire interwoven with barbs. As in “stay away from the bob war”.

Retard = Stopped working. As in “I retard at 65”.

Fixin = Getting ready to do something. As in “fixin to leave”.

Fixins = Things required to do something. As in “git me dem fixins”.

Kilt = Not a Scottish item of clothing. As in “I kilt me a barr”.

Pitcher = Either a vessel for water, or a photograph.

Sichy-ayshun = Predicament . As in “How’n duh Sam Hill did you ever gicherself in a sichy-ayshun whirr duh fish er a-bitin’ an’ you ain’t got no pole?”

Yall = Self explanatory really. very popular similar to you-uns.

Tomorrow Harlan County.