Northern Irish Speak

Current mood:amused

I sent this to the team from my church coming over so I thought I would share it with you as well. Thats all. ha!

Some commonly used words & phrases in Northern Ireland (and their meanings!)

Is that you? If you're asked this, please don't answer with "Of course it's me, you idiot!". They only want to know if you've finished  whatever you're doing. 
Are you away? Again, no stupid sarcastic answers. They're asking if you are going out / leaving. 
What about ye? What's up, How are you? 
Tee, Te & Till. Different ways of saying 'To', depending on which area of N.I. you come from. 
Catch yourself on! Wise up. 
Dead on! Great. Perfect, Really nice. (Often used to describe people.) 
Wet the tea. Make some tea. 
Away in the head. Lost his senses. Stupid. 
Away on! You're kidding! 
Sound. Also a word of praise generally used for describing people.- 'He's dead sound!' 
Wait till I tell ye. This is difficult to translate. It's a way of starting a conversation or introducing something important or interesting into the conversation. 
I tell a lie. It's what you say when you've  realised that you said something wrong! 
Do you think I came up the Lagan in a bubble? Do you think I was born yesterday? (The Lagan is the river that runs through Belfast. This phrase varies depending on which river you were brought up by.) 
Class, Cracker, Grand, Stickin' out, Magic, Smashing, Brilliant. Just a few more ways to say something's great. 
Ta, Ta-ta, Cheers, Thankin' you. And a few ways to say thanks. 
Are you gettin'? Have you been helped / served? 
He/she/that/this 'Does my head in.' Drives you up the wall. 
Mucker. Mate, friend. 
Steady/Steady on. Similar to saying 'Behave' or 'Watch it!'. 
I'll do you! I'll kill you. 
Clattered, Lamped. Hit, Punched. 
Faffin'/ Faffin' about. Messing around. 
Peelers. Cops. 
Spide. A term used when talking about trendy people who listen to rave and dance music. 
Wick, Naff. Stupid or useless. 
Eejit. Local pronunciation of the word idiot. 
Bog. Bathroom. 
Boggin', Mingin', Mankin'. Messy and horrible. 
Minger. Ugly person. 
Talent. Attractive people. 
Snog. Kiss. 
One night stand. In N.I. it can mean anything from a kiss, to going all the way. 
Yous. Plural of you. 
Ach! Oh, or Ah. As in 'Ach, What about ye?' 
Aye. Yes. 
Bake, Gub. Mouth. 
Pull. To get, or try to get 'lucky'. I.e.. 'Did he pull?' - 'He's on the pull tonight.' 
Crack/Craic. Fun. 
The Black Stuff. Guinness. 
Dummy. Pacifier. 
Pram. Stroller. 
Nappy. Diaper. 
Biscuit. Cookie. 
Poke. Ice cream cone. 
Lolly/Ice lolly. Popsicle. 
Scone. A sweet biscuit...of sorts. 
Bun/ Wee bun. Sweet roll, danish. 
Round. One portion, i.e.. 'round of toast'. 
Gravy ring. Ring doughnut. 
Bap. A bun or roll. Used mainly for sandwiches. 
Ulster Fry. A fried meal with eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, soda bread, potato bread, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc. ALL FRIED. 
Soda. Soda bread. If you want the drink, you'll get the bread! 
Sausengers. Sausages. 
Lozengers. Lozenges. 
Sweets. Candy. 
Your man/woman. That man/woman. 
Thingy. In America, they would say 'What's-her/his/name?' 
Cheerio. Good-bye. 
All the best! Good-bye, wishing you all the best.
A word of warning. 
People in Northern Ireland will most likely respect you a lot more if you don't try to talk like the locals (unless you've lived here and it becomes natural.) They'll know immediately that you are from another country, which automatically means that you don't speak 'proper (Northern Ireland) English'! I've created this list mainly because I think it is sometimes  better to understand than to assimilate!

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Rebel

I have come to really hate apathy. In others, yes, but more in myself. Why do I give in to it? Why does it feel like it swallows me and somehow I dont have a choice but to be over come with it. The VOICE speaks to me to fight, and although I know I have the weapons I can not find the will.

A constant battle is all this time can be described as, I have never known an image so clearly before. I know I have a purpose, I know HE has a plan. Why do I lay down and take it as if I don't have the knowledge I have already WON!

My inheritance is not one of mediocrity. My destiny is that of a wild woman.

And although I know without doubt that God will be faithful to that call I am reminded that I can not love it, or anything, more then the MYSTERIOUS ONE. And that is what HE is. Why is it so hard for us to accept mystery. I suppose because it means we do not have control, what we most desire.

So because I am only strong in my submitted weakness, and because I will only find life if I am willing to lose it, and because my FRIEND tells me "this is what being a living sacrafice is all about", I embrace the mystery. No one ever tells you how "hard core" living Christianity is. Let me experience every moment that I might share to others what it means to find true life by the stripping away of oneself. It hurts, its lonley, its hard. 

As I was worshiping the other night at church I found it hard to sing...so I just stood there and imagined myself at Jesus' feet. Slowly I came to sit on His lap. I had nothing to say, nothing to give, nothing to show, just wanted to be. To exist in His presence because with Him there is nothing else needed. As I sat there, in the presence of the Holy God, I will be honest..I felt highly sorry for myself. I felt alone, wronged, scared, apathetic, full of questions and not knowing if I even wanted answers because all I felt was indifference. As I looked down in my minds eye I saw blood on Jesus' robe, I looked in His face and his thorns were on His head and the blood trickled down His face. Without accusation, or belittling the way my heart was hurting He simply said.."It was hard for me too". How dare I compare my shallow suffering to my Lord, but more then humbled, I was comforted. Jesus kept going even when it hurt, even when it didn't make sense. He said we would know Him, even in His suffering, and in a sliver of a way...I felt it too.

Jesus is always good, He always loves me. He wants to use me and I don't have to settle. There is more of Him, there are hearts to be won to truth, there is so much more. He also said..."You want to be at the front of line...well they are the ones that take the most hits." How true that has been. Our youth group name was and still is "Frontline". I remember when it was chosen and how the military similarity was brought out. You never think about your theology matching your reality...but I am glad mine is. The truth is, this is LIFE. Its hard, God's here, its going to get harder, God's still here, we can not be defeated..because Jesus has been there. We live this crazy battle of a life, we trudge, we fight, we get blows to the head and heart, we lie in our defeat, we get up, we do it all again, we move forward...and then finally, one amazing and long awaited for day...its all over. We get heaven forever. 

I wish I could go to heaven now. The place I am at in my life I have nothing to lose. I am so far from my family anyways and nothing here to keep my heart really tied to this place...I wouldn't mind in the least. God has a mission for me, I think He is calling me to fight and to free...but I can not wait to be with Him. On my 24th birthday as I was sitting by the Spainish sea side under twinkling lights and sitting with friends with the sun in my skin I looked out to the water and told the Lord thank you, but I wish you were here. I know he was "there", but I can't wait for the flesh and blood, the smell, the taste, the touch, the awe of Jesus. Every longing, every desire, every need will be met with simply being with Him. I know it says we as well as creation groan in wait to be restored to our full glory, and boy do I feel the groan. I can't wait to be made whole with Him.

I feel a rising in my soul to fight. That kind of feeling when you want to rebel and say-no I'm not. To rebel against my indifference? To be the stubborn child who lifts her face to the sky and is determined to love God with everything while winds and waves of apathy try to swallow me, telling me it will never get better, it will never be any different. I read again last night about the wise man that builds his house upon the rock, and when the "rain came down and the floods came up" the house stood. I think this time is about the building and at every stage the foundations get a wind test. I can't go back now, Jesus is who I am and what I'm about. My foundation is Him, I will not be moved. 

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