Shughie gets his teeth into politics, fitba’ and dog dirt.

Sep 8 2010 Airdrie & Coatbridge

SHUGHIE hears a photographer got left wi’ a bit of a beamer when David Miliband visited Airdrie last week.

Genial Coatbridge MP Tom Clarke asked if Jim Clare was OK to which he replied, aye some wee lassie has been looking after me.

What wee lassie? said Tom.

When the snapper pointed her out, Tom said, oh, that’s Pamela Nash the new MP.

Cue, the snapper getting a brassy.

STILL wi’ Tom Clarke

The long-serving parliamentarian dropped into the office tae say hello tae the Bank Street Hacks last week.

Over a cup of tea, he pattered the team up with his usual banter and charm.

But what was his favourite bit of the paper, we all wanted to know. Shughie? Naw. Colin’s excellent sport’s coverage? Naw.

Judith’s comprehensive council stories? Naw. The court stuff? Naw.

Movie buff Tom loves Bunting at the Movies, by the Advertiser’s film critic.

The rest of the Hacks were a bit miffed at being overlooked but had tae agree that Ian knows his stuff when it comes tae the silver screen, if they still call it that.

SHUGHIE’S loving the fitba’ being back.

And he hopes Airdrie and Rovers dae the business this season.

But he cannae believe how much it costs tae get in.

I know times are hard for fitba’ clubs but any more than a tenner for lower league games is way too much.

Shughie reckons a match shouldnae cost any more than going tae the pictures.

Players wages are tae blame and things were allowed to get out of hand for too long.

Daft big stadiums for wee clubs as well. Nonsense.

MORE foul play.

Some dog owner must be walking his four-legged friend near Mill Street in Airdrie where Shughie parks his car.

The Man Wi’ The Bunnet is disgusted at regularly seeing dog dirt there, near the corner at Burtons.

Although Shughie doesn’t usually make a habit of examining such things he can’t help noticing it looks like it’s from the same dug.

To whoever leaves it there, Shughie say yer bang out of order.

If ye can’t clean up after your dog ye shouldnae be allowed to have one.

Get it sorted.

NAE pulling the wool over some o’ yer eyes, it has to be said.

Some of ye have been in touch tae say Shughie’s no yer real name.

Ye’ve rumbled the Man Wi’ The Bunnet. His real name’s Hugh.

But he got his nickname after one of his heroes – Shughie McFee, the chef in Crossroads, played by Angus Lennie.

Not so much because of his role in the soap opera set in a Midlands motel which featured one of British TV’s greatest ever characters – Benny Hawkins.

Angus played Ives, the Scots prisoner in the Great Escape who couldnae handle the pressure when the Germans found one of the tunnels the allied prisoners were digging.

The young Shughie loved the wee fella in that film.

When he was shot it was one of the saddest moments in movie history, like Bambi’s mum being shot or Sean Connery’s Irish accent in The Untouchables. Tragic.

SHUGHIE’S no’ sure about a lot of stuff on the internet, as ye can imagine.

But he has been asked to mention something called facebook.

The Bank Street Hacks have launched an Advertiser page on the website.

Apparently it’s to do something called “socially interact”.

Shughie thought that meant going tae the pub tae meet folk, but apparently it’s no’ that.

Anyway, if ye’re interested ye’ll probably know what to do.

Shughie’s no’ worked it out yet.

lAnything Shughie should know about? Call 01236 748648 or email acadvertiser.co.uk

See our website for previous Shughie Leather columns.