WE mentioned the collection of essays about the late Scottish Labour Minister Sam Galbraith, "Remembering Sam" being published this month by Birlinn. In it, his fellow MP Brian Wilson writes: "Sam was never overawed by celebrity or reputation. In fact, sometimes he didn’t even recognise it. A journalist friend of mine, Duncan Campbell, was – and still is – in a relationship with the actress Julie Christie. One night not long after becoming MPs, a crowd of us went out for a meal and Sam was sitting opposite Julie. After a couple of convivial hours, there was a lull in the conversation and the unmistakable Galbraith tones rang out for all to hear, ‘And what do you do yourself, Julia?’"

A SLICE of life we must pass on from reader Barrie Crawford who says: "Just back from my daily swim at the local baths. There is a group of three or four retired men who are there just about every day. They swim slowly up and down discussing last night’s TV, the news and generally putting the world to rights. I think of them as a floating 'Still Game'. Today, however, there was only one of them. He swam towards me and said, 'All my pals have deserted me this morning. I’m floating about here like a wee lost jobby'.

"There’s certainly something about the west of Scotland banter."

OUR story about ancient underwear reminds Deedee Cuddihy: "Scottish author Margaret Thomson Davis told a writers' group that she often scribbled down snatches of conversation overheard on buses, including one between two women in the 1960s who had recently bought themselves nylon nighties, after years of wearing flannelette ones. 'What do you think of your new nylon nightie, Jenny?' 'I don't like it, May - I can see my semmit through it'."

BAKING for children, continued. Says Mike Ritchie: "My wife baked some muffins in advance of our nine-year-old’s school Spring Fair. 'Remember to take them in,' she told him. 'No chance' he replied. 'What’s baked in the house, stays in the house, gets eaten in the house'.”

SOME weather this week. But this is what our teachers are up against. A reader in Rhu overheard a local stopping to chat to a family he knew, and saying to the youngster: "Weren’t you at school today?" The girl's mother intervened however to declare: "Ach, it was far too nice a day to send her to school.”

I'VE never been asked to judge the Scottish Bar and Pub Awards. Fair enough. Spending my earnings there doesn't make me an expert. But I did feel overlooked when it was announced that the judges this year would include Scottish Terrier Jock who will help choose Dog Friendly Bar of the Year. Not sure if I can forgive organiser Susan Young of industry magazine Dram who declared: "People might think it's barking, but Jock is a very discerning dog, who knows when to paws for thought and deserves a pat on his back for his choices."

Bet he doesn't buy his round though.

OUR tale of the chap digging gardens while collecting unemployment reminds John Crawford in Lytham: "East Ayrshire Council required all window cleaners to have a Civic Government Licence. We had an anonymous report about a bloke who was cleaning windows without having a licence. An investigation revealed he was in his late 70s and cleaned the windows of all his elderly widowed neighbours in return for a plate of soup on weekdays.

"So we let him carry on."