Its just a term of endearmentusually used by northeners & old people...
(
thirdman Ia! Ia! R'lyeh Cthulhu ftagn! Ia! Ia! Mglui nafl,
Fri 3 Jan 2003, 9:45,
archived)
tahim being both old and cockney... it makes sense now...
( gracielou,
Fri 3 Jan 2003, 9:46,
archived)