Tapadh leibh! 7 weeks

I have a correction to make, which, for me, is most embarrassing! As I was thanking many people last week, I most definitely should have written Tapadh Leibh NOT Tapadh leat! As tapadh leat is either the familiar or addressing just one person, whereas tapadh leibh is formal address (which is why I didn't think of it) or addressing many people. Oh dear!

The other think about which I wished to speak is Alexander McCall Smith. Once I get going, I could sing the praises of this author for quite some time. He is best known and loved for his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency (which I confess I have not yet read) but he is quite a prolific author, and everything of his that I have read has been entirely charming and beautiful and heartwarming. I found his recent novel La's Orchestra Saves the World deeply moving. On a Scottish note, however, there is the delightful 44 Scotland Street series, which I am currently reading. In The World According to Bertie (the fourth, I think, in the series) I found this amazing passage:

"For the most part, we treat others in a matter-of-fact way; we have to, in order to get on with our lives. But every so often, in a moment of insight that can be very nearly mystical in its intensity, we see others in their real humanity, in a way which makes us want to cherish them as joint pilgrims, almost, on a perilous journey."

A few months ago he was chosen for the book group I attend in Greene. Everyone read a different novel of his. Not all the ladies liked him (which really surprised me!) but one, Amy Marsland (herself an authoress) voiced an opinion very similar to mine: that whatever his subject, and whatever the location (be it Africa or Scotland) there is an undercurrent of goodness - the "moral" so-to-speak - of the story is always the same, and a beautiful and refreshing current of humanity runs throughout his writing. So I say Three Cheers for Alexander McCall Smith!

Tapadh leat! 8 weeks

Yesterday I had my Gaelic conversation with Donald, and we were talking about my upcoming move to Glasgow. He was waxing most eloquent about this opportunity in my life. "Do you know how lucky you are?" he asked me, then answered his own question by saying, "I don't think you can know." He even went so far as to tell me that I had a golden ball of opportunity (I had a delicious moment of feeling like Bella Wilfer in Our Mutual Friend, though of course, the golden balls in question are very different). He urged me to study Gaelic at the university, not just Archaeology, which I had been planning on doing.  The two departments work together very closely and one can even study two subjects at once. On this subject, too, he told me that I have a "unique ability. It is in your blood - in your very cells."

This conversation was very humbling to me, especially when he ended it by telling me I was the luckiest woman in the world. Because I thought, yes, I am. It has been a pipe dream of mine to live over in Scotland (or England) for years and years. A long time ago when I told my friend Kevin I wished I could move over there, he told me to read George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. But here at last I am about to embark on this glorious adventure, this amazing opportunity. And I need to give thanks, because I would not be here without the help of my family and friends. In time, love, money and support I have been borne along by my loved ones, and I am so grateful, because I wouldn't be going otherwise.

Tapadh leat! Moran taing!

Thank you! Many thanks!

The Orkney Venus *** 10 Weeks

Last August a small carved figure from the Neolithic era was discovered in the Noltland dig on the Orkney Islands - in Westray. It has been named The Orkney Venus, and The Westray Wife. A new dig season is about to begin, where more information about these people will hopefully be discovered. They are hoping, among other things, to shed more light on a building with cattle skulls in the walls foundation. For more information see:

http://www.westrayheritage.co.uk/
~and~
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=28424

Astonishing! 11 Weeks

I find I often start my posts very late at night. I am not convinced that this is an advantage - probably my thoughts are fuzzy and ramble more this close to midnight. However, I wanted to sneak a post in this week so I wouldn't miss a week - there aren't that many left!

It is very remiss of me, I realized this past week, to not have written about the McCloud genealogy film that was part of a large genealogy program that involved President Eyring, the author David McCullough and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. How I wish I could have been present for such an exciting evening. Jared, bedecked in kilt and fancy jacket, played "Amazing Grace" and was joined by a stirring and beautiful arrangement of the choir singing the same song.

There is a link:
http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/-a-celebration-of-family-history-delights-thousands-of-genealogy-enthusiasts


There is a picture of Jared, and also, if you click on the videos tab, the forth video is the McCloud family video. It's very exciting! As I said, I wish I could have been there, but the program, I know, was an unqualified success!

Also, someone who attended this wrote of it in their blog:
http://circlemending.blogspot.com/2010/04/music-family-history-and-unforgettable.html

Unforgettable indeed!

Waulking with Oomph! *** 12 Weeks

For hundreds of years in the highlands and islands of Scotland, after weaving a piece of cloth, the women would get together to full the cloth. They would get it wet and either with their feet or their hands pound and work it until it shrunk the desired amount.

Last night I had an opportunity to lead a simulated waulking. Heather's friend Amy (I mentioned her earlier as her sheep had lambs recently) was contacted by a local Scottish society to give a presentation about Scottish methods of using wool, spinning, weaving, etc. And Amy called on us to help her with the Scottish side of things.

Amy brought several blankets that she had woven, as well as her spinning wheel, wool, even some sheep skins. She gave a wonderful presentation on all the steps involved: washing the wool, dying it, carding or combing it, then spinning it. And she spoke of the warmth and protection that wool provides, even if it gets wet. Our small audience of five of the members of this Scottish society were a very excited and attentive group. And while Amy spoke, Katie sat at her wheel spinning (Katie is a beautiful spinner!).

Then Heather spoke about the waulking. Donald had sent us an excellent article he had written about it and about the Harris Tweed. Then we took one of Amy's blankets and we all gathered around a small table to simulate the waulking, by beating the cloth and singing to the rhythm of the beat. To prepare for this I had listened to recordings of several waulking songs, and the one I finally chose was from a recording called "Waulking Songs from Barra" recorded back in the late 1960's. I liked this recording because it wasn't polished up and recorded nicely, it was just a group of older women recreating a waulking from their younger days. I had my lesson with Donald earlier in the day and he had me sing it for him. "Well..." he said, "That's fine, but you need to put more oomph into it." He further explained that it was like a party - that there was much laughter and much energy as they sang and pounded the cloth. He had me sing it for him about four times more!

Waulking on Eriskay, 1899

The waulking songs are a sort-of call and response. The leader sings a line, then everyone sings a line together, and so on. So I taught everyone the response phrase, and we began. It was very energetic and exhilarating. Everyone enjoyed the experience. I certainly did, and I think I managed it with enough oomph!

Here is the song we sang:



Eile le ho rò ho hù o

Eile le ho rò ho hù o

Robh thu ‘sa ‘bheinn o ho hù o

Eile le ho rò ho hù o

An diugh n’ an dè o ho hù o

Nan d’fhuair thu sprèidh?

Cha d’fhuair an leth

Cò tha bhuat dhiubh?

Ogha Buidheig

Ogha Ruadhain

Ogha na bà

Maoile ruaidheadh

Gura h-e mo

Run an t-uasal

Chunna mi’n dè

Seachad suas thu

Air each glas na

Nan ceum luatha

Le d’bhiodagan

Ortho chruachain

Le d’ghunna snaip

Ortho ghualainn

Dol a shealg na

h-èilde ruaidheadh

eala cha dig

slàn o d’luaidhe.

(the ho hu o is sung at the end of each line, and the "Eile le ho ro ho hu o" is sung between each line.)

Elsie and Mairi *** 13 Weeks

Elsie Knocker and Mairi Chisholm

Years ago I read a book on the 1st World War published by the Imperial War Museum and in it was a chapter about two extraordinary women, Elsie Knocker and Mairi Chisholm who worked at the Western Front all throughout the war. I wished at the time that I could find out more about them. Well, this past week I have started a fabulous new book about them called Elsie and Mairi Go To War by Diane Atkinson. I hadn't realized how exciting and brave these women really were. It seems before the war they were both avid motorcycle enthusiasts and participated in races. The author explains that back in the 1910's motorcycles were fickle, difficult creatures and that you would have to know how to fix and service them constantly if you drove them. Elsie was thirty, and Mairi eighteen at this time. And when war was declared in August 1914, they left almost immediately for Belgium and worked at the front lines bringing in wounded, serving them soup and cocoa, constantly risking their lives and living in great discomfort to bring relief to the soldiers. They were admirable women, and it is a rollicking, fascinating read so far.
There is an online exhibit of sorts at the Imperial War Museum:http://www.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.2769

Mairi Bheag! 14 weeks!

This past weekend, my dear friend Sarah, her husband Erik and their children Tommy and Mairi came to visit us. They came on Friday night and left Sunday evening. It was a delightful weekend, and so wonderful to see them all, and especially to meet "Little Mairi" (Tommy calls me "Big Mairi"). We didn't do much - just relaxed, took some walks, talked, etc. it was really perfect.

On Saturday night we watched a "Jeeves & Wooster" episode. Tommy got all excited and exclaimed "Jeeves and Wooster!" enthusiastically. In fact, I think he called our dog Wooster (his name is Rooster, which is a silly name for a Dalmatian). I think it was an improvement.

I hadn't realized how red Little Mairi's hair is. It's a beautiful, light, vibrant red. And she has dark blue eyes, and it's a lovely combination. She's such a good girl, too.

I'm so glad that Sarah, Erik and their family were willing and able to make the drive here. It was delightful having them.