Living on the edge.
Posted: Thursday, 11 October 2007 |
Well I live right on the edge of this country.
A typical day is probably typical for people all over Britain. I get up and get the kids ready for school. At 7:50 I head for work while my oldest catches the bus to Lionacleit on a neighbouring island. Of course... before I leave granny comes down to look after my youngest before he sets off on the bus to Paible School.
I work on Benbecula and return home near the same time as my eldest just before 5. My youngest will have hopefully prepared dinner, if he is not busy with after school activities... a long list from football to fiddle with a bit of shinty in between! Making dinner is his current money making scheme.
After dinner we do normal family activities, like cards and board games, then we have some telly and computer time.
I would say a pretty typical day for most of us.
EXCEPT! We have fairly quiet single track roads to drive on... although I have been known to feel the start of road rage if I have to stop for more than 15 cars coming the other way on my 20 mile journey!
We have spectacular views along the way enjoying the beautiful hills, heather, bays, beaches and oceans. We see stags, deers and fawns as we follow the road... hopefully not too close!?! We are always picking out the birds along the way from owls, hawks, buzzards and eagles... yes plural. The Gloden Eagle is a regular visitor but we also see the Sea Eagle. In fact the last time my young son went fishing at sea they saw the Sea Eagle and left some mackrel for it on the shore. Oh! I can't forget the sheep and cattle.
We are also blessed with great schools. Paible provides and provided such a great education for both my children. With small classes and staff who are interested and care about the children. They have all the latest technology there and have loads of activities going on all the time. My kids have thrived in compesate classes, where they share the class with other year groups. My daughter enjoys being in the big school now she is in third year and Lionacleit provides another great school with small classes, good facilities and teachers.
Yes we have extreme weather but my family certainly enjoys the dry sunny weather right along with the howling gales. In fact as long as it is not too strong a gail we like nothing more than watching the waves crash in at Scolpaig.
We have our problems but we try to work together as a community to overcome them. Oh! I nearly forgot, granny really does not like the seagulls visiting her birdfeeder!
I have gone on a bit, but then I do love where I live!
A typical day is probably typical for people all over Britain. I get up and get the kids ready for school. At 7:50 I head for work while my oldest catches the bus to Lionacleit on a neighbouring island. Of course... before I leave granny comes down to look after my youngest before he sets off on the bus to Paible School.
I work on Benbecula and return home near the same time as my eldest just before 5. My youngest will have hopefully prepared dinner, if he is not busy with after school activities... a long list from football to fiddle with a bit of shinty in between! Making dinner is his current money making scheme.
After dinner we do normal family activities, like cards and board games, then we have some telly and computer time.
I would say a pretty typical day for most of us.
EXCEPT! We have fairly quiet single track roads to drive on... although I have been known to feel the start of road rage if I have to stop for more than 15 cars coming the other way on my 20 mile journey!
We have spectacular views along the way enjoying the beautiful hills, heather, bays, beaches and oceans. We see stags, deers and fawns as we follow the road... hopefully not too close!?! We are always picking out the birds along the way from owls, hawks, buzzards and eagles... yes plural. The Gloden Eagle is a regular visitor but we also see the Sea Eagle. In fact the last time my young son went fishing at sea they saw the Sea Eagle and left some mackrel for it on the shore. Oh! I can't forget the sheep and cattle.
We are also blessed with great schools. Paible provides and provided such a great education for both my children. With small classes and staff who are interested and care about the children. They have all the latest technology there and have loads of activities going on all the time. My kids have thrived in compesate classes, where they share the class with other year groups. My daughter enjoys being in the big school now she is in third year and Lionacleit provides another great school with small classes, good facilities and teachers.
Yes we have extreme weather but my family certainly enjoys the dry sunny weather right along with the howling gales. In fact as long as it is not too strong a gail we like nothing more than watching the waves crash in at Scolpaig.
We have our problems but we try to work together as a community to overcome them. Oh! I nearly forgot, granny really does not like the seagulls visiting her birdfeeder!
I have gone on a bit, but then I do love where I live!
All Hallows Eve
Posted: Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
I write this as the household excitement is building towards tonight鈥檚 festivities. Now that I live on this island I can enjoy Halloween again. I now must confess to being a foreigner, from across the pond. I grew up in a rural community where the children would be excited (me included!) about the parties at school and the chance to dress up and go to the neighbours homes for trick or treating鈥. And they looked forward to seeing us in those costumes with our party tricks ready in return for a treats.
That feeling changed when, having lived in Britain most of my life, on October 31st I had to hang my head in shame, as the broadcasters go to town about this horrid American import, of brash commercialism鈥. I know we are guilty of that a wee bit...maybe occasionaly?!?
Even when I had kids of my own and I was living in the Midlands of England and my American friend and I wanted to do something for them it was a nightmare. She had to send letters to the houses in her street, asking them to display the enclosed image of a pumpkin if the children could stop at their door鈥 in the afternoon, before it got dark, so those 5 year olds in pumpkin and witch costumes would not cause distress to the elderly and the vulnerable. Obviously this was not a great success as only 6 house out of a long street of over 60 allowed the children to stop by鈥 we only did this once鈥 surprisingly.
I know, stay with me here, the island point is about to be made.
Well now you might understand my amazement when I moved to this island, and my friend asked me if the kids were ok to go out with her kids on Halloween鈥 was I still in Britain???
Well the kids were so excited with their faces painted and their homemade witch and pirate costumes, their pumpkin sweetie bucket at the ready. When my friend arrived to collect them she just politely handed back the buckets and gave me a knowing smile, unfortunately I did not know what was coming!
What the kids were about to experience was the islands tradition of 鈥淕uising鈥. On all Hallows Eve this island (and presumably other parts of this Land) has its own tradition, and it is not an American import, that goes back as far as anyone can remember, where the children and young people completely disguise themselves from head to toe鈥 boiler suits help tremendously here! The homes they call on have to guess who they are as they stand there silently. They are rewarded after performing something for their hosts.
I do not know where this tradition comes from but I know my kids had a great night totally failing to disguise themselves with my well applied face paint! Having covered no more than 30 homes in our 2 and half mile stretch of township, on their 4 hour trek. They came home loaded down with a pillowcase to heavy to carry, for my shattered youngest, and their delight was priceless along with their tales of who said what, who was fooled and who kept them the longest.
They are better at it now and each year the homes the children don鈥檛 have time to get to are disappointed they have missed them and each year the kids feel special and cared for by their community.
At the moment these island children may not know how truly blessed they are. To be able to live where they are free to go door to door, where everyone wants to see them and share in the fun with them. I think when they have had their time in the big cities, as adults, they will look back on October 31st with a smile. And hopefully know they were the lucky few who had a safe place to grow up, free to be what a child should be. Without grown up worries, watching the northern lights (what!!! we did have a dry clear night 2 years ago!!!) as they drag their pillowcases on to the next home, feeling the love and support of the community that is theirs.
To all, I wish you much fun on this most Hallowed of Eves!
"For display purpose only. Not a serving suggestion. Not known to be a North Uist pumpkin. Any similarities to the author or other characters real or fictional is unintentional."
That feeling changed when, having lived in Britain most of my life, on October 31st I had to hang my head in shame, as the broadcasters go to town about this horrid American import, of brash commercialism鈥. I know we are guilty of that a wee bit...maybe occasionaly?!?
Even when I had kids of my own and I was living in the Midlands of England and my American friend and I wanted to do something for them it was a nightmare. She had to send letters to the houses in her street, asking them to display the enclosed image of a pumpkin if the children could stop at their door鈥 in the afternoon, before it got dark, so those 5 year olds in pumpkin and witch costumes would not cause distress to the elderly and the vulnerable. Obviously this was not a great success as only 6 house out of a long street of over 60 allowed the children to stop by鈥 we only did this once鈥 surprisingly.
I know, stay with me here, the island point is about to be made.
Well now you might understand my amazement when I moved to this island, and my friend asked me if the kids were ok to go out with her kids on Halloween鈥 was I still in Britain???
Well the kids were so excited with their faces painted and their homemade witch and pirate costumes, their pumpkin sweetie bucket at the ready. When my friend arrived to collect them she just politely handed back the buckets and gave me a knowing smile, unfortunately I did not know what was coming!
What the kids were about to experience was the islands tradition of 鈥淕uising鈥. On all Hallows Eve this island (and presumably other parts of this Land) has its own tradition, and it is not an American import, that goes back as far as anyone can remember, where the children and young people completely disguise themselves from head to toe鈥 boiler suits help tremendously here! The homes they call on have to guess who they are as they stand there silently. They are rewarded after performing something for their hosts.
I do not know where this tradition comes from but I know my kids had a great night totally failing to disguise themselves with my well applied face paint! Having covered no more than 30 homes in our 2 and half mile stretch of township, on their 4 hour trek. They came home loaded down with a pillowcase to heavy to carry, for my shattered youngest, and their delight was priceless along with their tales of who said what, who was fooled and who kept them the longest.
They are better at it now and each year the homes the children don鈥檛 have time to get to are disappointed they have missed them and each year the kids feel special and cared for by their community.
At the moment these island children may not know how truly blessed they are. To be able to live where they are free to go door to door, where everyone wants to see them and share in the fun with them. I think when they have had their time in the big cities, as adults, they will look back on October 31st with a smile. And hopefully know they were the lucky few who had a safe place to grow up, free to be what a child should be. Without grown up worries, watching the northern lights (what!!! we did have a dry clear night 2 years ago!!!) as they drag their pillowcases on to the next home, feeling the love and support of the community that is theirs.
To all, I wish you much fun on this most Hallowed of Eves!
"For display purpose only. Not a serving suggestion. Not known to be a North Uist pumpkin. Any similarities to the author or other characters real or fictional is unintentional."
Finding Solas
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