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Welcome to the Fifth Edition of our Newsletter

It’s been another busy week with lots more contributions arriving and also so many lovely

emails from you saying how much you are enjoying the newsletter – which is fantastic!

Please let me know what you would like to see more of in future editions.

A big thank you to Lyn Dyke who sent me the above photo. It was taken by her neighbour

last Tuesday evening in Shandwick.

Please send any contributions to Karen: abbott111@talktalk.net

Please note

To open any of the links in the newsletter press the Ctrl (Control) button and click on the link.

Edition 5 Monday 20th April 2020

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Hello All

The world is in crisis but it's hard to believe when the weather is so lovely.

My husband and I have been working hard in our garden - it doesn't know

what has hit it!

In the midst of us soaking in the sunshine and enjoying the birds singing

surrounded by the idylls of nature we were suddenly brought back to

reality by a phone call from our daughter who is a doctor in A&E in

Edinburgh. She is very philosophical but she reports that when she's

been working with COVID patients this week the PPE and masks have

become more and more flimsy to the point where they are useless. As for

visors well they don't have any. Instead they have to use goggles which

steam up so if she has to do any close procedure on a patient eg an

injection she has to remove the goggles to see what she's doing.

Protection? What protection? The moral of the story is don't believe a

word the politicians are telling us. The only good coming out of all of this

is how people are going out of their way to help each other. Which brings

me straight back to this Newsletter and all the wonderful contributions you

are all sending in which is a great help in cheering us all up.

Stay safe

Franca

A few words from Franca our Chairperson

Fly with the Red Arrows

I expect a lot of our members will remember Dugald McAngus who was a member of

our U3A until a couple of years ago – I am trying to persuade him to come back!

Dugald learned to fly during the war and now has a flight simulator. He can choose

any airport in the world to fly from, any weather conditions and any plane.

He has made videos of some of his flights:

Dalcross to Fort William https://youtu.be/FjBvKcfeoIA

Dalcross to Dornoch https://youtu.be/mSwdFK3L_as

The commentary is fabulous and these are a must watch!!

Karen

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Tunes to Raise Your Spirits by Alan Malloy

Members of our Music group were asked recently to recommend tunes which raise their spirits.

Unsurprisingly, members found it difficult to make just one choice. The pieces are in no order of

importance, but where several are by one composer, they are grouped together.

I hope that you can sit down and listen to these inspiring tunes.

These tunes can be found on YouTube (as well as other platforms); apologies in advance for the

adverts at the start of each one.

Your choices:

‘How can I keep from singing?’ sung by Enya

“My Lord, what a morning!” sung by Jessye Norman

‘Morning has broken’ written and sung by Cat Stevens

‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ from Handel’s Messiah

‘I vow to thee my Country’ - Gustav Holst

‘Jupiter’ - from Holst’s The Planets Suite

‘Be Still My Soul’ - Jean Sibelius

‘Ode To Joy’ - 4th movement from Beethoven’s 9th Symphony

Grand March - from Verdi’s Aida

Third movement, Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony

Trumpet Tune - Henry Purcell

Sonata for violin and piano Number 17 - Mozart

“Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin” - Rodgers and Hammerstein

Links to music above:

Enya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RHt3ElEvHQ

Jessye Norman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBRodCQS-v8

Cat Stevens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TInLOJuUM

Handel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q0qho_hKEg - New College

Holst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1AMhhEQj6o - Kings College

Jupiter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz0b4STz1lo

Sibelius: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UJFw3p76d8

Sibelius 5 finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tuPnVzuWP8v

Beethoven: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFX8S9aAgvw

Verdi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX0qN6QEvGg

Purcell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngn77Nl9HIk

Mozart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47jmv8CSgVI

Oklahoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5APc0z49wg (1955 film)

Music in Our Time Hopefully this will be a regular item so if you have a relevant piece of music

which reflects either the season, an event or our wonderful land please

email abbott111@talktalk.net

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Karen’s Crafty Corner

Here are the instructions on how to make these pretty flowers. They are easy to do and look very attractive when they are dry.

Many apologies for the quality of the pictures.

See my attempt in pictures 10 & 11

Here are the materials and tools you will need:

Wire - 20 gauge (jewellery or gardening wire as long as you can bend it) Marker Pen – Sharpie would be ideal Wire cutters and pliers (depending on how stiff the wire is) Wood Glue Coloured Nail Polish Floristry tape if available

Instructions

1) Wrap the wire around the marker pen to create a loop (pictures 1 & 2).

2) Twist the pen to secure the loop and continue to wrap the wire around the pen to make another four loops and secure by twisting the pen (pictures 3 & 4).

3) Pour some wood glue into a disposable cup and dip the flower into the wood glue (picture 5).

4) Make sure there is a film of wood glue on every petal. This may be a bit fiddly as sometimes the film bursts (picture 6).

5) When the wood glue is dry carefully brush on another coat of wood glue (picture 7)

6) When the wood glue is completely dry paint the petals with nail polish (picture 8)

7) Continue until all the petals are painted – for a better effect paint both sides of the petal (picture 9).

8) Stand the stem of the flower into a piece of cardboard or polystyrene (I used oasis)

9) When completely dry wrap floristry tape around the stem.

Please remember to

send in your craft

ideas!!

Wire Nail Polish Flowers

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1. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER, by Simon and Garfunkel.

The sentiments in this song spoke to me in earlier years.

At the age of 41 I found myself a widow with responsibility for 4 children, aged 8 to

13. In the previous years while my husband’s health had been deteriorating and after

his death there were many gloomy times when I listened to Simon and Garfunkel

and would have welcomed a bridge over my troubled water. I could say that my

children as they grew up provided that bridge in the succeeding years, with mutual

support, companionship and friendship.

2.AN EALA BHÀN. (The White Swan)

A beautiful Gaelic song written during the First World War by a soldier from Uist

during his service in the trenches. He is homesick for his homeland and thinking

fondly of a girl back home. (Metaphorically the white swan.). While he is miserably

crouched in the trenches with the sound of battle and death in his ears he dreams of

her in her warm, perfumed bed and wishes her calm sleep and happy wakening. He

tells her she is not to be sad if his lot is to be killed as we, like the flowers of the field,

only last for our time. He did survive however, but in 1922 it was a different girl he

married! He later composed many poems and songs but it a quote from this that is

on his gravestone.

3. THE HEN’S MARCH. For some light relief.

This is a catchy Scottish tune that lifts the spirit, usually played on mandolin or fiddle,

and for me makes me want to get up and dance. My late nephew, a professional

musician, used to play it. If I was at a function where he was performing he would

play this and announce that it was for me. Sadly, no more. We lost that great

musical talent 3 years ago. To me this tune will always mean Gordon.

4.FREEDOM COME ALL YE.

Hamish Henderson, a famed Scottish folklorist, poet, song writer, intellectual, wrote

these words to a pipe tune he heard played by military pipe bands when he was an

intelligence officer in Italy in the 1940’s, the tune having been composed during the

First World War by pipe major of the Gordons while he was in solitary confinement in

a German prison camp. The lyrics refer to the “winds of change” of the 1960’s and

thereafter. The writer decries the tradition of Scottish soldiers being sent to battle as

both imperial cannon fodder and colonial oppressor, and looks forward to a future

global society which would be multicultural, just and free. A hope for Scotland and

for humanity. It needs to be sung in March time by a strong, maybe male, voice. It

has been suggested as an alternative Scottish national anthem. I’d go along with

that.

Bob Dylan too used this tune, to compose “The Times They are a Changing”

Each week we will be publishing a member’s

Desert Island Disc choices

This week it’s Frances Douglas’s selection

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5. THE TRAIN JOURNEY NORTH.

I was fond of this pipe tune, a hornpipe, that a friend of my son’s used to play. The

train journey north was something I was very familiar with - memories of beautiful

scenery seen from train windows, while looking forward to being home.

6. DON CHUAG. (To the Cuckoo)

Gaelic music has been a big part of my life over many years. This is one of the

earlier ones we sang as a choir, and competed successfully with. (And winning was

thrill.) The song welcomes the cuckoo as a harbinger of Spring. “It’s voice, so sweet

to me on a May morning, lifts sadness from my heart,” a sentiment I share. I love

Spring, with the fresh growth, warmer days and Long bright evenings, though in the

troubles of this year I can’t feel this “lift”.

7. MOZART’S CLARINET CONCERTO.

I love Mozart and this is particularly beautiful music. I was given this CD several

years ago when on holiday on Vancouver Island, staying with a friend I had met

through my teaching exchange. We have stayed friends, meeting up nearly every

year to go on holiday. He said this is one of his favourite pieces of music, so much

so that he has given instructions that it is to be played at his funeral. (Maybe not

such a cheery thought.)

8. FRANCES DOUGLAS’S BIRTHDAY MARCH.

My last choice would have to be this. For my 80th birthday my sons (plus wives)

surprised me by transporting me off to a CASTLE - mine (or ours) for 3 days! A real,

old, picturesque Scottish keep! For me it couldn’t have been better. Enormous fun!

We had 3 fiddles, small pipes and guitar. And in the evening my son surprised me

with this pipe tune which he had written for me. Unfortunately I cannot play it - or

anything.

If I had to choose one it would be “Freedom Come All Ye” because I agree with its

sentiments. I could live with that.

My book would be Watson’s Gaelic - English, English- Gaelic dictionary. I enjoy

browsing and I’d never have learned all of it.

My luxury would be an axe (is that a luxury?) so that I could build a shelter and

maybe sometimes a fire.

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The Fun of Family History

by Nettie Mewha

So, we are stuck inside but that gives me hours to explore my family history. I’ve been investigating my family roots

for a couple of years but it is not just who is in my past but the lives they lived. I’ve always been really interested in

history and now I have a chance to see where the family came from and who they were.

I have just received my DNA results and they seem to confirm my Danish Viking roots but it was interesting to

discover I had Celtic roots too. I was fairly certain I had ancestors from Vikings in Picardie and those under

Danelaw in the Midlands. It seems now that there was a part of the family descended from the Celts in Brittany,

something I had not found because of a second marriage. But a recent discovery of the first marriage of a

grandparent (x3) explained the children all have the name Brett alongside their surname. Whilst Graham’s DNA

shows he is definitely Irish and Scottish. The fun in chasing his ancestors is how and where so many of them

emigrated to.

The furthest I have got back because of my Viking/French maiden name, although we do lose some direct links

during the middle ages because few general records were kept, is possibly the first century and a Viking princess.

Genealogists are beginning to believe that the mythical Kings of Svenland (north of Finland) were not so mythical

after all. I have found a link to Charlemagne in this line too. And apparently we can all find some ‘royal family links’

somewhere.

On the other hand though are those who grew up in poverty, who struggled with keeping their families together.

Invariably they were agricultural labourers and often they had spells in the local poorhouse. Even that we can

explore in more depth, what did they do in the poorhouse? What was life like at the bottom of the chain of society?

You can actually find the architectural plans of many of the poorhouses on line and how different areas of the

country had different ideas as to what their inmates should be doing.

At the moment I am particularly excited by looking through my grandfather’s (x3) naval record. With his service

record, he served from 1820 -1855, I have been able to find details of all the ships he served on. And for most of

HMS ships I can find pictures and details, one ship was the same design as HMS Beagle, and another was a sister

ship to HMS Victory, so you can find the design plans of those. I can see how William took his able seaman exams,

became a sailmaker, a master and a coxswain and where in the world he served in those roles. At the moment I am

reading a book on the Naval history of the Russian War (the Crimean), where he served just before he retired and

became a Greenwich pensioner. The read is alongside books by Alexander Kent, novels about life at sea in

wooden sailing ships when facing warfare and piracy which were the norm for the Navy at that time.

So family history is definitely more than just unknown names in your past.

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Newly married in early summer 1974, I arrived to manage a busy pharmacy opposite the police station on

Onslow Road, Guildford. My male employer took off for the summer to Lanzarote and I was left in charge! I

looked about 15 years old and got quite used to the startled looks when someone asked to speak to the

pharmacist. Quite often they would say “could I speak to the man” and I began saying “I am the man”. Most

laughed and let me help them but some stomped off.

On the evening of 5th October 1974 the Provisional Irish Republican Army wrecked havoc in two public houses

in Guildford. Massive explosions severely injured 60 people and killed five. Two were young Scots Guardsmen

from Barrhead, Glasgow.

Three young Irishmen and a woman were arrested, charged and sentenced to life in prison. They subsequently

were freed after 15 years after it was proven that their confessions were altered and were extracted with torture.

They were flown in by helicopters to the police station. The street was closed to allow the helicopters to land.

I dispensed prescriptions for them while they were in custody and my impression was that they were young

people from very disadvantaged backgrounds. I know the police bitterly hated them. The young policemen had

rescued many from the buildings.

On the Monday morning a young girl came into the pharmacy looking for help. She was one of the barmaids

and had wandered off in shock to her bedsit and had spoken to no one since. We had her seen by our local

GPs and alerted the police.

One day while the Guilford 4 were still in the police station a policeman ran into the shop, told us to lock the

door, keep away from windows and go and lie on the floor of the store. Four of us lay for an hour, nothing

happening. Eventually we poked our heads out of the front door to see the postmaster, grocer etc all emerging.

The post master rang the police station and came back laughing. Someone had parked a car with a pile of

cables and electrical bits right beside the front door of the station and they had to investigate in case it was a

bomb. When they got the all clear they forgot about the parade of shops and the staff cowering in the back.

We stayed in Guildford for 3 years and enjoyed exploring the area but Scotland beckoned and we moved to

Dundee. My husband worked for National Cash Registers and I was employed as a junior pharmacist at

Dundee Royal Infirmary. As usual the pharmacy was extremely busy and I was almost permanently banished to

the basement to the manufacturing unit.

We has an interesting task once a month sterilising artificial feet for the British Limb Fitting Service. The feet

were different sizes and weights and were used by amputees to judge which suited them best before their

permanent prosthetic leg was made. They had to be cleaned and sterilised between patients to prevent

transmission of infections, moulds etc. It was quite spooky on my own with 30 feet which had to be vacuumed

packed for the ethylene oxide gas sterilising process to be effective.

The feet had to be packed in what looked like a ramshackle dog kennel. The drill was to pack the feet, close up

the “kennel”, introduce the gas and run because the door had been known to fail. Health and safety was not so

rigorous then.

Unfortunately my husband did not enjoy NCR and we were soon on the move again. He found work in Slough

and we lived in Bourne End on the Thames. I started work as a locum in London including a stint in Harrods,

which was eye opening.

The Wandering Pharmacist - by Catherine Vass

Part 3

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Pets Page

This week’s pet

Geordie is a rescue dog. We adopted him from the SPCA in Inverness. The staff there

thought he was around five years old. He had been badly treated and was under weight

therefore he had spent a good few months in kennels before he could be adopted. He can

be a handful to say the least but he's very loving when he's at home, the fire place is his

favourite spot to lie sometimes he gets so close it's a wonder he doesn't burn!!!

I think we are on his fourth dog bed as his favourite hobby is destroying them!

Margaret Southam

This is Margaret Southam’s dog - Geordie

Have you got a photo of a pet that you would like to share?

Please send your photos with details of your pet to:

abbott111@talktalk.net

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NO WAY OUT

by Linda McLean

Every difficult situation demands a different kind of leadership. There should always be an answer, a

way to work round the problem, a very clear solution.

Desperate situations, it has been said, require desperate measures.

This story touches on some of the most basic elements of leadership: it is not comfortable, it is not chic;

it can be very stressful and demanding. There are other elements which were necessary for a

successful outcome, which are identifiable as you read on…

The year was 1979.

The month was August.

The country was Canada.

Read on and wonder.

The Great Slave Lake http://hayriver.com/visitors/attractions/great-slave-lake/ was mirror calm as the

Scotsman and his woman set out on their planned adventure. As the boat is a major player in this

event, perhaps you will forgive me for taking a little time in detailing and describing the craft and its

contents.

It was a fourteen foot wooden speed boat with a windshield and a 20 horsepower Johnson outboard

motor. The interior boasted two bucket seats from a Cadillac. A white steering wheel had been installed.

In the summer, it was the main way to explore the lake shore- which was somewhat larger than any

lake you would find in this country. It was indeed larger than Ireland. Everything that was required for

the trip had been packed and stowed away on the boat carefully. They had provisions enough for five

days

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He had taken his Winchester 30/30 and his pump action Savage 12 gauge, ready to take

advantage of any game that came within range. His buck knife he always carried in its black

leather sheath. Tent and his fishing tackle were also part of the cargo.

To cover all possibilities, there were extras which he felt may be necessary: spare outboard

motor, axe, spare ropes and toolkit – just to be sure.

The aim of the expedition was to visit some acquaintances about sixty miles away. These friends

were in the process of renovating some cabins on a remote island named Gros Cap. With the

information that the refurbishment of the second cabin had begun, the Scot took a large wad of

putty with him, to provide an effective seal for the windows. Gros Cap was an island lying in

waters on the Western side. An abundance of reefs compelled you to approach it from a precise

angle. The plan was to approach this channel from the eastern side, unless the weather was in

their favour.

One last final check that everything was on board and they were ready.

With his woman by his side, they pushed off from the shore of Yellowknife and skirted Joliff

Island before heading south towards the Eastern arm of the Great Slave Lake. His woman was

an Indian from the Slave Tribe (pronounced Slavey) of very slight, yet athletic, build.

The voyage was pleasant and invigorating. They indulged in all the sights that nature had to

offer, while the boat sped over the surface of the water. Even the engine hummed contentedly.

As the journey unfolded, they saw some eagles on a rocky headland about half way towards

their destination, – and thought that an unscheduled stop to take some photographs was

required. The boat neared the shore; the lake still didn’t show as much as a ripple. Pulling the

bow on to the shale beach, he tied the painter to a rock, and they both headed round the bluff in

the direction of where the eagles had been sighted.

When they returned, about forty five minutes later, they were dismayed and horrified to discover

the changes that had been wrought.

Time had just passed. With their minds focussed on photographs and eagles, and in the lee of a

bluff, they were completely unaware that a small wind had started to play on the water, moving

the surface. Gradually a swell had started. The boat, had been raised up, turned, and brought

down hard on the land. As the wind increased, so the swell followed suit, and the boat had

eventually been thrown down with enough force on a rock as to hole the bottom in front of the

transom: instead of the bow pointing up the beach, their craft was now side on to the beach.

What caught their attention when they returned was the strangeness of the scene - the boat was

not bobbing on the waves as it should have been. As they absorbed the implications of the

spectacle that greeted them on the shore, they looked at each other in disbelief. There was no

way out of this place except by boat. Any journey inland was out of the question. There were

hundreds of miles of copious swamps, mosquitoes and bears. It was not a route that anyone

would attempt, even in extremis. There were no signposts or trails. There was no civilisation

near. They had come thirty miles by water, and as far as this Scot knew, his friends thirty miles

away by water, were perhaps the only other people anywhere near their present location. There

was nothing else for it. He had to find a way to repair the boat.

To be continued.......

© Linda Jane McLean

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A Brief History of Hector Malloy by Rhoda Malloy

Episode Five

Hector's first visit to the vet was a momentous occasion. Everyone in the surgery, from Mandy

the receptionist, the various pet owners in the waiting room, to Lucy, the vet herself, fell

instantly in love with him. Acknowledged by all present to be the most perfect Labrador pup

imaginable, he became known as 'Handsome Hector', a name which has stuck with him to this

day.

We had been slightly concerned about how he would react to meeting new people and their

pets in the surgery, but we needn't have worried. Every person and creature was greeted

effusively by Hector, the wag from his tail continuing along the whole length of his spine. He

was so excited by this fascinating new world opening up before him, and all onlookers were

captivated by his exuberance.

He behaved impeccably throughout his examination, just giving a surprised yelp when being

micro-chipped, but scarcely seemed to notice when Lucy vaccinated him. A couple of weeks

later, he returned for two more injections, and was then ready to begin exploring the wonders

of his Highland home.

We very quickly discovered that the grandeur of the scenery held no interest for Hector.

He viewed our glorious surroundings merely as an opportunity to supplement his food intake.

Nothing was out of bounds. Everything he encountered was a potential delicacy, no matter how

revolting it appeared to us. Walks were not the carefree affairs we had imagined, but nerve-

frazzling experiences involving the constant removal of 'tasty tit-bits' from Hector's jaws.

Countryside strolls were fraught with anxiety as, much to our horror, he made it his mission to

sample every type of manure on offer. Rabbit and deer droppings rapidly became known as

'Hector's Maltesers', and he sought out horse manure as a fine-diner would seek out a Michelin

starred restaurant! Dead and decaying animals were fair game too. Alan watched in

amazement one morning as he managed to locate a dead baby rabbit hidden in undergrowth,

and swallow it whole!

Walks on the beach were every bit as nerve-racking. He would endeavour to eat each crab and

shell he came across. I became a nervous wreck, worrying that even on a lead, we were

simply not quick enough to stop him, and one of these sharp objects would end up puncturing

his intestines. We discussed using a muzzle with our vet after several 'end of tether' walks, but

couldn't bear the thought of him looking like Hannibal Lecter and frightening other walkers. One

afternoon on Dornoch Beach, we foolishly let him off his lead in an attempt to see if he would

come back to us when called. We had a little pouch of roast chicken scraps to entice him to

return and felt reasonably confident that they would do the trick. He cooperated at first,

receiving bits of chicken and lots of praise. Suddenly, however, he raised his nose

heavenward, sniffed the air, and shot off like a bullet from a gun. Alan and I raced after him,

calling his name in vain. He disappeared behind a rocky outcrop, hidden from view. Rounding

the corner, at the far end of the beach, we witnessed him head-butting an enormous rotting

seal, ripping off chunks of its skin, relishing every mouthful. We looked at each other in despair,

realising that we were at the start of an extremely long journey.

.

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Hector at 15 weeks

Hector Malloy Continued... Understandably, walks with Hector always took a lot longer than anticipated. Certainly a great deal of time was spent extricating a huge variety of 'amuse bouches' from his tightly clamped jowls, but also we were astounded by the sheer number of people who approached us, wherever we walked, to ask his name, how old he was and tell us how lovely they thought he was. They would introduce themselves to us, pick Hector up and pet him, chat about themselves and their own dog/s - some days it took us an hour to walk a hundred steps! One incident in particular that really stands out in my memory occurred on a bitterly cold and darkening afternoon in late November when we were struggling along Dornoch beach in the driving rain. We were the only folk on the sands that day, except for a man battling against the wind who seemed to be making a beeline for us. He asked if he could hold Hector and when I placed him into his arms, he began to weep, telling us how he had recently lost his beloved fifteen year old dog. The weather was not conducive to a lengthy chat and we parted company after trying to comfort him as best we could, but the next time we saw him, a couple of months later, he was the proud owner of a beautiful little grey and white whippet puppy.

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Just for fun

Last week’s ‘Guess the Object’ was, of course, the bottom of a bulb of garlic

Many thanks to Rhoda Malloy

Can you guess what this object is? Answer will be in next week’s

edition!

Thanks to Anne Fenech for this interesting photo!

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Just for fun

Continued

Tony Abbott found the following on Facebook and thought we might like to share it!!

I'm normally a social girl

I love to meet my mates

But lately with the virus here

We can't go out the gates.

You see, we are the 'oldies' now

We need to stay inside

If they haven't seen us for a while

They'll think we've upped and died.

They'll never know the things we did

Before we got this old

There wasn't any Facebook

So not everything was told.

We may seem, sweet old ladies,

Who would never be uncouth

But we grew up in the 60s -

If you only knew the truth!

There was sex and drugs and rock 'n roll

The pill and miniskirts

We smoked, we drank, we partied

And were quite outrageous flirts.

Then we settled down, got married

And turned into someone's mum,

Somebody's wife, then nana,

Who on earth did we become?

We didn't mind the change of pace

Because our lives were full

But to bury us before we're dead

Is like a red rag to a bull!

So here you find me stuck inside

For 4 weeks, maybe more

I finally found myself again

Then I had to close the door!

It didn't really bother me

I'd while away the hour

I'd bake for all the family

But I've got no bloody flour!

Now Netflix is just wonderful

I like a gutsy thriller

I'm swooning over Idris

Or some random sexy killer.

At least I've got a stash of booze

For when I'm being idle

There's wine and whiskey, even gin

If I'm feeling suicidal!

So let's all drink to lockdown

To recovery and health

And hope this bloody virus

Doesn't decimate our wealth.

We'll all get through the crisis

And be back to join our mates

Just hoping I'm not far too wide

To fit through the flaming gates!

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This little ditty was sent in by Brenda

Spreadborough to make us all smile!

I eat peas with honey

I’ve done it all my life

They do taste kind of funny

But it keeps them on my knife

Rhoda Malloy heard this one on the radio

“I spent the last 2 weeks curled up in a

roll of glass fibre.......

Turns out, I should have been self-

isolating!”

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Poets Page

Please send us your poems, either ones you have written yourself or let us know of a special favourite which we can publish

Can you think of a word or picture that

would inspire members to write a poem?

Please send me your ideas

The Midnight Window by

Jean W Cheyne

I sit at the midnight window Gazing out to the azure sea Through a vista of enchantment. The midnight moonlight glistens On the deep deep snow Of garden sculpture. Snow carved arches Mounds of moguls. A hidden garden Transformed by crystal ice. Snow laden skeletal trees Shimmer dramatic Against the moonlit sky. Conifers droop Under heavy burden, But the feathery silver birch Sparkles In the stillness of the night. The sea, now crackled Along the pebbled shore Where it meets the frozen quiet of the water. Frosted hues Of blue and turquoise Adorn the striking beauty of such a brilliant seascape Seen only in the silence of this night. The radiance of the moon Startles the aqua blue sky Sprinkled with gold Immersing me in this heaven on earth

As I sit at the midnight window.

© Jean W Cheyne

This is by Jean Cheyne who wrote the poem some years ago. The glorious atmosphere was quite overwhelming as I sat late one night at the Patio window of Alder Cottage, Barbaraville in December of 2010 during the extremely cold winter weather and after a 9 inch fall of snow. The skies were as clear as daylight in the brilliance of the full moon. The garden was a picture in the pure untouched snow. The sea colouring matched the skies. I just felt the need to sit down by the window, with lights out in the house, to enjoy the enchantment of the whole scene. This was the most severe winter weather ever recorded in Scotland during November / December. (-15*c here at sea level)

Brenda Spreadborough suggested this

poem

Leisure by W.H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care

We have no time to stand and stare

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows

No time to see, when woods we pass

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass

No time to see in broad daylight

Streams full of stars like skies at night

No time to turn at beauty's glance

And watch her feet, how they can dance

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began

A poor life this if, full of care

We have no time to stand and stare.

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Our mobile ‘phones do far more than make and receive calls. Below are some useful tasks that may be of use. Note. The tips and ‘How to’ steps are specifically for iPhones. Most of the tips given here will be applicable to those using ‘Android’ ‘phones, such as Sony, Samsung and Huawei. N.B. Your phone’s user guide can usually be downloaded from the internet by typing ‘Phone name user guide’ into a web browser e.g. Google or Safari.

Update your contacts Now is a good time to go through your Contacts: adding new ones and perhaps deleting others. Consider too, making your close family and friends “Favourites’. On iPhones, your Favourites will still be able to contact you even if your ‘Do Not Disturb’ facility is on. You can also add a photo* of a contact you’ve already saved too. Add photo: Contact>Edit>Add or Edit photo> Select photo*>Add * Easiest way is to pick a photo from one on your phone Update your Calendar Do you occasionally forget someone’s birthday or anniversary? Enter key dates onto your calendar so you never miss another birthday. Calendar has a facility to set an alert a day or week in advance and remember annual events such as birthdays. Calendar>Date wanted> +* > New Event** > Alert*** >Repeat**** *At top RHS of screen. ** add details of the event: venue, time, etc. *** Touch to set when you want to be alerted. Often a second alert can be set too. ****Set for each year for birthdays Announcing callers It’s really helpful to know who is calling you, while you reach for your phone. If you have saved someone’s phone number on your phone, you can get your phone to say the name of that person. If the caller is not known, your phone will say “Caller Unknown”. Settings > phone > Calls > switch on ‘Announce calls’ Do Not Disturb Sometimes it’s useful to have to quiet time; when you want to listen to music, read or simply have some peace. ‘Do Not Disturb’ is shown as a Moon icon in Settings. You can decide if you still want to receive calls from close family or friends in this section. Settings > Do Not Disturb > Allow calls from > Favourites / No one/ Everyone Use Messages In addition to sending texts, through your messages app you can also send photos (either using your inbuilt camera or from your stored photos), voice messages and even video messages. Simply tap on the relevant ‘button’ on your messages screen.

.

To Stay Safe

IT Tips from our IT Group Leader Alan Malloy

Using Our Mobile ‘Phones

Camera to take pics or videos now—-> Photo albums —->

<—Voice messages

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Anne Franklin has suggested

that this might be useful!!

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My Love Of Horses by Jennifer Wilson

Growing up, I spent time with relatives in Caithness. We used visit a family friend on a croft – I have no recollection where the croft was, but probably near Halkirk. On this croft lived and worked a Clydesdale horse called Blossom. She was strawberry roan with white dapples, and huge feet covered and hidden by flowing white hair – or feathers, as we horse-people call them. I would be put up on her back as she was led down to the steading. That started it! A year or two later a Shetland pony arrived on the farm where more relatives lived. She was black and white – and called Betty! So, again, I was on her back as she was being led down to the stable for the night. My parents must have been thoroughly fed up listening to my demands for a pony of my own! However, at that time – just after the war – the only horses or ponies were for farm and deer-stalking work. Leisure horses were for rich southerners! It took 30 or more years to live the dream and become the owner of the most wonderful, calm Highland pony – found in a field in Essex - Ermine of Dykes – not the most appropriate name for a Highlander – so he became Ghillie, He was with me for 12 years. I kept him at a Livery Yard near Biggin Hill airport in Kent – about 5 miles from my, then, home in S. E London. Several of the owners I met at that time, are friends to this day, even if we are 300 miles apart. I had a lovely gypsy cob - another calm, sensible mare - on loan from one of them after Ghillie died. I retired, moved back North, found myself a home – and as soon as the deal was done, I looked for my next horse. And so I found Ellen of Blair Hussey in Newtonmore- a grey Highland pony mare with attitude! The Gaelic name for Ellen (or Helen) is Eilidh – and so she became. While Ghillie was a gentleman in every way – Eilidh was no lady!! She challenged me as often as she could. She taught me lots – about myself, about management of “stroppy” mares and a lot about horse body language! Out on hacks, she was perfectly behaved! Nothing we met on the lanes and hills above Brora bothered her. Tractors, trailers, dumper trucks, quad bikes, boy racers – we got them all! I'd had 2 hip replacements and a broken kneecap held together with staples and she seemed to understand that she needed to take care of me. She developed a heart condition in her older age, and I decided to retire her and search for a younger horse. Meantime, Eilidh developed a critical stomach problem and was put down in her field one chilly July evening last year. Her replacement turned up a few weeks later – near Loch Ness. A sweet, gentle Highland lady called Melan Froach of Rogie a.k.a. Heather. She is still quite young and inexperienced, and we are getting to know each other. And so another chapter of my life with Highland ponies has begun.

Ghillie (Ermine of Dykes)

Eilidh (Ellen of Blair

Hussey

Heather Melan Froach of Rogie

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Beat the Boredom!!

Free Things You Can Do During Lockdown thanks to

Futurelearn Remember press Ctnl & click to open link

1. Watch a film Netflix and Amazon Prime aren’t your only options, and you don’t necessarily have to pay for a subscription to watch plenty of excellent films. Openculture has a great list of 1150 free films you can watch online right now. http://www.openculture.com/freemoviesonline 2. Watch a documentary If you’re in the mood for something a bit more cerebral, there are a few websites that give you access to free documentaries. Whether you’re into sharks, revolutions, or serial killers, you’ll find something interesting to watch

during lockdown. Some great sites to google include Documentary Tube. Top Documentary

Films, and Documentary Heaven.

3. Write a novel

Is it time for you to create rather than consuming?

If you’ve always wanted to write a novel but never found the time or inspiration, this is your

chance. Apparently Shakespeare wrote King Lear in isolation during the plague, so maybe this

lockdown is when you’ll write your opus.

If you’re not really sure where to start, we have a free course on how to start writing fiction to get

you on the right track.

4. Tour ancient Rome

You may feel cut off from the rest of the world, but you can time travel.

Current technology means that you can explore other cities and even other times online, such as

this virtual tour of ancient Rome which takes you through the forum, capitoline hill, and famous

monuments.

5. Write a play or short film

Perhaps your work is better realised by actors rather than staying on the page? You’ll be pleased

to know that the BBC is on the hunt for original scripts about self-isolation that they can turn into

short films.

If you’re daunted by that task, you could try out our free screenwriting course to learn the ropes

and (hopefully) catapult you into stardom after your first film is made.

6. Paint with Bob Ross

Have any paint and brushes lying around? You’ll be pleased to know that 403 episodes of the

timeless Joy of Painting have been added to YouTube so you can listen to his soothing tones

while you paint happy little trees and enjoy the beauty of imperfections.

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7. Write a song

If you have a musical persuasion, you could channel your current emotions into a song or even an entire

album of them.

If you’re not sure where to start a songwriting course could get you into the right frame of mind, and you can

even start making some Spotify playlists in the meantime to get inspired.

8. Visit the MoMA

A huge number of art galleries and museums around the world have digitized their collections and

are now offering free virtual tours.

New York’s MoMA is just one of the incredible galleries that you can visit from your own sofa, where

you can enjoy Pollock and Monet without the crowds.

9. Explore the Uffizi

If you prefer Botticelli to Pollock, you can tour the Uffizi in Florence, arguably one of the best

collections of Renaissance art in the world.

You can take your time looking at Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Caravaggio’s Medusa, and Titian’s

Venus of Urbino without even getting on a plane.

10. Enjoy the Musée d’Orsay

Experiencing these venues from your home does mean that you can visit multiple galleries from

different countries or even different continents in the same afternoon.

Paris’ Musée d’Orsay is home to an incredible collection of Van Gogh and Cezanne’s artistic

masterpieces. Take a look around online.

11. Pop into the Tate

Perhaps once you’ve enjoyed Florence, New York, and Paris, you can come to London to see

the Tate Britain for free.

Although you’ll miss out on the lovely river walk to the gallery, you can drop in at any time and see

your favourite pieces from the comfort of your own home.

12. Experience the British Museum

The British Museum is home to incredible artefacts from around the world and is still open to virtual

visitors.

Exhibits that are usually packed are free to roam around at any time, so you can brush up on your

Egyptian knowledge, see the controversial Parthenon Marbles, or just wile away a few hours.

13. Go to 500 other museums or galleries

If you’re still looking for more galleries or museums to visit, Google’s arts and culture collection has

virtual tours of 500 top attractions around the world, including national galleries from around the

world, individual artist museums, and even the Eiffel Tower.

Futurelearn have plenty more suggestions so there will more in next

week’s issue

watch this space...............................

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Have you read any good books lately? – or seen

any good films? Please let us know what’s good

to read and watch and perhaps write a review

The Show Must Go On

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals are available on You Tube on Friday evenings for the

next few weeks – for more information go to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmPjhKMaXNNeCr1FjuMvag

How are you ‘Beating the Boredom’?

Please send in your tips to abbott111@talktalk.net

From Jennifer Wilson – leader of the Gaelic Interest Group

Did you know – the Gaelic language does not have these letter – j,k,q,v,w,x,y,z. The sounds these letters make in English are made through combinations of other letters – e.g. t.bh. (t.v.) However words like “pizza” are imports from other languages so don't change.. Gaelic proverbs – familiar in English – Fear gu aois, is bean gu bàs A son is a son until he comes of age, a daughter is a daughter all her life. Cha dèan aon smèorach Samhradh – One mavis (blackbird) doesn't make a summer. And, finally, one of my favourites Fear sam bith a loisgeas a mhàs, 's e fhein a dh'fheamas suidhe air. He who burns his backside, must himself sit on it.

The National Theatre is streaming NT Live shows for free on YouTube each Thursday at 7pm

Treasure Island by Bryony Lavery is available until 23rd April

Thursday 23rd April: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Just google: You Tube National Theatre

The Globe Theatre is screening past productions for details go to:

https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/watch/#free-youtube-premieres

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Community Hub

Munros Butchers are offering a delivery service from their shops.

Please call your local shop for details

Alness – 01349 882788

Tain – 01862 892230

Dingwall – 01349 862159

See their website for further details: www.munrodingwall.co.uk

I am sorry if this doesn’t cover all the areas where you may live but if you

have any information about services in your area and other community

news please let me know: abbott111@talktalk.net

All information is correct at the time of ‘going to press’

Please let me know of any community information for your area

The Balintore Inn has started it’s meal delivery service

covering the Seaboard Villages and Fearn .

Orders by phone between 5pm & 7pm or via Facebook

messenger

Children’s menu available

01862 850328

Useful phone numbers

Citizens Advice Inverness 01463 237664

Highland Council Helpline 0300 303 1362

Seaboard Social Club for over 60’s 07818024200

The Seaboard Centre is delivering Meals on Wheels twice a week for the over 70’s who

are not receiving food packages via the Shielding Scheme. For those on the Shielding

Scheme there will be a small charge.

Call Chris on 01862 832888

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Coming in the Next Edition

Jane Mason’s Desert Island Discs

The final instalment of No Way Out by Linda McLean

More IT Tips

Hector’s next instalment

More of our members poems

As well as lots of interesting news and features I would welcome feedback on your thoughts and ideas about this newsletter and let me know if there are any items you would like

to see in future editions, Please remember when sending in items for inclusion in this newsletter, make sure you let me know if you are happy for your name to be added.

Many thanks The Editor (Karen) abbott111@talktalk.net

Just a thought to end on

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