Scotland Blog

Who Do You Know?

The phrase living in community has become popular in recent years. I’ve heard it defined as “becoming family with the people around you.” Here in Scotland, we’ve decided to not just move into a cottage, but into a community. In the short time we’ve been here, we’ve gotten acquainted with probably 15 of the locals — which I think is about three percent of the population.
 
But word is circulating that outlanders from Colorado are holed up in Tigh-na-Dalach, down on Bank Street, and they plan to stay for a while. Who would be doo-lally enough to do that in January, the abyss of low season? Such notoriety will likely lead us to meet quite a few more folks.
 
The residents we’ve gotten to know so far are ordinary Scots…at first blush. But beneath those Rab jackets and plaid scarfs are friendly, hearty people with interesting tales to tell. Take Annag. She runs a croft at the top of the hill and raises Highland cattle, pigs, sheep, and chickens. She supplies the locals with eggs and chutney and serves takeaway farm meals to summer tourists. When she stopped by to check on us the other day, she said she had just been swimming. Judi wondered aloud where the indoor pool was. “In the sea, Dearie,” she proclaimed to our amazement. “I swim at Coral Beach all year long. I swam on Christmas and Boxing Day,” she continued. She usually stays in the ocean for 20 minutes, then gets out and walks home! We’ve been invited to go swimming.
 
Then there’s elderly Callum. We met him while trying to find the trail to Duncraig Castle. He was on his daily walk from his house, through town, and up the hill to the railroad station. He told us to go park our car and he would meet us on the road opposite the trailhead. We got back and there he was on the frosty sidewalk, pointing to the path with his white cane. Callum is blind. For years he ran the broadsheet (newspaper) shop in town. He greeted everyone who came through the door by name when they said hello because he knew all their voices.


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Rhona and her husband live three doors down. They run the local brewery, which is in their backyard. He was a naval captain. When he retired, because there were no jobs to fit his needs or fulfill his desires, he found a new niche: supplying the area pubs with a local favorite.  Rhona is showing us the best places to trek.
 
We’ve also met Angus, the butcher who taught us how to cook haggis; and Kirstine, who just moved to town to join the teaching staff at the primary school; and Rory, who instructed me as to which brand of coal burns hotter and cleaner. We’re getting to know them one by one. Maybe in church tomorrow we’ll get to know a few more. Who will you meet tomorrow that will join your community?

All names changed for privacy reasons.