Tag Archives: memoirs

The White Witch

Summer 1979 WITH sunshine levels at least theoretically on the up, visiting season was once again upon us. What little joint social life my parents still had continued to revolve around dragging my brother and I to relatives, what few married friends they had, or to pubs. If they could visit friends and drink, thenContinue reading “The White Witch”

Deep Impact

Broadford, Spring 1979 MRS BAILEY was a saviour of sorts, though on first sight she hardly looked the part. Clearly retired, her tendency to overblink created an illusion of timorousness. Her enthusiasm as church organist was infectious, even if I found myself stiffening with every bum note. She must have been in Broadford months toContinue reading “Deep Impact”

Mercy

1978 IT came as quite the shock when Sheila traipsed through the front door with a succession of kittens in her mouth. Her fourth brood no less and such a mixed bag, all short-haired except the grey one that looked like a proper little Persian. My favourite, he was the plucky one that rummaged intoContinue reading “Mercy”

Daddy’s Girl

1978 I BECAME more forthright in my opinions of my father’s behaviour. As far as I was concerned, he had lost any moral authority over me. Besides, it was a good way of overcoming my discomfort at sitting on his lap and keeping him on the back foot. If I was really lucky, he mightContinue reading “Daddy’s Girl”

Splash!

1973 AS A family, in those days we sometimes did fun stuff. Occasionally, we went on day trips to places like Dunvegan Castle or Armadale Castle. School summer holidays usually meant going further afield to Glasgow and Inverness, the former to see relatives, the latter to engage in a grand shopping spree for clothes. ThisContinue reading “Splash!”

A Toddler’s Tale

1968-1972 MY EARLIEST memory is of crying for my mother from a cot in a dark room. She never came. My second is of having crawled under my parents’ bedclothes and becoming trapped. Only this time my cries were heard. The third is of batting a faded green plastic telephone off the side of myContinue reading “A Toddler’s Tale”

As The Crow Flies

MIDNIGHT had long passed and it was raining hard. Visibility was limited to that which was illuminated by the bright flecks of driving rain caught in the beam of the headlights. All else was black. The dance was now a distant memory. Despite the conditions and a bloodstream full of whisky, the man in theContinue reading “As The Crow Flies”

Writing a memoir

WITH a pandemic in full swing and many of us having more time on our hands than we might like, there has never been a better time to write one’s memoir. And you don’t have to be famous to have a tale worth telling. They say that everybody has a story in them – ifContinue reading “Writing a memoir”