"Herring Tales"

Three or four of my mother's sisters were herring girls who worked in various fishing ports down the east coast in the early part of last century. If you don't know who the herring girls were or what they did then you will have to read this book which will tell you all you need to know about them as well as lots of historical, cultural and social history of the herring.

When we were boys herring was often served by my mother. There are many ways to cook it but we mostly had it fried in breadcrumbs, or boiled or salted herring. I remember helping her salt a basin full of herring but never allowed to gut them, in case I chopped a finger off I suppose. The basin was kept in the porch, the coldest room in the house I guess, as no fridges in those far off days. At least not yet in our house, or in our neighbours houses for that matter. Buntàta 's sgadan, (potato and herring). Lovely. My taste buds are awakened by the thought.

Anyway to get back to Herring Tales. I went to the launch of the book when I was up in Stornoway recently. It was written by Donald S Murray who also wrote the play Sequamur which I wrote about in March this year. Donald comes from Ness in Lewis which is why he had a launch in Stornoway Library. I have to say that I would not have expected to be reading a book about herring at this stage of my reading life, given the fact that it's is probably going to be curtailed somewhat. Having said that I'm very glad that I went to his launch that evening in Stornoway and bought his book.

It is very well written, extremely informative and full of interesting stories and history. I have learnt much about herring fishing but especially about the herring girls as I feel an affinity to them and their lives due to the family connection.

I could never understand why the Lewis girls, or so many of them, went to work in the East Coast ports, but now know it was for economic reasons, as pay was higher away from Stornoway. His descriptions of conditions the girls lived in are grim beyond belief and also very sad. They were badly treated and neglected.

You will all be pleased to hear that the girls didn't take it sitting down. Donald describes a number of strikes, including one in Stornoway which the local newspaper described in the following terms "a number of women failed to turnout to their work and the malcontents proceeded to other places and induced - in some cases intimidated - the girls to knock off work" so secondary picketing in Stornoway back then. And the press haven't changed much.  Excellent stuff. And I never knew about it till reading Donald's excellent book.

He describes a number of other strikes improvements in their lives, though never enough. There is a great description of a fight between some island fisher boys and locals in Wick. The fight becomes a bit of a riot and sounds like good fun. It started over an orange as these things often do. The island boys seem to have won, which is only as it should be. The fight seems to have been resumed a week later when the army arrived to restore order.

Donald talks about how the girls used to bring back little (or big) luxury items from their trips away which went some way to improve home life in Lewis. My aunty Ina brought back a clock which sat in our living room at home for 100 years and is now in my brother's house in Cupar. A treasured family possession.

Bob Dylan and Bob Marley also get a mention but you will have to read the book to find out why. But his mention if Marley reminded me of the taxi drivers in  Cusco, forever playing Buffalo Soldier for me. Well at least seems to me they were playing for me.

So thank you Donald for an excellent book, which I can highly recommend if you're looking for a Xmas present for a loved one this year or even if you're not.

I'm off out to see Brooklyn now so very excited. More later.

Kieran and Kerry's Wedding

I will be a winkle gatherer

I saw Dr McLean today. My scan results show that my tumours continue to grow. The biggest is now 17mm diameter, (three quarter inches?) and the rest of them are showing similar growth rates. They have doubled more or less in the past year. The only good news is that there are no new locations and my bowel is cancer free, which just goes to show what a good job Mr Speake did in removing it, given it's size and difficult location. I try not to think how depressing it is that the cancer decided to take a trip up to my lungs instead. That way madness lies, or something. But what a bastard.

Now I have to look to the next stage of my treatment and we've decided to start chemotherapy again, probably in early December. I decided not to delay treatment as she wants to give me six cycles over eighteen weeks, which takes me into spring and I feel it would be best for me to look forward to a treatment free spring and summer rather than worry about Xmas and New Year celebrations and such like nonsense. I will cope with the chemo over the festive period and can then look forward to springtime in Paris or Peru.

Dr McLean asked me about my travels. I thought I saw her raise an eyebrow when I told her Peru was still in my sights but she did not say it was not possible. Just a bit more difficult than before is what I took from her non committalness. Can one say that? Probably not, maybe it's noncommittally.

That's where we're at now so onwards and upwards to a new dawn. Here is my little poem, inspired by my visit home recently.

I will be a winkle gatherer

The river flows still

singing through the valley

from the dark moor and the hills

coursing gently to the sea.

Fountains of clear bright water

all along its steep banks

where we played and fought

and quenched our mighty thirsts.

I will be a winkle gatherer 

and fill the big sacks with him.

I will gather grit from the shore

for mother’s hens to feed on.

And the rain mizzles down

as I wander home now, happy

to see my river

glistening in the setting sun.

By Donald Maciver 

25/09/2015

Slad, Brooklyn and Stoke

Tomorrow is another big day in my cancer life.  I see Dr McLean, my oncologist, to hear her views on my latest scan and I am not looking forward to it one little bit. I doubt I can keep putting off chemo treatment much longer as I'm slowly getting  more breathless, which would seem to suggest my tumours are increasing, though I have had a cold, if not slight flu, so maybe that accounts for some of my breathlessness. I will know in a few hours.

The best I could hope for would be that my tumours have stopped growing altogether, but seems unlikely, so next best would be that growth has slowed down and no chemo necessary until next year. My palliative care doctor suggested I should ask for that delay anyway, but I think I will leave decision on timings to Dr McLean. I remain quietly confident but prepared for the worst. I know its going to catch up with me sooner or later. Later and still later would be best. Obviously.

Some people say the most stupid, silly things to me. I'm not going to list some of the things I don't like and that distress me, just in case some one reading this has said something daft to me or anyone else with cancer. But I have to mention one thing, mainly because I found it so ridiculously awful. I told a woman of my acquaintance that the cancer had spread to my lungs and was no longer curable. To which her response was "how awful, that must be so depressing for you" and she walked away. She has a talent for understatement. There must be a word for it but it escapes me right now.

I've not made it to the cinema much recently. I'm planning to see Brooklyn in next week or so. Based on the book by Colm Tóibín, which I can highly recommend and have probably mentioned in his blog before. I'm looking forward to seeing the movie and if anyone wants to join me you know where to find me. The Good Doctor praises it highly so that's good enough for me.

There was a magnificent film version of Cider with Rosie on the BBC recently, well maybe a month ago. There have been one or two versions of the book that I've seen over the years, but this was by far the best. It's always been one of my favourite books, as I've maybe mentioned before, and to see it brought to life so beautifully was an absolute joy. The young actors playing him as a boy and as a teenager were superb and I'm sure they have a brilliant future ahead of them, and wish I could be around to witness it.

At least I've seen the start of their careers. The kissing scene was a joy to behold. Very well done and very sexy  The mother was terrific as was their teacher who gave a hilarious performance. The whole thing reduced me to tears of joy and happiness/sadness. To cap it all it was filmed in Slad, where Lee was born and it all happened and where I visited in 1974 or '75 when I was living in Cheltenham. Lovely memories of that day and the person I was with. It may still be available on iPlayer but if not I'm sure the beeb will show it again sometime soon, so look out for it. I don't mean that my visit to Slad will be available on iPlayer, at least not yet.

I bought the latest in Dylan's Bootleg Series, vol 12, The Cutting Edge 1965 to 1966. Which is what I've mostly been listening to last night and today and needless to say it's another gem from the genius that is Bob Dylan. I can't thank the man enough for the pleasures of the past fifty or more years. If you're a Dylan fan this is a must buy or steal or whatever folk do nowadays to get their music. There are many rocking, rollicking versions of some of his best songs, it will amaze and pleasure you. I could list them but best if you go listen.

It brought back many memories of my brothers, my parents and life at home and then in Stoke where I was living by the end of 1966. I had no record player there, mind you we didn't at home either, but I had a friend who was a bit of a hell's angel and Dylan lover, and my first hearing of Blonde on Blonde was on his record player. I refused to go on his bike but he didn't seem to mind my lack of faith in his riding abilities and was happy to play Dylan for me. And tape him.

My next post will be a poem. Maybe later tonight as don't wish to overload the www. I continue to read and more about that soon.