The latest from Ena
On 30th October, Sunday, the ‘old time’ comes back to give us an extra hour in bed. This is the natural time and I wish they would leave it once it arrives. I fail to see what good this present one gives us. When it comes in March, I think it takes a fortnight to get used to. We depend on the tide a lot. As some of you will know, the tide is governed by the moon; so when the moon is full it is called Spring tide and when it’s new it’s called the neap tide. On both these days the tide is fully out at 12 noon and 12 midnight during the ‘old time’. It is then fully in or high tide at 6am and 6pm. I mark my calendar so when people phone me to ask the tide times I have it immediately. Of course when the clock is changed I have to make it 1am/1 pm and 7am/7pm. The tide time also moves forward three quarters of an hour everyday.
Some of you will remember me writing in April 2020 about Lexie Blair (nee Sinclair). She was then 100 years and got a card from our late Queen. Sadly she died on the 18th October 2022 at 102 years. Lexie was the daughter of Ceit Dhotaidh, born in Kyles. So Lexie was a niece of John Dhotaidh, very well known, who lived in Kyles. I was very sorry to hear the sad news from Donnie Blair. She came to Uist most years and it was good how she could remember old times in Kyles.
The war in Ukraine is still raging and there is nothing we can do to help them. We have given them financial help and weapons, which were appreciated. Estonia borders Russia and I heard on the radio that they are advising Britain to increase their defence spending in case Putin extends his evil advances. Farmers from Estonia were over here 11 years ago and within three years they bought a large number of Highland hiefers and some bulls. There was no word of war then.
On the 1st October, 18 young women and 17 tractors set off on a long journey to raise money for cancer relief in the Uists. It started in Eriskay and finished in Berneray. They got a breakfast in Eriskay, lunch in the Dark Island and tea with home baking in Carinish Church Hall and dinner in Berneray so I think they were well fed by the local community. A couple of lorries took all the tractors down to Eriskay as they were just driving one way. They collected £18,800 – that was some achievement. Angus had four tractors there and the week before the Rally he had to give those going to drive some training. They were all good car drivers, but those new tractors are very different. He was getting teased as some locals were seeing him every evening after 5pm with different young ladies in his tractors!!! Seemingly the ladies drove together in a convoy at the same speed. I went with my cousin Euna to Bayhead Shop to see them all and give them a wave. I thought they would appreciate a crofting granny wishing them good fortune. I really must mention the strength and determination of one special driver. This was Chrissie Laing (nee MacAskill), Dreumasdal who has M.N.D – motor neurone disease. There she was, smiling like the rest of the team and doing her utmost to raise money for cancer. I think she’s wonderful. As they drove past up the hill I felt the tears in my eyes, I was nostalgic but also I was so proud of each one of those girls.
Calum Iain Mhor, Calum MacRury, lived in Balemore, North Uist. He was an uncle of Angus John MacPherson’s wife Maggie, also an uncle of Rachel, Angus Shepherd’s (Sollas) mother. Many people in their 70’s will remember him and a number of younger people will have heard of him from their parents. Calum was a crofter and a dedicated Christian. He had a powerful singing voice and seemingly adored children and they used to visit him and walk beside him when he was ploughing with the horses. I’ve been told that when the children played near his house he would be on his own singing hymns and Psalms and praying to God. He had a book of hymns by Peter Grant which he had a habit of carrying around in his pocket. He was a bachelor and lived alone. He visited an old lady quite regularly and he told her about the experience he had encountered one day. It was harvest time and he was working at the corn on the machair when suddenly he heard a deep voice. There was no one near him but he just knew that it was the voice of God. What the voice said was Psalm 121 verse 4. He also said that he saw a sign in the sky, but no one alive seem to know what it was. We read about stories like this in the Bible, but he was the only man here that we know of, that had this experience. He was very close to his Creator.
The Psalm for this month has got to be 121, “I to the hills …. and Isaiah 53.
