Berend Seinen 1947 - 2012

As if saying goodbye to our good friend yesterday wasn't bad enough, we also got the sad news of the death of another good friend Berend or as we always called him Beren. He was Dutch and he and his wife Thea had been coming to the island of South Uist in their wee VW campervan for nigh on twenty years. They came for a few weeks each summer and parked on Stonyebridge machair and were as much part of the community as those who stayed on the island. BEren was diagnosed with cancer just a few months back and despite our prayers, he passes away peacefully and not in pain on Monday morning.

They both loved the Hebrides and came to our ceilidhs, christenings and anything else that was going when they were up. We liked to go and sit with them in their wee campervan overlooking the Atlantic and have a dram or three. Although they had no family of their own, Beren was great with the kids and he and our son especially enjoyed larking about. One of the last pictures I took of him was playing with Sam our wee dog . Thea asked if I would send her the song my daughter sings about Uist. It was written by a Bard and friend of ours and as I was listening to the song and then when I began to translate it from Gaelic into english it made me cry as both the words and the tune were so beautiful. I have emailed the song to Thea as she would like to have it played at his funeral. In the meantime here is the translation and though Beren never understood the words in Gaelic, its amazing how the song sums up his own ove for our wee island. Here too is a picture of the view from their wee campervan.

Chorus roughly translted My wish to return over the sea to Uist of the high bens that little green island surrounded by sea

V1
That beautiful island
Where I longed to spend my time
Where you heard the chorus of nature
The beautiful song of the birds
Keeping all sadness away
And putting peace your way

V2
WE always miss you
Since we sailed from your shore
over the sea
Best wishies go to you
That we return God willing
To Uist of the high bens
Land of my youth

Since I got to know you
OH sweet little place
Peace and contentment
Will be in my eyes
Its the rising of the sun
In the beautifu morning
The picture I have of you
ARe like gems in my palm

Anyone wishing to hear the actual song go to YouTube and write in Trailer for Columba by howbeg and you will hear it there as sung by my eldest daughter. Words by Donald MacDonald South Lochboisdale South Uist and music by Fiona MacKenzie Dingwall and this is the only version you will ever hear as no one sings it as we chose it especially as one of Donald's nicest words.

Beren we will miss you lots and this has been one of the hardest two days this year for us as a family