Autumn in Hamnavoe

When an early autumn walks the land and chills the breeze
And touches with her hand the summer trees,
Perhaps you'll understand what memories I own.
There's a dance pavilion in the rain all shuttered down,
A winding country lane all russet brown,
A frosty window pane shows me a town grown lonely.


From Early Autumn, composed by Johnny Mercy – definitive cover by Ella Fitzgerald.


I said I could describe the leaves for Samuel and Felicity, rich, red browny, half burnt orange and green.  It’s easy to describe the leaves in autumn and it’s oh so easy in the spring but down through January and February it’s a very different thing.
From ‘Sense of Wonder’ by Ivan George Morrison ,from album of same name.


Delivered the Current Mrs Creel to the Hoy boat, went to Argos’ for milk, met Crispin going for his messages, measured the entrance to the bothy for new lino, eased the bothy door, emptied the stove, fixed the toilet seat (!), made a time to go and see my mother in the care home, searched for online funding sources for the Hoy Kirk, Candida’s phone rang out, listened to Fletcher Moss Park.  Elsie Groundwater had heard word of the new, young, dashing and handsome GP.  In a fluster she made an appointment for an all over medical.  Her man took her there in the car; she was so excited she started undressing on her way to the appointment.  Her man, Jimmy, hadn’t seen a woman undress in a car for many a long year.  However, Elsie was affronted, and confused, when her man dropped her off at the dentist for her prior appointment.


From ‘Iain@Creel’ Volume xxxiv, page 325.  Luckily unavailable in any other format.