Sunshine and slavery

A lovely sunny day today, with lots going on. This morning the local u3a held its monthly morning meeting in the Corran Halls. I was a bit early, so had a wander along the Esplanade in the sunshine - my Blip today is of the former Church of Scotland, next to the Corran Halls. Quite a number of members met for coffee and a chat, followed by an illustrated talk by Kate Phillips, a u3a member from Glasgow. She spoke about her recent book, ‘Bought and Sold: Slavery, Scotland and Jamaica.’
 
The book’s description states ‘This book traces the story of how and why thousands of Scots made money from buying and selling humans… a story we need to own. We need to admit that many Scots were enthusiastic participants in slavery.’ A very interesting talk about a very sensitive subject, with several connections with Argyll. Must read it!
 
After lunch u3a continued with our monthly Poetry Reading Group, which is held in the house of the organiser. Only six members attended this time, with several poems read on the chosen subject of memoirs or memories, but the highlight of the afternoon was a reading - OK, not poetry - of several sections of her new book by local lady Mary Sandilands. The books is an account of her life as a nurse and a very unexpected life it’s been! The book comes out in November and is titled ‘Never Argue with a Matron’ - see https://www.amazon.co.uk/Never-Argue-Matron-Adventures-Twentieth-Century/dp/1036114635. Mary’s been a friend for a long time, but never once did I suspect that she had written a book, and a very good book too! She’s very modest about it.
 
Quote of the Day: ‘Nursing is one of the fine arts: I had almost said ‘the finest of fine arts.’ - Florence Nightingale.