Farewell

Another sad goodbye. Our friend had only recently taken early retirement, and has now "gone home". I have chosen a detail of one of the floral tributes. There were several, displayed down the steps at the front of the church in the shape of a heart. Low lighting, so not easy to take photographs.

She was a member of the Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir. They sang Cearcall A'Chuain "Circle of the Ocean" at her Thanksgiving Service this morning. The sound of unaccompanied Gaelic singing was very moving.

I found this translation of the words :-

1] We try to find a course
On the broad and open sea
Sailing a dark ship
Lost in the grip of the sea.
The winds push from behind,
Driving us on and on;
Neither time passing nor the ocean
Brings wisdom or order.

2] The sea may be calm,
May be wild, may be wide;
The sea may be beautiful, may be secret,
May be tumultuous, deep,
We see so little,
But have only one life.
Raise up the sail, pull on the oar,
Let's be moving onwards.

3] I can see the time coming
When the sun is going down
When I'll be steering westwards,
With Uist on the horizon
May the circle of the horizon
Keep turning for me
Until I reach the white sands of the West
Where day first began.

The Gaelic words were written by Calum Mac Dhòmhnaill/Ruaiaridh Mac Dhòmhnaill (Run Rig).

S