Another Good Man Gone!

We’ve just lost a good friend to a brain tumour. He was only about 52, and we got to know him when he came to join my choir. He showed an immense talent for music composition, keyboard skills and a wonderful sense of humour through even the dark days. He also came over as very thoughtful, caring and non-complaining.

He had looked forward to going to Ballachulish, Argyll in March to join in Evensong. His health had badly deteriorated, and we were very unsure about whether it was wise for him to go. If anything had happened while up there, the distance to a suitable hospital would have proved catastrophic, and we might have carried this in our mind for many a long year.

My final opinion was sought, and I had to say YES, as I could never have forgiven myself if I has said NO. In the event, two members very kindly looked after him over the weekend and he thoroughly enjoyed it. It was his last major event outside his hospital and hospice.

So, ‘CARPE DIEM’…..never let an opportunity of any kind go by….you may never get the chance again!

Singing in Argyll….NOW WITH PHOTO

 On Sunday our Choir ‘Angelus Singers’  went to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ballachulish, at Argyll near famous Glencoe, for the service of Sung Evensong. You can’t miss the Church, in its glorious setting halfway between Glencoe and the Ballachulish Bridge. It has an ancient history with the graveyard of especial historical interest, and they have the Communion Cup and Plate reputedly used by the Jacobites just before Culloden. The building is in some need of restoration, but the beauty is still evident. 

The fact that we were asked made us feel very proud, as the area of course is full of musical choirs, who participate in the Mod Festival, and Gaelic is still extensively spoken.We were supplemented by some local choir members, and a total of  18 singers filled the choir stalls. This allowed us to have a rousing service of well-known hymns, traditional sung responses, collects, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, and Psalm 119 (only a small part!). In addition we had an Introit and Anthem. The performance of the latter, ‘I saw a new heaven’…. was a first performance. Words of the Revelation of St John were the inspiration of this piece, and it is dedicated to the present congregation, and those who have gone before.

The weather was foul, during the two hour  journey both ways, but we all arrived safely. We couldn’t  process from the ‘old church’ (really an old storehouse), to the ‘new church’  (1830’s)  because of the rain and snow.  The  organ then threw a tantrum by ‘ciphering’, when certain stops and notes got stuck and kept on playing! The organist kept her cool and and played well under the circumstances!

An excellent congregation had braved the weather, many from a long distance, and obviously enjoyed the old well-kent words, spoken and sung.
So it was a great event, and shows that many people working together, despite the many problems can produce something bigger than any of us.

How fortunate can anyone get to be in the midst of some of the most wonderful countryside in the world, and sing our hearts out!

 

A grey Scotland

I drove some 250 miles yesterday, with a friend, to visit a few chuches in Argyll, one of the loveliest areas of Scotland.

It would have been, but when we started at 8.30, it was dull with lowering clouds. Even when crossing the Erskine Bridge about 9, we could just see the Clyde Estuary below (usually a wonderful, long-distant vista). Loch Lomond was wind-swept with few boats venturing out. Much of this road is new and wide, but when approaching Arrochar, we are suddenly into a tree-lined narrow twisting road which requires a lot of concentration in the driving. Puddles and fallen leaves were predominant here.

Tyndrum, with the famous ‘Green Welly’ shop, led us north to mysterious Rannoch Moor, which would be a perfect setting for a prehistoric film with dinosaurs etc, rising from deep brackish water. Eventually, as the rain and wind worsened, we descended through the very narrow gorge to the infamous Glen of Weeping, Glencoe . To Scots (and in fact, the whole civilised world), it remains as a reminder of what one person, or government, can do to others….formally-accepted murder.

The village of Glencoe sits in a marvellous setting, but seems uncomfortably close to the water level. Global warming and the rise in sea levels that it poses must be an obvious long term consideration for the inhabitants.

But we were here to see two buildings in the neighbouring village of Ballachulish (famous for its slate quarry). A store house which was used as a very early Episcopal church, and the magnificent, (and very proud) St John’s Church which was built in 1842, and extended in 1888.

It holds the Communion vessels which were reputedly used by the Jacobite troops, on the night before the fateful Battle of Culloden. The building is badly in need of repair and has a Restoration Fund.

Our Choir, Angelus Singers http://angelussingers.wordpress.com (click the link) are helping to raise their profile by singing Choral Evensong there in March, so this visit was essential. It was of course freezing in the church as the rain continued to hammer down , but Highland hospitality in the local Tourist Information Office helped to warm us up.

We then headed through Rob Roy country via Appin, to the Church of Scotland building dedicated to St Oran at Connell. It was a subject of a previous posting ‘A little Gem’, and was no-less-lovely this time (The Header picture is of the sanctuary). Although it is Church of Scotland, we have been tentatively asked to consider coming as a choir to sing  the Anglican Service of Evensong for them!

The day’s work complete, we headed back through wonderful countryside, just visible in the gathering gloom. Maybe it had been a grey day, weatherwise, but none-the-less I wouldn’t have swopped it (except, maybe for a sun-drenched beach and a glass of beer!!).

Look for the hidden gem

One of the downsides about living in beautiful countryside, with beautiful places to which we can travel is that we very often miss places we drive through or pass many times, without visiting.

One of our lovely runs is to Oban or over the Connel Bridge. This first area is well-visited by the coach tours and in itself is quite an attractive town and also can lead you on to Mull and Iona. The Connel Bridge takes you to Rob Roy country and on to Glencoe.

Connel itself is a pretty village with lovely views across water, and a gorgeous church dedicated to St Oran. (the header is an interior view) We were priveledged to visit there recently and look inside a building I had passed many times. It is of cool grey stone  with flecks which sparkle in the sunlight, giving it an almost-translucent air, and is based on the shape of Iona Abbey, with a square tower. The Minister is a very competent organist and the Church is well known locally for its music.

So, sometimes, it is worth stopping in life to admire what we are passing, and not just seek some ultimate goal. Maybe it is ‘better to travel than to arrive’.

Getting back to normal?

I’m looking forward to tomorrw night when Young Lady of the House, and Daughter, return from their sojourn on the sun-kissed beaches of Cala San Vicente, no doubt tanned and relaxed.

I managed to get a lot of work done in the garden when the weather was hot, and the normal cleaning and hygiene necessary in any household was carried-out to normal male-standards…but I have a feeling that they may be subject to some criticism. I never really came to terms with the vast amount of thinking and physical work which the household requires.

I ate on three nights with Son, and two kind families offered hospitality so I did not require any great cuisine to keep body and soul together……thanks are due to them!

So it will be with joy in my heart that I welcome the ladies of my life back to the fold. Not just because I love them both to bits, but I am happy to hand over the reins of the household again, and Daughter can take away Benji the hamster to his own home

My last day of freedom (or solitude if you wish) will be a trip to the beautiful area of Tighnabruaich in Argyll, and then last minute shopping and tidying before heading to the Airport.

BUT WATCH HERE FOR WHAT HAPPENS ON SUNDAY!

A Little Gem!

No it’s not a type of lettuce, but a small island called Lismore, north-west of the town of Oban, in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. It can be approached by the large CalMac car-carrying boat from Oban.

But if you do not want to be part of the herd, and can do without your car for a short time, then drive up over the Connel Bridge and head for the lovely little area called Port Appin. It is a famous bit of country-side, and may even be known to many who have read Kidnapped, or know of Rob Roy McGregor in Scottish History.

You then take the 10 minute journey on a tiny boat (which only seats about 12 people and numerous bikes) across to the north end of Lismore. One great thing is that you get to hear all the local gossip in that short time, from the locals….and you may have to reciprocate by letting folk know why you are going over!

Because of the narrow single-track roads, cars can only go along at a leisurely pace, and this has the advantage of being relatively-safe for walkers or cyclists…if everyone takes care!

Our reason for going over again was the ancient Church of Scotland building (which at various times has been Catholic and Episcopal). St Moluag had come from Ireland (you see a lot of good people come from that country!) in about 561 and set-up his own monastic centre. He also travelled widely over Scotland, the Isle of Man, and even Iceland, rivalling St Columba, who set-up the more-famous Iona Abbey.

The building you see in the photo is only the Choir area of what at one time had been a Cathedral, built in about 1300 (+- 50 years). There is evidence of the original Chancel, but inside the church looks happily self-contained. It is maintained with pride by the present members, and is always clean and fresh.

A relatively modern innovation on the island is the Heritage Centre, which was opened just over a year ago, to preserve and display the island, is what can only be described as an eco-friendly building, which does not intrude on the landscape but looks as if it has just risen from the ground……and the coffee is good!Well-worth a visit….ask for the key to go into the re-constructed old farmhouse, alongside, with many artifacts from a past era.

Unfortunately we had to return to the other world of rush and noise, refreshed by our little trip to a relatively-unknown bit of Argyll.

As they say in the holiday ads for Montenegro…..get there before the crowds find it!

Scotland the Beautiful (again) !

I had to head north on Wednesday to the Highlands of Argyll, to the town of Lochgilphead (at the head of Loch Gilp, believe it or not!) and then the interesting little sheltered yacht haven of Ardfern. Local residents had advised that the wind and rain they had recently might prove a hazard on the route, but I felt my journey was necessary, so set off in the drizzle, but the weather improved as did the scenery.

Much of this area had been used for commercial foresting and great swathes of the countryside had been covered with towering firs. As I have been travelling up here for decades, I have seen them growing from young saplings to the majesty which they eventually achieve. As a by-product of this, however, the trees themselves can sometimes become the scenery, as vistas are precluded by the darkness of the forest near the road. What a wonderful surprise it is then, when coming round a corner, to see that an area has been cleared giving a clear view of the lakes and hills beyond.

Whilst the cleared area may sometimes be unsightly for a couple of years, Mother Nature takes over and the natural flora can return.

Might this be a good theme for thinking about life….or is that too philosophical for this time of the day?