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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Banffshire => Topic started by: Darwin on Monday 23 August 10 21:50 BST (UK)
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As it's so much a part of family history, I just thought I'd let the Banffshire crew know that I'm taking my Dad home, which was his last wish. He lived most of his adult life in Devon as he married a Devonshire Maid but he was always a "highland laddie" and he wanted to have his ashes scattered on the Balloch - a hill near Keith. He used to run there as a boy catching rabbits (when he should have been at Mass) and collecting seagull's eggs to take home and cook (no idea how they must taste!). His grandparents had a little farm at Herrockside at the foot of the Balloch.
We have the Scots family coming to join us and afterwards we're sharing memories, photos and family history.
Here's to you "Tam".
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Here he is again:
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Darwin, I hope all goes well. Tam is going home to a place full of happy memories for him from what you have said :)
Seagull eggs must be a delicacy that has passed me by!
Monica
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Hope all goes well also and you meet up with family to celebrate his life. Not sure what seagulls eggs wld taste either..maybe you can ask the family if they knew ???
Bittersweet to have lost a very dear loved one but happy in that he is placed home..where his heart lay.
Very best wishes for a memorable last day with your da :)
Cas
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Thanks folks!
I'm flying up to Aberdeen tomorrow and then hiring a car for 6 days. We're scattering his ashes on Wednesday.
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Just to let everyone see where Darwin53 is heading for
http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ4649
http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ4549
http://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ4548
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Hope all goes well and what a wonderful thing to do for him.
PS seagulls egg taste very fishy I have eaten them as a small child in Peterhead. But it was not an easy task collecting them. Men and boys used to slide down ropes from the cliff above the nests and collect the eggs and climb back up . While being attack by the seagulls.
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PS seagulls egg taste very fishy I have eaten them as a small child in Peterhead. But it was not an easy task collecting them. Men and boys used to slide down ropes from the cliff above the nests and collect the eggs and climb back up . While being attack by the seagulls.
The gulls nesting on the Balloch are more likely to be Common Gull, which often nest well inland, rather than the species, like Herring Gull, which commonly nest around the coast. I've encountered several colonies on hills in the area around Keith, though not on the now forested parts of the Balloch - they prefer open ground. It can be quite alarming walking through a colony in the nesting season because they will and do attack, and they have sharp beaks! They may go as far as the coast to feed, but they also eat worms, insects etc so their eggs might not taste quite as fishy as those of coast-nesting birds. They are also becoming a nuisance because they have moved into towns and villages to nest on hedges and flat roofs, causing a lot of noise and mess. In some seaside towns gulls of both species terrorise people, especially children, by swooping down and stealing sandwiches and chips (that's French fries to the overseas readers!) from their hands.
Sorry, this is a bit off-topic, except that it is a little bit of social history relating to what our forebears ate. I don't think people routinely eat gulls' eggs these days, though there are still iron spikes on many cliff tops where the ropes used to be attached.
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The wife's Uncle lives in Keith and not only did he used to eat gulls eggs, he still does. Says he loves them. I notice some Ogg's and Cruickshank's in your list Darwin53, Keith connections?
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We're back now and that's another piece of family history completed. It was lovely weather and we had a group of relatives and friends with us. His boyhood pal chose the exact spot, which was perfect.
Yes, there are lots of Keith links in my family and that's where I've spent the last 6 days, catching up with people, hearing old family tales and seeing the "wee hoosies" in which they raised their enormous broods!
I also went to the farm and the elderly lady still living in it is the widow of the man whose parents took it over from my GGrandfather in 1925.
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Darwin, I am so pleased for you that everything went more that well and the weather was kind :) We digressed a bit discussing seagull eggs ::), to keep the mood light but our thoughts were with you and your family. Was this a first visit for you to those parts of your father's early life?
Monica
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I loved the discussion about seagulls' eggs - it adds a bit to what Dad told me about them. I know he used to take them home and cook them (or give them to his mother to cook).
The last time I was that far north in Scotland was 35 years ago so it was wonderful for me. I have family up there but my parents always did the visits while I was raising my own brood! They've grown up now so I'm keen to visit the Scots family regularly, especially as they are so warm, hospitable and hilariously funny! My sides hurt from laughing! My Dad was very witty too and my Mum misses that - she had a "muckle" dose of it this last week, which was a tonic. :)
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Yes its me :D
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Yes its me :D
Yes it's her - she's the one who made me laugh so much, just when I needed it. Hi there cousin. ;)
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Hi Roxi62 - Welcome to RootsChat :)
Monica
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::) hello cous, miss u xx
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Hi,
I have just come across this thread. What a wonderful thing to do.
I guess if my mother hadn't purchased her plot with dad years ago, she probably would have gone home to be buried with her parents and brother in Banff. There is still one gap on the headstone for a name to be added. Even though she had lived here in NZ for years, Banff was still her home and always went back every 2nd year.
Cheers
KHP :)
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:-\ Hi xxx
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:D Hi Monica, thank u for the welcome x