Plastic? Oh No...Banned!
New BBC rules on chronology mean I have to begin this particular blog entry with the most boring incident from my day. It involves a trip to the Black Isle and a stop-off at a late-night grocery store in Avoch. You see, I've been making the most of these lovely summer evenings by taking the Zedettes on post-homework drives to places of historic interest. They'll thank me for it when they're older. Well, once they're through therapy they will.
As you might imagine, these vaguely educational trips come with the added incentive of in-car snacking. That's why we called in at a shop in Avoch. We had to replenish our stock of crisps, milk-shakes and extra strong mints. Necessities, we call them. We stripped the shelves and bundled our booty on the counter. I handed over the cash, collected my change and then stared at the man on the till. He blinked first.
"Do you want a carrier bag?"
"Yes please."
"Hmmm...they're phasing these out, you know."
"Really? Well then I'll just have to give up shopping."
"Hmmm. No, we'll just have to go back to the old ways."
The old ways? What can he be talking about? The old ways before plastic carrier bags or the old ways before late night mini-supermarkets? Are we going to bring back bartering? I mean, for goodness sake, why do I have to put up with these episodes of self-righteousness every time I pop out to the shops without a wicker basket strung on my back? I mean, they lecture you about plastic bags but they still sell shrink-wrapped apples!
Sorry, got carried away there. Let me get back on track and tell you that tonight's destination was actually the Clootie Well just outside Munlochy. It really is one of the creepiest places we've been. The idea, as most of you know, is that you can cure a sick friend or relative by dipping a piece of their clothing into the well and then hanging it from a nearby tree. As a result, the surrounding trees are festooned with rags and desperate messages of prayer and hope. Many have been there for years.
The origins of the Clootie Well are explained in a helpful notice erected by the Forestry Commission who manage the site. Yet even here, the work of the plastic police is evident. The notice explains that only environmentally friendly materials should be hung from the branches because - and I kid you not - "the Celtic spirits might not know what to do with nylon, polyester and plastic."
I wonder if ghosts go shopping.
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~43~RS~)
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Ghosts do not have time to go shopping. They are too busy playing games with the Internet stream for BBC Radio Scotland.
First, they strike the Iain Anderson web mail and web site telling the world or maybe just Arizona, USA, that the web mail is undeliverable 11 times in one day. Yes, we are persistent.
Then there is that little bit on the "Presenters' Page that tells us that Iain has nine decades of music that he brings to the table. He does look marvelous and speaks well for one of such an age.
Second, those dear polter geists do as they are right this very minute...4:58 p.m. Mountain Standard Time USA, and we have two programs streaming at the same time...Robbie Shepard and Take the Floor and Pipeline.....
Though I listen to both, doing it at the same time is a bit disconcerting if not down right nerve wracking.
Dear programme director......fix it please. I need my BBC Radio Scotland fix whilst I try to write about politics here in the USA.....and I am daft already for just that attempt.
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Forgive me it is Traditional Roots playing not Pipeline......I couldn't hear clearly over Take the Floor.
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hello invinciblegrammie
It's 1.43 here in Scotland. I've been checking the problems you highlight but cant seem to replicate them on my home laptop. I'll have to ask the experts to look into this later today. Sorry.
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Hi Jeff,
I pass these trees on my way to friends in Fortrose but have never stopped there as it looks so creepy. Thanks for the information, though I'm not sure about the picky spirits. Do you think they disapprove of the cars we drive too? What about our haircuts or body odour. It is worrying that we have to assess our personal ecology for a few best wishes.
In regard to plastic bag police. I almost always take my own bag to the shops. So I really object to being snubbed when, for the occasionaly time, I forget or pop in unplanned on the way past. It's like getting caught for speeding for the only time you've ever broken the limit in 20 years of motoring. The trick is to always have a small bag secreted abut your person - even is it's too small to hold anything - then at least they can see you've tried.
Apologies for not dropping by for a while Life is busy in the deep south.
Take care,
Elaine Langford
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Hello Elaine
Good to hear from you again and good tip about the wee plastic bag. Wonder if I can fit one in my wallet.
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Invinciblegrammie
I've got to the bottom of the problem you encountered. I didn't realise you were listening to our overnight stream...I was checking the iPlayer. It seems we had a failure in our automation system for about four hours last night. It was playing out part one and part two of our Zone at the same time. We're checking to make sure it wont happen again. Apologies to you and indeed to anyone else who heard that.
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You are a wise and wonderful programme director, so rare these days.
I listen almost 24/7, from Phoenix, AZ, USA and it is like a life line to civilization. Think life behind the Cactus Curtain.....and I am in the news biz so I am pushing sanity very close to the line.
Now if the Iain Anderson email mess can be figured out.....I will put the Valium away and write my editorial about John McCain.....no think I'll keep the Valium on stand-by.
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