Just a Little Caithness Craic
I have been a bit preoccupied lately, so I have not been writing blog posts. I have one in draft but til then I thought I'd share a little craic with you. If you come, you'll be most welcome, but folks--especially the auld folks--are sometimes a bit protective of this area. I loved this little story because it catches that flavour of protectiveness.
I was told this one tonight in one of our favorite restaurants:
"My grandfather had the contract for the road into Westerdale. One day he was speaking to Sir Archibald and he said, "Sir, I've made this road good enough, but not so good that folks will want to be coming up here."
posted by landgirl @ 9:41 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
great comment. there is an ocean-side town north of San Francisco, Bolinas: for years it was famous for no signs showing how to get there, no signs pointing out city limits.
As soon as the state signs up, the locals took them down.
How absolutely gorgeous!
Once again, I find myself envious of you. Thank you for posting this, I think it is one of my favorite pictures so far.
I had to sigh when I saw it.
:) Terri
Hayden, I love that removing signs. That's a hoot. No wonder Brigadoon and Mists of Avalon hold such appeal. Something in all of us wants to live in world on its own.
Ah, Terri, thanks for photo. It was a day when a fierce gale was blowing up, so that day it was good to have a picture and then go inside and wait it out.
Sounds like some of the nature preserves in VA and NC. The roads are good but not so you would be encouraged to travel them without prior experience...
It made perfect sense to me. But, then, I'm of Irish descent... and the Irish and the Scots are more closely related than either will admit.
Yes, Cur, the Irish and Scots are very much connected genetically and culturally. I was talking to a man who lives in Glasgow on a bus in Orkney. I said that I had to be careful where I used the phrase "good craic" and he laughed. He said it was the same in Glasgow, but his girlfriend was Irish and she used it, so he was getting used to it. The Irish actually think they have a corner on good craic, but they don't. Must be something about the weather--which is often pretty much the same for both Ireland and us, too.
what is a craic--a story?
"Craic" is more like conversational sharing. It can involve catching up, winding up, taking the Mickey, telling curlies, or gossip, or all of the above. It is a way of connecting or reconnecting with words.
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