What’s your dream job? For me, this question triggered a cascade of memories, each one a step towards my ultimate dream. It all began when I was about seven, crafting a local magazine with a friend in our bit (Scots for area). We filled pages with news, puzzles, and stories, selling our handmade creations door-to-door. Little did I know, this was the start of my journey to becoming a writer.
Never get attached. That was the lesson I learnt at a young age. It wasn’t that I had a heart of stone. I was being practical, protecting myself from inevitable heartache. Growing up, I quickly realised that whether due to someone’s ‘need’ being more important than mine or the destructive force of rage or jealousy, getting too attached was a guaranteed path to sorrow.
Discovery in the Dirt
But, against all odds, one item captivated my heart – a small, unassuming object that I fiercely guarded. This object was merely 2.5 x 1.5 x 1 cm in size, of an odd shape and russet hue, almost camouflaged in the dirt.
I was fourteen, clarty (Scots leid for muddy) from weeding the front garden, and at the end of my energy reserves. I’d found several baby potatoes as I dug down to get the roots of the hardier weeds. But as I smoothed out the disturbed soil, I found another wee tattie (potato), but it was solid. It took a moment to realise it was a stane (stone).
Beyond Its Physical Form
Most people would have just tossed it back in the ground, but if you have a stone-collecting problem, that bad boy is staying with you. Up until that point, I’d found so many beautiful stones that this ‘ugly’ wee thing shouldn’t even have been on my radar.
But I couldn’t let it go. It captivated me. The Stone Soup story played in my head as I held it tight in my hand, hiding it from any possible prying eyes.
If you don’t know the story, it’s about a hungry traveller who has nothing but a pot and a stone. The villagers refuse to help him out with some food, so he comes up with a plan: he’ll convince them to give him food. He fills the pot with water, chucks the stone in, and starts ‘cooking’ it over a fire.
A villager asks him what he’s doing, and the traveller tells him that he’s making the most amazing soup. His description of how flavoursome this soup will be hooks the villager.
He tells the villager that some carrots would make it that much tastier. The villager runs to his home, retrieves some, and gives them to the traveller. This happens with all the villagers, with various ingredients needed to up the awesomeness of the soup to the point it becomes a communal pot of soup. It’s a great lesson in sharing.
Another Lesson in Stone Soup
To me, there was an added lesson, one that hit harder than sharing. The lesson I gleaned was that words and stories had the power to affect change. They could soften hearts, build communities, and put dinner on the table.
A Journey with My Stone
My wee tattie stane was a constant, journeying through the pivotal moments of my life: exams, driving test, navigating the trials of the Royal Navy, I even tucked into my wedding bouquet. It’s been a lucky charm from the moment I found it.
Where is My Stone Now?
Tattie has found its rightful place on my desk, occasionally travelling in my pocket for an extra dose of luck. Beyond being a mere object, this stone has become a symbol of resilience, a testament to enduring through life’s more challenging moments, and a reminder of the joys in life. It’s my literal creative touchstone, reminding me of the power of words and storytelling.
Do you have any odd items that have journeyed through life with you? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear about them–nothing to do with me wanting to know that I’m not the only weirdo here!
Daily writing prompt
Describe an item you were incredibly attached to as a youth. What became of it?
It’s getting colder here in Scotland, so I thought I’d share some summer shots for my husband, Jez’s Water, Water Everywhere (WWE) challenge to pretend it’s not so 🥶 that I’m chitterin because my poor wee toes feel frozen.
Summer days by the seaside hold a special kind of magic, don’t they? Today, I’m bringing you a slice of that magic with a few shots taken on one of our many trips out to Troon on the West Coast of Scotland.
The expansive calm of the sea under the clear blue sky was a treat for the soul, and I hope it’ll be the same for you.
Welcome to another Things in Scots. This week’s Scots word is chitterin. The snippet I’ve added is a bit longer than I normally add. But, if I’d kept it short, it would have lost a lot of the feel and flavour of the scene.
If you’ve been enjoying the audio companions, I hope you’ll enjoy my first foray into doing the whole video thing below.😬 (There may or may not be a whole lot of outtakes for some later date. 🤣)
Welcome to another edition of “Things in Scots”! This week’s Scots word is claes. The snippet is from the second half of Running the Asset’s manuscript.
But before we get into the nitty-gritty of this week’s Scots word, let’s set the scene.
Adam and Elle have just been caught in Trevor’s office (Elle’s boss and our bad guy). They’ve managed to talk their way out of it by the skin of their teeth… or have they?
Welcome to this week’s edition of “Things in Scots”! Are you ready for a new word to add to your growing Scots vocabulary? Of course, you are. This week’s word is “faut”, and let me tell you, it’s a doozy!
Welcome to the first Things in Scots of 2023! It’s so great to be back doing these. I thought I’d give my old 2019 format a go for a change. That format being text with companion audio.
It’s another Things in Scots day, or Friday if you want to call it that. 😁 As I mentioned in previous posts, it’s challenging to find snippets that don’t contain spoilers… or torrid sex scenes. 😈 But, I managed to find something that doesn’t give anything away, and it doesn’t have anything more than some naughty thoughts going on in the text.
