Neil Miller Gunn

Neil Gunn was a prolific writer and poet who was born in Dunbeath between Latheron and Helmsdale in 1898. His mother Jessie Miller, was the sister of Elizabeth Miller, Nancy and Lorna’s Mum whose grave is just across the road from Lorna at the Clan Gunn Heritage Center. Neil wrote about the Highlands and the people, incorportating his current state of mind into the characters actions and words. I would say from what I’ve read that he was quite dismayed by war and very upset about not just the killing and bloodshed but the effect fighting in a war had on people close to him. Highland River is the first book of his that I read several years ago and always wondered which river he was describing, there are several that come down from the hills north of Helmsdale but the Dunbeath Waters is where he lived so that seemed logical. Yesterday i went to the Dunbeath Museum and then walked several miles up the Dunbeath River where they have signs and a map that tells the places metioned in Highland River. It was quite thrilling to be there and its a beautiful walk along the meadows and pastures.

OK so while I was still home I was corresponding with a George Gunn (same name as my brother) who lives in Thurso and who is a poet and playwrite. George knows about my writing project and asked if I’d read Butcher’s Broom by Neil Gunn. I ordered it from Amazon and a few chapters into the story I realized that he had written about the very same time period, place, events and people that I am writing about. It is a billiant novel and nothing I could imitate even if I wanted to, which of course I don’t. Still I’ve felt some hesitation since then about what his family might think if I am published and successful.

SO, when I got to Orkney and they passed out the list of people who would be attending the Clan Gunn Gathering, there was Neil’s nephew’s name, Dairmid Gunn. Dairmid didn’t go to Orkney but showed up later for the Highland Games last Saturday. I asked one of the folks to point him out to me and then I gathered my courage and introduced myself and told him about my book. He was very supportive and interested and thought some of my ideas are “clever”, what a compliment! He told me that if Neil were alive he would be very pleased indeed that someone, especially a Gunn, cared enough about what had happened during the Clearances to go to the trouble to do the research and write a book about it. It was all I could do not to bawl on the spot. Instead I got out my hanky and wiped my eyes while he looked away. So then it occured to me how cool it would be to use quotes from Butcher’s Broom to start off each of my chapters. So I asked Dairmid what he would think about that and how I would get permission. He thought it was a lovely idea and as long as it wasn’t long passages he would give me permission himself! Can you believe it?

So Dairmid has already sent me an email from his home in Edinburgh saying how lovely it was to meet me and to be sure and call him when I return to the city if I need anything at all. When I’m home and further along with my story I’ll choose some quotes, email them to him, he’ll make sure the publisher knows he has given permission and then he’ll send me a written permission.

I am halfway though my time here now which seems totally impossible. I’ve already done so much and had more good things happen that I even hoped. I’ve done quite a few sketches in my wee journal and have given away the first scarf I knitted to Charlotte, the 15 year old daughter of Sara and John Gunn who organized the Clan Gathering. She loved the colorful sea blue and turquoise colors as that is what she always wears and had admired the scarf when I was knitting and then when I wore it. Life is full. Much Love from the Highlands, Ellie

Connections

I’ve left the northern corner of Scotland now, its Tuesday, August 1st. I’m back at my home base in Helmsdale and soon will have my ususal soup and salad at the Timespan cafe and then this afternoon the archivist Jackie will drive me out to Kildonan to show me the old longhouse locations still visible. Glad you all enjoyed the midges story, they’ll no doubt welcome me back as its raining again, but at least we’ll have an auto to escape to.

I don’t remember what I wrote about visiting my cousin Lorna the first time but it didn’t go well lets just say. In her defense she is 86, works full time in the post office and has been taking care of her younger sister Nancy, 83, who had a fall  months ago. They knew I was coming to see them but Lorna only said, “Well, maybe we’ll be here” . When I arrived with the Clan Gunn tour it was a less than warm greeting and so I only stayed a wee bit but said i would be back the following weekend. “Well, maybe we’ll be here” was the reply again although I think its safe to say they never go anywhere. Perhaps its just their standard reply to everyone. You all know how sensitive I am and how much I was looking forward to seeing both of them. So I sent Lorna a card with a pretty robin on the front and said that I had come 6,000 miles to see them and really needed to feel welcome. If it was too much to have company with all their work to do I would understand that and not keep coming by. I mentioned the love I have for both of them and hoped to see them the following Sunday.

So it was with a bit of trepidtion that I got off the coach right in front of their door. I knocked and was greetied cheerfully by both of them and invited right off for tea. As I had all my gear I said I’d get settled up the road at the B&B and come back when it was convenient. So we settled for 4pm and when I went back I stayed for 2 hours. I went back several other times and had lunch, did my laundry and pegged it to dry, and even watched Lorna’s favorite quiz show on the telley. I said my “ta-ta”’s at noon today when my coach arrived and tried not to cry til the bus pulled away. Didn’t quite work but at least I was in a rush at the end and so couldn’t dwell on never seeing them again. Nancy handed me a birthday card from them both as I left and some yougurt and fruit for my lunch. I promised to send them a card from further along in my trip and set off for the south.