…half a century ago, this ol’ scribbler was a Trainee Master of the Financial Universe in the Clydesdale & North of Scotland Bank in Tobermory on the Scottish Hebridean Island of Mull… God’s chosen country, and home to some of the friendliest people on the planet… as a young lad in the Bank, it was my duty (read ‘privilege’) from time to time to go around the island in the mobile office… in those days ‘mobile banking’ had NUTHIN to do with telephones, Mabel… we were a bank office on wheels… the island of Mull is among the most beautifully ‘scaped places I’ve ever known in all my global travels… I recall the mobile office driver, a Mister Johnston, a grand man, six feet plus, always clad in typical ‘sensible’ thick tweed suit and shoes made somewhere in the Glasgow shipyards, I reckon… prob’ly then in his sixties…
Today, I’m happy to welcome my first rustic guest to the Farmhouse Kitchen.
Let me introduce you to Mac Logan, an author from Scotland, who not only writes gritty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers (a Scottish Stieg Larsson!) but who is also lucky enough to live in the stunning and dramatic East Neuk of Fife.
Mac and I met on Twitter, and he’s been a great virtual friend and supporter of my rustic writing efforts, so I’m delighted to share Mac’s thoughts on rural life with you here.
I’ll put the kettle on, you sit back and enjoy.
In every walk with nature one receives far more than one seeks. John Muir
Find peace?
What do you do if peace finds you? Can you help its search?
When I seek quotes about peace, mostly I find contrasting ideas, you know:
• the opposite of war – with countless homilies,
• an internal “good thing” that happens when you do “good” exercise, deeds, spiritual things, and so on,
• if you speak Scottish you’ll know sandwiches get a mention, (so what if the spelling’s wrong?)
Easy to Find?
What I seek is easy to find … but not in crowded places. It’s all around us, yet can lack the buzz and zip of a packed city. People miss it, yearn for it, yet seldom find it.
Strange thing, this “peace”.
Want an example?
Will a definition help our search?
peace [piːs] noun: freedom from disturbance; tranquillity.
Could this hint at both an inner and outer reality? It’s all over the place near where I live. You’ll find it too, anytime you drop by.
Bliss of peace
A hectic life with peaceful spaces may be as good as it gets these days, unless … Unless you live with and within the beauty of nature … like me, like Sam.
When Sam asked for a few words she rural headed her agenda. If you read her books, you’ll know why, even if there are city interludes and rolls in the hay. You know what they say up here: there’s nothing like the sleep of the just, but even better, the sleep of the just after. Talk about blissful peace.
I’m lucky enough to live in the country. North of the Border, true, and in the incomparable East Neuk of Fife.
Peace is all around
I made the Kilconquhar Loch video late May last year.
Rambling along a quiet lane I came to an incredibly green bank and sat on a dry stump. Warm air ruffled my hair like a lover’s caress. For a moment I slipped out of time.
Without really looking
Peace found me, I didn’t have to go looking. There, free from the noise and turmoil of modern life, stress oozed out of me as peace took its place.
Thinking back I smile and promise myself a wee dram when I finish this draft. I know peace will find me again in a soothing amber glow from a crystal glass.
Peace to you …
If you want to hear more from Mac, you’ll find him, his blog and more about his Angels’ Share series of books by clicking the image below. Mac also hangs out on Facebookand twitter, do follow him there.
Let me introduce you to Mac Logan, an author from Scotland, who not only writes gritty, edge-of-your-seat thrillers (a Scottish Stieg Larsson!) but who is also lucky enough to live in the stunning and dramatic East Neuk of Fife.
Sam Russell 