Cha b’ e seachdain “buidhe Bealltainn” a bha siud idir ann an saoghal poilitigeach Bhreatainn. Prìomh Mhinistear Alba gun roghainn ach a dhreuchd a leigeil bhuaithe agus na Tòraidhean a’ faotainn fìor liodraigeadh ann an taghaidhean ionadail Shasainn. Gu h-eachdraidheil tha e àbhaisteach dhan mhòr-shluagh a bhith a’ nochdadh mì-thoileachas le Riaghaltas nuair a tha taghadh coitcheann air fàire, agus ged a dh’fhaodas Tòraidhean cofhurtachd a ghabhail à sin nochd luchd-bhòtaidh iarrtas gu math daingeann airson atharrachadh, agus ùrachadh, Riaghaltais!
Bha an aon seòrsa faireachadh a’ nochdadh ann an Alba, agus leis a h-uile spèis dha Humza Yousaf agus Iain Swinney, le rùn an seo cuideachd airson atharrachadh tha e tàmailteach nach robh de mhisneachd aig a’ Phartaidh Nàiseanta farpais a leigeil air adhart airson dreuchd Ceannais. Saoilidh mise gum bheil e draghail, theagamh maslach, gum bheil uimhir de dhroch rùn agus dùbhlan air nochdadh an aghaidh Ceit Fhoirbeis air sgàth a seasamh air Crìosdachd. Nach bu chòir earbsa a bhith againn anns a h-uile riochdaire poilitigeach gun toir iad modh èisteachd dha beachdan agus creideamh chàch a chèile, agus gum bi dalm-bheachd agus gràin-cinnidh gu bhith toirmisgte!
Fo sgàile sgeulachdan cho mì-chinnteach a thaobh stiùireadh na dùthcha ’s e tlachd a th’ ann ùine a chur seachad sa ghàrradh, a’ cur beagan sìl de gach seòrsa le dùil air toradh agus deagh bhuain. ’S tric a chluinnear feadhainn a tha a’ còmhnaidh air an dùthaich fada bho bhailtean- mòra ag ràdh gum bheil iad farmadach às na goireasan is na sochairean a th’ aig luchd-còmhnaidh nam bailtean. Ann an iomadh seadh, gu mi-fhortanach, tha iad ceart gearan a thaobh uireasbhaidhean sheirbheisean poblach, agus far am bheil ionmhas poblach cho fìor ghann ’s a tha chan eil riaghaltas de dhath sam bith gu bhith air chomas cus leasachaidh a thoirt air an t-suidheachadh sin fad ùine. Aig an aon àm bidh cianalas oirnne a thogadh air an tuath is sinn ag ionndrainn sheallaidhean agus fhuaimean nàdair aig àm an earraich. Fàileadh cùbhraidh fhalaisg air a’ ghaoith, sgreuchail fhaoileig a’ leantainn chruinn-treabhaidh, uain òga a’ bocail air achadh, agus ’s dòcha gu sònraichte fuaim na cuthaige na dhearbhadh gum bheil sinn air stairsich samhraidh eile! Chan iongnadh gun do ghluais a leithid de dh’àrainneachd a liuthad gu bàrdachd, agus cha mhotha e na sin adhbhar a’ chianalais a bhios air uimhir againn.
Tha an gàrradh na sheòrsa de dhrochaid eadar am baile-mòr agus an tuath a tha nar cuimhne, agus am beagan cur sìl na shamhla de dh’obair na cruite. Faodaidh gum bheil gu math nas lugha saothair san obair, agus nach bi an toradh cho deatamach dha beatha teaghlaich, ach anns a h-uile seadh tha an aon dìcheall ga iarraidh san obair agus tha an aon toileachas ri fhaotainn à toradh foghair. Agus nach math an cothrom a bhith air chomas cuairt a ghabhail chun na dùthcha bho àm gu àm gus eòlas ùrachadh, agus ’s fhìor mhath cothrom teicheadh dhachaigh bhon mheanbh-chuileag!
The first week of May has not been a joyful experience for some UK political leaders where the Tories suffered a historic thrashing at English local authority elections, or in Scotland where the SNP First Minister was forced to resign.
Tory supporters may seek comfort in the belief that voters regularly punish the ruling party between General Elections and that a different result may be evident in national polls, but it seems people have this time demonstrated a very emphatic desire for change.
There has also been evidence of a wish for change in Scotland, and the SNP’s reluctance to hold an election for their party leader has been disappointing. It has also been shameful to see the extent of abuse rained on Kate Forbes MSP over her religious beliefs. Voters should expect all politicians to respect each other’s beliefs, and all parties to shun bigotry and racial abuse.
Away from the depressing political arena it is nice to spend some time in the garden and to sow with hope of a successful harvest. People who live in rural areas frequently say how much they envy the access city dwellers have to public services and amenities, and while they are right to complain the current state of public finance suggests that no government could achieve the significant changes people want, any time soon.
Meantime, those of us born and raised in the country might experience homesickness for the country sounds and smells of spring, the fragrance of burning heather, the raucous screech of gulls following the plough, lambs playing in the fields, and perhaps most significant the call of the cuckoo reminding us that we are on the threshold of another summer.
The garden is a sort of cultural bridge between the city and the croft of childhood memory, and the city planting is a reflection of that memory. Physical gardening effort may be substantially less than what the croft required, and the harvest will be much less critical to help feed the family, but the husbandry is no less diligent, or the pleasure of a good harvest.
It is a privilege to be able to escape the city occasionally to renew familiarity with the country, but equally pleasing also to escape back home when the midges swarm!!
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