Fondly Remembered

[Cinema For Thurso Group]

This doesn't really have anything to do with any of you but this morning see's
a moment that gives extra impitous and poiniance to my next feature project.
On the cards at this time is, "My Caithness" which is to be a retrospective
view of my own county, my memories of places from childhood, the people who
influenced me and the astounding stories they told and places we visited
that fueled my imagination into film making.
And so it comes to it that my Granny, Elsie, passed away in the early hours
of this morning. She was the one who made tablet for me and my brothers as
kids, in somewhat diabetic amounts- high in sugar, good for growing teeth.
Thankfully she did get down to showing me how to make it. Walks around the
village (not Thurso, it's a town) of Castletown where she lived and when
my grand step dad was alive, the Saturday and Sunday outings. These form
many of my strongest childhood memories and insited many adventures which
I now try to commit to film without breaking the law.
Yesterday I took in morning service in Kirkwall Cathedral as a matter of
chance and found inspiration for another project. My Granny's passing is
something that has been enevitable for some time and in some ways it is with
gladness for we don't have to put her in and old folks home/prison which
would have destroyed her. She had been up and down health wise for two plus
years. To relate something of her, she was a well behaved person who never
bothered anyone. In her childhood however, she was the terror of Glamorgan,
nipping, biting and kicking anyone who picked on her sister. When she came
to live in Caithness she was influenced to further mischief by her mother-in-law,
the late and utterlay brass-knecked, Katie Geddes to whom the nicking of
neaps or lino was perfectly acceptable conduct- for a woman of 50 plus! Katie
also wrote to the troops during WW2- British and German! The letters would
come back to her looking like a collander.
Elsie could play the accordian apperently quite well- you don't want to hear
one played badly. She also had a talent (which always amuses men cause we
never grow up) for a well placed fart. She used to be a home help and looked
after an old dear who continually followed her every move. My granny finally
decided enough was enough and waited until the old dear shuffled up right
behind her and then let rip. Needless to say after the commotion died down,
granny was never followed again.
Elsie Keith- much loved sadly missed, now our most treasured memory

[Dave Watterson]

Not on topic maybe ... but sharing your feelings about a special lady is a
beautiful gesture, and an affirmation of friendship, no matter what little
squabbles we get into now and then on this forum.

Most of us have a special person or two whose influence on our lives was
much greater than they ever knew - or perhaps would have wanted. You made
me pause to think of some of mine.

Thank you.

Dave