P&J: 17 August 2006
by Unknown - 14:19 on 17 August 2006
OFF THE BEATBy Bryan Beattie
There’s been two birthdays on the farm this week. Katy next door was 16, a wonderful age as I dimly recall, and Emer reached an ‘age of significance’, but I can’t tell you which one.
Anyway forty is the new twenty-one, twenty-one is the new sixteen, sixteen is the new five, and five is the new conception. At this rate we’ll all be immortal in two generations.
Emer had her own ‘birthday gift’ to announce to the kids, which she will be delivering at the end of January, all being well.
When she told the girls there would be someone new joining the family first guesses were Rita and Phil (both would be fine additions, but probably missed by their own kids).
“No, no, someone joining our family forever”. A moment’s thought, “A puppy!” shouted Áine while Niamh danced with equal delight. Cian dribbled in joy.
Eventually the truth dawned and, hiding their disappointment at a Dalmatian-free future, they prodded away at Emer’s tummy looking for a sign. Six more months of this…
Although anyone with Irish blood will tell you four is really just the start of a family I am assured by herself that this will be our last – boy, girl or puppy.
As I took Áine down to get the primary school bus on Tuesday I realised we’ll have someone in the school system for the next twenty years. God help us. There are several birthdays of significance ahead before that’s done.
The cycle of life continues unabated and as we celebrate our news our hearts also go out to the family of Jim Love, the editor of the Inverness Courier who died recently.
Jim was a genuinely good guy, entirely fair, and a terrific professional. He was admired by those he interviewed for the accuracy with which he reflected their views in print.
It would be hard to find a prouder Invernessian or a more committed supporter of the arts. At a recent Scottish Opera performance the players dedicated a piece to him, and hundreds of local artists have benefited from his supportive words.
Integrity, humanity and humility are rare enough qualities but they each found a home in Jim. It was a pleasure to know him as a friend, and his companionship as well as his contribution to community life will be sorely missed.
One of Jim’s passions was a city council for Inverness. It didn’t win much support in Highland Council but it was an honest view deeply felt.
I disagreed with him on this although now, with local government reform likely, I think it’s worth considering a more radical alternative to the one the Executive will probably promote of fewer, bigger councils. I’ll come back to this in a future column.
Last month when I referred to the planned development at North Kessock by County Properties Limited and suggested it could make it a more complete community I made a mistake. When planning permission was granted in 1999, there was no pre-condition that a golf course should be constructed before any development took place. Furthermore, the firm has made it clear that it made no approaches, at any time, to vary the consent issued. My apologies for any embarrassment this may have caused.
Add your comment
Please note that whenever you submit something which may be publicly shown on a website you should take care not to make any statements which could be considered defamatory to any person or organisation.
