Lovely gentle piece as ever Will, although your mention of the gloaming immediately brought to mind Kenneth McKellar, a favourite singer of my father, and Roamin' in the Gloamin'. You may know it? If not, it's a jaunty tune of which this is the chorus ...
Roamin' in the gloamin' by the bonnie banks o' Clyde,
Very restful Will - a Christmas Day dawn walk to watch the day wake, calls with friends and family when I got back, then a stroll to my local micropub for an hour or so of social company before returning home to my slow roast lamb and to post my Substack piece, 'The Banning of Christmas', one of the Christmas stories I used to write to give as a gift to my family each year. I trust you too enjoyed a fulfilling day.
Loved your Christmas tale, Harry! I am currently at trampolining with the kids, so this was a much needed escape. You’re a great storyteller! This Christmas I’ve been listening to The Dark is Rising on BBC Sounds, and also Melissa Harrison is currently in the think of a properly spooky story on her Substack Witness Marks - I’d thoroughly recommend both if you don’t know them (if you read the later go back to the start, a few days ago - I think you’d really like it!). Have a lovely rest of the festivities.
So lovely to connect with another fan of The Gloaming, their music never fails to move me and always makes me want to connect more deeply with my Celtic soul! Thank you, Geraldine!
Super-proud of the journey you’ve been on, Will, and the road you’ve travelled. You will have encouraged and supported many others along the way. Onwards into your new year of learning. Warmly, as ever, Barrie
Thank you so much Barrie. I’m a long way behind where I hoped (and probably need) to be - and equally much further on than we met up in that lovely Orchard! I’m genuinely unsure where onwards is, but I hope to be closer to wherever I’m headed in 2025.
Wishing you the very best for the new year. Thanks for all your encouragement along the way.
I recognise the courage writ large in an acknowledgement of the ‘further’ you wish to travel … but there’s courage too in a celebration of where you’ve come from to get to ‘here’ (which is always a necessary waypoint towards ‘there’). Not an easy year either … I lost my dad too and while grief is personal, it weaves itself into the way we are and the paths we are on, just as the humans who trigger the grief set us on paths and guided us along them. What I do see is that the man you are and the journey you are on will have been important to your dad and will be recognised by your own youngsters, as is the way of these things. Let’s have a chat in 2025, not to measure progress but to talk about waypoints. Cordialement, Barrie
Thanks, Jez. I don’t profess to be a storyteller but I do have stories I want to tell, so thought here was as good a place as anywhere to share them. I think this is my first story, so thanks for your encouragement! Seasonal good wishes to you! 💚
Lovely gentle piece as ever Will, although your mention of the gloaming immediately brought to mind Kenneth McKellar, a favourite singer of my father, and Roamin' in the Gloamin'. You may know it? If not, it's a jaunty tune of which this is the chorus ...
Roamin' in the gloamin' by the bonnie banks o' Clyde,
Roamin' in the gloamin' wi' ma lassie by ma side,
When the sun has gone to rest,
That's the time that we love best,
Oh, it's lovely roamin' in the gloamin'.
Thank you for sharing it. Hope you’ve had a lovely Christmas.
Very restful Will - a Christmas Day dawn walk to watch the day wake, calls with friends and family when I got back, then a stroll to my local micropub for an hour or so of social company before returning home to my slow roast lamb and to post my Substack piece, 'The Banning of Christmas', one of the Christmas stories I used to write to give as a gift to my family each year. I trust you too enjoyed a fulfilling day.
Loved your Christmas tale, Harry! I am currently at trampolining with the kids, so this was a much needed escape. You’re a great storyteller! This Christmas I’ve been listening to The Dark is Rising on BBC Sounds, and also Melissa Harrison is currently in the think of a properly spooky story on her Substack Witness Marks - I’d thoroughly recommend both if you don’t know them (if you read the later go back to the start, a few days ago - I think you’d really like it!). Have a lovely rest of the festivities.
Thanks for the kind words and recommendations, Will - I will check them out.
That sure is a very jaunty tune, Harry!
Beautiful writing, Sir Will, I’m over the moon to have found you! Be happy, Geraldine
Thank you :) I am so pleased to have you here!
Oh my divinity, the Traditional Irish Music “supergroup” The Gloaming, journeying to the depth of the human heart, a pure drop.
I adore Martin Hayes, I get Hayes-ed frequently.
Sir Dennis Cahill Rest In Peace
So lovely to connect with another fan of The Gloaming, their music never fails to move me and always makes me want to connect more deeply with my Celtic soul! Thank you, Geraldine!
Thanks for sharing Will! I love learning new words! ❤️ Have a lovely in between time, the twelfthtide ❤️💫
Thank you! I wondering when I’m going to stop hanging out in the in between time 😂 or maybe that’s the only time there is!
Thanks for sharing Will. May next year’s coat kiss you in a lighter comfort. Blessings. Thanks for being you. Thanks for being. Here. 🙏❤️
Hey, thanks, Jim - really appreciate your company this year. Bring on 2025 and all it has in store. Hope the festivities are roaring with you!
Super-proud of the journey you’ve been on, Will, and the road you’ve travelled. You will have encouraged and supported many others along the way. Onwards into your new year of learning. Warmly, as ever, Barrie
Thank you so much Barrie. I’m a long way behind where I hoped (and probably need) to be - and equally much further on than we met up in that lovely Orchard! I’m genuinely unsure where onwards is, but I hope to be closer to wherever I’m headed in 2025.
Wishing you the very best for the new year. Thanks for all your encouragement along the way.
Must catch up soon.
Much love to you and JoJo.
Will
I recognise the courage writ large in an acknowledgement of the ‘further’ you wish to travel … but there’s courage too in a celebration of where you’ve come from to get to ‘here’ (which is always a necessary waypoint towards ‘there’). Not an easy year either … I lost my dad too and while grief is personal, it weaves itself into the way we are and the paths we are on, just as the humans who trigger the grief set us on paths and guided us along them. What I do see is that the man you are and the journey you are on will have been important to your dad and will be recognised by your own youngsters, as is the way of these things. Let’s have a chat in 2025, not to measure progress but to talk about waypoints. Cordialement, Barrie
Thank you for this offering, Will. I enjoyed the Cape of Rushes immensely. Every blessing over the festive period 🌟
Thanks, Jez. I don’t profess to be a storyteller but I do have stories I want to tell, so thought here was as good a place as anywhere to share them. I think this is my first story, so thanks for your encouragement! Seasonal good wishes to you! 💚