More Tales From the Island Nurse by Mary J MacLeod

Author:Mary J MacLeod [MacLeod, Mary J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Autobiography
Publisher: Luath Press Ltd
Published: 2014-03-13T04:00:00+00:00

20

Parents and Problems

MY PARENTS WERE coming to stay for two weeks. I had decided that it would be easier for them to take the large, once-weekly steamer to Papavray which came straight from Mallaig, without the need for ferry rides and buses or taxis. This weekly blessing was a summer concession only. The boat called at several other islands on the way, which was of great interest to visitors to the Hebrides but meant that it took so long that we rarely used it.

The great day arrived and we went to the pier to meet them. Rhuari emerged from his office (a small wooden shed).

‘Ach, Nurse, they’ll no be here the night, I’m thinking.’

‘What do you mean, Rhuari?’

‘There’s trouble with the engine or the steerin’: I’m no too sure which, but she’ll no’ sail the night.’

Thinking of Mum’s panic at being stranded, I said, ‘They’ll get lodgings in one of the hotels in Mallaig, I suppose, and come in the morning if it’s fixed?’

Rhuari shook his head, ‘There’s the festival. All the beds will be booked and gone for miles around, I wouldn’t wonder.’

This was a problem, indeed! Mother didn’t like wild, remote places anyway, and had taken some persuading to undertake the journey at all. I must have looked as worried as I felt.

‘Wait you, Nurse.’ Rhuari appeared to have had an idea. ‘Wee Iona works on yon boat. I’ll get in touch with the Harbour Master at Mallaig and see if –’ Leaving the sentence unfinished, he wandered off to his office. We waited in the car – it had started to rain.

Back came Rhuari, all smiles, ‘Wee Iona’ll find them a double berth on board for tonight. They keep several of them free for company directors comin’ to the islands sometimes, to have a wee look at us. They come from Edinburgh,’ he added with disdain.

‘You are a marvel, Rhuari!’ My relief was intense.

‘Ach, ’tis nothing, nothing at all.’

‘I don’t think I know Iona, do I?’

‘Maybe not.’ Rhuari pondered. ‘She’s from Lewis, y’see. Morag MacInnes’s daughter. Ye mind Morag – that was.’

‘Yes. I tended her for many weeks before she died.’

‘Aye, I know. Iona is that grateful for what you did for her mother, that she’s arranging all this at no charge.’

‘No charge? How can she do that?’

Rhuari tapped his nose. ‘She’ll do it,’ he said and pottered off.

I was still trying to think how to thank him, when he turned and said, ‘I gie ye a call tomorrow when she’s on the move.’ (The boat – not Iona).

In response to a call from Rhuari, we arrived at the pier at about lunch time the next day. Down the gangplank came the parents, with one of the crew carrying their cases. They were smiling broadly.

It seemed that they had been treated to a slap-up supper of freshly caught cod and again this morning – a fried fish breakfast. They were mightily pleased to have been treated so well and astonished, when asking for the bill, to be told that everything was free.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.