A Hair Of The Elephant's Tail

Sheena Blackhall

2004

Around ten years ago I was interviewing an old lady of 99 about her life in the North East of Scotland. 'Is there anything you've regretted?' I asked. 'Ay' she replied. 'I wis gaen the chaunce tae see ma brither's war grave in Flanders, an I didna gyang. I've ay regrettit thon. I wad hae liked tae thon in ma memory.'

I suddenly realised the clock was ticking and that there's quite a lot that I didn't have in my memory. ... (continues)