George Sinclair - ClaudiAntics - BootsnAll Travelogues

August 14, 2003

George Sinclair

Today something really incredible happened. I had been doing something rather touristy by visiting the 5000 yr old neolithic village of Skara Brae. I came back awed by it, but yet not, all at the same time. Go figure. So I decided to take a walk along the water, down past where the ferry had driven by the day I first came in to the Orkneys.

I sat, I thought, I relaxed. After a bit, I started wandering back. As I came back up the road, a little old man stopped me, with the thickest Orcadian accent. He wanted to know if I had seen any seals bc he hadn't spotted any. I replied no, and expected him to walk off. Instead, when he heard my accent, he grinned from ear to ear.

"Are ye from de States?"

"Yes, New York," I replied.

"Awwww.... I was there in 1943, I was. My father was born in Brooklyn ye know, but he came back because his father lived here all his life. I also visited Boston, where we came in, and also New Orleans, where we christened our new ship. We also had to stay in New Jersey while we was waiting for the ship to be ready. We also stopped in Peekskill and Poughkeepsie."

He continued, "I have a small favor to ask of ye, I was in correspondence from 1943 until 1.5 yrs ago with one of two sisters I met in New York. I haven't gotten a response from my last three letters. Do you think ye could send them a letter for me, and try and track her down, so I know she is alright?"

With that, he handed me a little slip of paper with her last address that he had been carrying around, just in case he ran across an American. He had another one with his address so I could send him a reply. You could tell it had taken him a long time to write out that address. I don't know what sort of help I can be while I'm here traveling so I think I am going to have to pass this task on to my mom. (Hey Gloria, you'll be getting a separate email with the details, and if you could do a little research or digging, I'd appreciate it.)

I felt like I wasn't really saying nearly as much as I should, so I asked what he did when he was younger. He was a seaman, "all me life," he said. With that he started to tell me about the German boats that came into Scapa Flow during WWII. Eight of them were sunk, and this prompted Churchill to build the Churchill Barriers which were later used to connect some of the smaller islands to the main island.

Then he began to tell me about the scallop shells along the opposite side of the camp grounds, "big as me fist they are!" I said I would check it out on my walk down to see the seals around 9pm, when he said they are more commonly seen. But that was no good because the tide would have come in by then.

George then decided it was best if I borrowed his bicycle to ride back to the camp grounds, have a "wee walk" and pick up a few shells. Normally I don't give a hoot about shells, but there the fact he was sending me off on his own bicycle, with all his groceries in the basket, made me not refuse. I went, picked up a few, and rode back. He teasingly chastised me for not looking for bigger shells. Really, I did my best!

With that, I returned his bike to him, and he saw his grandson who was coming in with a lobster he had caught in a trap. We waved goodbye and I promised to do my best to find his penpal.

Meeting George really made my day. Until today I hadn't really interacted with any of the Orcadians. I'm glad the one I met was him though. Wait until you see his photo!!!! What a character!

Posted by Claudia on August 14, 2003 02:38 PM
Category: People I've Met

Comments

wow. You're making me really want to go to Scotland. Great story.

Posted by: Ron on August 14, 2003 03:07 PM

Cool story. i freak out on shells, shall show you my collection and bore you out!!!! 8-)

Tomorrow I face the Big Boss and hopefully it should be freedom time soon.

Posted by: Dusty on August 15, 2003 01:25 PM

Good luck Dusty. I will bring you an Orcadian scallop shell. It's about 3.5-4in wide, and prime for bleaching.

Posted by: Claudia on August 15, 2003 02:01 PM

go on Dusty! You'll be fine. Ah, shells... I love beachcombing - we shall have much to discuss, dusty

Posted by: Ant on August 17, 2003 11:39 PM

I got this in an email and under the circumstances, I couldn't resist sending you this:

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.

There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming
and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and
terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life.

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied,
waving off the offer.

At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family
hovel.
"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my
own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt
grow to be a man we both will be proud of."

And that he did.

Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, he
graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin.

The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill.

His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Someone once said: What goes around comes around. Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

You were probably expecting a joke, but I do have a serious side too! Anyway, take care -- Mike

Posted by: Mike on August 18, 2003 09:55 AM

Sweet story... but just a myth, according to these folks:

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/churchill.htm

Posted by: Ant on August 18, 2003 12:57 PM

Ant -- Thanks for the info -- it did seem too contrived to be true. However, even fiction can be inspirational.

Posted by: Mike on August 19, 2003 01:29 PM

so, the car is not happening cause the guy gave it to his girlfriend, he has a wife too...typical
i am disappointed
i am making a mosaic on joey's kitchen wall while his parents are away in puerto rico which makes me feel like i am on vacation in his house...but he shares a room with his brother so it's kinda annoying. my credit card expired so i have to get a new one before i get my plane ticket so i can actually getmy frequent fliyer miles..joey wants to come too but i would have to put him on an installment plan for paying me back. what do you think about him coming too.

Posted by: Vanessa on August 19, 2003 02:03 PM

Err....nothing against Joey, but I doubt he will be able to pay you back and he wont be able to eat anything. Everything is green veggies. Sorry about the car, though I am a bit confused about why it didn't work out. If he was selling it, why did he then give it to his girlfriend?

Posted by: Claudia on August 21, 2003 10:57 AM

joey would pay me back..he always pays his bills and would never do that to me. he just doesn't have a credit card or the money all at once....i told him about it but he said he isn't into culture. so he would rather go to colorodo with his friend..maybe jess can come..i just don't want to take that long ass flight by myself...and mom..stop reading everyone's mail...if i wanted you to read this, i would send it to you

Posted by: Vanessa on August 25, 2003 05:12 PM