CancelReport This Post

Please fill out the form below with your name, e-mail address and the reason(s) you wish to report this post.

 

Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

elle

29th April 2017, 22:56
Hi, Rusty!
Does it not annoy you to be told that you can find something out by applying to Facebook?
It does me!
Why does your book title say 'The Hills "is" Lonely" rather than "are"?
There must be a reason?
13549 of 30765  -   Report This Post

rusty

29th April 2017, 23:12
Hello, Elle!
No, I do not go on FaceBook but we will hear very soon after, anyway.
"The Hills is Lonely" is the way that Morag speaks.
When Miss Beckwith needed a rest cure she placed an ad in a magazine and had several replies.
She had decided to go to a famhouse in Kent, but then she received this letter with a Hebridean postmark.

"Dear Madam,
Its just now I saw your advert when I got the book for the knitting pattern I wanted from my cousin Catriona. I am sorry I did not write sooner if you are fixed up if you are not in any way fixed up I have a good good stone house and tiles and my brother Ruari who will wash down with lime twice every year. Ruari is married and lives close by. She is not damp.
I live by myself and you could have the room that is not a kitchen and a bedroom reasonable.
I was in the kitchen of the laird's house till lately when he was changed God rest his soul the poor old gentleman that he was.
You would be very welcomed.
I have a cow for milk and eggs and the minister at the manse will be referee if you wish such.
Yours affectionately
MORAG McDUGAN
PS. She is not thatched. "

When Miss Beckwith read the letter from Morag she made up her mind she was going to the Hebrides!
13550 of 30765  -   Report This Post

elle

29th April 2017, 23:22
Hi, Rusty!
Oh , I love it! and Morag!
I would go and stay with her, too!
She sounds delightful!
Is all the book like that?
I should enjoy reading it if so?
13551 of 30765  -   Report This Post

rusty

29th April 2017, 23:31
Hello, Elle,
This is the title quote in Morag's second letter.
"Surely it's that quiet here even the sheeps themselves on the hills is lonely and as to the sea it's that near I use it myself every day for the refusals...."
13552 of 30765  -   Report This Post

rusty

29th April 2017, 23:38
Hello, Elle,
Yes, there is that gentle humour throughout her books.
She meets the folk on the island and their ways are not the ways of Miss Beckwith, or their speech patterns!
She wrote 5 or 6 books about her life there.
"The Sea for Breakfast", "A Rope In Case", "The Loud Halo", are the ones I remember.
Semi-autobiographical.
The books certainly appealed to me.
I first came across them 30 or more years ago.
13553 of 30765  -   Report This Post

elle

30th April 2017, 00:05
Hi, Rusty!
I very much like the idea of reading Lilian Beckwith's books, so I have just been on to Amazon and have ordered "The Hebridean Omnibus".
This consists of three of her books.......
"The Hills is Lonely"; "The Sea for Breakfast"; and "The Loud Halo"
Very good condition from Book donor.
All for 43p plus p&p.
A very good bargain?
I am looking forward to the Omnibus' arrival!
Goodness me, look at the time!
It is "tomorrow" already!
I am away to my bed.......!
13554 of 30765  -   Report This Post

rusty

30th April 2017, 00:13
Hello, Elle!
That would have been my advice to you.
Buy "The Hebridean Omnibus".
At 43p it is a great bargain!
If you bought them separately, you would have had three separate p&p charges at £2.80.
So, you have a snip!
608 pages, a good read!
She also has "The Second Hebridean Omnibus" if you happen to like her tales.
And if you do not see it on Amazon, remember to try eBay.
13555 of 30765  -   Report This Post

elle

30th April 2017, 09:34
Good morning, Rusty!
It is absolutely glorious out!
Already the temperature is into double figures!
Yes, I was pleased with my purchase ...but even more delighted when I realised that for 1p I could buy "The Second Hebridean Omnibus" of Lilian Beckwith's books!
So I have done so!
It is classified as "Good" condition.
I am looking forward to reading them all........
Are you watching BGT?
Or going out to meet your friends from Norn Iron today?
13556 of 30765  -   Report This Post

rusty

30th April 2017, 10:36
Good morning, Elle!
Quite a nice day here, so far.
No, I meet my friends tomorrow.
Well done on "Hebrides 2".
A good bargain, I think.
I have watched BGT.
Not as good as last week's show, I didn't think.
The acts I liked were, Tokio, Josephine the magician, and the young ones from Norn Iron!
What did you think?
13557 of 30765  -   Report This Post

elle

30th April 2017, 11:10
Hi, Rusty!
Uhm...well, I thought there were some competent performances in BGT this week, but nothing really "grabbed" me personally - except maybe Tokio?
I didn't think much of the first two acts......the dancer impersonating the Queen ; followed by the Bollywood dancers.
Very second -rate.....
And the guy who was blindfolded and then broke the Guinness Book of Records for making animal shapes out of balloons in a shorter time.
He achieved his mission...but it is hardly a repeatable act...what would he do for an "encore"?
The magician, Josephine, was very good.....I wonder how she did that last trick?
We couldn't accuse the judges of any collusion there?
And I thought Tokio was wonderful!
Very accomplished - and very determined to make something worthwhile of his life!
The children's choir was good - but I enjoyed it more for the children's facial expressions and their obvious delight in their performances.
Am I being too analytical?
I got a bit carried away there!
I have finished The Everyman - a good puzzle - but disappointingly no parsings left over for me to "worry at"!
What are you up to today?
13558 of 30765  -   Report This Post