Coming into the Writers hub recently I was on the number 2 bus to Inverness centre.
There is a wonderful feeling when you see the traffic building up and the bus has a separate route and sometimes lane, to move through the early morning to its destination. That sense of skipping the queue or getting, even taking an advantage point is worthy of a smile.
It is a light dream I had that morning as we travelled north down a road I barely know. My sense of being was still in Perth and I am now in Inverness and have been for some time. The hub , as in Writers Hub has been functioning for some months and is a good base for budding writers. I quickly say it is not a critique forum but simply a place that other writers meet to work independently in the same environment. This helps in discipline.
I have taken time to reflect on some things now that we are in our house and getting established. We had made links with people as soon as we arrived in Inverness. The 8 months in rented accommodation seems quick and a memory, now as we move into a new chapter of life.
Opportunities to play bass in Worship circles grows and with gardening and routine tasks the weeks are flying in.
Family history has had a back shelf for almost 12 months, and I have a lot of catching up to do with many in that circle...
Chatty Chappies! on facebook is growing and its fun to chat with Andy about the various topics we dig up. The run on the Butteries was interesting especially when my grandfather was a baker in Aberdeen.
I can imagine the seafarer who went to his baker complaining about the lack of bread on sea trips and the poor biscuits that were a substitute for stale bread. What creativeness to ask the baker to come up with something appropriate for long journeys that would last longer than bread. Then we have the teamwork as the baker goes next door to chat with the butcher on how to have longevity in baking. So back in 1880 the baker tries to make a new product with the addition of lard as a preservative.
Having experimented with dough he comes up with what locals called a Rowy.( because there is a lot of turning in the process) Our seafarer is delighted with the new product and the rest is history they say!
Then in 1917 fresh bread was banned as it was seen as unfair that some could get fresh bread and others could not. During the war the buttery was a staple breakfast with porridge and tea. A good way to gain energy for the day ahead. With its ban ( it was seen as a bread) the people revolted. Unions were involved food control was in place and there was such a fuss that “Home rule for Scotland “ was muted over the banning of the buttery. 22 September 1917 saw the last buttery baking.
The fresh bread ban was rescinded in 1919 not before two bakers were fined for selling butteries.
Today the buttery is on shelves far from the Aberdeen and Buchan coast in bakeries and supermarkets. There are varying qualities of buttery around, but it would seem from small research the independent Bakers are the best.
Contact
Writers Hub writershubinverness@gmail.com
Chatty Chappies! .www.facebook.com/groups/495660008588250/
Family history www.familyhistory.blogspot.com
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