This went well, by the way - got lots of stories. Some weren't directly relevant to my project but still great, such as stories about 'Am Peacach' (The Sinner), a local character in Stornoway in the early 20th century. His brother was known as An Terrible, so they must have been quite a pair - ThreadSky

anndra.bsky.social • 4 days ago

This went well, by the way - got lots of stories. Some weren't directly relevant to my project but still great, such as stories about 'Am Peacach' (The Sinner), a local character in Stornoway in the early 20th century. His brother was known as An Terrible, so they must have been quite a pair

Reposted from Anndra

Going to Inverness tomorrow to interview two old men about their memories of the Lewis shielings in the 1950s. Been a while since I've done one of these, hope my interviewing muscles are still working.

Comments

anndra.bsky.social•4 days ago

Am Peacach was once out drinking in town and fell asleep on a fishing boat in the harbour. He woke the next morning to see the stoker shovelling coal into the blazing engine, and the stoker asked him who he was. Am Peacach, frightened, said:

"When I was alive they called me Donald Montgomery..."

anndra.bsky.social•4 days ago

another time he got so drunk he couldn't move and was put in the back of a horse-drawn cart and sent home by the pub workers (presumably the horse knew the way). The cops stopped the apparently driverless cart and asked where he was going. He simply muttered "Ask the driver" and fell asleep again

mtrc.bsky.social•4 days ago

Laughed out loud at this 😄

anndra.bsky.social•4 days ago

possibly related to this incident, he was picked up by the police and put in the cells for the night. the next morning he was told he was being charged with being "drunk in charge of a horse". Am Peacach was adamant he didn't have a horse. "You do, Donald. We have it here." "I don't! I have a mare"

anndra.bsky.social•4 days ago

The final story I have of Am Peacach is that he used to make some money by getting fish from the fishing boats that got back to port on Sunday, and going door-to-door selling them early on Monday morning (at a markup since the fishmonger wouldn't open until later that day). This worked, mostly...

anndra.bsky.social•4 days ago

...but when he tried to sell them to a minister, the minister refused, saying he knew these fish had been caught on Sunday and he wouldn't buy fish that were the product of breaking the Sabbath. Am Peacach said he understood, and returned later with fish he'd got from a boat that came in on Monday

ahmedqan1.bsky.social•4 days ago

Hello dear Anndra,Im Ahmed from
Gaza can you help me please by donating or sharing send me love❤️🌸🫶🙏

anndra.bsky.social•4 days ago

The minister was pleased that he seemed to have got through to Am Peacach, and asked how much money it would be. Am Peacach said "Oh I can't take your money, it was earned on the Sabbath" and left

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply