MARK GILBERT: If you think that we posties just deliver a few parcels and letters, think again!
The Postie Notes by Mark Gilbert
What started off as just a normal postie day ended when I got home mid-afternoon after what can only be described as an emotional rollercoaster!
After cutting up and wrapping the apple and fruit cake that I had baked the previous afternoon, for the bowls that evening and to give to my customers, I set off with LooLou, her brother Puck, here on his holiday, and Stanley to the forest.
There are two lovely white calves along Borgie, and they were playing as we drove past.
Then, as we arrived in the forest, the usual heron took off like a prehistoric pterodactyl, accompanied by a lot of squawking.
I had my Merlin bird song recognition app running as we walked around, and then my photo memories from this day over the years pinged up, including a glamorous photo of Susan from 2007. A foal had been born overnight on Lower Quarry Road in Bradley, so I phoned Susan to tell her while I was walking the dogs. She came down in her pyjamas, gardening fleece and boots. The memory put a smile on my face.
We got home, and I loaded up my postie van, settled the dogs in to sleep while I was out working for six hours, and set off for Kinbrace. Heading down Strathnaver and up Dalvina, and passing Badanloch, there are sheep, lambs, coos, and calves everywhere at this time of year. With the good weather, the youngsters were chasing each other around. A joyous sight.
After emptying the postbox at Badanloch, I set off for Kinbrace to collect my mail from Duncan. However, within a few hundred yards, I found myself behind Hughie in his Gator, moving a big flock of sheep along the road. One dog was working to drive the sheep into a park on the left. When working, the Border Collie is a joy to behold. I just sat back and drank in the sight.
Delivering the post on the way back to Bettyhill, I saw Stuart cutting peat around the Rosal Loch area. I handed out some cake to locals and spent time getting to know the new family at Woodyknowe. Eventually, I got back to Bettyhill to pick up my next mail delivery from James.
After sorting the mail, I fed the dogs their gravy bones (secret weapon) at Bettyhill Hotel. I also picked some rhubarb on Achina and reminded some folk about the upcoming anniversary of the death of a much-loved local character, and then the mood changed!
I met someone at their gate and asked why they were at home, which was unusual. They said they had to sort out the car. They then said that they were expecting the vet to call in 40 or so minutes to euthanise their old, poorly dog, who had suddenly gone downhill, and would I like to say goodbye to him!
So, I went in and saw Manny, but he wouldn’t take a gravy bone from me, which he would normally do enthusiastically. I asked if they had a final resting place sorted for him and because he was a big dog, the size of the hole needed, and they did have. I then told them about a character in Kinbrace who had asked me to help carry his deerhound to his prepared “last resting place”. He had a hole dug but eventually had to get a mini digger in because it wasn’t big enough.
It was quite an experience, as the dog was very heavy, even for the two of us. The man was sobbing all the time, so it was very upsetting for me too.
I obviously left feeling upset, thinking the vet would call. But at the next house there was a box of new ducklings in the porch, and I had to talk to them.
When I arrived back in Torrisdale, I parked up, let the chickens out and was welcomed by Gilbert’s excited dogs when I opened the door - lovely!
What a day of joy and sadness, and you think we just deliver a few parcels and letters!
Mark Gilbert is a postman based in Bettyhill.
