The Holm of Houton

A walk around the Parish. 

From the top of the Midland Hill I could see what appeared to be a peedie white egg on the horizon.  It was in fact the reactor at Dounreay, courtesy of a  shaft of sunlight on Caithness.  The reactor must have seen the original use of the term ‘iconic’, for it is.  I was inside it about twenty years ago.  Obviously, I was working in Dounreay.  I asked specifically if I could get inside the reactor, it had to be arranged six weeks in advance.
 
Rather embarrassingly on site my two escorts though that the reason I asked to be inside the reactor was that it would be part of the study I was conducting.  ‘No,’ I confessed ‘I just wanted to be inside the reactor’.  They also couldn’t understand why I kept mentioning the Eagle comic.  The reactor featured on the front page and, at other times, it included, The Mallard, TSR2, Forth Rail Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, an egg cup.

Back at base I awaited the return of the Current Mrs Creel fae Kirkwall.  Why is it I can’t remember what she asked me to do when she left for toon when I can remember what time my Granny served my boiled egg on March 4th 1955?  It was a Friday, damp, frost forecast.  I had yet to get my first Dinky.

On return to base I called Rognvald for an update; on the blower for 1.5 hrs.  The Current Mrs Creel said ‘you’re like a couple of wimmin’.  I pointed out to her that, for the purposes of the call, we both dressed in our ‘going away outfits’.  I am Cecily to Rognvald’s Cynthia.  I have to admit I think he’s more of a Deidre.

Desmond phoned to say in August 2021 he’s reading for a part in ‘Lady Windemere’s Fan’. 

Rumours persist.  But what else can they do?

Nothing that a liquorice torpedo can’t cure.

Melvyn Bragg wasn’t available for comment.