Neighbours – I am a lucky man in memory of Pam a great neighbour.

When I moved to Burghead I was very lucky as my neighbours are great people, I share a wee backyard with Pam & Irving. Pam passed away yesterday after along illness, she has been in hospital since December.  Pam and myself had great banter and wee shared a “bleather” every day that I was at home. She listened to my stories about the mountains, my family and saw all the photos of Lexi  my grandchild.  She was always trying to get me married off.  Pam was so dead pan you never knew when she was taking the micky. We also both love plants and flowers and though there was no contest  we had a wee competition every year for the best flowers, I always lost. There is little room in our wee back yard but Pam has some amount of plants and every day she was out there with them. She bought me plastic slugs and frogs and stuck them in my window boxes or on my windowsill – she was always up for a laugh and we had so many of these.   How I will miss her company,the yard was always full of the grandchildren and Pam was always helping someone.

Every time I look out of my wee window I will see Pam in the flowers and also all the laughs we had. My annual runners up prize for best flowers. Pam thanks xxxx.

I came back early on New Years day in my first year in the village and sneaked into the house after a wild few days on the hills. Pam was soon at the door and I was invited for dinner no need to change just great food and hospitality. Neighbours can make where you live special and Pam and Irving did that for me. Pam was so well known in the Village and all her friends regularly chatted outside our wee houses, I got to know all of them and she made me feel at home in Burghead.  The banter was special, I called them the “fish – wife’s” it was unique and the worlds problems were solved at the doorstep.  We had also a get together at the Clavie night Pictish New Year in January and it was a great honor to be invited to the start of the Clavie at their house. A long tradition in Burghead and a night of great memories. I get a few visitors and our doors are very similar a few friends have walked in the wrong house by mistake to be greeted by Pam and the family Alsatian Sammy. There was never a bad word just a wee laugh!

Pam passed away  yesterday in  Aberdeen  and I will really miss her. Irving her husband and the family are devastated  and it will be a very hard time for all. I am sure all the friends she did so much for will be looking after Irving and the family.

Some people pass though your life  and others making e a huge mark.

Pam was one of them. God bless you Pam thanks for looking after me.