Agnes, My Friend and Neighbour

 Agnes: my next door neighbour and new friend

The photo above is of Agnes. She is many things: wife to Jim, mother to three sons and a
daughter, grandmother to five, one of the main caregivers for her elderly mum,  a part-time
early morning employee of the wee Shop in St. Fergus, and a friend to all in the village. 

For nearly three months that I  have lived in St Fergus, Agnes and her husband Jim have
been great next door neighbours who have become the best of friends. Whereas Jim is a
man of few words, Agnes has the gift of chatting. Boy, can she talk! But I like it. At first
she talks in a more common English, and then slowly reverts back to the Doric Tongue, es-
pecially when other people join us. It is good for me to hear people talking about the com-
mon life of family, friends, food, and other things in the common tongue. I ask her where to
get things I need, where to shop at the best prices, where I can get petrol, how to fix things
that are broken, and how to cook certain foods. 

A meal Agnes prepared for me: mince pie, fresh tattoos,
brown rice, and a carrot

One of the things I appreciate about Agnes is her ability to cook. Above is a photo of one 

of the meals she prepared for me. The mince pie was actually from a local butcher in Peter-

head. One day not too long ago, Agnes and Jim had their portion, and decided to share the 

rest with me. Fortunately I had not started cooking my supper that day when I heard a knock 

on my back door. Jim announced that Agnes had a dinner plate for me. I gratefully received 

it and ate with great delight. The mince was heavenly and the crust was light and tasty. The 

freshly dug boiled tatties (potatoes) were out of this world! The brown rice was a nice com-

plement and the one carrot was so good I wish there had been more. 

Agnes had recently been telling me about herring, a popular fish here in the North-East. 

Once again I heard a knock on the back door. When I opened it Jim presented me with a 

herring and fresh tatties dinner. It is the first time that I have had herring. It is a white fish 

that Agnes prepared with an oatmeal coating. It was very good. I also savoured her roast 

beef with tatties, Yorkshire Puddings, and a carrot. It, too, was heavenly. One afternoon 

she gave me a bowl of Scotch Broth. I have been well cared for and well fed. 

Agnes represents an older way that some people live here in the North-East of Scotland. 

She interacts with people by spoken words more than printed or digital words. Agnes en-

gages with her world through family, relationships, and friends more than through organi-

sations and government. She learns by doing things with others rather than reading a man-

ual or following directions. Even though she is on the roll of St Fergus Parish Church, she 

only comes twice a year when the church has communion. She's one of the best at provid-

ing things for a church fundraiser or selling tickets for a church event. But God does not 

have a place in her life even though her daughter and granddaughter are energetic believers 

and active in a Peterhead church. Agnes is so friendly and hospitable. I only pray that she 

will one day recognise God's gracious hospitality and enter into a personal relationship with 

Christ. 

Blessings to you and yours,