Ag obair saor-thoilich aig a Mhod

I was volunteering at the Royal National Mòd in Stornoway during the opening weekend of the competition. 

 

On the night I arrived I heard a story from Charlie, a cyclist, who was sharing the hostel accommodation. He was blown off his bike climbing up a hill on his bike which left him and his bike a bit battered - this said he still managed to cycle to Stornoway, and was prepared to continue his tour of the Highlands in the morning! A couple of the the shinty team were staying over in the hostel too - they were competing on Uist and they won 2-0. When I arrived in Stornoway after a long day of travelling I was greeted by the local pipe band! Well, quite incidentally as they were there to cheer on some runners. I caught the last half hour of the Mod opening night and met some old faces and had a brief catch-up.

 

After a lovely breakfast and a brief walk in the drizzle, I began work at half past eight on the Saturday morning. I got all kitted out with the new hi-vis waiscoat and name badge and was given my duties by the head steward, Iain Norman. Iain MacArthur was there too and greeted me and the other volunteering stewards. In the morning, I was working alongside Annie, who also volunteers at the local community radio station (Isles FM), and a retired Gaelic teacher. It was great as I was able to use my Gaelic with them both and the two Iains. My main duty was to steward the doors (bit like a bouncer) to make sure the performances were not interrupted and to ensure people entering the hall had tickets. I did have to run a few errands too and I got a chance to catch up with old acquaintances as they came through the doors. The hospitality by the ladies - as always - was second to none! The home baking and refreshments really did go down a treat! Superb! I dealt with customer queries in  both Gaelic and English and I even got a sneak preview of the Fiddlers rally as they were rehearsing, and what a show! Makes me want to learn the fiddle... By the time I had finished my shifts the sun was out which made my walk to the Bridge centre for my second night's accommodation more pleasurable.

 

Later that night, I went to the Mòd dance where Face the West were performing and I amanged to confuse an old acquaintance by speaking English - I had only ever spoken with him in Gaelic so I kind of threw him! The ceilidh band were good and got a lot of people on the floor. The next morning on my way to the ferry, I bumped into Ellie Evans, a competitor who won a trophy in a fiddle competition and hopes to win a trophy on Wednesday for playing the clarsach. she was telling me that she was Welsh and although stays in Edinburgh studies in Glasgow on the Scottish Trads course. she's also learning Gaelic which I found interesting as I didn't realise Gaelic was taught at the Conservatoire. I eventually got home just before midnight on the Sunday after a long journey home on the ferry (where waves were crashing about the boat quite magnificantly!) and Citylink coaches back to Glasgow. I used to time to catch up on homework for uni!

 

The whole weekend flew in really quickly, but it has definitely proved invaluable to me. Not only did I get to see how the event operated, but I also made a few more contacts which will come in useful in the future I am sure. I got to see what the Mod was for myself and I no longer have to rely on other people's opinions. I was always told that not much Gaelic was spoken at the Mòd - I found that to be the contrary as a lot of Gaelic was spoken between the volunteers and some spoken with the spectators and competitors. Cetrtainly though, when the Mòd returns to Glasgow in the next few years I would hope the majority of volunteers, visitors and competitiors to be speaking Gaelic. It's exciting times to work towards!

 

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Bha mi ag obair aig a' Mhòd ann an Steòrnabhagh an-de airson a' chiad latha na co-fharpaisean. Thoisich mi obair mar stiùbhard fo Iain Norman tràth sa mhadainn aig 8.30.

 

Ro-làimh sin, dhùisg mi aig 7.15m, leum mi a-mach as an leabaidh agam aig HebHostel agus fhras mi. An uair sin, ghabh mi bracaist nam aonar (air sgath gun do dh’fhàg triùir eile, co bha san aon seòmar agamsa, nas tràithe. Bha mi a bhruidhinn le Teàrlach. Bha e suas air an rothair aige agus rinn e turas na eileanan air a rhothair. Thuirt e gun robh e ann an tubaist faisg air na Hearadh. Bha gaoth làidir air a lifted him up off the road nuair a bha e air a rhothair!). Chaidh mi dhan chadal as dèidh latha na siubhal fada mu 11.30f. Chunnaic mi deireadh nan òraidean aig oidhche fhosgailte san Lanntair. Chunnaic mi aon no dha dhuine ann a tha eòlas orm bho an t-am nuair a bha mi suas airson Sgoil Shamhraidh mu 6/8 seachdain air ais.

 

Mar a bha mi ag ràdh, thoisich mi aig 8.30m. Chuir Iain Norman (àrd-stiùbhard) fàilte orm agus an uair sin rinn Iain MacArthur (neach-stiùiriche son luchd-obrach saor-thoilich) an aon rud. Rinn mi ceilidh còmhla ri Annie is tè eile co bha tidsear Ghàidhlig nuair a bha I ag obair. Fhuair mi bogsa programan agus bha mi ag obair aig doras an talla, beagan mar bounsair! Bha mi air chuideachadh leis an cashing-up cuideachd. Tha cuimhne agam air na cèicichean blasta, dèante aig an taigh tha mi cinnteach, còmhla ris an teatha is cofaidh. Bha sinne looked after glè mhath! Fhuair sinn baga bhiadh son lon cuideachd agus cuairt eile na cèicichean is teatha. Bha mi ag obair aig na dorsan gus 4.30f.

 

As dèidh sinn, chaidh mi a dhèanamh check-in aig am Bridge Centre agus chaidh mi dhan Coop cuideachd son dìnnear. Choimhead mi X Factor air an telebhisean son a' chiad am agus nuair a chrìoch e chaidh mi don chèilidh far an do chluich Face the West. Bha mi bruidhinn ri Murdo ann agus ri dithis eile bho buidheann stiùiriche na Mod ann am Pàislig. Bha mi air falbh as dèidh 4 magners aig 12m.

 

Dh’fhàg mi am Bridge Centre beagan as dèidh 12f Didòmhnaich. Bha mi a' bruidhinn ri Ellie Evans as a Chumraigh ach co tha a' fuirich ann an Dun Èideann is co tha a' dèanamh ceum ann an ceòl traidiseanta aig Conservatoire na h-Alba ann an Glaschu. Bhuannaich i trophy air Diciadain cuideachd son a' cluich am faidhle. Bidh i a' cluich an clàrsach Diciadain sa tighinn ann am farpais eile.

 

Thillidh mi dachaigh mu 11f a-nochd as dèidh bata-aiseag is 3 busaichean. Chord rium gu lèir an deireadh seachdain seo. Bha eòlas math is inntinneach dhomh.