My Favourite Place - Cumbernauld by Olivia Caw
Where is it?
My garden, in our scheme, in Cumbernauld where I was born and bred and continue to return to no matter where life takes me.
Why do you go there?
As much as I could’ve chosen the Rest and be Thankful, I keep coming back to places closer to home, that make me feel just as rested and grateful.
We’d lived in a flat most of my life, so having an outdoor space means I can remind myself there’s more to the world than what’s going on in our house.
Being from a working-class area, it’s easy to forget that we’re still surrounded by nature and beauty. To be lucky enough to listen to the birds, to plant seeds and rehome slugs keeps me out there for hours.
To listen to the weans giggle past the fence after school, hear the bin men’s patter on a Wednesday morning, when the sun pretends that she’ll be with us all day. To play with the dug. To breathe.
How often do you go?
Come rain, hail or shine (mainly rain), I’ll sit in the garden a couple of times a day.
How did you discover it?
When my papa’s health deteriorated last year, we were lucky enough to be moved into our house with a garden, so that me, my mammy and the dog could look after him. It was pretty basic and hadn’t been properly loved in a long time, until we got there.
I’ve done all the work on it myself and while turning the soil we discovered what would’ve been a wee pond, smack bang in the middle. I’d have preferred gold, but it was nice to be reminded that even a house that’s only about 40 years old has history.
What’s your favourite memory?
We’ve only been here a year, but we’ve made plenty of memories already, a testament to any special place. My wee mammy and I avoiding the dog as we lifted bags worth of chucky stones and laid our own grass.
Putting a fresh washing on the line for the first time. Our first barbecue. Sitting and manifesting all the good times still to come here: growing plants, the babies of the family growing into wee people, and growing to love our wee haven more and more.
Who do you take?
Anyone who will look at my newfound gardening skills, but mainly my lovely wee doggy Nelson Brien Caw, who hogs the sun loungers as much as any other seat.
What do you take?
A book, a brolly, my big fluffy jumper and my thick Scottish skin.
What do you leave behind?
The washing when the weather has turned again.
Sum it up in five words.
Homely, proud, restful, cosy and wonky (because we did all the landscaping).
What other travel spot is on your wish list?
I want to see more of the Hebrides and I love Dunoon, but I wouldnae say no to a jaunt round the Caribbean.
Olivia Caw stars in Common Tongue at Cumbernauld Theatre at Lanternhouse on September 26 and 27, then the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Netherbow Theatre, Edinburgh, on September 28
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel