Home Reflections, Shona McMillan ©

20.04.10: I have made this film by editing together old cine films shot by my family in the 1960s, the original filming no doubt undertaken by my dad Hugh McMillan, mum Jean and my sister Iris. The photo at the end of this film, the first I have of me and mum, would be taken by my dad who was a great photographer. Yet amazingly, it was only when I got in to photography (and finally went back through his old slides) that I saw the quality of the photographs he had taken.

Recording film on a cine camera, was much more challenging than it is to use today's digital equipment and, although the quality of the film has suffered with the passing of the years, I still think that the over all film gives a very good reflection of the memories I have today about my childhood. Someone asked if I used special effects to age the film but no. Film ages and these were never stored with particular care and attention as, at the time, they were just films taken as part of every day life. Sadly, it is not until the years move on and people pass away that we really see the value in so much which was taken for granted at the time...

In Scotland, I grew up in our family's home in the city of Edinburgh, between the sea, Portobello-Leith and Arthur Seat. Next to a railway line which, back then, seemed to be a perfectly 'safe' environment for us all to play in. Indeed, the railway was an adventure playground, full of wildflowers, animals like foxes and hedgehogs and an abundance of insects (grass-hoppers, butterflies and so on).

I also liked to watch the trains and the people who would pass by on their journeys, in and out of Edinburgh's Waverley Station or diverting off to a station which used to sit at the bottom of Leith Walk. The first steam trains I recall and the others which passed were not speeding by at 125mph. I remember much slower trains, with people you could actually wave to and train drivers and guards we would shout exchanged greetings with and get to know. Such a different time, when we as children would happily chat to adults and no one thought that was 'dangerous behaviour', it was just another part of normal life by the railway.

My wee friend in this clip, Stewart Hall, he was a life-time friend to me like all his remaining family are. Just a few doors apart, the children ran along the railway wall which linked all the gardens so we were always in and out of each others houses. Today, Stewart's sister Elizabeth (probably just a few months old when this film was made) is still a friend of mine, 40 plus years on with children of her own.

It's a pretty 'thought provoking' song I have combined with this clip but I think it correctly captures the importance of time, the need to LIVE for NOW and not always plan for some far off and distant future which may never be. In life, we can plan but we will never know how things will turn out until we lookback, reflecting retrospectively on a life that's been lived.

In 2007, I met the singer of the song - Allison Crowe when we both performed in Durness at the John Lennon festival. Later, when she did another gig in Edinburgh, Allison sang this song and absolutely blew me away with her performance and the intensity of the lyrics. Having just lost my mum to cancer, less than 12 months before, I said to Allison that her singing had captured for me the incredible need I felt to do things 'NOW'. She gave me her CD as a gift "Allison Crowe Little Light" and amongst the many other beautiful songs on it - this remains for me the most special. A song which has often helped to motivate me in my uphill personal challenge to produce my own People and Songs of the Sea multi-media heritage project (recording fisher folk from Edinburgh to Eyemouth in thousands of photos, audio and most recently film).

The lyrics of the song here - they so greatly inspire me and yes they can be sad but also, they encourage true reflection and appreciation of the value of time. All of us have just 24hrs in each day, it can seem a lot at the time but, when we look back on a life lived and now gone - we see how very precious time was and is. We see that a Life is made up, shaped and built by all the little choices we make over the hours, days, weeks and years that we live. The ways in which we choose to spend our time are surely the most important, on-going decisions we make throughout the days of our lives.

It is sad when a person's life has ended but how many arrive to this point without having 'really lived' in the first place? This song "When I am gone" could be a variation on the expression - Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!

Early on in life I read a saying "Life is not a rehearsal." I think this is such a valuable expression to remember. How very precious time is. Indeed, I recall my mum's favourite saying which was the philosophy by which she tried to live her life:

"I pass this way but once, any good that I can do - Let Me - for I may not pass this way again.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Shona
• McMillan
• Edinburgh
• Stewart
• Hall
• Home
• Family
• Railway
• Children
• Allison
• Crowe
• Life
• Reflections
• Childhood
• When
• I'm
• Gone
• Carpe
• Diem

[Ljotulfson]

Brings back some wonderful and much cherished memories of our childhood days in the early 1960s - "Life is not a dress rehearsal" - so true Shona.

[dunn4k]

Still one of my all time favorites.

[dunn4k]

I keep returning to this great video. Perfect song for this great capture of childhood.

[BenjaminKemp95]

Absolutely brilliant, such a lovely film. This is truly awesome, i just recently tried a film quite similar to this for an art assignment, it was my first time making a film and im not sure where im at with my competence. Have a look if you'd like, its no where near your level of experience but its something i'd really enjoy getting into. Any feed back would be great :)

[thissong4you]

This is lovely, Shona. All of it. I especially enjoyed your musings, and found many connections with my own experiences. I totally agree and frequently say that "Life is not a dress rehearsal." Another favorite quote, "Don't cry because it's over - smile because it happened. - Dr. Suess. I am thoroughly enjoying your channel.

[clarebannerman]

Wonderful memories.........beautifully edited with the appropriate backing track. Lovely.

[TheFiddlerOfLeinster]

 emotional film!!

[TheFiddlerOfLeinster]

Magical voice, Magical song..emotional lyrics!!! ;-)

[Adrian22]

lovely evocation of the beauty and simple joy of living!

thanks for making and sharing this ( :