I had intended to get across to Ettrick, but only got as far as a gorgeous village, not far from Kelso, where I door-knocked the whole lane and learnt an inordinate amount of useful, enlightening, fascinating, troubling and important information from a very wide range of Borderers that only taking time to talk properly can elucidate.
It was encouraging to find ideas to run a pilot scheme to restore nature where the farmer gets the benefit but does not bear the burden of the scheme or have their vital food production interrupted, is more than holding water.
A top highlight, though, was meeting a member of the amazing Scottish women’s rugby squad and talking about how to ensure local women can get the right support, should they want to start families, to be able to raise children and work at the same time, at any point in their career; and, as I see it, that women in business are the key to Borders development.
Also, we need the whole higher education, postgrad, postdoc and research piece here in the Borders across all disciplines.
And we need to get the BGH rebuilt to a much larger spec and established as a teaching hospital… among other incredibly well informed and deeply thought through topics.
But I think the moment when the lady I met whilst taking the first ‘produce’ pic below told me her father had devised the drug that I have taken since 2016 to ward off repeat breast cancer was probably the most surprising and heartwarming. Seriously, all one has to do is start a conversation with anyone. It’s fantastic what one learns.
Then I popped over to Hundy Mundy in the hypnotic sunset to say hi to my mum, literally buried in the long grass, and thank myself that, when faced with cancer, I had thought to buy the plot next to mum’s as my final resting place, because it is one of the most beautiful spots in the Borders. It’s a great place to hang out for eternity. That’s local commitment, no? 
