@CharlesBannerman... Ahh strawberry picking out at Lentran...on the A862...about half way to Beauly. I seemed to remember there were organised double decker buses laid on to take anyone and everyone who wanted to head there for the day - and I seem to remember that even a lunch - or at least a sandwich was laid on...as I for one, never gave the slightest thought of bringing anything to eat with me - pick four strawberries...eat two...who needed a packed lunch!
We must have only been ten or eleven years old...pocket money - if we had any...might have been a shilling or so...but a good days picking could rake in a pound or so!!
There were all ages...babes in arms...big sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandads and grannies - all of them strangers...and we chatted to them all - and again not a care in the world - and never a hint of danger...we had no fear of 'strangers...'
Walking home...whenever you felt like leaving...following the wall along the A862...knowing you should be walking on the other side of the road - facing oncoming traffic...but cars were few and far between...and I seemed to remember that at Buncrew? there was a little shop...so we'd stop off for a drink and maybe a packet of crisps - the bag with a wee bag of salt in them to add as you wished...
We'd continue on our way...thumb out to any car that might pass by... Can you imagine a ten year old hitch hiking these days...?!
Finally Clachnaharry...and maybe a passing trawler...or pleasure boat - and we'd hitch a lift up the locks to the canal...and discover the wonders of radar from a kindly boat owner...perhaps be allowed to look through binoculars...
More than once we'd say thanks...and literally jump of the boat where the boatyard is on the canal now...and swim ashore...and down the muddy path which led us down to the 'Kavies'...and from there a short walk home...jumping over the school fence - somehow thinking that the Janitor spent his entire day looking out for 'trespassers...'
Through the grass at the back of the church...down the lane at the side of the Scout Hall...and home through the back door of Laurel Avenue...
No mobile phones...no phone at home...nobody knowing where you were, or had been...nobody really caring - because it was safe, and that's what summers were for - discovering your world...and what a world it was...the best of worlds. And what a time and place to grow up in - summer in Dalneigh...in what used to be Inverness... How lucky were we?!