Shipwreck Dyes

摘要

This is a story of sheep, and shipwreck, and a new pair of socks. One side of my family is Orcadian, and I grew up hearing tales of lighthouses, crofts and the tenuous quality of small island life. My grandfather was a lighthouse keeper, and although the recollections of his adventures were often exciting, I realised that it was the stories of how my Gran managed a croft and raised a family that I really wanted to hear. After all, when he was away on the lighthouse, she would have to manage on her own. And then, when he was back, no doubt she would have to cede responsibilities to him in a way that suited the gendered expectations of the time.