Shelter & Sanctuary

On the islands, stormy weather only accentuates the cosiness of my auntie's kitchen

- COINNEACH MACLEOD

ROCKALL, Malin, Hebrides. Southwest gale 8 to storm 10, veering west, severe gale 9 to violent storm 11. Rain, then squally showers. Poor, becoming moderate…”

If you've ever listened to The Shipping Forecast, you know the mix of anticipation and calm it brings, especially to those of us who grew up on the islands. It's a reminder that storms come and go, but on the island, there is always a sanctuary: the kitchen. And if any kitchen embodies this, it's my Aunt Bellag's.

In her kitchen, warmth is more than the glow of the peat fire or the scent of baking; it is a feeling. The Danes call it hygge - a sense of contentment and comfort, like being wrapped in a blanket with a steaming mug of tea while a storm rages outside.

But in the Hebrides, we have our own word for this: blàths. It means warmth, kindliness and a deep sense of peace, qualities that my aunt radiates with every story she shares and every slice of cake she serves.

There's a saying in Gaelic, “beiridh blàths air luaths”, which means, “there is a time for everything”. And if there is ever a time to feel blàths, it's during my weekly visits to see my auntie. I find her in the kitchen, stove lit, with the rich scent of spices and dried fruit filling the room. The warmth isn't just from the fire; it comes from her stories.