Cancer diagnosis leads Highland man to produce life-affirming story collection
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Donald MacDonald was being treated for cancer last year when he decided to jot down some of his memories and turn them into a book.
As he puts it, "I like a project." The result – Life’s Too Short for Ironing Shirts – is a collection of stories that are engaging, enlightening, amusing and, most of all, life-affirming.
“It kept my mind right, writing it," Donald said in between signing copies of the book at a well-attended launch event in Caithness. “We should really appreciate every moment that we have. Don't waste it."
Originally from Glengolly, near Thurso, and now living in Forss, Donald – who will be 56 in July – is a farmer who is well known in Caithness and beyond for his work in landscape gardening.
The tales recounted in the book are based on some of his experiences and encounters over the years and reflect his cheerful, positive personality.
Donald became unwell while on a trip to South America in January 2020 with his friend Ian Leith. They had been exploring the enduring links between Caithness and Patagonia and meeting some of the descendants of the emigrant families.
On his return, he went to his GP surgery in Thurso and had some blood taken. When the results came back, he was told to get down to Raigmore without delay. The diagnosis was leukaemia.
“I was lying in my hospital bed," Donald recalled. "First of all they said to me, 'Oh, you'll be here for a fortnight anyway, boy.'
“I thought, 'This is going to murder me, sitting looking at these walls for a fortnight.' Then they told me I'd be there for a while.
“The doctor told me I'd better get a telly organised or something. I said, 'Here, I'm not wanting a telly – there's nothing on it but negative stuff about Covid.'
“So I said to him, 'I've got a plan – I've got a project.' I pulled out this big notepad that one of the nurses got for me, and a pen, and I said, 'I'm going to write a book about my memories, about growing up where I did and all the rest of it.'
“We had a tremendous upbringing which stood us in good stead for our working lives because we had experience before we left school of repairing, and doing things.
"Even if it was collecting hens' eggs, that was your job every day – you went and got a pail of corn and fed hens. It taught you good discipline, and these were things we enjoyed from a young age.”
Donald had an initial spell of 86 days in Raigmore's Ward 5a, then returned for a further 30 days.
“Although it's the cancer ward, it was the happiest ward you could be in," he said. "It was unbelievable. People were saying, 'Is this it? Is this the end of the road?' They just thought, 'Let's just have a crack,' and the crack was brilliant in the ward.
“And then there are the sad cases of people that were in the ward that are no longer with us."
Donald has kept in touch with some of his fellow patients – one of whom, Peter Somerset, travelled up from Marybank in Ross-shire with his wife Susan to be at the launch in the Manor House hotel in Janet Street, Thurso.
Also present were two people who each had a key role in caring for Donald during his illness – Elizangela Robertson, a nurse in Ward 5a at Raigmore who lives in Bonar Bridge, and Inverness-based Macmillan nurse Calum Adams.
Elizangela said: “Donald is inspiring, and he wants to inspire other people as well by showing part of his life and that it was worth fighting for. I think we need to support that.
“He did well but he wants to help others to do well and for people to keep their minds positive. What he's achieved, and what he is still going to achieve in helping other people, I think that's what is important.”
Calum said of the book: “Essentially it's his memoirs. Donald spoke about it in the ward – we were there at the beginning and it's good to see it come to fruition.
“His banter and crack was really good on the ward and you need that. That's medicine in itself, isn't it?”
Donald said: “I was delighted they all came up."
Opening the afternoon launch session, Ian Leith declared that Donald had achieved “a great milestone in Caithness literature”. Ian said: “It's more than a life story. It's about Donald's life in the context of growing up in Caithness, growing up on a farm, the ways and means of farming – it's all in here.
“And most importantly, I think, it's peppered with characters that Donald has met and encouraged stories from along the way.
“You have to buy this book just to enjoy and understand life in Caithness.”
Donald told the audience that the writing process had been "very therapeutic” and he thanked everyone who had helped in getting the book published, adding: “It has all come together so well. I hope you all find it interesting.”
Life’s Too Short for Ironing Shirts was transcribed by Ian Leith and edited and typeset by Chris Nicolson under the imprint Teeniemaleek Publications. It was printed by Caithness Print Solutions, with front-cover photography by James Gunn.
It is on sale at various local outlets and proceeds from sales will be donated to Ward 5A at Raigmore in recognition of the care and kindness Donald received there.
"Being diagnosed with cancer was a life-changing experience and I've learned a lot from it," Donald writes in the chapter that goes on to explain where the title of the book came from. "When I was told I had cancer I realised health is wealth and anything else is a bonus."
The launch was divided into afternoon and evening sessions to accommodate Donald's family, friends and many well-wishers, and trade was brisk. One woman could be seen buying seven copies.
“It was really enjoyable working with Ian and with Chris writing it up and we're getting a fantastic kick from what we've produced," Donald said as he put his pen down after the last of the books had been signed.
“It's my 'sponsored walk'. It's giving something to people and hopefully they will enjoy a wee read.”
