This time of year creates so many opportunities for conversations, for memories to be made and to be shared with so many seasonal customs. 

It's a time for recognising our neighbours and others by sharing food - a gift of something grown as harvest season is celebrated and such a special custom to continue. 

In a group of local people of different ages, conversation turned to remembering an old orchard by The Manse, where the adults recalled being children, who helped themselves to an apple or two and picked others for the harvest festival plate. Little did they know that the Minister and his wife counted on this "light looting" to help them gather the apples and share them around the community. The surprise on the faces of the adults, now in late 50s to 60s, who thought their orchard capers were undetected, created much laughter.

The adults all told the children present that they should "never steal fruit from people's trees", yet also claimed they did no harm when they did a little fruit pilfering when young themselves - which the children called them out on of-course!

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing!