[Anna] ’S mar sin dheth cha robh, chan eil ùidh air a bhith agadsa ann a bhith a’ leughadh sci-fi. Dè seòrsa rud nuair a bha thu ag èirigh suas, dè bhitheadh tu a’ leughadh? No dè seòrsa cur-seachad a bh’ agad nuair a bha thu ag èirigh suas?
[Sarah] Tha mi a smaointinn nuair a, na leabhraichean a bhithinn a’ leughadh caran nuair a thòisich mi air leabhraichean mar sin a leughadh an toiseach, bhithinn a leughadh Nancy Drew ’s feadhainn den t-seòrsa sin.
[Anna] Cò againn nach bitheadh?
[Sarah] Uill sin an rud! Tha sin caran tràth san àrd-sgoil tha mi a’ creidsinn no ceann shuas na bun-sgoile a bhithinn a’ leughadh nan leabhraichean sin, agus an uair sin caran chan eil fhios a’m an e gluasad air falbh bho leughadh a rinn mi airson greis ach tha mi a-nis aig an ìre far an leugh mi, togaidh mi leabhar sam bith, fhios agad, ’s feuchaidh mi. Chì mi an còrd e rium ’s an dèidh caibideil no dhà bidh fios a’m co-dhiù a bheil mi air faighinn a-steach air gus nach eil.
[Anna] ’S mur am biodh tu a’ leughadh nuair a bha thu òg, dè an còrr a bhiodh tu a’ dèanamh?
[Sarah] Uill tha mi cinnteach mar a bha a h-uile òganach eile aig an àm, bhithinn a’ coimhead telebhisean ’s bhithinn, bha mi an lùib buidhinn dràma ’s bha ...
[Anna] Innis dhomh mar a chaidh thu an sàs anns an dràma.
[Sarah] Nuair a bhiodh na fèisean a’ dol, bha mi an lùib nam fèisean nuair a bha mi sa bhun-sgoil agus bhithinn a’ dèanamh dràma ann an sin. Chan eil lùth-ciùil no seinn no sìon dhe sin annam ’s mar sin far ...
[Anna] Cuiridh mi geall gu bheil!
[Sarah] ... ’s ann gu dràma a chaidh, fhios agad, a chaidh mo stiùireadh mar gum biodh. ’S caran thog mi, bha mi a-riamh a’ gabhail ris gur e an rud a bu choireach gun robh daoine a’ smaointinn gun robh mi cho math air dràma, gu bheil guth làidir agam agus deagh Ghàidhlig a bha gam stiùireadh an taobh sin.
[Anna] Uill tha an dà rud feumail, nach eil?
[Sarah] Tha an dà rud gu math feumail, cinnteach gu leòr, ach co-dhiù tha mi fhathast an sàs ann an dràma. Nis tha mi ann an Sgioba Dràma Uibhist aig an taigh so lean sin rè nam bliadhnaichean. Bha mi an lùib sgioba nuair a bha mi ann an Inbhir Nis.
[Anna] Innis dhomh mun sgioba dràma an-dràsta anns a bheil thu. Tha sibh air a bhith gu math soirbheachail.
[Sarah] Tha sinn a’ dèanamh glè mhath. Nuair a thill mi air ais a dh’Uibhist, uill tha mi cinnteach gu bheil mi às dèidh a bhith an sàs ann an Sgioba Dràma Uibhist bho chionn ochd bliadhna no mar sin, ’s tha sinn a’ dèanamh dealbh-chluich a h-uile bliadhna. Tha sinn ag amas air a dhol chun a’ Mhòid. Diofar chuspairean. Gu math tric ’s e comadaidh. Tha sinn a’ faireachdainn gu bheil comadaidh, tha e a’ tighinn tarsaing nas fheàrr air an àrd-ùrlar agus ...
[Anna] Tha mi a’ creid gu bheil daoine nas dualtaiche a dhol a choimhead comadaidh. ’S fheàirrde daoine gàire.
[Sarah]’S fheàirrde daoine gàire gu dearbh agus gu dearbh fhèin tha iad ga fhaighinn againne, co-dhiù tha sinn a’ feuchainn ri chur annta gus nach eil!
[Anna] Agus bha thu cuideachd, rinn sibh dealbh-chluich mun Chiad Chogadh. Nise chan e comadaidh a tha sin.
[Sarah] Chan e, chan e ach mar a tha e, fhios agad, tha thu a’ faighinn, gheibh thu dìreach mionaid no dha, uill chan e mionaid no dhà, fhios agad, ach sealladh no dhà de Chomic Relief fiù ’s ann an rud trom. Agus cuideachd nuair a tha daoine cho eòlach air an sgioba againn a-nis chan eil e gu diofar dè an caractar a tha thu a’ cluich. Aon uair ’s gun coisich cuid againn a-mach air an stèidse tha luchd-amhairc a’ sracadh a’ gàireachdainn ort ’s tha iad an uair sin a’ tuigsinn nach eil còir aca.
[Anna] Feumaidh sibh rudeigin a liathadh. Ceart ma-thà, dè mu dheidhinn a’ chiad leabhar a thug thu a-steach dhuinn?
[Sarah] Uill ’s e a’ chiad fhear a thug mise a-steach ’s e am fear seo, The Clan of the Cave Bear le Jean M Auel.
[Anna] Cò mu dheidhinn a tha e?
[Sarah] Tha an leabhar mu dheidhinn nighinn òig aig còig bliadhna a dh’aois ann an ... ’S ann ann an àm ro-eachdraidh a tha an sgeulachd stèidhichte, so tha e prehistoric caran agus tha i air a toirt air falbh bhon teaghlach aice le crith-thalmhainn agus tha i air a fàgail leatha fhèin. Agus an uair sin tha i, tha treubh eile de dhaoine a’ tighinn seachad, fhios agad, tha iad ga faighinn agus tha iad ga gabhail thuca fhèin.
[Anna] ’S mar sin dheth ged a tha e stèidhichte ann an àm bho chionn fhad an t-saoghail tha na rudan air a bheil e a’ togail, tha iad a’ buntainn ri daoine an latha an-diugh. Mu dheidhinn sgaradh agus buntainneas.
[Sarah] Tha, tha e a’ bualadh air an sin. Cuideachd tha e gu math emotive, fhios agad, a thaobh mar a tha ... Bha mise nam dheugaire nuair a leugh mi e agus bha e a’ togail grunn chuspairean, fhios agad, ’s dòcha nach robh mi air smaoineachadh air roimhe. An leithid rud mar sin, fhios agad, duine beag a’ call a h-athar ’s a màthar.
[Anna] ’S a bheil thu a’ smaoineachadh seach gun robh thu aig an ìre a bha siud, bha thu nad dheugaire, gun robh thu ’s dòcha nas dualtaiche na faireachaidhean a tha sin a ghabhail gu do chridhe na bu chruaidhe?
[Sarah] Chan eil fhios a’m am b’ urrainn dhomh a ràdh, fhios agad, gun robh mi a’ faireachdainn buileach cho làidir sin mu dheidhinn ach gu dearbh ’s e a’ chiad leabhar mar a chì sibh tha ... ’s e leabhar mòr a th’ ann, dhòmhsa co-dhiù aig an aois ud.
[Anna] ’S tha sreath ann, nach eil?
[Sarah] Tha sreath ann, aidh. Tha mi a’ smaointinn gur e ceithir a tha san t-sreath. Earth's Children an t-ainm a th’ air an t-sreath.
[Anna] ’S leugh thu gu lèir iad?
[Sarah] Leugh mi gu lèir iad ach chan eil mòran de chuimhne a’m air càch idir, agus uill leugh mi co-dhiù a trì dhiubh. Chan eil fhios a’m an do leugh mi am fear mu dheireadh.
Chaidh am prògram seo, Leugh Mi, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 2015.
[Anna] And as such you didn’t, you have not been interested in reading sci-fi. What sort of thing when you were growing up, what would you read? Or what sort of hobby did you have when you were growing up?
[Sarah] I think when, the books that I would read when I started reading books like that at first, I would read Nancy Drew and ones like that.
[Anna] Who of us didn’t?
[Sarah] Well that is the thing! This was quite early in high school I believe or upper primary school that I would read those books, and then kind of I don't know if it was that I moved away from reading for a while but I am now at the stage where I will read, I will pick up any book, you know, and I will try. I will see if I enjoy it and after a chapter or two anyway I will know if I have gotten into it or not.
[Anna] And if you didn't read when you were young, what else would you do?
[Sarah] Well I am sure as every other youngster at the time, I would watch television and I would, I was involved in a drama group and was ...
[Anna] Tell me how you got involved in drama.
[Sarah] When the fèisean were held, I was involved with the fèisean when I was in primary school and I would do drama there. I have no musical ability or singing or any of that and therefore where ...
[Anna] I bet that you do!
[Sarah] ... it was drama that I was drawn to, you know, that I was directed to as it were. And kind of I built, I always thought that what was responsible for people thinking that I was so good at drama, I have a strong voice and good Gaelic that steered me that way.
[Anna] Well both things are useful, aren't they?
[Sarah] Both things are very useful, sure enough, but anyway I am still involved in drama. Now I am in the Uist Drama Team at home so that continued over the years. I was involved with a team when I was in Inverness.
[Anna] Tell me about the drama team that you are currently in. You have been very successful.
[Sarah] We are doing very well. When I returned to Uist, well I am sure that I have been involved with the Uist Drama Team for eight years or so, and we do a play every year. We aim at going to the Mòd. Different subjects. Very often it is comedy. We feel that comedy, it comes across better on the stage and ...
[Anna] I believe that people are more likely to go to watch comedy. Laughter is good for people.
[Sarah] Laughter is certainly good for people and indeed they get that with us, anyway we try to make them at least!
[Anna] And you were also, you did a play about the First World War. Now that isn't a comedy.
[Sarah] It isn't, it isn't but as it is, you know, you get, you will get just a minute or two, well it isn't a minute or two, you know, but a scene or two of comic relief even in something serious. And also when people are so familiar with our team now it doesn't matter what character you are playing. As soon as some of us walk out on the stage the audience are begin to laugh at you and they then understand that they shouldn't.
[Anna] You must darken the atmosphere. Right then, what about the first book that you took in for us?
[Sarah] Well the first one that I took in it is this one, The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel.
[Anna] What is it about?
[Sarah] The book is about a young girl of five years old, the story is set in a prehistoric time, so it is kind of prehistoric and she is separated from her family by an earthquake and she is left by herself. And then she is, another tribe of people comes past, you know, they find her and they accept her as their own.
[Anna] And so therefore although it is set in an ancient time the matters that it raises, they relate to people nowadays. About separation and belonging.
[Sarah] Yes, it hits on that. Also it is very emotive, you know, with regards to how I was a teenager when I read it and it raised a few subjects, you know, perhaps that I hadn't thought of before. Such as something like that, you know, a little person losing her father and her mother.
[Anna] And do you think because you were at that stage, you were a teenager, that you were perhaps more likely to take those feelings more deeply to heart?
[Sarah] I don't know if I could say, you know, that I felt quite as strong as that about it but certainly it is the first book as you can see is ... it is a big book, for me anyway at that age.
[Anna] And there is a series, isn't there?
[Sarah] There is a series, aye. I think that it is four that is in the series. The series is called Earth's Children.
[Anna] And you read them all?
[Sarah] I read them all but I don't remember much of the others at all, and well I read at least three of them. I don't know if I read the final one.
This programme, Leugh Mi, was first broadcast in 2015.
[Anna] ’S mar sin dheth cha robh, chan eil ùidh air a bhith agadsa ann a bhith a’ leughadh sci-fi. Dè seòrsa rud nuair a bha thu ag èirigh suas, dè bhitheadh tu a’ leughadh? No dè seòrsa cur-seachad a bh’ agad nuair a bha thu ag èirigh suas?
[Sarah] Tha mi a smaointinn nuair a, na leabhraichean a bhithinn a’ leughadh caran nuair a thòisich mi air leabhraichean mar sin a leughadh an toiseach, bhithinn a leughadh Nancy Drew ’s feadhainn den t-seòrsa sin.
[Anna] Cò againn nach bitheadh?
[Sarah] Uill sin an rud! Tha sin caran tràth san àrd-sgoil tha mi a’ creidsinn no ceann shuas na bun-sgoile a bhithinn a’ leughadh nan leabhraichean sin, agus an uair sin caran chan eil fhios a’m an e gluasad air falbh bho leughadh a rinn mi airson greis ach tha mi a-nis aig an ìre far an leugh mi, togaidh mi leabhar sam bith, fhios agad, ’s feuchaidh mi. Chì mi an còrd e rium ’s an dèidh caibideil no dhà bidh fios a’m co-dhiù a bheil mi air faighinn a-steach air gus nach eil.
[Anna] ’S mur am biodh tu a’ leughadh nuair a bha thu òg, dè an còrr a bhiodh tu a’ dèanamh?
[Sarah] Uill tha mi cinnteach mar a bha a h-uile òganach eile aig an àm, bhithinn a’ coimhead telebhisean ’s bhithinn, bha mi an lùib buidhinn dràma ’s bha ...
[Anna] Innis dhomh mar a chaidh thu an sàs anns an dràma.
[Sarah] Nuair a bhiodh na fèisean a’ dol, bha mi an lùib nam fèisean nuair a bha mi sa bhun-sgoil agus bhithinn a’ dèanamh dràma ann an sin. Chan eil lùth-ciùil no seinn no sìon dhe sin annam ’s mar sin far ...
[Anna] Cuiridh mi geall gu bheil!
[Sarah] ... ’s ann gu dràma a chaidh, fhios agad, a chaidh mo stiùireadh mar gum biodh. ’S caran thog mi, bha mi a-riamh a’ gabhail ris gur e an rud a bu choireach gun robh daoine a’ smaointinn gun robh mi cho math air dràma, gu bheil guth làidir agam agus deagh Ghàidhlig a bha gam stiùireadh an taobh sin.
[Anna] Uill tha an dà rud feumail, nach eil?
[Sarah] Tha an dà rud gu math feumail, cinnteach gu leòr, ach co-dhiù tha mi fhathast an sàs ann an dràma. Nis tha mi ann an Sgioba Dràma Uibhist aig an taigh so lean sin rè nam bliadhnaichean. Bha mi an lùib sgioba nuair a bha mi ann an Inbhir Nis.
[Anna] Innis dhomh mun sgioba dràma an-dràsta anns a bheil thu. Tha sibh air a bhith gu math soirbheachail.
[Sarah] Tha sinn a’ dèanamh glè mhath. Nuair a thill mi air ais a dh’Uibhist, uill tha mi cinnteach gu bheil mi às dèidh a bhith an sàs ann an Sgioba Dràma Uibhist bho chionn ochd bliadhna no mar sin, ’s tha sinn a’ dèanamh dealbh-chluich a h-uile bliadhna. Tha sinn ag amas air a dhol chun a’ Mhòid. Diofar chuspairean. Gu math tric ’s e comadaidh. Tha sinn a’ faireachdainn gu bheil comadaidh, tha e a’ tighinn tarsaing nas fheàrr air an àrd-ùrlar agus ...
[Anna] Tha mi a’ creid gu bheil daoine nas dualtaiche a dhol a choimhead comadaidh. ’S fheàirrde daoine gàire.
[Sarah]’S fheàirrde daoine gàire gu dearbh agus gu dearbh fhèin tha iad ga fhaighinn againne, co-dhiù tha sinn a’ feuchainn ri chur annta gus nach eil!
[Anna] Agus bha thu cuideachd, rinn sibh dealbh-chluich mun Chiad Chogadh. Nise chan e comadaidh a tha sin.
[Sarah] Chan e, chan e ach mar a tha e, fhios agad, tha thu a’ faighinn, gheibh thu dìreach mionaid no dha, uill chan e mionaid no dhà, fhios agad, ach sealladh no dhà de Chomic Relief fiù ’s ann an rud trom. Agus cuideachd nuair a tha daoine cho eòlach air an sgioba againn a-nis chan eil e gu diofar dè an caractar a tha thu a’ cluich. Aon uair ’s gun coisich cuid againn a-mach air an stèidse tha luchd-amhairc a’ sracadh a’ gàireachdainn ort ’s tha iad an uair sin a’ tuigsinn nach eil còir aca.
[Anna] Feumaidh sibh rudeigin a liathadh. Ceart ma-thà, dè mu dheidhinn a’ chiad leabhar a thug thu a-steach dhuinn?
[Sarah] Uill ’s e a’ chiad fhear a thug mise a-steach ’s e am fear seo, The Clan of the Cave Bear le Jean M Auel.
[Anna] Cò mu dheidhinn a tha e?
[Sarah] Tha an leabhar mu dheidhinn nighinn òig aig còig bliadhna a dh’aois ann an ... ’S ann ann an àm ro-eachdraidh a tha an sgeulachd stèidhichte, so tha e prehistoric caran agus tha i air a toirt air falbh bhon teaghlach aice le crith-thalmhainn agus tha i air a fàgail leatha fhèin. Agus an uair sin tha i, tha treubh eile de dhaoine a’ tighinn seachad, fhios agad, tha iad ga faighinn agus tha iad ga gabhail thuca fhèin.
[Anna] ’S mar sin dheth ged a tha e stèidhichte ann an àm bho chionn fhad an t-saoghail tha na rudan air a bheil e a’ togail, tha iad a’ buntainn ri daoine an latha an-diugh. Mu dheidhinn sgaradh agus buntainneas.
[Sarah] Tha, tha e a’ bualadh air an sin. Cuideachd tha e gu math emotive, fhios agad, a thaobh mar a tha ... Bha mise nam dheugaire nuair a leugh mi e agus bha e a’ togail grunn chuspairean, fhios agad, ’s dòcha nach robh mi air smaoineachadh air roimhe. An leithid rud mar sin, fhios agad, duine beag a’ call a h-athar ’s a màthar.
[Anna] ’S a bheil thu a’ smaoineachadh seach gun robh thu aig an ìre a bha siud, bha thu nad dheugaire, gun robh thu ’s dòcha nas dualtaiche na faireachaidhean a tha sin a ghabhail gu do chridhe na bu chruaidhe?
[Sarah] Chan eil fhios a’m am b’ urrainn dhomh a ràdh, fhios agad, gun robh mi a’ faireachdainn buileach cho làidir sin mu dheidhinn ach gu dearbh ’s e a’ chiad leabhar mar a chì sibh tha ... ’s e leabhar mòr a th’ ann, dhòmhsa co-dhiù aig an aois ud.
[Anna] ’S tha sreath ann, nach eil?
[Sarah] Tha sreath ann, aidh. Tha mi a’ smaointinn gur e ceithir a tha san t-sreath. Earth's Children an t-ainm a th’ air an t-sreath.
[Anna] ’S leugh thu gu lèir iad?
[Sarah] Leugh mi gu lèir iad ach chan eil mòran de chuimhne a’m air càch idir, agus uill leugh mi co-dhiù a trì dhiubh. Chan eil fhios a’m an do leugh mi am fear mu dheireadh.
Chaidh am prògram seo, Leugh Mi, a chraoladh an toiseach ann an 2015.
[Anna] And as such you didn’t, you have not been interested in reading sci-fi. What sort of thing when you were growing up, what would you read? Or what sort of hobby did you have when you were growing up?
[Sarah] I think when, the books that I would read when I started reading books like that at first, I would read Nancy Drew and ones like that.
[Anna] Who of us didn’t?
[Sarah] Well that is the thing! This was quite early in high school I believe or upper primary school that I would read those books, and then kind of I don't know if it was that I moved away from reading for a while but I am now at the stage where I will read, I will pick up any book, you know, and I will try. I will see if I enjoy it and after a chapter or two anyway I will know if I have gotten into it or not.
[Anna] And if you didn't read when you were young, what else would you do?
[Sarah] Well I am sure as every other youngster at the time, I would watch television and I would, I was involved in a drama group and was ...
[Anna] Tell me how you got involved in drama.
[Sarah] When the fèisean were held, I was involved with the fèisean when I was in primary school and I would do drama there. I have no musical ability or singing or any of that and therefore where ...
[Anna] I bet that you do!
[Sarah] ... it was drama that I was drawn to, you know, that I was directed to as it were. And kind of I built, I always thought that what was responsible for people thinking that I was so good at drama, I have a strong voice and good Gaelic that steered me that way.
[Anna] Well both things are useful, aren't they?
[Sarah] Both things are very useful, sure enough, but anyway I am still involved in drama. Now I am in the Uist Drama Team at home so that continued over the years. I was involved with a team when I was in Inverness.
[Anna] Tell me about the drama team that you are currently in. You have been very successful.
[Sarah] We are doing very well. When I returned to Uist, well I am sure that I have been involved with the Uist Drama Team for eight years or so, and we do a play every year. We aim at going to the Mòd. Different subjects. Very often it is comedy. We feel that comedy, it comes across better on the stage and ...
[Anna] I believe that people are more likely to go to watch comedy. Laughter is good for people.
[Sarah] Laughter is certainly good for people and indeed they get that with us, anyway we try to make them at least!
[Anna] And you were also, you did a play about the First World War. Now that isn't a comedy.
[Sarah] It isn't, it isn't but as it is, you know, you get, you will get just a minute or two, well it isn't a minute or two, you know, but a scene or two of comic relief even in something serious. And also when people are so familiar with our team now it doesn't matter what character you are playing. As soon as some of us walk out on the stage the audience are begin to laugh at you and they then understand that they shouldn't.
[Anna] You must darken the atmosphere. Right then, what about the first book that you took in for us?
[Sarah] Well the first one that I took in it is this one, The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M Auel.
[Anna] What is it about?
[Sarah] The book is about a young girl of five years old, the story is set in a prehistoric time, so it is kind of prehistoric and she is separated from her family by an earthquake and she is left by herself. And then she is, another tribe of people comes past, you know, they find her and they accept her as their own.
[Anna] And so therefore although it is set in an ancient time the matters that it raises, they relate to people nowadays. About separation and belonging.
[Sarah] Yes, it hits on that. Also it is very emotive, you know, with regards to how I was a teenager when I read it and it raised a few subjects, you know, perhaps that I hadn't thought of before. Such as something like that, you know, a little person losing her father and her mother.
[Anna] And do you think because you were at that stage, you were a teenager, that you were perhaps more likely to take those feelings more deeply to heart?
[Sarah] I don't know if I could say, you know, that I felt quite as strong as that about it but certainly it is the first book as you can see is ... it is a big book, for me anyway at that age.
[Anna] And there is a series, isn't there?
[Sarah] There is a series, aye. I think that it is four that is in the series. The series is called Earth's Children.
[Anna] And you read them all?
[Sarah] I read them all but I don't remember much of the others at all, and well I read at least three of them. I don't know if I read the final one.
This programme, Leugh Mi, was first broadcast in 2015.