Paul McCartney's Farm

Campbeltown

(This is continued from the previous page)
I said to the taxi driver on the way to Campbeltown from the Mull of Kintyre, "I heard there is Paul's farm near here. Did you see him?"
She replied, "No. I heard that he usually stays the farm, doesn't go down to towns. But my mother saw him many times because she worked for Paul's farm".
"Great!! Did you heard how about Paul's character your mother felt?"
"My mother said to me he was very nice and kind to her despite she was a servant."
After this conversation, I realized that the rural town was very familiar to Paul McCartney.

In that case, she knew the place where there is Paul's farm, I guessed.. Therefore I asked her, "I want to go to Paul's farm. Do you know the place? Of course I will just look it, I won't get in his and his family's private life."
"Of course, I know." As I expected, she said yes.
"Would you take me to the farm tomorrow a.m.?"
"I'm sorry, I have the other reservation tomorrow, so I will ask another driver to take you."

I fell asleep comfortably because of hard walking, memories of scenery of the Mull, and expectations to visit Paul's farm, at the night.

a small barn

The next morning, a taxi came to the small pier where I was waiting to meet. "Good morning" the driver said. He was a cheerful middle aged man.
He said to me, "Anyway, Do you have binoculars?"
Why? I have small opera glasses.
"You won't be able to look at Paul's farm with them. Come with me to my home. I'll lend you my binoculars. Of course no charge."
We went to his home. His binoculars were well-thumbed and heavy. I associated the Scots with it, because I had heard it said that they treasure their things very much.
I was moved very much, as any travelers would be.
He brought a postcard, too. He said, "I know a Japanese girl who wanted to go to Paul's farm like you. The girl sent this postcard from Japan" Her name was Yuki. I associate Paul's song "Girls School" with her name. Girls School has the lyrics like "Yuki's a cool school mistress / She's an oriental princess… " It was the B-side song of "Mull of Kintyre".

The taxi started to the farm. We went down a main road and a byroad. A pasture spread in front of us. After it took fifteen minutes to climb up and down hills, We turned into a narrow gravel road and sheep came across the road from a pasture. We saw a small barn.

The driver drove the taxi to a backyard of the barn. Is it OK?
He said, "I'll ask him, you wait here."
What does he ask for?
He came back and said, "We might not go any farther." The taxi went back down the gravel road.
I said to him, "There is Paul's farm on the road ahead, isn't it?"
"This barn and pasture is just Paul's farm."
"Really?"
I had him stop the taxi on the road and I took pictures of Paul's barn. I'm sorry Paul, I don't meant to intrude into your private life.
It was very simple, but wasn't deserted.
The driver said, "It seems that Paul's son, James, is this farm now."
I wanted to say to him "hello" and I appreciated your guitar solo of "Heaven on a Sunday"

Paul's Farm is huge

When I was getting back in the taxi, the driver brought his binoculars. He said, "There was nothing but Paul's farm as far as the eye could see." The pasture to the right side of the gravel road was the farm.

He pointed, and explained to me;
"Paul's farm has four cabins…"
I looked with the binoculars. I could see two pretty cabins that had red roofs and green walls. A gray building like a stable, the simple barn, and huge glass field.
Paul's farm was so large. I thought that the farm might hug Paul who had confused in the days just before the Beatles had disbanded, and thought that it was also the big stage where Paul had produced many nice songs.
I gazed at the farm for long time. The driver was kind enough to be there with me.

After I went back to Japan, I sent the driver a postcard. He might show my postcard to a person who will visit Paul's farm.

after a half year

After a half year since I went back Japan, I got the driver's letter with a calendar of 1998. When I look at the calendar that was a beautiful pictures of Kintyre peninsula scenery, I felt wanderlust. I will keep displaying the calendar in my room till the next time I visit the Mull of Kintyre again.

Paul McCartney's Tree

The Mull of Kintyre

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