Going from “if only” to “I am”, this poem moves from frustration and separation to reunion and liberation with the body. Ailsa Gillies celebrates her body for its wisdom during a small bout of illness. Continue reading Every Body Knows
Pizza, pasta and Italian passports. Ailsa Gillies explores both the delights and horrors of Italian migration to her hometown of Bute, through the story of her own Italian heritage: The Bonaccorsi family. Continue reading Italians on Bute: The Bonaccorsi family
Digging through old records, Ailsa Gillies unearths real first hand accounts from 1954 of the tragic fire that swept Rothesay’s only high school. Continue reading The Rothesay Academy fire of 1954
Detailing months of horrific psychological and physical abuse, Ailsa Gillies breaks her two year silence with an audio recording from the night she feared for her life. If not now, when? Continue reading Breaking my silence: Domestically abused at 18
Digging through archives and eye-witness testimonies, Ailsa Gillies investigates the truth behind many of Bute’s Blazes that have been lost in history. Continue reading Bute blazes that have been lost in history
Just when you thought you knew all you could about Rothesay Castle, Ailsa Gillies presents 5 things you didn’t know. Continue reading 5 things you didn’t know about Rothesay Castle
Take a journey through time with Ailsa Gillies, as she dives deep into the culture of island life on Bute in the 1970s in this fascinating article packed with first-hand interviews and recollections from the time. Continue reading Bell bottoms on Bute: A look back to 1970s island life
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