Constants Amidst Change

Northern Drift, 3 April 2026, John O'Groat Journal

With Spring comes change. For many, it is a welcome one of lengthening days, new growth and warmer weather.  This is a sure thing in the northern hemisphere, an event we can count on, however long it takes to get here!

Change can also bring with it a sense of uncertainty, opening up the path to something else. It can involve the closing of one door and open another.  

Change is hard. The unknown is scary.  Sudden shifts can happen so abruptly, such as a bereavement, switch of job, or a medical diagnosis.  Other times transition is more gradual and before we know it the whole landscape has altered in front of us.

There are a lot of confusing changes happening in the world right now, not least the encroachment of AI seeping into our daily lives, bringing with it a mix of excitement and trepidation.  It leads us to wonder what the future holds, and even what it means to be human.  

With all the changes swirling around us, living in the world can be overwhelming and bewildering. 

We all recognise on some level the disturbing truth that the only constant in life is change. However, within the unstable flow of our existence, there are some constants (for now) that can be appreciated for their longstanding presence and commitment to the community.  

Cabrelli’s in Wick was one such place.  I remember when I first came to Caithness, discovering the charming Italian run cafe with its dark wooden booths and glass display counter holding any number of things ranging from cigars to chocolates.  I soon became a regular.  It was like a haven on every visit to Wick. I was so sad when it closed. But I’m ever grateful to Pina and family for running such a characterful place after a century of dedicated service, a place which will always stay in my mind as a warm memory.

Similarly, I hold great appreciation for the John O’Groats post office, a long-standing establishment run by generations of the Manson family since 1881.  

The post office offers a service that we can easily take for granted.  The late Nellie’s warm presence, along with that of her loyal family, and the steadfast way that they have served this community is hard to quantify.  It’s personal. Welcoming. Reassuring in a world that is in turmoil, swirling with change.  Through Nellie and her family’s commitment to receiving and processing post, a sense of constancy has been offered to all who have come through - local or otherwise.  

When everything seems in upheaval, filled with uncertainty, or if a day has felt off-kilter and work is slow and difficult, a quick trip to the JoG post office is grounding .  And it’s not just about the building, but it’s the people you meet as you scour the rack for the correct envelope or see what’s on offer in the baked section.  Through the commitment of people like the late Nellie and her husband, Sandy, and their daughter, Fiona, over many years there has been a sense of profound consistency and stability.

The post office in John O’Groats, is really the hub of this northeast mainland community - many locals go there at least once in the week to post a letter, pick up a paper or sausage roll, get the latest updates on folk, or fill the tank with petrol.  To have the added warm welcome when entering, is something Nellie gave, a rich legacy in many hearts.

Thanks goes out to our ‘local heroes’ for their devoted service to their community. In the midst of a changing world, it’s a reassuring gift to experience places of longstanding service and kindness.