Overhall

Another dreich day here in the North East.

Driving south from Insch this afternoon along the B992, I was struck by the clarity of the light - and the minuscule patch of landscape - "at the end of the tunnel" of trees.

But also the name - Overhall - that has amused and fascinated me since we moved to this part of the North East over a decade ago.

Overall? Overhaul?

And the next settlement you come to heading south along the B992: on the maps it's Auchleven, to the locals it's Premnay (the 'legal' name of the parish in which it's situated). A few years ago, Aberdeenshire Council changed the signs at all the entrances to the village: where once they read simply 'Auchleven', they now say 'Auchleven' in large letters on one line, and 'Parish of Premnay' in smaller letters below.