When I was beachcombing on the Isle of Lismore recently, I was delighted to find a Groatie Buckie. Whenever I'm back in Caithness I always look for them on any of the shell beaches. Dunbeath Beach is my favoured location. Discovering 6-8 there, on any day, is considered a good find.

However, my biggest haul was last year on Tiree, where I found over 40 in just 3 days! It was both amazing and unexpected!

Groatie Buckies are tiny cowrie shells. Two types are found in Scotland: Trivia Monacha (with 3 dark dots); and Trivia Arctica which are plain with no dots. Both types are considered equally lucky.

In ancient times, a necklace of 80 Groatie Buckies had a great trading value. Other cultures, especially around the Maldives, use their own types of cowrie as shell money. Since the earliest times, cowries have been viewed as symbols of fertility and wealth.

My Mam always tucked a Groatie Buckie into her purse to ensure she would always have money. Me and my sis still carry on this tradition. In my view, you can never have too much good luck! And us folk from Caithness are a superstitious lot.

But, laugh not, 'cos if the pound is ever devalued, my 60 Groatie Buckies are, so far, worth about £270. Because I've noted that on Ebay a single Trivia Monacha fetches £4.50. So, methinks, those lucky Groatie Buckies are worth searching for!