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Thurs 22nd May 2008 - Left Deptford 4pm, drove to Dumfries with Nairn and his son Django, Travelodge, family room (£55). Text from Den (my wife) on motorway to say Ricky (my brother) caught up in Al Queda bomb attack in restaurant (Giraffe - Jewish company apparently) in Exeter! Arrived Dumfries about 11.15pm. Django slept most of the way. Weather drizzly in Scotland. Phoned Ricky who was cooking in the kitchen when the bomb went off in the toilet, thinking it was a light bulb exploding they carried on cooking, later police came in and told them to evacuate, "....but what about my pies in the oven?" says Ricky! Bomber is the only one to get blown up, Ricky's mate takes his photo on his mobile then sends it to Ricky's mobile, Ricky phones The Sun and sells photo for £3000!! "Don't worry I'lll give him 50 quid" says Ricky generously.
Fri 23rd - Left at 8.30am via Loch Maben caravan park (Nairn's exotic childhood holiday location) to Auchlochan for breakfast at mum’s at 9.30. Rolls - yum. Left at 11.30am to Glasgow to Byers Rd for lunch with Tina (Nairn's sister)/Roslyn (Nairn's brother's wife). Bought football. Drove to Tarbert
5pm still cloudy despite ‘sunny forecast’. Rhu House (£72 family room) view over water, big tropical plants in garden, own wee pier. Drove to Loch Stornoway (where Nairn wants to be buried!). Django car sick, wisely throws up in hat. Stopped at old ruin Nairn wants to buy and convert to studio. Beautiful views all round. Fish and chips at Tarbert 9pm, best fish ever! Packed with boats for regatta. Weather improved 7ish, at last.
Sat 24th- Fried breakfast 8am. Ferry Kennacraig to Isle of Islay 9.45am. Left car. Sunny. Reminded me of Mekong! Smooth crossing. Past Gigha and Jura. Into Port Ellen gale force wind! Bus to Bowmore, missed connection to Bruichladdich B & B (so much for the integrated transport system on Islay's 2 roads!) and waited over hour to be told next bus not running and next scheduled one is not for another 2 hours! Ordered taxi which took 45 mins to arrive. Had lunch while waiting, good cappuccino, chips with everything, haddock not local! Whisky soap shop nearby, bonnie lassie makes it all herself. Paddle in sea next to Bowmore whisky distillery, learns later it was where the sewage outlet is! Taxi (£16) to Anchorage
B & B - £62.50 seaview. Driver said, on midsummer if you put your back to a white wall you can still read the Oban Times at midnight! Watched Rangers beat Queen of the South in Scot Cup Final.
5pm Walked along coast, Nairn/Django fell in loch, lost hat, chased by cows, saw small deer, played football with a mad collie. Dinner at Port Charlotte Hotel, midges (tom soup, cider, seafood medley - good). 4 guys seriously sampling small whiskies at next table. Walked back, sat outside B & B 10pm - sunburnt and knackered! Eurovision song contest, UK last (racism? Or is it just that everyone hates Britain?)
Sun 25th- Fried breakfast 8.30am. Little sleep. Nairn and Django went out. 11.30am went down to Bruichladdich whisky distillery open day. Two free drams, bouncy castle, burgers, tour (dangerous with everyone being half-pissed trying to climb up narrow iron staircases!), scallops in whisky, pipers, lorry, musicians, craft stalls, tablet, ale, ceileidh, sun, great. I buy dinky bottle for £4.99, Nairn buys 4 vintage big bottles for £200! Guess who's the social worker and who's the barrister! Walk to Port Charlotte, dinner, lamb casserole, busy. Taxi home.
Mon 26th
- Up at 6.30am, out at 7.15 for bus to ferry, no breakfast, no discount. No bus! Hitched lift to Bowmore. Wait ages for bus to Port Ellen. Ferry 9.45, fried breakfast. Still sunny, floods in London! 12 back to car, drive topless to Glasgow, Nairn and I's baldie heads take a sun-bashing, meet Tina/Adrian/Callum, dinner at pub, drive to Dumfries, Travelodge, Nairn sickish.
Tues 27th- Gerry diarrhoea, drive to London, home 5.30pm.
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Eggs on Legs
Al, Shaz & Beth
Like your photos.
Hi - we're thinking about a trip to Islay - enjoyed your blog. Cheers. Sharon