Month: September 2016

Day 7: in which I retire to a monastery (island)

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

I awoke with my usual early morning vigour and jumped in the shower. The thing had another box on the wall, which made a hell of a noise. Turns out it had a pump inside to give extra power, and it was certainly a powerful jet. Michael and his Mum were still setting out breakfast so I went for a brisk constitutional around McCraigs tower. A rabbit ignored me as it vandalised the gardens. I Continue reading Day 7: in which I retire to a monastery (island)→

Day 6: northwards bound again

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

I was sad, once again, to be leaving Islay. I pottered around the hotel room for a bit, idly picking up and discarding items to pack. Then I realised I’d better get a move on if I was going to see anything before catching the ferry. My original intention had been to push north to Oban via the island of Colonsay. But it turned out – I hadn’t read the small print – that the Continue reading Day 6: northwards bound again→

Day 5: in which I do the Corryvreckan run in two under par

Posted on by — 2 Comments ↓

Some would say that going 5 days without seeing rain in Scotland is good going. Frankly, coming from Almeria, it’s a bit disappointing. I was going to the neighbouring island of Jura. It’s separated by a mile or so of water from Islay – a nasty bit of water which rushes past at high speed with the tide. I’d originally planned to explore the paps of Jura. Martin Coventry stiffly notes that the name comes Continue reading Day 5: in which I do the Corryvreckan run in two under par→

Day 4: the singing of the seals

Posted on by — 2 Comments ↓

The singing of seals is a magical and ethereal experience, haunting in its echoing call. I sat enthralled in the early morning outside Portnahaven, feet dangling above a limpid sea, kicking against the old jetty as the seals sang, perched on rocks or gamboling in the waters edge. It is no wonder that ancient mariners would whisper that there was a whiff of the mermaids lure in their song, for as I sat there with Continue reading Day 4: the singing of the seals→

Day 3: in which our a hero almost loses a glove

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

I was sad to be leaving Arran. It’s a lovely island and as I wandered through Brodick in the early hours of the morning waiting for breakfast I thought about how resilient these islanders are. For example take this one business which rents out Cycles, locksmithing services and sign writing services. All from his front room.  And people are very friendly. Everyone waves as you pass by or stops to bide you a good morning Continue reading Day 3: in which our a hero almost loses a glove→

Day 2: in which our hero forgets his comb

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

I awoke early and slipped out of the silent hotel eager to explore the island before breakfast, which you were remembered doesn’t start until 9. Some people are greeted by seals when they come to Scotland. I got this:  Dealing with the cards that life gives us I poked it for a bit then carried on. The sea was like a millpool and put the Mediterranean to shame in the pale grey light Before the Continue reading Day 2: in which our hero forgets his comb→

Day one – in which our hero is rebuffed by a hire car company

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

I’m currently on a ferry in the middle of the Firth of Clyde. A gorgeous sunny day about 20 degrees although the winds a bit strong. So how can I have free Internet access which is equally as fast as what I have in Los Gallardos?  Yes I’m back in Scotland and heading off to the Hebrides.  Faithful readers will remember how super Turre refused to sell me an otter protection device last time around; Continue reading Day one – in which our hero is rebuffed by a hire car company→

The giant ant that comes from Tabernas wants to rent your Yankee car

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

A Finnish TV company is planning to film a dreadful B horror movie film in Tabernas. The plot revolves around a race of giant ants that have been bred by the US military in a New Mexico base, which escape with predictably gruesome results. But not to worry – we have two heroes in the shape of a young couple crossing the desert on racing bikes, who just happen to have a can of Raid Continue reading The giant ant that comes from Tabernas wants to rent your Yankee car→

Baby and adult die after hitting a car coming head-on against them

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

A car going the wrong way up the motorway outside Cantoria smashed into an oncoming vehicle late last night, killing an adult and a fourteen month old baby girl from Purchena. Four vehicles in all collided. The vehicle which caused the crash was speeding the wrong way down the motorway when it hit the on-coming vehicle, which hadn’t spotted it because they had just pulled into the left hand lane to overtake a large vehicle. Continue reading Baby and adult die after hitting a car coming head-on against them→

Local art and bee-hive fencer caught

Posted on by — No Comments ↓

The Guardia Civil have arrested a 51 year old man from Almería in Torrevieja accused of selling works of art and bee-hives stolen in the province. This industrious little chap had more than a hundred stolen hives which were found in the garden of his home awaiting sale, and the man has been implicated in the theft of more than 400 stolen hives across the east coast of Spain. The man has also been charged Continue reading Local art and bee-hive fencer caught→