Island at the Edge

Island at the Edge
The Gathering, Cable Bay, Colonsay

Thursday 23 August 2012

Colonsay in the grip of fear…..



It has recently emerged that Colonsay is in the grip of fear. An escapee is on the run and has evaded capture for several weeks now. All visitors and islanders are warned:
DO NOT APPROACH IF SIGHTED AND DO NOT TRY TO APPREHEND THE VILLAIN.

A call came in this morning. It was Miss Biggles all of a fluster. She had encountered a horned apparition, the beast as she called it, at close quarters and had only been saved by the heroic deeds of Diogenes – yes him with the rather unusual habit.

We immediately ran out to the Landrover, gathering some bits and pieces together on the way and we were off, down the road towards Kiloran as fast as we could. Alas, there was no sight of The Beast, none at all, it had vanished into thin air, shrouded in a cloak of mist and mystery.

After talking further at length with Miss Biggles we managed to get a good description and it became clear to us that this dastardly demon was trying to pass itself off as one of our flock.

A quick head count of the sheep and all were present, so it had to be an imposter….but where from we wondered. After detailed analysis there was only possible explanation..... no not the foul air that shrouded the mysterious dead fox incident on our wee fox-less island, no, this time the finger pointed, without doubt, to that even wee-er place of mystery and intrigue, across the shifting sands, past hangman's rock. ORANSAY.

So, on the phone it was to Reginald Sigmund Peacock Brodie on Oransay, who admitted that one of his had slipped out from under him a couple of weeks ago (in the Kiloran yard while he was adjusting his Horner (shears to you and me)) and had proceeded to run at speed towards the farmhouse, jumped the wall and ended up in Lovejoy’s garden – his pride and joy. After lying low until darkness and gorging on his prize begonias and nibbling his tender sprouts, thus endangering Lovejoy's  normally outstanding performance at the Colonsay Root & Produce Show,The Beast  moved on, heading west to the Township, the bright lights of Kilchattan (aka Tinseltown now that the visitors are here and the lights burn bright into the night, so very different from the nights that burn bright when the locals have anything to do with it, details of which can be found elsewhere in this blog).


















The Beast – the impostor (courtesy of Mr.R.S.P.Brodie)                 A real Kilchattan Hebridean.

Can EWE tell the difference?

A striking similarity indeed, which just goes to show the fiendishness and lengths to which The Beast will go. Let me reiterate. This is not one of the Kilchattan Hebrideans (right). It is an impostor from Oransay (left) and is very, very dangerous indeed.

We think ewe will recognise the impostor immediately. Yes folks, it’s a her and not a him. Whilst both have dastardly horns and can attack at any moment, unprovoked and without mercy, the him’s tend to have really, really, big horns as can be seen below, and if viewed from the derrière you will notice a protuberance hanging between the back legs, swaying from side to side. This is usually about 16 inches in diameter and may appear to be contained within a fleece sporran of some kind (we did have to censor the picture of course for those of you of delicate  disposition, but I can confirm, first hand, that such proportions are not uncommon in these parts of the Hebrides).


Ewan-san - a Him


Now that we have established that it’s a ewe then we have decided that if all else fails then we shall send in Ewan-san our prize samurai tup who we are sure will be able to sniff her out within our wee 16 square miles and lead us to The Beast. He's a fine lad but we’ll have to keep him on a leash because if he were to get too close, he’ll curl his top lip and goodness knows what would happen next.

But first, there is talk of a posse being assembled to hunt down The Beast. Lovejoy has already volunteered to ride shotgun – at least I think that ‘s who what he said. He assures us he has a trick or three up his sleeve from his days riding the range and kneading his dough around the Jermyn Street camp-fires, that he can deploy from the  back of his trusty steed, Honda. All of the other fit men of the island have been called to arms and are due to assemble at Clearance House tomorrow, where they will be offered sustenance in the form of a slice of Mrs Beeton’s No. 2 home-made chocolate cake, before they head out into the wilderness of the reserve. 



With Danger Mouse the Lonely Shepherd away on a mission overseas on Nopub Island, Diogenes has been appointed guide and will lead from the front as usual. It is not clear at this time who will be following up the rear.

Go forth brave men and capture this Beast before it ravages and nibbles its way through all fine gardens and allotments on this wee island and, heaven forbid, gains access to hallowed ground of GC-HQ (the HQ of Colonsay's very own Gated Community).

Remember: until The Beast is caught and Mr R.S.P. Brodie is reunited with it and has caged it once more in a secure compound, calmed with a rendition of Ode To A Corncrake, then NO ONE is safe, NO ONE.

BE CAREFULL OUT THERE.




Tuesday 21 August 2012

Glorious weekend...

What a wonderful weekend off!
Yes, Kapitein finally came out of the inner sanctum and we have had some well deserved time off.
Friday evening was lovely and still,  so we decided to head to Balnahard to have a BBQ supper. Kapitein set out the chairs and lit the BBQ when to our surprise we were joined by several million uninvited guests - Midgies! 
Avon Skin-so-Soft worked for a few moments, but to no avail. Kapitein found the best plan of action was to sit over the smoking BBQ as our sausages and meat cooked to keep the little darlings away! It worked! 
We watched as the Friday evening ferry - LOTI - sailed in and out of Scalasaig Harbour and mused about the 'holidays' beginning and ending with this wonderful journey for folk arriving to and departing from our wonderful island - thankful that we don't need to make these journeys. 


LOTI coming into Scalasaig

LOTI leaving Scalasaig

View towards something called the mainland!

We endured our uninvited 'guests' for a couple of hours but even Sampster and Wolfie were tired of the wee blighters trying to nest in their eyeballs!
Reports on Saturday morning were that the whole island was awash with Midgies, even the Old Waiting Room, at Scalasaig was engulfed with plumes of hungry Midgies.

Saturday was a 'domestics' day, catching up on jobs around the house.

Sunday morning, we were up early, packed some nice things to eat and off we headed to Oransay. What a glorious day. Light winds (and no midgies)  
We crossed the Strand and headed for the East side of Oransay through Poll Gorm towards Rubha Bàn. I think the pictures speak for themselves.

We continued towards Port Dhūn a' Gharaidh as a visiting Yacht arrived.


We were very aware of the tides so we headed off inland beside the Mesolithic Shell Mound to rejoin the track at Eilean Fhionnalaidh.
By this time Sampster and Wolfie were beginning to get a bit tired! A wee rest was in order to eat our snacks and enjoy the views, on second glance, Sampster had fallen asleep!!! Ah bless him...


We arrived back at the car, after a thoroughly enjoyable few hours.

On our way back to the Homestead on the Colonsay ring road, we passed Colonsay International Airport. There appeared to be some activity, unusual for a Sunday. We found out later that the Coast Guard were on exercise. The Coast Guard helicopter was picking up personnel, circling around the Homestead then winching them back down to the Airstrip. What a treat that would have been. I did later suggest if they ever needed a 'victim' (casualty) I would be happy to oblige! Not wanting to tempt fate though, I don't want a real injury!!

If you would like to sample our island delights, come and see us sometime! Especially as our Bed & Breakfast is open all the year round! During the winter months, the Calmac ferry timetable changes, but with the introduction of Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) it is reported that there will be a 35% reduction in fares from October. But, you mustn't forget, you can always make a flying visit with Hebridean Air Services, a must for any discerning traveller.
Hope to see you very soon...




Saturday 18 August 2012

New dates for Residential knitting courses on the Island at the Edge

For up to date course dates 2013, see
www.island-at-the-edge.co.uk
Residential knitting courses on Colonsay Summer timetable:
Two day Residential Beginners Knitting Course.
Friday 24th August till Sunday 26th August 2012
This two day knitting course includes: All materials,
12 hours tuition, dinner, bed and breakfast all included in the price of £199.00 per person (price based on 2 sharing a room - single room supplement will apply)
Course itinerary will include:
  • Collection from the ferry - meet and greet over supper.
  • Saturday - meet the sheep - our wonderful flock of Hebridean sheep
  • Learn - knitting jargon, three different methods of cast on, learn to knit, purl, increase/decrease, basic pattern stitches, design a basic pattern, cast off and sewing up.
  • Lunch and evening meal are included.
  • You will also have an opportunity to see our fabulous island.
If you wish to learn something specific? get in touch and we will be happy to help
Two day Residential Intermediates Knitting Course.
Friday 31st August till Sunday 2nd September 2012
This two day knitting course includes: All materials, 12 hours tuition, dinner, bed and breakfast all included in the price of £199.00 per person (price based on 2 sharing a room - single room supplement will apply)
Course itinerary will include:
  • Collection from the ferry - meet and greet over supper
  • Saturday - meet the sheep - our wonderful flock of Hebridean sheep
  • Learn the intricacies of patterns including cable work (Aran) Intarsia, Fair Isle and the art of sewing up and effective blocking.
  • Lunch and evening meal are included.
  • You will also have an opportunity to see our fabulous island.
If you wish to learn something specific? get in touch and we will be happy to help.
Participants will need to travel to Colonsay on the Friday ferry and
return on the Sunday ferry. contact: Calmac for ferry departure times.
We can collect you from the ferry terminal.
International participants can fly into Glasgow airport and link with Scotrail for the wonderful train journey from Glasgow Queen Street to Oban or fly with Flybe to Islay and Hebridean Air Services directly to Colonsay.
Contact us on: +44(0)1951 200284 or email: Hebrideanisles@aol.co.uk or use thecontact form.
Residential Knitting Courses Autumn & Winter 2012 dates:
Suitable for beginners, intermediates and experts.
  • BeginnersLearn the two main cast on methods, the two basic stitches used in all knitting patterns and how to cast off.
  • IntermediatesLearn the art of patterns including Aran – cable knitting and effective sewing up.
  • ExpertsLearn how to work on multiple needles, circular knitting and how to design your own pattern.
Price including full board and expert tuition at £459.00 per person
 (based on 2 sharing)
 October 2012
Monday 1st October until Friday 5th October (travelling by Ferry) 4 nights
Tuesday 2nd October until Saturday 6th October (travelling by flight) 4 nights
Have you ever wanted a short-break with a real difference and in a truly beautiful place? Then why not book onto one of our 4-day residential knitting courses on Colonsay. The price includes full board and lodgings on the Island at the Edge. You can get here by flying with Hebridean Air Services from Oban Airport, for your stay from Tuesday to Saturday, or, travel by Calmac ferry to enjoy your short break from Monday to Friday.
We cater for knitters from beginners to the more experienced. You will get to work with pure Colonsay and Oransay wool, discover how the sheep are managed and where the wool comes from. These courses are generally held outside of the main tourist season and you will be staying either at the remote north end of the island at Balnahard, a place that will truly inspire you, or for smaller groups here in our
Bed & Breakfast. There will also be sufficient time for getting out and about and exploring the beaches and hills so don't forget to bring your camera (especially on the flight). You'll be collected form Colonsay airfield or Scalasaig pier and driven by 4x4 through exceptional scenery to your accommodation,where you will receive a very warm welcome.
You will meet local knitters and learn some great new skills and techniques. Lots of information, lots of practical knitting, lots of open space, lots of sheep and lots and lots of fun.
Minimum group size is 2,(based on 2 sharing) maximum is 10 (based on 2 sharing) so why not get your friends and family on board for a fantastic short break. All you need to do is get to get here and we will take care of everything else.
And, if you choose to bring your partner with you! There are lots of other activities including, wood turning classes, clay pigeon shooting, and the opportunity to try your golfing skills on our wonderful 200 year old links golf course.
We hope to see you very soon.
NB: We also offer shorter or longer breaks for travellers who wish to enjoy both flying and the ferry. Contact us for further details, we will be glad to help.
If you have specific dates you are coming to our wonderful island and wish to learn how to knit or improve your skills, this will include knitting traditionally on 5 needles, sock knitting on 4 needles and how to produce your own designs, contact us, we will be glad to help.
Coming to Colonsay on holiday?
We have short one-day, 6-hour courses (2 x 3-hours) for holidaymakers on Colonsay. Why not book now and add this fun and informative course to your holiday itinerary. All ages catered for and everything you need is included. Venues may vary. One-to-one instruction also available for times to suit you during your stay.
Cost £20.00 per person per 3 hour session (including materials)
To make your reservation or for more information please call (tel.: +44(0)1951 200284) or use our contact form.
Coming soon...
 masterclass courses - How to knit and teach others this wonderful and increasingly popular skill so you can deliver your own courses.
Hebridean Air Service - your link to Colonsay from Oban
Hebridean Air Service - your link to Colonsay from Oban
Flying from Oban to Colonsay is a magical experience. Make sure you have your camera ready!
Kiloran Bay
Kiloran Bay
You'll pass Kiloran on the way to Balnahard and you'll be able enjoy a magnificent stroll along the bay during your visit.
The Road to Balnahard
The Road to Balnahard
Remote and beautiful Colonsay and the venue for your very special residential knitting course.
Fine home-made cooking
Fine home-made cooking
Dining at Balnahard - everyone is encouraged to join in.
Balnahard
Balnahard
Beaches, golden eagles, peace and quiet and a great course are all included.

Sunday 12 August 2012

166th Islay Jura & Colonsay Show 2012


Wow! What a fabulous, well organised and very, very enjoyable show!
It all started several weeks ago when I contacted Janey – Events manager extraordinaire on the Isle of Islay who organises the Annual Islay, Jura & Colonsay Show. And there I was, sitting in glorious sunshine at my prime pitch at the show. 
It has been several years since a Colonsay resident had a stance at the show albeit up until a couple of years ago, folk from Colonsay did take exhibits for entry into varying catagories. But I was ‘it’ this year.
What I will say is I was treated as a V.I.P from the moment of contacting Janey until my return to Colonsay.
My attendance was only made possible by flying with HebrideanAir Services to Islay. I arrived at Colonsay International Airport laden with all my wares for the show. There was a full plane, but we still managed to get ‘everything into the hold.
A nice young French chap was flying onward to Oban. He had been ‘wild camping’ on Colonsay. Kapitein and I were very impressed when we saw attached to his rucksack a wee bag containing his rubbish! If all wild campers were so attentive, this would be fantastic for our island, especially when we have found, latterly, an old frying pan and several other items – some unmentionable, after a group of campers departed a few weeks ago. So hats off to this young guy.
It was a perfect day for flying inter-island, hardly a breath of wind as Julie flew over the show field on our decent into Islay.
I was collected at the airport by Lamont – a lovely man. We waited a wee while longer to collect one of the show judges who flew in from Glasgow with Flybe. Then off to the show-field.
Lamont dropped me off and I headed for my pitch. I was just down from the Secretaries tent. Janey had two large tables laid out for me – perfect.

I did hope to have a good mooch around the show, but wow!! I was so busy!
I met a wonderful array of people and the show was just superb. I was opposite one of the main show rings so managed to glimpse all things ‘horsey’ including trick riding – outstanding work with horses, and one of the participants had only been in training for 3 weeks! I had all things ‘sheep’ behind me and was very interested to see the quality and calibre of the ‘sheep’ entrants. There were dog classes, vegetable classes, dancing competitions and to top it all off I heard the Islay Pipe Band – truly fantastic.

Here is the Islay Blog with more details and some super photographs.

There was great interest in the Colonsay Gansey - thank you for the commission and especially my knitting courses (I hope to see you very soon!) I had produced some of the new design purses made with Braveheart Tartan from the Islay Woolen Mill, these were very well received too.

Like a breath of fresh air, my matey Christine thankfully came to help me later in the afternoon where we sold even more! She and Tom very kindly helped me to pack up and head to the main gates to meet Lamont at 3.00pm.
Oh dear!! At 3.15, still no Lamont!! With the plane taking off at 3.45pm, I headed to find Janey and to my astonishment she managed to organise another lift to take me to the airport. My most humble thanks go to Julie from Bowmore Distillery who was exceptionally kind and took me back to the airport.
I arrived just as Julie was making her decent onto the runway. As I loaded my now much fewer wares onto the plane, Lamont appeared, bless him, he had a puncture and had collected another car!  He was so worried about me!
So, the upshot was, I will never forget absolutely everyone who made my wonderful trip to the Islay, Jura & Colonsay show possible. I was made to feel so welcome and treated with the most kindness I have seen in ages. Thank you to everyone. And here’s to next year!!! Cheers...
Like what you see?? check out: www.island-at-the-edge.co.uk 

Sunday 5 August 2012

Intarsia to Square Hats... It's all been going on...

Wow!! What a weekend this has been!!
It all started on Friday evening, just before the ferry arrived with our expected knitting course participants.
I was chatting to Eskie at the Old Waiting Room Gallery when one by one, 3 lovely young ladies appeared wearing Eskie's coveted square hats!
They all looked absolutely delightful and all were happy to pose for a photo!




So here they are... They look super, don't you agree?

Then the Intarsia weekend began!! This has been absolutely fantastic and here is an example of some of the work that was produced with our Colonsay Balnahard white, Hebridean dark brown and Alice Starmore naturally dyed wools.
From hanks of wool to a wonderful picture of Ben Lomand in just 12 hours!!


All credit goes to Aileen who arrived with an idea. Together we devised a pattern and hey presto, she can do it. Well done Aileen, this is truly magnificent for your very, very first attempt at hand knitted Intarsia. I believe Aileen is hooked and as she departed on the ferry, she had already started her next project - a cat! I can't wait to see it.


During the weekend, Kapitein has been genuinely intrigued with the knitting produced, albeit, he has been in the inner sanctum as the wheels of Europe don't rest - even over the weekend! He popped into the workroom to keep a watchful eye on the progress being made and was equally impressed with the work that has been completed.


Last night we had a final push to complete the last of the shearing. The 'boys' are now minus their fleeces and I must say, amidst the plume of Midgies, we carried on until the sun set over Pigs Paradise. I am so proud of the Kapitein, he is a very accomplished sheep shearer - amongst the many other things he's very, very good at.
So all in all, it has been a tickety boo weekend...


And another very busy week beckons, I will keep you posted...

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Where have I been...


There have been sad times on our wee island. Don Macleod passed away after a long illness. He was a great guy, very, very much liked and respected here. Kapitein and I will miss him. We have very fond memories of the short time we knew him and will never forget his amazing sense of humour. Our thoughts are with Mary and the family.

So, what else has been happening!

The Festival of Spring was in full swing! And a great time has been had by all those who attended the myriad of activities on offer. I believe Lovejoy’s sessions were some of the best. Bread making took on a whole new slant! I only hope he continues these sessions ‘out with’ the Festival of Spring. So come on Lovejoy, head for the ovens and continue to make  the temperatures and dough rise (for the good of the island of course!)
Activities also included Foraging, Archaeological and historic walks, Tea parties, the list was endless.
I had several participants on the short knitting courses. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching ‘folk’ knitting. From beginners, intermediates and experts, they all took away ‘something’ from their time here. Laughter was the most prevalent aspect of our sessions; even I learned a thing or two, and not just about knitting!! It amazes me when you are with a group of people from very diverse backgrounds and of varying ages how the conversations can vary from second to second!  And the topics! Well, I think as our readership covers ‘young uns’ too, I couldn’t possibly say, other than even I blushed on the odd occasion.
Thank you so much to all those who supported the Festival of Spring – especially the Knitting Workshops, I can’t wait until next year – and the new patterns are ready now!! So let’s get knitting!! 
Overall, the initial feedback is that the Festival of Spring is now going to be an ongoing yearly event. I think year on year, it will be a not to be missed time to visit Colonsay.

So where exactly have I been, I hear you ask!
Well, where do I start!!

We have had a very, very exciting time here on our wee island.
All things knitting have been in full flow. I have had several Gansey commissions – this keeps me out of mischief I can assure you. They are now ‘World Wide’ with Ganseys in Australia, Canada, Wales, London, Scotland and with commissions continuing to come in thick and fast, I now have two on the needles (at varying stages of completion) in readiness for Birthdays and of course the new ‘must have’ fashion accessory. I thoroughly enjoy knitting these, above all, in the knowledge that the lucky recipient has a jumper that will last a lifetime.
In the midst of knitting Ganseys, I have designed another sweater (which will be launched in the near future) I am just working on the finishing touches and that should be it completed. I am looking forward to see how this one will be received.

Ongoing interest in our ‘Island at the Edge’ has even brought us Journalists! I believe we will be in national magazines later this year... I will keep you posted.

Lambing was a huge success this year, Ewan (the new Tup) really did us proud and our newest editions are fit, healthy and strong. Mind, it may be that we had a mini heat wave just at lambing time due to the ‘Jet stream’ flowing further south than usual – great for us, naff for Blighty. At one point Kapitein and I thought we were going down with heat stroke!
As the ‘all things sheep’ calendar has progressed, the sheep are all sheared and the fleeces are just to be graded and are then ready for sending to the Mill.

Wedded bliss! There have been more weddings here on Colonsay. What more perfect setting could a bride and groom wish for than Kiloran Bay or the Priory on Oransay. We wish them all health, wealth and happiness in their future lives together.

Our main activity of late has been the Bed & Breakfast. We have had some wonderful visitors to the Homestead from as far afield as Dubai, Sweden and the four corners of the UK. Only two of our guests have been frequent visitors to the island, all others were on their first visit and say they will return. How wonderful that new visitors to our island are as delighted with this wonderful place as we continue to be. I keep saying this is a little piece of Heaven on Earth and it is....

We have been awarded a pass rate from the Food Standards Agency after a visit from Argyll & Bute Council Environmental Health department for the Catering side of the B & B. You can see the listing on the Food Standards Agency website.

We were delighted with this, especially as I offer three course evening meals for our guests. The feedback has been wonderful, thank you to all those who have written in our guest book. This is a new found interest for me; I didn’t think I would enjoy cooking so much! It is so satisfying to see guests take pleasure in what I prepare for them. Mmmnnn...

Local Langoustine 


We celebrated the Queens Jubilee in style here with a wonderful bonfire above the pier. Ironically, the initial E appeared in the embers! LOTI was berthed that evening too, the fire must have looked spectacular from the deck.




Kapitein has been shackled to the inner sanctum for several weeks of late keeping the wheels of Europe turning, but he does get out and about as often as possible. He has numerous skills – too many to mention. One is to track animals! I’m sure he can track humans too! But we won’t go into that!
He spotted seal tracks and low and behold, there was the young seal, right in front of us. Wolfie was ecstatic! The smell of the seal must have triggered something in his psyche as he howled and better howled at the seal.  (sadly I didn’t have the camera) but Wolfie was as excited as Sampster when he gets a sniff of a Pheasant - especially as he had thought they were extinct!

With so much going on, I am sure I have missed lots out, but I will be posting up again in the next few days, so keep a look out.
In the meantime, if you are on our island, enjoy your stay, if you are planning to come to our island, we look forward to seeing you very soon.