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Islay Hospital benefits from Oldrey family donation
Friday, October 10 2008
Everyone at Islay Hospital is most grateful to Mrs Oldrey and her family who provided the impetus and finance for the purchase of an invaluable hi-tech medical training manikin for Islay after the death of her husband. The Oldrey family have been spending their holidays on Islay for the past ten years but sadly Dr Oldrey became unwell while here. He was initially treated by paramedics at the scene then by doctors and staff at Islay hospital from where he was transferred to the mainland by medi-vac. Dr Oldrey unfortunately did not recover from his illness. The family donated ÂŁ1,300 to the fund for a new manikin for Islay & Jura, as the current version does not cover the advanced skills and techniques that the medical staff has now acquired over the years. At the time of the donation, plans were being put in place as how to raise funds for such a machine so we cannot thank the Oldrey family enough as their donation was the catalyst to push forward the fund raising. The manikin can be used by medics, paramedics, nursing staff and ambulance crews for practising a bewildering number of procedures including limb immobilisation, intubation, laryngeal Mask, oropharyngeal airway, nasopharyngeal airway, intramuscular injection, needle thoracocentesis and needle cricothroidotomy training. Continue reading...
Are Charities in the Ilich Blood?
Thursday, October 09 2008
One of the many things I like about Islay is the fact that a lot of people, if not everyone, are in some way involved in charities. They either organise them, participate in them or donate to them. Almost every fortnight when I read the Ileach Newspaper I find something about an (Islay) charity. This morning I found an interesting story about a charitable deed which relates to the title of this post. The story I found is about a park called "Islay Park" in a village or city called Duntroon in Ontario Canada. The park is in a bad state and a member of the community's centre board, Jim Campbell, an Islay descendent?, is organising a meeting to gain support to revitalize the park. Here is a quote with special attention to the last part that could perhaps explain the title of this post:
Jim Campbell said they are proposing a new parking lot, new playground equipment, a new play field that can accommodate soccer and baseball, a picnic area and mountain bike trails. However, fundraising, municipal dollars and grant money from outside the area are the most likely sources, he said, acknowledging that a timeline for tackling the project is also needed. Campbell said that for years the park was a popular spot with people in the community, especially as a place to play baseball. He and others are optimistic that by freshening up the park it can again become a vibrant focal point for the village. The park was once farmland owned by P.T. McDermid. According to a plaque at the park, McDermid donated the land to the Duntroon Women’s Institute in 1936. He donated the land in memory of his father, Peter McDermid, a native of Islay, Scotland. The Women’s Institute in turn donated the land to the municipality a couple years ago when it disbanded.
Tag: charities
Increase in Ferry Fares
Wednesday, October 08 2008
Calmac issued the following press release today in which they state that the fares will be increased, but below the prognosed inflation rate. Calmac also said that the increase will not apply on routes which are about to undertake the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot, as the Scottish Government has frozen fares on these routes until 2010. So one could argue that the competition with the other isles will be even harder now that the fares on the non RET routes go up and the fares of the RET routes remain unchanged. The differences are getting bigger and bigger and this could lead to a loss in tourism for islands who are not in the RET scheme. Below the press release from Calmac:
Ferry Operator Caledonian MacBrayne today announced a below-inflation increase in fares for 2009-2010. A 3.8 per cent increase will come into effect with the Summer Timetable on March 27, 2009. The increase will also apply to the Gourock/Dunoon service operated by Cowal Ferries Ltd. Lawrie Sinclair, Managing Director of CalMac Ferries Ltd said: 'We are delighted to have been able to set the increase at a below-inflation rate as it will allow us to limit fare increases at a time when the economic pressures on individuals, companies and especially transport operators, have rarely been greater.' He added: 'This follows our recent announcement of 13 timetable improvements made as a result of consultation with local groups and is further evidence of our focus on providing the best service we can to the communities we serve.'
Inveraray - A must between Glasgow and Islay
Wednesday, October 08 2008
As a follow up on yesterday's post about the Glasgow to Islay journey, I'd like to mention a another special place to stop when you come from Glasgow. The place I am referring to is Inveraray, a lovely village, beautifully situated on the shore of Loch Fyne and it's the first planned village in Scotland. Inveraray is a busy little village with a couple of interesting visitor attractions. One of them is Inveraray Castle, home of the current duke of Argyll and his family. The castle is very much worth a visit and has some Islay related items on display as well. The opening hours are: 1st April - 31st October Monday-Saturday - 1000hrs-1745hrs, Sundays from 1200hrs-1745hrs.
Another interesting attraction is the Inveraray Bell Tower which is a mecca for visiting bell ringers from all over Britain. The Bell Tower was planned by Niall Diarmid, 10th Duke of Argyll in 1914 as a war memorial. Since 1970 there has been extensive restoration and refurbishment to the tower, including making the tower accessible to visitors, now open from May to September. The views from the top of the tower over Loch Fyne are wonderful! If you like to spend some time in jail, and who doesn't, you are in the right place in Inveraray. In the centre of the village is Inveraray Jail, Scotland's living 19th century prison and court. Life in those days was hard but prison life was a nightmare: "It was the principal jail of the county of Argyll and housed men, women and children, convicted and unconvicted prisoners as well as the sane and the insane in 8 cold, damp cells". Another attraction well worth a visit and open all year round! Continue reading.....
Glasgow to Islay - A Photographic Journey
Tuesday, October 07 2008
There are a couple of routes to choose from when you drive by car from the north of England or Glasgow to Kennacraig. The most obvious one is the route passing Loch Lomond on the A82 followed by the A83 which starts at Tarbet. A few well known places/landmarks on this route are Loch Lomond, the Rest and be Thankful pass followed by the beautiful drive along Loch Fyne, Inveraray and Loch Fyne Whiskies and Tarbert. I'm sure most tourists will take one or more breaks along this route, either to rest and/or to admire the beautiful landscape. Over the years we have this habit, I guess that's not different from other people, to stop at the same places every time. One of these places where we always take a break is a parking area a few miles south of Tarbet at Loch Lomond, opposite Rob Roy's Prison. At the back of this parking place is a lovely single track road with beautiful views over the loch. Only about thirty metres down this road, on your left, you can find a very old and beautifully shaped Oak Tree which grows a few metres from the shore. Every time I intend to make a picture of this tree and every time I forget.
Last week I found a Photo Blog of Mirko Herzner who made the same journey from Glasgow to Islay and stopped at exactly the same places as we usually do. Mirko recognised the beautiful tree at Loch Lomond, took a great picture and published it on his blog. He is posting one picture everyday so far of his trip to Islay. Mirko told me that around this time next week he will start posting pictures of Islay too. As you will notice on Mirko's blog he didn't have blue skies and sunshine but he managed to capture a beautiful (autumn) atmosphere in his pictures. After I found his blog I contacted Mirko and he was kind enough to write some lines for the blog and to include one his pictures of the American Monument: Continue reading.....
The Otranto Disaster - 90 Years ago Today
Monday, October 06 2008On 24th September, 1918, as the war neared its climax, the Otranto set sail on her final voyage from New York bound for Glasgow and Liverpool. She sailed in convoy HX50 escorted by the US cruisers Louisiana and St Louis and the destroyer USS Dorsey. Captain Ernest W G Davidson and his 362 crew had 665 American troops aboard. On October 1st this compliment was supplemented by the unlucky crew of the French sailing ship Croisine, run down by the Otranto as the convoy, with lights out, sailed straight through a fleet of French fishing vessels. The convoy of thirteen ships, with a total of almost 20,000 troops aboard bound for the battlefield of Flanders, sailed in six columns, each column 3 cables from the next. The Otranto was the leading ship in column 3. Column 4 to the north was led by the SS Kashmir, an 8,985 ton liner of the P&O line.
The Otranto, a steel steamship built by Workman Clark & Co Belfast.
The voyage across the North Atlantic went well until, as they approached the North Channel, they encountered a violent gale which built up enormous waves and shipped the sea into streaks of white foam and spray. The convoy had been navigating for some days by dead reckoning as the visibility had not allowed any sightings to be taken. Continue reading....
Islay Geese Report 39 - Arrival of the Geese
Sunday, October 05 2008Welcome to this weeks Islay Nature and Wildlife report with, as usual, news from the Birds Blogs on Islay, a Nature report from Jeremy Hastings, pictures from Teresa Morris of Islay Wildscapes and news from the thousands of geese that have been arriving in the last couple of days.
The Geese at Gruinart Flats on Sunday 5 October
With the arrival of autumn and corresponding colours the geese found Islay as well, just. It seems that they almost missed the island on their first attempt. From what I have read on the several blogs the geese passed the island at first and then turned back for a new approach, this time from the south over Loch Indaal. Usually the geese arrive from the north and enter Islay at Loch Gruinart. Earlier I posted a picture from Teresa Morris who witnessed the arrival of thousands of geese. Teresa was kind enough to send some more stunning pictures which you can find in this post. Here is what she wrote me this evening: "I have spent the day on Gruinart flats and had a wonderful time. This morning a very cold grey start with a strong northerly wind blowing. I sat at the head of Loch Gruinart all day and was watching the geese pouring in from the north heading down Loch Gruinart and witnessed them landing on the mudflats. They looked happy to be back on Islay, I know the feeling! They have been grouping up all day on the mudflats at the head of Loch Gruinart. Just resting and greeting their companions as they arrived to join them. As the day progressed the sun came out and the geese basked in the sunshine catching up on some well earnt rest. Some geese which had arrived earlier were having a good feed on the reseeded fields on the flats. However most of the geese spent the day on the mudflats as the tide was out for most of the day." The images can be seen in full size at the Islay Geese Album. Let's see what the bird blogs on Islay write about the geese:
More Geese at Gruinart Flats
The Islay Birds blog: Ian writes about the geese on Tuesday: "The small groups of Pale bellied Brent Geese are still coming through, James had 38 at Gruinart yesterday." On Friday the number of Geese was as follows: 1185 Barnacle Geese and 33 Brent Geese but only one day later on Saturday the following count was done: James has been busy counting the Geese, this morning at 10.30am, there were only 2425 Barnacle Geese and 32 Whitefronts, but by 5.30 this afternoon it was a different story. The figures had shot up to 26,625 Barnies, 205 Whitefronts, 8 Pinkfoots, 21 Pale bellied Brent and 2 Canada. Ian: "James also said that these figures were a record for the reserve. The vast majority of the birds that came in were coming up from the South, similar to yesterday, and certainly here at home (Kilchoman), there were a lot flying up the West coast of Islay. George also had seen a lot of the Geese flying up Loch Indaal. So can we presume that all these birds had overshot Islay with the strong winds of late?" Continue reading.....
Geese Arriving on Islay
Sunday, October 05 2008Sometimes a picture says more than a thousand words, specially when you consider that this picture is taken yesterday afternoon, October 5th. Teresa Morris of Islay Wildscapes is on the island witnessing the arrival of the geese. There will be more information in tonights report but for now I just want the picture to tell it's story.
The Geese are arriving on Islay!!
Tag: geese migration birding wildlife
Bruichladdich with a French Touch
Saturday, October 04 2008
Bruichladdich Distillery issued the following press release today called "First Growth Whisky": The Auld Alliance is alive and well as Bruichladdich release a series of whiskies influenced by France’s greatest chateaux of all time. The famous 1855 Classification of Bordeaux rated chateaux into 5 groups according to quality and price of their wines. The First Growths were the best. Today these legendary estates use casks coopered from the finest French oak, 150 to 200 year old trees from the forests of Tronçais, Allier and Vosges. Costing up to four times more than an American oak equivalent, the flavour-rich oak staves are weathered outside for 4 years for extra finesse.
Bruichladdich Distillery managing director Mark Reynier, ex wine trade, works closely with master distiller Jim McEwan who is also a cooper: 'It’s simple: if you want the world’s best casks you have to go to the best sources. Only the top domains can unstintingly afford barrels of this quality. 'They ruthlessly cull them from their cellars after only 18 months, before the oak gets tired; it is their fastidious attention to detail that is our gain.' Well maintained, still fresh, and loaded with flavours these casks are skillfully used by Jim to impart some of their refined character to his maturing whisky. Continue reading....
Congratulations to Debbie of Bruichladdich's Mini Market
Saturday, October 04 2008
Debbie’s Mini Market is the 2008 Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust’s 'Young Entrepreneur of the year' Regional Final runner-up. Debbie MacDougall, 26, who took over the Mini-Market at Bruichladdich in 2006 and started offering designer coffees and a fine delicatessen range in addition to the wholefoods and usual corner shop fare. Passionate for new experiences, but appreciative of the important role a traditional corner shop plays in a small community, Debbie’s vision has proved a real success with the locals. Provost Billy Petrie, presented Debbie with her runners up prize of £500, sponsored by Argyll & Bute Council. Murdo MacLeod, PSYBT Regional Chairman, said 'These awards are a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of Scotland’s most talented young entrepreneurs. We are delighted to be involved and to be able to celebrate the determination and innovation of our young people. Their efforts and skills not only help them build solid futures for themselves but are helping to boost the local economies and communities of Scotland.' After the awards presentation, argyll & Bute MP, Alan Reid said, 'All three finalists have done a great job building up successful businesses, putting innovative ideas into practice. I am very impressed by their achievements and wish them all the best for the future. They are a credit to Argyll.' Continue reading.....
