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Islay
revisited
or
"Sunshine, moonshine & sunset" |
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Last year at almost
exactly the same time we visited Islay
but that holiday very quickly ended in disaster as my wife
fell on our second morning and was airlifted to a Glasgow
hospital. After three weeks there she was flown back here to our
local hospital where she spent a few more weeks before finally
being allowed home again. That was definitely a holiday to
forget as it left her left leg another few centimetres shorter
and walking just a little more difficult, damn that brittle bone
disease.
Imagine my delight
earlier this year when she suggested we might like to return
to Islay and have the holiday we didn't manage last year. I
didn't need asking twice. We rushed to book flights, B&B, car
hire, ferry ...... no, not so easily as a major problem from
last year's trip also had to be revisited; namely car hire. Last
year I couldn't find a single car hire company at a UK airport
who would hire me a car without having a credit card. My wife
has one and she was travelling with me, but apparently that
doesn't count. To cut a long story short I finally found one (the
only one!) for this year so we were able to go ahead and book
our ferry.
Meanwhile, back
at Edinburgh airport and the car hire.... "Good morning sir,
how can I help you?" "I've booked a car for 10 days, here are my
details ..." I reply. She then proceeds to call up my booking on
her screen and assign the car ..... "You want a car for two
adults and two suitcases? But you booked a Corsa and that's not
really big enough." She informs me, even though I confirm that
their website clearly states the car I booked is adequate for
our requirements and in this case I'd prefer a small car. "No,
you really need something larger, I have a Seat for only 60 GBP
per day extra but I'm sure we can do it for 30 GBP per day." She
kindly tells me. "But that's 300 GBP more for our holiday." "I'll
speak to the manager and maybe we can do 20" she offers before
disappearing and returning with a smile and confirming she can
actually 'do' 10 per day (extra). I'm really not happy about
this as I ordered what the firm's website says is large enough
and considering the small lanes on Islay, what I really want. "But
isn't the Corsa a hatchback and don't the back seats fold down?"
I ask. "Oh, you're willing to put the seats down? Then it's no
problem" she finally confirms. (Nice try!) "But I really do
recommend you take the extra (collision damage waiver) insurance
so that should anything happen you don't have to pay the
1000 GBP excess." She suggests. "I already have" I confirm but she
insists
that I only have the 1000 excess. Thank goodness I brought
copies of all the booking e-mails and quotes which I put on her
desk. "No, you're mistaken, you only have 1000 excess" she
insists. Then she looks further into the sytem and confirms I do
actually have zero excess as I thought. (Nice try!)
"OK, here's your
key, I'm giving you a Golf" she says.
It was a Polo.
Ten days of
Scotland with eight on Islay after a first night in Inverary and
then the last night in Linlithgow. Maybe it's time for a few
pictures:
(Click on images
for a larger version)
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Right time, right place? This sunset over Loch Gorm was just
impossible to resist and at the same time the rising Moon over
Kilchoman. I know, the distillery isn't pictured, but it's right
there, honestly. |
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As much as this
holiday
was
about 'us' and getting a little much-needed relaxation, one
really can't visit Islay without coming across an odd distillery
or eight and of course it would be rather rude not to look in on
a couple.
Firstly, it's
very encouraging to see signs of activity at Bunnahabhain. I
remember visiting some years ago and the whole site was quite
depressing. Obviously Burn Stewart improved things in recent
years but after the takeover by Distell last year things really
seem to be starting to move forwards again.
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A quick pop-in
to the distillery shop and visitor centre soon confirmed
that they've already been recruiting new staff, the two chaps I
met were new to the company, one only being in his third week
with them and they both spoke of the encouraging signs within
the distillery as some much-needed investment is being spoken
of. They even hold hope of the distillery cottages being
eventually renovated, maybe. Damn if only I had the couple of
thousand needed to take away one of the last four remaining 40 year
olds from the original limited edition of 750 bottles, that
would certainly help their cause, mine too. |
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Being one of the
now 600,000-ish
Laphroaig land-owners, my wife obviously had to call-in and
collect her rent. She's actually one of the lucky early FoL
members with her details written in a leather ledger rather than
just a computer entry. Volume 49, page 66 to be exact, with her
membership beginning in 1999. When we visited last year she was
treated like a real VIP with the staff saying they don't get
that many visitors whose names are from the early 'book days'.
Sadly this year we were quickly ushered out of the FoL lounge as
they considered a tasting for a tour to be more important, even
though they only needed the one large table. Come on, you can do
better Laphroaig. |
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Did I say eight
distilleries?
Of
course I'm not counting Port Ellen which is now just a maltings,
but there's a ninth on the horizon as Gartbreck farm was
purchased last year by Jean Donnay (of Glann Ar Mor & Kornog
fame) and he is working hard to turn this into Islay's 9th
distillery. It won't be a large-scale factory, just a small
craft distillery which I expect to bring just a touch of his
Bretagne brilliance to Islay, "Santé" Jean & Martine
Donnay! |
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A bit of R&R;
As I
already mentioned we wanted to carry on from where our holiday
was abruptly ended last year. A little relaxation was definitely
required and my wife dearly wanted to be close to The Atlantic
again, which was easier said than done as she can walk only a
few steps and many of Islay's beaches are pretty remote or
require a little hike down rough ground to reach them, but it
didn't stop us trying and we certainly made good use of the
sunshine. We both have a love of photographing nature and its
creatures and Islay has plenty to choose from, so rather than go
on any more, I'll make use of the old adgae that a picture's
worth a thousand words and offer you a somewhat condensed few
thousand to peruse. Again you can click on these small versions
for larger ones. Enjoy! |
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A
selection of previous Dram-atics highlights
This section is a work
in progress and will eventually replace the textual 'recent features'
below.
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© Copyright
2009-2014 by Keith Wood - All rights reserved - Whisky-Emporium |
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