The Colour of Jazz

The May Bank Holiday weekend saw the special 25th anniversary of the Bute Jazz Festival.  Crowds flocked in, a harbour full of boats, rows of camper vans lined up on the esplanade and even the sun had put his hat on (although the wind was still quite chilly).  Unfortunately ‘someone’ had left before the music started.

VIC 32 leaving Rothesay

For five weeks VIC 32 makes a short visit to Rothesay every week, usually a Wednesday or Thursday.  She had gone before we went to hear Richard White’s Fivers at the Pavilion cafe.  This was a great start to the Festival’s Silver Jubilee programme.

On Saturday morning was the traditional ‘decorated brolly’ competition and parade from Guildford Square to the Fountain.  A good crowd turned out although I think there were fewer children taking part this year.

Winning Outfit

This is the very glamorous winner of the adult section.  It must have been hard for the judges because all kinds of sartorial outfits were on display.

An ‘oompha’ with no oomph

I find the above photograph fascinating although slightly sinister – has this sleepy sea monster squirmed out of the grill round one of the trees in the square?  It gets worse as the next time I saw it, it was tightly wound around a gentleman who seemed singularly unperturbed.

The Parade Marshall

The Parade was led as always by Jenny Brown who must be the sprightliest 84 year old I know.  This year her outfit was in Royal silver and purple in honour of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  Jenny’s brolly was decorated with photographs of the Royal Family and her sash had the dates picked out in sequins.  At the other end of the age spectrum were these young mums with babies in buggies.

In the Parade although not walking yet

Multi tasking

At the same time as all this jazz related fun was going on two local charities raised a great amount of money.  The Rotary Club ran a bottle stall and the Macmillan Campaign a book and bric a brac stall – the magnificent sum of well over £1100 raised between them, Jazz goers are generous.

Coats on but no rain repellant brollies needed

The Colourful Crowd

We listened to many different bands over the weekend in many different venues – from the glamour of the Glenburn Hotel ballroom to the madly decorated 292 Club to the homeliness of Craigmore Bowling Club and back to the familiar and well loved Pavilion.  The bands were an equally eclectic selection.  My favourites were again Rose Room – musicianship of the highest order, very relaxed and clearly they enjoy playing so much.  I have to admit that by Sunday night I was flagging – the spirit is still willing but the increasingly ancient flesh is slowing down a bit.

‘Orchard’ Update

All the new fruit trees continue to thrive and in spite of another stormy wild weekend ( the ferry was ‘disrupted’ again yesterday) the three apple trees have managed to produce a little bit of blossom.  I haven’t been up to inspect today but the fragile little flowers have probably landed in Largs by now.

Worcester Permain blossom

Sorry About the Gap

I have been a bit busy lately and neglecting my Blog, resulting in a backlog of things to say – if I can remember everything that has been happening.  The Stewardship Campaign at church has really kicked off now.  All four Roadshows have been completed and it is only one more week before the identity of our star attraction can be revealed for the ‘Event’ on the 9th June.  I have been away for a few days,   had a visitor to stay for a few days, and then an unexpected 24 hours in Glasgow and currently having a few hours break from the Jazz Festival (photographs in the next post).

The weather in Edinburgh was mostly dry, beautifully sunny but with a chilly north east wind.  If you can ignore the appalling mess of the never ending ‘tram works’ and the current rebuilding of Waverley station, Edinburgh is still a very beautiful place with a plethora of tourist attractions.  In just under 48 hours cousin A and I managed to cram in a considerable amount of site seeing, eating and talking.

Holyrood Palace

Holyrood Palace with its history of intrigue and murder was as exciting as ever, and the exhibition in the Queen’s Gallery was exquisite.

Holyrood Abbey

Having my own personal art expert with me in the form of cousin A was an extra treat.  She is very polite and never balked at any of my stupid questions.  Our first gallery was the recently reopened Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Queen Street.  I have always loved the outside of this building with its fine red sandstone slender turrets.  I think I was vaguely aware that it reminded me of somewhere else and last week when we walked into the entrance hall there was distinct deja vu – I was in the marble hall at Mount Stuart without its top storey of stained glass.  Not surprising really as they were both designed by the same architect, Sir Robert Rowand Anderson.

The newly set out exhibits were just perfect – the paintings and photographs beautifully lit and hung and the notes by each work of art had exactly the kind of information I like, both about content and context.  They also do a very nice lunch!

Robert Fergusson

The lovely little statue of the very young poet Robert Fergusson (1750 – 1774) hurrying under the cherry blossom at the Canongate Kirk was irresistible.  We walked the length of the Royal Mile, up Calton Hill, from St Andrew’s Square to Charlotte Square and never once into a shop except in the Palace and Galleries.  My memory was good enough to let us avoid Princes’ Street as much as possible – just too depressing for words.

Blue Sky Over Edinburgh

When we returned to Rothesay for the second half of this mini holiday the spring weather followed us.  Lots of walks in Bute.

From Canada Hill

If the skies are clear enough we always try to take visitors up to the top of Canada Hill as this vantage point affords some spectacular views.  The one above is looking north to Loch Striven and below is looking the other way over to Loch Ascog with Arran in the background.  Most of Canada Hill is Rothesay Golf Course but luckily no one was playing as we wandered around.

Looking towards Arran

Another day we walked up the road towards Glecknabae and were entranced by the abundance of bluebells.

Bluebells at Ettrick Bay

Our last walk of the week was up through the community forest to Balnakailly.  I found this tree both fascinating and sad at the same time.

Near Balnakailly

It is Spring

That is if I define it by changeable weather.  April is doing its showery thing with some really nice spells in between.  The day we helped with the Rotary clean up at Ettrick Bay was a bit grey, dry and a cold easterly breeze.

Admire that Action

The fifteen or so people were equipped with ‘grabbers’ and a sturdy plastic sack each.  I quickly gave up on the unwieldy grabbers and resorted to my well gloved hands.  Most of the rubbish being collected was nylon rope, twine or fishing line – much easier picked up with fingers.

The Rewards

As well as feeling good by having done something altruistic and worthwhile we were all rewarded with tasty hamburgers and sausages.

All Non Biodegradable

Altogether it was a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon – good company, beautiful location and a marginally cleaner bit of beach by the time we were finished.

I didn’t take any photographs at the Easter sunrise service at St Blane’s this year.  Although not actually raining it was very misty and damp.  The Christian community of Bute are not wimps and nearly a hundred hardy souls climbed the hill for a joyous ecumenical service.

Over the last five days I have been working in the garden quite a bit.  All the new fruit trees have leaves or at least leaf buds and one of the apples has the beginnings of blossom buds.  I am wearing a path across the grass by a daily compulsive trek up to inspect the trees.

Not Completely Dead

I was very surprised to spot this tiny little green shoot appearing from the rotten core of the big rowan tree we had taken down after the winter storms caused it to rock on its roots. (see RIP Big Tree ).  I suppose it does have a huge root system to feed on but sadly it will not be allowed to continue.  This is making me feel like a murderer.  Then I justify my actions by remembering that we have planted 10 trees to compensate.

The major garden task has been using my lovely compost as a mulch around the plants and shrubs in the bottom border and especially all along under the beech hedge.  I scraped off the now quite sparse bark chippings, forked in the compost, and will re-cover with more chippings (see Its Hotting Up)

I am not the only one enjoying the spring weather.  The Castle swans have produced another large brood of cygnets.  There were seemingly ten to start with but on Saturday when I took these photographs I think there were only eight or maybe nine.

The Castle Family 2012

The quality is not very good as I was really too far away and facing into the sunshine.  You can still say ‘aaawww’.

The Annual Painting Job

We are just back from a week at Crinan in the joyful company of VIC 32 and her cheery Friends.  It was the annual paint the puffer time, although painting was certainly not the only activity taking place.

Reflections in Crinan Basin

We had the first of the two good weeks of weather with only one day of rain and many days warm enough for coffee breaks outside.  As I type back in Rothesay there is a freezing north easterly wind peppered with vicious, sleety squalls – back to ‘normal’ spring.  The good weather at Crinan meant an emphasis on outside painting work but there were plenty other tasks being undertaken.

Lots of rust needing covered

Some welding jobs

As always on Puffer Work Week there was much chat and laughter intermingled with all the hard work.  The Friends are a multi talented bunch with joiners, electricians, engineers, painters and general DIYers in the group – the ladies work just as hard as the men.

Joiner No 2

As well as the painting, a lot of elbow grease is required in the mammoth cleaning task resulting from the boat having been in the boatyard over the winter.  Major replating work was done involving most of the cabins being removed during the process and then refitted later.

Washing the wheelhouse before getting out the Brasso

There were a few Spring visitors about in Crinan and, of course, they were always welcomed to tour Vic 32 in the hope that they would give a donation to the much depleted Puffer funds.  Other people were also getting on with their daily jobs.

Fishing boat at Crinan Harbour

Colin had an indoor task – to replace the anti slip covering on the steep stair from the saloon down to the cabins.  Very hard work chipping off the much deteriorated old covering.

When the new lino type covering was stuck in place it had to be clamped onto each step for 24 hours.  This made the journey up or down even more hazardous than usual (it is very steep).

It was quite frustrating for Colin at times as there was a steady flow of beavering away Friends needing to go up and down all day.  Although we each tend to do a specific job somethings need more muscle power when everyone lends a hand.  The heavy wooden dinghies need turned over so that both inside and outside can be varnished.

Muscle power

Team work was again employed when the galley stores were loaded.  We do get through quite a lot of food, not to mention the occasional bottle of beer or wine.

Not quite Tesco Direct

Through all the hard work there is always time to stop and chat …

…. or even just to smile.

Say 'cheese'

I spent the week doing my ‘sign writing’ job – a bit bigger task this year – I will leave that story for the next post.

After each day’s hard work we enjoyed a delicious meal thanks to Mary and Daphne, the cooks for the week.  Evenings were spent over hard fought games of scrabble, philosophising, or reading before the overnight snoring chorus got tuned up.

Bright colours in bright sunshine

A Bracing Walk

There are definite signs of spring about – plenty of snowdrops, even some crocuses and the daffodils are about a foot high but still no flowers there.  The wee birds in the garden are beginning to behave in a pairing off kind of way and the eider ducks are appearing in raft formation out on the sea.  We had a lovely walk yesterday in spite of quite a heavy sky and a chill northerly breeze.

February Gorse

In sheltered spots the gorse bushes were dazzling with their  day-glo flowers.  We left the car at Ettrick Bay and walked up the single track road going north towards Kilmichael.

Exercise on the Beach

The photograph above is not of the best quality, I was too far away, but it was lovely to watch this horse and owner ‘paddling’ in the shallows.

Bridge at Ettrick Bay

Every time I pass this old bridge I wonder how old it might be.  I suppose it has survived because half of the stream now goes around the bridge.  As we walked along we could see the damage caused by the recent strong winds even to the quite low growing scrubby woodland up this side of the island. Not as dramatic as the huge mature trees completely uprooted.

Broken Branches

I was peering into this rough woodland with more interest as the night before at the Natural History Society the forester from the Community Forest had explained about continuous cropping of trees.  In my ignorance I had thought that when a planted forest got to a certain height then all the trees would be felled at the same time (called clearance felling) but here on Bute ‘our’ forest will be ‘thinned’ over the next twenty to thirty years ie selected trees will be removed individually to be used in wood products (buildings and fencing) while the rest are allowed to continue to grow.  The idea is that as trees are felled the canopy reduces and natural regeneration occurs – self seeded saplings will have space and light to grow.

Motorway Cafe for Birds

At one point along the road, several miles from the nearest houses, we came across half a dozen home made fat balls strung up in the bushes.  I have no idea which bird loving person had gone to the considerable effort of making and hanging these tasty food supplies but the flock of chaffinches were appreciative.

We were lucky that none of the increasingly thick clouds produced any rain on us but we were still happy to retreat to the Ettrick Bay Cafe for coffee and cake.

Sheltering Snowdrops

Can We Spread Christmas Out a Bit?

Our elderly bodies and brains are struggling with the concentrated socializing that is whirling about this island – that is why the blogging has been a bit spasmodic of late.  In this little lull between the rush of shopping, cleaning, cooking and wrapping and the joy of family and Christmas I thought I would do a little catch up of the last three weeks – in no particular order. Interspersed are some wild weather photographs taken a week past Tuesday when we had yet another ferry free day due to the wind (mostly by Colin as I could hardly stand up).

Nativity Story

Our wonderful children at church performed their version of the Christmas story on Sunday.  They are small in number, of a wide age range and all performed to their best ability.  Owain Jones (our minister) was emphasising that the retelling of the Christmas story every year is very important – that no matter how many times it is told there is always something new to hear.  I raise my hat to the Sunday School leaders who managed a bit of theological adaptation to accommodate the dilemma of having not one but two baby boys available for the starring role.  Solution – Mary’s cousin Elizabeth visited her and baby Jesus in the stable with her own baby boy (John the Baptist).  Result – two adorable babies fast asleep in their car seats (hay in mangers is far too prickly).  Last year’s baby Jesus was a wobbly just toddling shepherd this year.  Not a dry eye in the church – and hopefully these children will remember and understand the story of Christmas in years to come.

Sea Spray at Ettrick Bay

‘Christmas Dinners‘ or How to Avoid Turkey

We were out five nights in a row (12th – 16th) four of which involved a meal; and I made a concerted effort not to jump the gun and have turkey.  Monday saw us at the Advice Centre dinner in Cannon House (I chose the vegetarian option), Tuesday was the North Buteshire Literary Society dinner at the Victoria Hotel (salmon this time), Thursday was the Rotary dinner at the Kingarth Hotel (vegetarian again I think, can’t remember, but it wasn’t turkey) and finally on Friday was the Macmillan Cancer Support Centenary Dinner and Dance at the Glenburn Hotel (roast beef) – all of this food was delicious and I hope my turkey on Sunday is as good.

The Macmillan ‘Ball’ was a much anticipated occasion – having a dinner dance on the island is now a rare event, it was a full dress up affair (and don’t we all scrub up well when called to) and we were in the newly refurbished ballroom of the Glenburn.  It was wonderful – delightful company, delicious food, lots of fun and laughter, excellent dancing to Jimmy Duncan’s New Ceilidh Band and I won a prize in the raffle (a very acceptable voucher, donated by Calmac, for a car and four passengers return tickets to Wemyss Bay – I would have accepted it even if it had been for the Caribbean).  The Glenburn is only two minutes walk from our house and fortunately it wasn’t slippy underfoot when we strolled home at one in the morning.  The ladies of the Macmillan committee had worked very hard and have raised approximately £2,400 for a very good cause.

A Very High Tide - Ferry Nearly ON the Pier

Music at Christmas

There have been at least two notable musical events.  On the 14th was the Community Christmas Carol Concert at Rothesay Joint Campus.  What a fantastic variety of musical talent was on show, and it really was a community affair, from the five year olds playing recorders and singing, through the teenage ‘pop’ group and Academy Swing Band, right up to the adults (more than a few with bus passes) who were in choirs and the newly formed Community Wind Band.  For the finale all the performers (well over a hundred) came together in a great squash to sing and play Homeward Bound and White Christmas – tears again, I seem to be crying quite a lot just now, either tears of laughter or tears of emotion, joy and happiness.

Crashing Waves at Ettrick Bay

The second noteworthy musical event was the annual Carols by Candlelight in the Marble Chapel at Mount Stuart.  We have been before, but it is always a very moving service of readings and carols in an awesome setting.  It is always freezing cold in the chapel but somehow the icy shine from all the polished glistening marble is softened by the many flickering candles.  The choir who come together for this occasion are superb and they start by processing into the chapel with a single beautiful soprano voice singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’ City – yet another lump in my throat.

Pier at Port Bannatyne

The photograph above shows the stone pier and Port Bannatyne almost submerged – the small horizontal piece of wood barely visible above the water is the top of the old wreck which is tied up rotting to the pier.  The picture below shows how it can look in summer.

Port Bannatyne in August

The weather is again becoming quite wild tonight and already Calmac are posting amber warnings for possible disruption on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day (no service on Christmas Day).  Jane arrived here safely yesterday and I pray that all others who are trying to get home for Christmas do so safely.  We will be watching the weather forecast and service status carefully as we plan  a trip to the mainland on Monday and Keith and Nicky will be coming back with us.

Making for Shelter

Another Wild Thursday

This time the wind got up to ‘hurricane’ force.  There was plenty of advance notice from the weather forecasters so we planned to stay cosily at home.  Although everyone here moans when the ferry gets cancelled I have to give Calmac their due in that they at least try to run a service.  In spite of the worsening conditions the boat set off for the mainland only to be diverted to Gourock.  When they tried to come back across they got as far as Toward and couldn’t ‘get round the corner’ into the shelter of the Bay and had to return up river to Gourock and stay over until Friday morning.  This is the first time we have seen this happen as the preferred position for the ferries is to be safely tied up to the pier in sheltered Rothesay.

From the comfort of the house it was fascinating watching  the very choppy sea in the Bay  and by afternoon the windows were well coated with salt from the spectacular spray blowing off the waves.  Thankfully we personally didn’t suffer any damage and throughout the island it seems to have been slates, a few chimneys, and trees blown down over on the more exposed side of Bute.  The biggest problem was many hours without electricity.  Three times during the day and evening the power went off for a few hours each time.  We very fortunately have a gas fire in one room which can be lit with a long match and also a gas hob – together with candles, torches and a battery radio we were very cosy.  I felt very sorry for the shops and businesses who must have lost so much business but at least the hospital’s emergency generators had a good testing and functioned perfectly.

Calm after the storm

I haven’t posted many photographs recently mostly because the weather has been so grey but on Friday we went round to Port Bannatyne Post Office for coffee and took the camera.  This is the fast disappearing remains of the old pier.  I wonder how many more winters it will survive.

This week is going to be very, very busy – a genuine ‘out every night’ spell – four Christmas Dinners and a Concert.  I’ve been having a think about what to wear each night and have decided that my four outfits will be worn in descending order of tightness because I may just possibly have gained a few pounds by Friday.  It would be nice to think that I could practically stop eating the following week but realistically I know that is not going to happen.

I’ve just looked at XCWeather and tomorrow looks like being another ‘ferry disrupted day’.  I’ll just go and batten down the hatches once more and pinpoint the torch.

We Will Remember Them

Remembrance Sunday on Bute was a lovely bright autumn day with a chill easterly breeze.  Not cold enough to put off the hundred or so people who gathered quietly at the main Rothesay War Memorial in the corner of the Esplanade gardens.  Although it is an imposing monument and set in a prominent position, on 364 days in the year most local people hurry past without giving it a second glance ; on a summer day you might see a curious visitor idly reading down the list of names.

On Sunday the road was closed off and at ten to eleven the Rothesay Pipe Band led the small parade of uniformed organisations to stand before the War memorial.  As in the previous years we have attended, this service was simple, traditional and very moving.  My heartstrings are always affected by the realisation that there are very many more children and young people than older people lined up.  The two minute silence seems very deep as it is counterpointed only by the squawking of the disturbed seagulls.

To accommodate the 11 o’clock silence at the War Memorial, morning worship at UCB was delayed until 11.30.  This too was a very moving service conducted for the first time by Owain Jones.  Two very different poems were read as part of the service.  The first was the WWII two poem The Naming of Parts by Henry Reed – a subtle contrast of the almost inane preparations for war and the gentle beauty and continuity of nature.  Later in the service was a very emotional reading of Wilfred Owen’s WWI poem Dulce et Decorum Est.  The contrast between the picture of the horrors of war painted by Owen’s powerful words contrasted with the sun streaming through the stained glass windows and filling the sanctuary with coloured light.

Cnoc an Roer

At our third act of remembrance in the afternoon the silence was accompanied by the soughing of the wind in the bare trees and the harsh cawing of the rooks.  We were attending the short service of commemoration for the civilians lost in the wars, particularly for the Merchant Seamen.  A young piper played a soulful lament and a small number of children laid a tiny cross and a few flowers by each of the fifteen headstones of the sailors.  Again there was a poignancy in the age differential between these youngsters and the elderly gentlemen of the British Legion and of the Rotary Club.

Norwegian gravestone

I wonder if Gunnar Halleaker had any children.  They have probably gone by now too but there may be grandchildren who sadly never knew a grandfather who died far away from home in April 1941.  I knew my grandfather who aged 20 enlisted within only a few weeks of the start of  WWI and survived to be eventually demobbed in February 1919.  With the insouciance of youth I never asked about his war experiences.  I hope the young people I have seen today, even if they do not yet fully understand the meaning of these acts of remembrance, will continue in the future to say the time honoured words – We will remember them.

An ‘Event’ful Weekend

Life here on Bute is never dull or boring.  Occasionally, like this weekend, it gets over exciting.  We knew from Friday lunchtime there was fun in the air.  This was the Glasgow September weekend holiday and with good weather forecast pilots, sailors, balloonists and dancers were all heading this way.  We were on the one o’clock ferry from Wemyss Bay and it was packed – a few cars left behind for the next sailing and every seat in the lounge occupied.  Mostly by very jolly groups of more mature ladies with their dancing shoes at the ready for three days of line dancing.

Crossing the Start Line

On Saturday morning I opened the curtains to this beautiful sight.  It was the Final Muster and race from Rothesay to Tarbert for the sleek yachts of the Clyde Cruising Club.  They looked very colourful as they hoisted their spinnakers in the light winds and jostled for position at the start line.  The weather was warm and sunny, a much appreciated reminder that it can be good here after such a poor, wet summer.  We did a few messages around town, enjoyed the coffee, chat and juke box music in Musicker before heading up the road to Rhubadoch.

Colintraive

To my utter delight the yachts were just passing through the narrows when we arrived.  I will only show two of the dozens of photographs I took, it was very, very picturesque.

Racing for Tarbert

We were going across on the ‘wee ferry’ to Colintraive as foot passengers as we were only going as far as the Village Hall.  As part of Cowal Studios Open Day two local artists from Bute were holding a joint exhibition.  I have long admired the paintings of Ruth Slater and for the last two weeks I have been saving junk mail and polystyrene pizza bases because we will be doing something with these when Ruth comes to talk at the Rural next week – intriguing.  The other exhibitor was the craftsman Ray Beverley who makes the most exquisite furniture.  He had on display a wonderful cabinet crafted from beautiful wood and intricately put together.  Then it was home for a quick bite of lunch before the afternoon activities.

A Busy Ettrick Bay

This was the day of the Baird of Bute Festival.  There were a number of activities designed to celebrate the life and achievements of Andrew Baird who made the first flight from this beach 101 years ago.  There were more people at Ettrick Bay than I have ever seen before – enjoying the sunshine, building sandcastles, walking the dog and flying kites.  We had gone there to see a demonstration by a Sea King rescue helicopter and a Lifeboat but unfortunately we missed it as they came an hour early because of duties elsewhere.

Part of the Flypast

Still it was very pleasant strolling on the beach whilst waiting for the fly past of light aircraft.  Over twenty of these wee ‘toy’ planes had congregated at the island airstrip all morning and flew over Ettrick Bay as they left for home again.  It was difficult to take photographs as the breeze caused them to keep quite high and the sun made it hard to see in the cameras’ screens.

Half Inflated

Next stop on our itinerary was Mount Stewart where a number of different activities were taking place.  Most of the crowds there had been drawn by the advertised spectacle of a hot air balloon which would purportedly give rides.  Well the balloon was certainly stretched out limply on the lawn in front of the big house.  Seemingly it had been too windy to inflate earlier but they were getting started at last.  The balloon and crew were from Edinburgh University Balloon Club.

A Petrol Driven Hot Air Balloon?

In spite of all the jokes around it was only fuel for the generator providing some of the hot air for the inflation process.  There were various activities for children involving science workshops, art work and puppet shows with one of the most enthusiastically supported being the glider competition.

Getting Ready for Take Off

Every youngster in the place had a wee balsa wood glider propelled by an elastic band and all took a turn in trying to get the longest flight.  Before the balloon was finally erect the crowd was treated to an exciting aerobatic display by  Jim McTaggart in a small plane.  I really enjoyed watching this daredevil performance.  Had to hold on to my stomach (with feet firmly on the ground) as he swooped about, looping the loop and flying upside down.

Out of a Clear Blue Sky

Again, too many pictures to show you them all.

Meanwhile the great blue ball of the balloon was filling up and the strain on the retaining ropes was visible.  The balloon was tethered to two Land Rovers and a tractor.

Edinburgh University Balloon Club

Once the inflation was complete and the balloon still firmly attached to the ground, three children were loaded into the basket and raised about twenty feet up in the air.  These kids had been waiting about all day as they were prize winners in a competition from earlier in the week.

Not Going Far

This was as far as the balloon went, and after all the hype a number of people voiced disappointment, but thinking about it later I realised that they couldn’t really fly a hot air balloon from Bute – not a lot of land and surrounded by much cold, wet sea.  A few years ago I had the magical experience of a balloon flight from just outside Edinburgh down over East Lothian which concluded with a not too bumpy landing and a glass of champagne.

Mount Stuart

Saturday was quite an exceptional day here on Bute – visitors and locals alike enjoyed brilliant weather, small planes, helicopters and lifeboats, elegant yachts, a hot air balloon and, especially, lots of friendship and laughter.

The weather on Sunday took a serious reality check and returned to its more normal wet and windy – but our great weekend continued with a lunch outing with our 32 intrepid companions from the Striders and Strollers.  The laughter here was uproarious.  It is such a privilege to live in this beautiful place amidst  such a vibrant community.

Round and Round in Circles

…. or Le Tour de Bute.  This was the weekend of the Bute Wheelers annual cycling festival and fortunately they had some really lovely weather.  Over two days there were various races including the Serpentine Hill Climb, a 21 mile paired time trial, and a very prestigious event, the Drummond Trophy road race.

At the bottom of the Serpentine

For those of you who don’t know Rothesay the Serpentine is a road of many hair pin bends which zig zags up a very steep hill.  The pavement up both sides consists of flights of steps.  It must be very tough on a bicycle – my thighs hurt just looking at these photographs.

Half Way Up (or down)

Unfortunately I have no idea who won any of the races.  Some of the competitions had prizes of £100, and over the two days there seemed to be hundreds of lycra clad bodies whizzing about.

Nearing the Top

I was going to run up the steps to take these action shots of one rider going all the way up but I know you wouldn’t believe me.  The island of Bute is approximately 11 miles long by 4 or 5 wide but I have never worked out how long the ‘island loop road’ is.  Certainly for the Sunday races some competitors were going around twice and even three times for the Drummond Trophy (66 miles).

On Saturday afternoon I sat on our garden wall and watched the cyclists in the timed pairs as the finishing line was about 100 yards along the road.

Mind the Potholes

The Drummond Trophy is the premier Scottish road race and has been competed for annually since 1956.  The prize pool this year was in excess of £1000.  All this money or, indeed, all the tea in China wouldn’t entice me to don dayglo lycra and go so fast that the beautiful scenery was just a blur – I can still admire their athleticism and dedication though.

Sprinting past our house

… and on to the finish line.

The Finishing Line

I didn’t see anyone wearing a yellow jersey and riding along with both arms raised in the air – I think that race takes place in another country.  I hope all the visitors and competitors had a really good time and perhaps they will return to Bute to see something more than the tarmac three feet in front of them.