The recent storms made both Port Askaig and Port Ellen untenable on the 8th October, so special arrangements were made to relieve Islay on the 9th. Unhappily, this meant that Colonsay's scheduled service had to be suspended; continuing bad weather, the approach of the Mull Rally and extraordinarily low tides made it impossible to provide a full alternative service. On the other hand, it proved possible to divert "Clansman" on her route from Coll to Oban.

So it was that Georgina Hobhouse enjoyed a scenic and unusually direct passage home to Colonsay, on her way back from a business trip to Tiree. As the sole arrivee came ashore, no less than 29 departees together with 13 cars and a lorry took their chance to get away. Meanwhile, up in Oban, Diane Clark and numerous friends enjoyed their extended, if unscheduled, additional few days of R & R.

Readers have been kind enough to forward a piece by Moira Kerr, 11 October 2002, in Aberdeen Press & Journal. Since our papers did not get through, many of us may have missed it.
(c) 2002 The Press and Journal Limited .

Islanders on Colonsay have accused Caledonian MacBrayne of failing to provide a lifeline service because a ferry cancellation has left them without essentials - such as fresh bread and milk - for almost a week. There has been no post either and island GP John Currie, who is waiting for a delivery of medical supplies, is reporting the matter to his local MSP in the hope that the Scottish Executive will take the ferry company to task.
Dr Currie said of CalMac: "I don't know whose life it is that they are throwing a line to, but it's certainly not ours." The island's last scheduled ferry arrival was on Sunday night, as the Wednesday sailing by the Isle of Arran was cancelled due to bad weather.
Islanders are annoyed that CalMac has made no attempt since to take supplies to the island. Islander Angus MacPhee said: "The Sunday boat does not carry any fresh produce on it." CalMac did divert the Clansman ferry from her Coll run later on Wednesday to pick up passengers who wished to leave Colonsay.
But islanders are angry that CalMac did not divert the Clansman to Oban to pick up their supplies before coming to the island.
Dr Currie said that he had been told that the Clansman could not pick up supplies for Colonsay on Wednesday because that would have delayed her later sailing to Lochboisdale. But he said this conflicted with statements made by CalMac as part of its response to the Scottish Executive over the future contract for West Coast ferry sailings.
CalMac's response claims that it is current practice to offer unscheduled lifeline sailings to routes which have suffered the loss of a scheduled ferry due to bad weather, even if this impacts on other routes. Public affairs manager for CalMac, Hugh Dan MacLennan, said of the cancellation: "It was due to the weather conditions, sea state and concern for the safety of the vessel, passengers and crew.
He said by diverting the Clansman to Colonsay to pick up passengers and vehicles, CalMac had introduced the best contingency plan it could. It did not divert the ferry to Oban to take on supplies as it was uncertain if it would be able to berth [at Colonsay].

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed the arrival of its chartered vessel "Ali Cat" at Gourock, where she is undergoing familiarity work in preparation for the start of the winter timetable on Monday.
The 19.5 metre catamaran, which has been chartered from the Red Funnel Group, Southampton, will begin her operation on the Gourock-Dunoon service from Monday, October 21. She will service the 0650, 0750 and 1745 sailings from Gourock to Dunoon and the return crossings at 0720, 0820 and 1815.
Ali Cat, which is of GRP construction with alloy superstructures, has been chartered by Caledonian MacBrayne until April 3, 2003 and will be providing a passenger only service. Freight will not be carried and dangerous goods are prohibited.
The vessel can travel at 13.5 knots and is designed to travel in all sea conditions. Built in 1999, she can carry up to 250 passengers and has a crew of four. Toilets and bar facilities are provided.
Shirley Fraser, Route Manager on the Clyde said: "We are delighted that Ali Cat has arrived and look forward to her providing the passenger service between Gourock and Dunoon as scheduled. She is an interesting addition to the fleet and I am sure that our passengers on the three scheduled sailings will be well served."

ALSO:

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has launched its new-look customer timetable for the winter period, and has changed from a landscape format to an easy to use pocket, upright style.
The new timetable has been designed by Glasgow-based creative branding consultancy Red Cell.

Simon MacQuarrie, Chief Executive of Red Cell, said: "Designing the Caledonian MacBrayne timetable presented us all with a huge challenge. We eventually concluded that we had the answer by realigning portrayal of the sailings from horizontal representation to vertical. The use of colour has helped enormously and Caledonian MacBrayne will be applying this to the whole range of its advertising and publications, which we are also delighted to be working on."

The new timetable, which is DL size (120x220mm), is a key element in CalMac's new branding strategy, which has been developed over the summer. The company is now keen to get feedback on the new timetable, which is available from CalMac through a newly created "one-click" facility on the company's web-site (calmac.co.uk), or from local offices.

The Annual Root and Grain Show on 5 October took place amidst exciting scenes - Archie and George were desperately trying to lay a new carpark before the tar went too cold, so competitors had to be fairly spry to get near the Hall in the first place. Meantime, a huge cargo of building materials was being unloaded from a ship at the pier, so that tractors and trailers and lorries were whizzing around in all directions. But everyone took it all in good part and many willing helpers had worked hard to prepare everything for the panel of impartial judges, specially invited from the mainland. Just possibly the number of entries was down a bit, but the standard was as high as ever.

It is hard to name names, but the inhabitants of Oransay had made an outstanding contribution to the exhibits, and richly deserved their munificent awards. Even in the real world of busy Colonsay, many individuals had found time to do a little more and there were outstanding entries in nearly every section. Charlie and May MacKinnon were both heaped in awards, but there is not space here to list everyone.

That night, the Annual Young Farmers' Dinner was held in the Colonsay Hotel, and inaugurated the new Function Room. Some 70 guests enjoyed their meal from a groaning board, and everyone spoke highly of the attractive and spacious new facility.

Andrew MacGregor kindly took photographs, but the Editor has suffered a nightmare experience trying to get a first 10,000 mile Peugeot service carried out, and the pictures are languishing with his vehicle in Glasgow. Sorry, Andrew, the best laid plans... so here are pictures of the Jubilee instead!

 

MV "Ben Nevis" arrived with 60 tonnes of tarmacadam last week, and an excellent new car park was laid by Archie MacConnell and George Leppard on the morning of the Annual Show, just in time for the grand opening. They really should have won a prize for it.

Meanwhile, MV "Highland Carrier" arrived with another 600 tonnes of building materials for the new houses at Scalasaig. The first two houses are now fully framed and progress seems to be quite rapid.

Elsewhere, Iain Brown has completed the new function room at the hotel and has resumed the construction of his new house at Cnoc na Fad, and Don MacLeod has painted his new house at Uragaig and popped it into a shed for safe keeping. Four building sites are available for gapfill housing at Glassard, one of which is a double plot between Numbers 2 and 3. Although outline consent for two houses exists, it is thought that one purchaser make take the double-plot and perhaps just build one house.

Niceties of planning are delaying Chris Nisbit's new house at Mull Dubh, and also Pede MacNeill's plans for Drumclach, but at least five additional outline consents are in the bag elsewhere, so no machinery will be lying idle.

A lively Community Council meeting addressed a number of issues. It was noted that the current spate of Planning Applications are in themselves non-contentious and it was therefore agreed that this would be an appropriate time to seek a visit from the Planning Authority. Hopefully, they will be able to explain in what ways the current and future planning guidelines will differ from those established in the most recent County Development Plan. At the same time it may be possible to examine the present and future status of Listed Buildings in the island - it may be that new candidates for listing could be considered and possibly some of the original buildings could be re-assessed.

Discussion then turned to the issue of public transport. The ferry service attracted a certain amount of debate in view of a recent headline in the Oban Times, suggesting that Colonsay enjoyed a priority relief service whenever disruptions arose. In the event, it was decided merely to contact CalMac and ask for the policy to be confirmed.

Argyll & Bute have applied for permission to erect a terminal building and aircraft hanger at Machrins, and to replace the grass strip with about 100,000 tonnes of hardcore. The proposal is at an early stage and one or two residents have expressed their doubts as to its viability. It was noted that all residents have already been consulted (endlessly) on the subject and decided therefore that the Community Council must await further developments. In the meantime, the Community Council in Coll will be sounded out.

Note: It is rumoured that 5 residents in Coll are formally objecting to the proposals; it is said that the inhabitants of Coll also recently rejected the chance of a bridge to Tiree, which would have given access to the doctor, the secondary school, the air service and to an additional ferry port. It is believed that some residents of Colonsay are also unhappy about the scheme, including one native islander, but it is not yet known if any formal objections have been lodged.

What must be the first civil wedding in Colonsay for over 1,500 years is planned for 25 October and will take place at the Colonsay Hotel, which is specially licensed for the purpose. A full report and pictures will hopefully appear in our next edition.

A new map and pamphlet describing the islands and their charms has been produced by the Colonsay Development Company, with the help of Nadair, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Based largely upon the folder originally produced by Lady Jane Howard and Frances Walker ARSA, the new publication has been modified to include colour photographs and an expanded text. The pamphlet is accompanied by an inexpensive insert which gives current details of local businesses and facilities. Copies of the publication can be obtained from the Service Point and local businesses may wish to use them in servicing enquiries. Supplies have been provided to CalMac offices, to the appropriate tourist offices and to RSPB in Islay.

Jane and Nigel McAfee are old friends of Colonsay, who have moved to Islay to start a new business, "Cartridge Supermarket". Put simply, they recycle, remanufacture and retail inkjet and laser printer cartridges at 'sensible prices'.

There are two sides to the business:
1. The retailing of the cartridges - straightforward enough, top quality, and with prices substantially below average 'High Street' prices.
2. Recycling of cartridges. This has grown over the last 3/4 years as demand has increased. Central collection points are now established in schools, colleges, brownie troops, churches etc where people bring along their empty cartridges. The cartridges are tested and those in good condition are then recycled, and a cheque sent off to the collection point. This has proved to be both a good fund-raising vehicle, and a reliable source of empty cartridges!

This seems an ideal opportunity - all we need is for somebody in Colonsay to organise a collection point. Throughout the summer months, "Lady Jayne of Colonsay" can happily provide free carriage back and forth to Port Askaig. Prices are about 60% below retail, and the recycling process actually makes sense for once since there is no freight element to ruin it.

Contact grant.carlyle@virgin.net for details.

There is also a website, thanks to Kate & Graham at Iletec, namely

www.cartridgesupermarket.co.uk .

1967:
"Dear Sirs,
Oh why oh why? Why did they have to build this expensive new pier? We were very happy with the flit boat, and the new pier is only something for the convenience of rich visitors - we will never be able to afford to use it. Before the pier was built this year, we only paid 5 shillings dues per car at the slip, 4d a cwt. for wool and 1d per dozen of eggs. Admittedly we had to pay the freight as well, but we enjoyed the rough and tumble of disembarking in the good old way. If only the money wasted on the pier could have been put towards a subsidy on beer, it would not be costing 1s 10d per pint, and with the island depopulating at the present rate we would have had no need to worry about the future.
I am, yours etc., Wee Og Mac Jeremiah Mor.
P.S. Has anybody else noticed how MacBrayne's crews are getting younger? "

1812:
"Dear Sirs,
Ochone! Ochone! It is a terrible thing, the way in which that Mr. Henry Bell, an upstart from Bo'ness, has made his way into the west and inflicted his terrible invention upon a righteous and peaceable community. His new machine is aptly called a "Comet", as it issues great flames and belches smoke upon its wasteful circlings in the Clyde. It is to be hoped that it will not be allowed to leave the confines of those waters - I have the confidence to predict that if it makes its way into our own waters, the Great Gates will open up and swallow it down as a judgement.
It consumes coal, wasting a natural resource and in defiance of nature, which has ordained wind-power for all things. And another thing, if all the coal to be used in steamships were to be given to the inhabitants of Colonsay, they would be very snug at night!
I am, yours etc., Mac Jeremiah Mor
P.S. Wind power was good enough for us in the '45, and we got as far as Derby."

1806:
"Dear Sirs,
Hear ye, and tremble, ye miserable blasphemers! Ye harbour newly built at Scalasaig is an abomination, a work inspired by no less an architect than the Great Whore of Babylon herself! If ye Eternal Powers had intended to have had ane Refuge in Colonsay, it would have been provided. Ye miserable sinners, think not to hide from the righteous wrath that will surely ensue. Progress is an accursed thing and must be eschewed. Again, again I say to ye, all that money could better have been used to transport ye whole lot of us to Ye New Worlde.
I am, yours etc., Jeremiah Mor.
P.S. Methinks ye serving wenches in ye Change House are growing more comely of late."

26th October … Mary Machrin's birthday party

29 - 31 October inclusive - visit by mobile Dental Surgery.

Badminton, Thursdays 18.00hrs starting early November.

Quiz in the Hotel every Wednesday at 9.30 pm.

Church Service
Please note that services in both the Baptist Church and the Church of Scotland are at the new time of 11.30hrs. Services are held regularly - see notices in the shop and hotel for details.


Advance notice:
The 14th International Gathering of Clan Macfie is to be held May 14-18, 2003 in Gatlinburg, TN, hosted by the Macfie Clan Society of America. For more information see http://www.macfiesocietyofamerica.com or contact:
Jim McAfee, Macfie Clan Society of America
420 Ash Dr.; Baxter, TN 38544 USA
jgmcafee@tnaccess.com

Baby Heather Brolly came on her first visit to Colonsay on October 11 and stayed in Balnahard; her grand father has started clearing the site at Crumble Cottage; Donald and Lorraine Clark now living in Tillicoultry were here for a weeks holiday; and the McMorrine's - both families are here at present; Duncan had two helpers on the Wild Rose this week Euan Ivory and Colin Anderson - we hear rumours of astronomic catches and the training of a new pet seal. Lucy, Caitlin and Liam have gone pony trecking near Killin - Keith is thinking of starting Llama trecking as he has heard of the great success they are having with this new activity at the sub-post office in Bays of Harris! Sheena reports the arrival of new (wire) baskets in The Shop, which is very exciting. Mobile phones have all been off for some time - trouble at the mast for Vodaphone and Cellnet. The Hall/Service Point car park has been tarred and quite a lot of tar has got into the Hall; Frank Nicholson has celebrated his 80th birthday with his family and returns in times for Mary Machrins party next weekend.

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