FARE CHANGES

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that the Company will be applying a general 2.5% fares increase to all cars, passengers, coaches and commercial vehicles across the network from March 25, 2005 for the following 12 months.

This is the first time in three years that CalMac has raised the commercial vehicle rate, the last two years having been held with no increase for this sector. CalMac Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair said: "The fares rises which we are introducing from the start of the Summer timetable, 2005, for the following year recognise the significant cost pressures that the Company will face in the following 12 months. Prudent management of our fuel costs, for example, has enabled us to meet the challenges faced in that sector for a number of years and other costs have been absorbed by the company wherever possible. This is the smallest increase we could manage. There comes a point, however, where we have to pass on to customers the increasing costs which we ourselves face. We have kept these increases at as reasonable a level as is practicable, to enable us to live within our means. "

Mr. Sinclair added: "Obviously, we would wish that we will not be placed in a situation where we might have to pass on further increases in some of the charges we face as ferry operators such as pier and harbour dues. In the interim, we hope that our performance over the past number of years, where we have absorbed possible increases in the commercial sector in particular, will be recognised."

SERVICE-POINT RECOGNITION

On 7 July 2004 the Aberdeen Press & Journal reported that the Three Islands Partnership project will feature at Expo 2004 in Seoul, South Korea, this month. The following information comes from that report:

The project uses a network of service points and modern communications technology to provide a one-stop-shop for islanders on Islay, Jura and Colonsay and Argyll and Bute Council's area corporate services manager, Deirdre Forsyth, was invited to explain how the Three Islands Partnership helps the 3,631 residents of the islands.

The Three Islands Partnership, which is financed through the Scottish Executive's Modernising Government Programme, sees Argyll and Bute Council working with Argyll and The Islands Enterprise and Argyll and Clyde Health Board to provide a one-stop shop which is the first port of call for any enquiries about public services. The cost of Deirdre Forsyth's trip has been covered by Expo 2004, with contributions from AIE, from the Jura, Ardbeg, Bruichladdich and Laphroaig Distilleries, and Scotwest Credit Union.

RETURN OF THE ALIENS

Following the mysterious nocturnal activities reported in our last issue, the school bus has featured in yet another thrilling scenario. A local resident was driving along past Port Mor on Monday morning, "proceeding in a north westerly direction", when some sort of ill-defined force led him along an irresistible arc towards the Lode (or Polar) Star. It was noticeable that this trajectory was accompanied by ever-increasing velocity, a voyage of discovery which was fortunately intercepted by the convenient presence of the school bus.

Since the out-of-body experience occurred at 3 a.m., there were few witnesses to the phenomenon. Some sort of extra-terrestrial intervention is supposed, not least because the point of impact was about 4ft above the ground, as if the driver and his vehicle were being drawn into a low orbit. Other theorists draw attention to the area of "local magnetic anomaly" at Carsaig, which has long been noted by the Hydrographer Royal and towards which the affected vehicle seemed to be being drawn.

Readers will be delighted to know that the unfortunate motorist was none the worse for his experience, thanks being entirely due to a seat-belt. As an added bonus, the school bus is now less than 5 metres long and so travels more cheaply on the ferry.

 

NATURE NOTES

On Tuesday 6th, at 06.30 hrs. on a rising spring tide, thousands of tiny fish (sand eels?) were noticed in the northwest corner of the harbour. Many were still wriggling violently, although they had been high and dry for well over six hours. Many seemed to be half-buried, standing upright in wormlike holes. As the tide came in and reached them, many were already dead but others became re-invigorated, wriggled and fussed, swam in circles and tried to beach themselves - others seemed to be burying themselves. None were seen to go out to sea and ones which were carried off the sand and placed in deeper water immediately headed back to the shoreline. Andrew Abrahams remarked that although they had been able to survive out of water by breathing through their gills, this had damaged them so that they could not return to the water. One wonders if there could be a link between this and the phenomenon of cetacea which, once beached, persistently continue to beach themselves.

Although people say that such strandings of sand eels is a sign of mackerel shoals, there were no signs of any predatory activity. Although so many fish were exposed, live and helpless, no gulls or other birds came to scavenge on them at the time. Later, when they were all dead and floating on the surface of the sea, gulls did arrive for the feast. Weather was fairly calm, but there had been a very strong swell from the southwest, so that a sandbank almost 9 inches high was created along the tide line. Similar shoals were found exposed along other bays in northeast Colonsay.

Elsewhere, Hamish Grant has been admiring an otter at play in Loch Turramain, and Jim McLauchlan reports a beautiful owl, with a big, round white face, clearly very much at home in Milbuie wood. The whales which had been so much in evidence lately are more elusive now, but a pair of graceful bottlenose dolphins were seen bow-racing in the Sound of Iona. Can any reader give information about the many-legged wormlike creature pictured below right, about 30 cms long?

 

COLONSAY DIARY

Sheep-shearing has now been completed; a full programme of summer events is under way, with recent very successful ceilidhean in aid of both CCDC and the Poppy Appeal; the Community Council has invited the Howard family to join in a sailing race to mark their centenary year in Colonsay; although visitor numbers were down in May/June, the island is now busier than usual; Oransay has a new 4.8 metre 50 hp rib, and both John Olivant and Jim McLauchlan have added to the Scalasaig fleet; Angela discovered the miniature zoo pictured below at the RAF Huts on the Golf Course - please help us to identify the owner as the dragon seems to be pining:

WHAT'S ON IN COLONSAY

Please note that there is also a Notice Board on the Homepage; anybody wishing to publicise any event or attraction is invited to send details to the Editor.

Mondays, 6 - 7pm in Hall - YOGA @ £2.00 per session. Call Jo 0789 907 0153 for details

Thursdays, 6.45 - 8pm, Egyptian Dance Class. Contact Miki 200358

July 17th - Hall Committee's Ceilidh
July 20th - Commemorative ceremony on 80th anniversary of the War Memorial, 6pm
July 20th - Pedie and Jen in concert
July 24th - visit Iona on "Lady Jayne"
July 24th - Cricket match vs. Gifford team
July 27th - Pedie and Jen in concert
July 31st - Hall Committee's Ceilidh
August 2nd - Community Council meeting at Village Hall
August 3rd - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 7th - The Visitors' Ceilidh, in aid of Hall funds
August 10th - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 12th - Development ompany's Ceilidh
August 17th - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 21st - Golf Club Ceilidh
August 24th - Pedie and Jen in concert
August 31st - Pedie and Jen in concert

Badminton on every Tuesday and Thursday

Football on Wednesdays

Colonsay House & Gardens, open each Wednesday 12 - 5pm. Light lunches and Afternoon Teas. Also Fridays, 3 - 5pm Afternoon Teas

Lobster and Crab: Freshly caught, telephone Bill Lawson 01951 200315

Village Hall for rent: Ceilidhean, dances etc. £50; private parties £75; weddings £100

The Pantry Restaurant:
Sunday 2.30 - 8pm
Monday - Friday 9am - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm

The Village Stores
Monday - Friday 9am - 1pm; 2pm - 5.30pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

CHURCH SERVICES: Weekly Services are held each Sunday at 11.30 a.m. The Church of Scotland and the Baptist Church work closely together and frequently hold joint services - please see notice at Shop for details of venue. All are welcome and our visitors are cordially invited to join the island congregation. Immediate schedule is:
18th July Prof. Jim Parratt, at Baptist Church
25th July Katherine Rennie, at Church of Scotland
1st August - Baptist Church
8th August - Church of Scotland
15th August - Baptist Church
22nd Augusr - Church of Scotland
29th August - Baptist Church
5th September - Church of Scotland
12th September - Baptist Church
19th September - Church of Scotland
26th September - Baptist Church

BOAT TRIPS: Daily boat trips operate throughout the season; details are elsewhere on this site, also comprehensive brochures are available at Hotel, Shop, Pantry, Bookshop etc.
Note: On most Saturdays, an all-day guided trip to the top of the Paps of Jura (2,570ft)
IONA ... All day trip to Iona, July 24, August 7, August 21
Colonsay Boat Hire

Clan Macfie will be holding its 15th International Gathering and 9th Clan Parliament in Inverness from 6th to 11th September 2005. This will be followed immediately by a Clan visit to the historic homeland the Islands of Colonsay and Oronsay.
Dates for the Colonsay visit are (subject to CalMac timetables in 2005) arrive on Sunday 11th September, depart on Wednesday 14th September or later should members so wish.
All Clan members have been notified that they are individually responsible for arranging their own accommodation reservations and payments.
Further details from: Clan Macfie Secretariat Email: macfie@austarnet.com.au
Clan Macfie Home Page address: http://home.austarnet.com.au/macfie/macfie.htm

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NOOKS & CRANNIES

Some readers might be interested to see a photograph of one of the magnificent junipers at Ardskenish, presumably very ancient. The bole is completely dessicated and the tree covers two or three square metres. There are only two pines which are native to Scotland and the Scots Pine itself does not thrive in local conditions; but Colonsay has many fine specimens of Juniper.

On a visit to Iona last week, we tried to identify the "Scouller" gravestone; perhaps this is it... the inscription should read HIC IACET FRATER CRISTINUS MAC GILLESCOIL QUONDAM PRIOR DE N/Y {i.e. Iona] CUIUS ANIME PROPICIETUR DEUS

Prior Cristinus was therefore of the MacGillescoil family but RCAHMS notes that this is rare: "Presumably Gille-Scoil was in use as a forename (sic) among professional families, but only one possible instance is on record. In 1292 "Gileskel" MacLachlan seems to have been chief of the MacLachlans of Strathlachlan".