On our July visit to Auchindrain we were asked to move from Martin’s House to Stoner’s Barn where there was more space and better light, so that we could be filmed by the delightful George and Amy, students on a three month internship at Auchindrain. The idea is to use clips of us on the new interpretive tablets which will guide visitors round the Township. Innes decamped temporarily to Bel a’ Phuill’s house to do some carding and spinning for the camera, after which the “film crew” spent the afternoon in the barn with us as we waulked. We had a constant stream of visitors to deal with too, so it was a busy day. Looking forward (we think!) to seeing the video.

The following week we took the ferry to Dunoon for a brilliant evening in a packed St Mun’s hall. We were treated to some lovely playing by two tiny fiddlers, and by Gordon, a big fiddler. The audience was very lively and enthusiastic, with no shortage of volunteers to waulk with us at the table. After three sittings we called a halt as it was in danger of becoming a bit of a rammy! We had a superb supper of “Scottish Fayre”: haggis bites, clootie dumpling, tablet … Yum! And they gave us some lovely flowers. The evening raised the fabulous sum of £1210 for the church’s new lighting system.

Our annual trip to Mull is a highlight of Sgioba Luaidh’s year. Click here for some pics of this year's visit.

We spent a wet August Friday in Sheila’s Cottage on Ulva, with lots of visitors after a slow start. Lunch in the Boathouse was as good as ever. Next day the weather improved as we settled in to Duart Castle. Following on reduced ferry fares with the rollout of RET, record numbers of tourists are heading for the Islands this year. Most of them seemed to be on Mull – it’s the busiest we have ever been at the Castle! From shortly after we started in the morning, when a troop of Scouts from Lochgilphead came crowding into our kitchen, till the end of the afternoon when we were asked to stay a bit longer as two tourist buses had just arrived, a constant stream of visitors came pouring in. Eight year old Jude, a wee local boy, stayed with us for quite a long time, and sang some Gaelic songs he had learned in school. A few of the Scouts came back for another go after touring the castle. “Which part of the castle did you like best?” “This!”