| Scarinish
Hotel |
10/02/2009
Sorry , I know its been a while. I have a valid excuse this time. We have been kept very busy here on Tiree as we have taken over the Hotel on the Island ( THe Lodge Hotel ). Fingers crossed we should be opeing in March. We have also had Ishie and Magga away in hospital , they are both doing well and we cant wait to have them both back.
So its been a bit manic over here and in Glasgow to say the least.
Weather wise (I cant do the diary without mentioning the weather) the last few days have been great sunny but cold. It was nice to get a break from the wind and the rain.
21/01/2009
Its a sunny but cold one on Tiree,a welcome change after the weather of the last few weeks.
Friday night the wind was very strong so we had no boat for a couople of days. it did make it in on Saturday but only half the passengers made it off because the ropes snapped and they had to leave.
A couple of locla guys had gone on to pick up vechicles but couldnt get off again. Afew off our residents were threatining to swim if they hadnt got off on Sunday.
12/01/2009
At last we have a bit of sunshine on Tiree. The weekends weather was dreadful, no boat on Saturday it had to turn back at Coll. So we had some refugees over the weekend.
Things are starting to get back to normal after the Christmas & Newyear break, back to our Tues & Wed busy with Corporate. ~The summer is shaping up to be another busy one with all the bookings we are taking.
31/12/2008
I thought I better make an effort to do the diary on the last day of the New Year.
The Scarinish Hotel had a great year so thanks to all our customers for contributing to that Success , 2009 is looking even better lots of exciting things happening - watch this space.
Personally for a lot of us it was quire a difficult year so hopefully 2009 will be better.
Happy New year to you all and I hope 2009 brings you everything you wish for.
26/12/2008
Hope you all had a good Christmas day yesterday. I did. Its a lovely sunny day here on Tiree . The Pub is fairly quite at the moment but I am sure there will be a few out and about later there is also a dance on tonight.
09/12/2008
Its bitterly cold today , there is still a bit of blue skies but the wind cuts right through you.
Busy today with arrivals off the boat.
08/12/2008
I had my couple of days in Glasgow so the retail therapy worked its magic . I'm always the same desperate to get away and then desperate to get back. I think I'm starting to prefer online shopping the queue's are much shorter.
Busy wee weekend in the bar again and the Christmas parties start in earnest this week. Next weekend is another busy one.
27/11/2008
Seemingly it was a bit wild last night (wind wise).
I didnt hear a thing as usual once I am asleep that is it.
WE had a busy night in the restaurant last night which is fab for a wednesday night in November.
There should hopefully be petrol on the Island this today both garages have run out so everyone is being very conservative with thier car journeys.
I'm hoping that I can last till tomorrow because I dont really want to be waiting for ages at the garage.
26/11/2008
Its quite a mild day today, had Cron out for a walk this morning and it was lovely.
Busy week this week in the hotel , Denny's bringing the Christmas DEcorations up on Sunday so how stresses out will I be on Sunday hanging them all.Cant believe its nearly Christmas again this year has just flown by.
24/11/2008
WE are still here and well.Our Internet was poorly for a while there but thankfully big Stuart managed to make it better. If switching it on and off doesnt work, I am a bit lost.I have to say I was a bit lost without the Internet, you dont realise how much you use it until its not there especially on a remote Island.
I am counting down the days to the 3rd December as i am away for a few days retail therapy and a much needed haircut. Denny and Fi are up to take over so I'm sure the diary will be updated on a more regular basis that week.
Busy weekend as we were doing the catering for Tommys 50th (Belated Happy birthday Tommy). Ishie, Ruth, Sandra and Mandy did a cracking job and there wasnt a lot left which is always a good sign.
Hotel is full tonight we are still very busy for the time of the year.
We have our first Christmas party of the year a week tomorrow so next weekend will be spent making the place look very festive indeed. Ho Ho Ho
13/11/2008
Its abit of a dreich one today , but at least we had a halfway decent day yesterday so I managed to get Cron out. I am justdebating whether to go for it this morning and deal with frizzy hair for the rest of the day.
Mass exodus today Tues & Wed are always our busy days in the winter. Though we still have a few in tonight.
11/11/2008
We are still alive and well on Tiree just in case you were wondering.
We have been lashed a bit by weather though it seems to have calmed down slightly today, The boat made it. Much to the relief of Karen & Phil who were starting to wonder if they were ever going to get off Tiree. No boat on Sunday.
The plane made it everyday, where would be without it.
Jenna's off at the moment recovering after getting her tonsils removed, so Ruthie is it at the moment and she is doing a cracking job.
03/11/2008
Belated happy 18th to Adamski - You are probably still out partying.
It was a busyish weekend this weekend we had the Golf CLub dinner dance. That will be about it now till the Chirstmas parties start.
Not too bad weatherwise though it is a bit chilly.
29/10/2008
At Last the wind has died down this week though it has been bitterly cold. Hails showers yesterday but at least the boat has made it in.
Busy weekend in the bar lots of people up for a local wedding who decided to make a weekend of it.
22/10/2008
We got a boat a yesterday so it was a hive of activity at the co-op. Weatherwise it wasnt too bad apart the extremely heavy hail showers. Today is shaping up to be a good one . Hopefully get Cron out for a wee walk this afternoon.
Really busy in the restaurant last night for the time of year.
20/10/2008
One boat it and one didnt. The other one got right into the harbour and then turned back, that must be the worst feeling getting all the way here just to turn round and go back especially when it is as rough as it was yesterday.
They did manage to get most of the people who were leaving on the boat that got in.
19/10/2008
Its the first sailing of the winter timetable today and looking at the weather its not looking too hopeful its a bit wild but not as bad as the forecast in my opinion.
Two boats are meant to be coming today as it is the end of The Wave classic so all the surfers will have thier fingers crossed.
12/10/2008
It was a cracking day yesterday lots of sunshine and wind so the windsurfers were happy. Ideal weather for the start of the wave classic. Hopefully they get a bit more wind than they have for the last couple of years.
07/10/2008
Its another dreich one today. Not so windy though so thats a good thing. The boat didnt make it yesterday it got all the way out here and then turned back.
So lots of upset people on board.
06/10/2008
Its a bit blowy out there today I had to pick up some of the washing which escaped of the line before I came to work.
It was a lovely day yesterday , I took Cron & Mac a wee walk down to ballevullin beach and it was great being out in the sunshine. I can do that now I have finally passed my driving test- Yippee. Thanks
to Danny, Magga and Tearlach.
We have the bar fire lit again so it winter is officially here , It wont be long before the christmas Decorations are going up.
28/09/2008
Its a gorgeous sunny day here on Tiree. We had a busy wee night in the restaurant last night. The bar was very quiet everyone was away to the dance at the hall.Karoake on Tonight in the bar and the footie in the afternoon so it should be a bit busier today.
Had another good driving lesson with Danny yesterday so hopefully he will get me through my test. He's a great instructor in my case he would have to be.
Ishie was back yesterday the doctors were very pleased with her progress and she is looking great.
My mission this afternoon is to go home and clear out my wardrobes as I am running out of space for my clothes so I am going to have to be brutal.
24/09/2008
We had a gorgeous day on Tiree yesterday the sun was shining and no wind. So it was actually warm.
Bit of a change this morning it overcast and really quite chilly, though this was the way yesterday started off so finger crossed.
21/09/2008
It is looking like it is going to be quite a good day today. The sun is trying its hardest to shine. It was a bit miserable yesterday morning but turned into a really nice evening.
Going out for a driving lesson today but the hotel car is poorly so Magga has very kindly offered to let me use hers so fingers crossed I dont wreck it.
Danny has bravely agreed to take me out during the week.
Happy Birthday Shona & Elaine hope you have a good day.
Jenna got home yesterday though she is still not good so hopefully will get a chance to pop up and see her soon.
19/09/2008
It was a miserable day yesterday pouring rain for most of it .Looking a wee bit clearer today so finger crossed. Still quite busy round the Island.
Jenna is poorly at the moment she was sent away to hospital the yesterday as she has a really bad throat infection.So get weel soon Jenna we are all missing you.
Should be a quiet weekend this weekend as most of the local boys are away.
10/09/2008
We had a break in the Good weather yesterday Yesterday afternoon was wild lots of wind and rain just the kind of day to be in front of the fire. I managed to resist the urge to light the fire as it still wasnt that cold.
Still retaively busy on the Island and the scotland Match is on tonight so there will be a few in for that.
On the new 42" Telly which they are all loving. Boys and there toys eh!.
06/09/2008
September has been great so far weatherwise. IT has been glorious sunshine everyday,which doesnt really surprise me to my recollection it has always been one of the best months weatherwise.
It was a busy night last Carrie leaving party so everyone was in great form in the bar doing a bit of a singalong in the bar.
02/09/2008
Quietish night last night, Though it was an extremely busy weekend so I think everyone was in recovery mode.
Clearing nicely today and at last the midgies have gone we have been plagued with them the last few days.
It was nice to see the cribbage board being played yesterday(dont know if that is the right technical term for it.) I'm sure it will pass quite a few winter evenings.
01/09/2008
Well Autumn is officially here. Looking out the window today you would be more inclined to think it was November.
WE dont really get Autumn in Tiree no tree = no leaves , I miss that when the ground is just a carpet of red and brown leaves Luckily Tiree has other things which make up for it.
28/08/2008
Its a bit of a dreich one this morning though I can see the odd patch of blue.
This week has been a wee bit quieter now that the scottish schools are back. Still busy at night though.
We have another Brightwater Group arriving today for 2 nights they are always a nice crowd.
24/08/2008
WE have had a very busy bank Holiday weekend so far. Its getting a bit quieter today but on the whole it has been a busy one.
It was a great night on Friday we had a local band playing and everyone seemed to enjoy the Ceilidh.
21/08/2008
Not sure what it is going to do weatherwise today, I will be a optomist and say its going to clear and be sunny.
It should be a busy one this weekend August Bank Holiday and the lamb sales are on Tomorrow so fingers crossed for good prices
19/08/2008
Is summer again today we had winter yesterday it seems that it is working on alternate days at the moment.
Schools back to day I cant believe how quickly the summer has passed today it seems no time at all since the teachers were having thier end of term get together.
Tiree is still quite busy at the moment lots of people still out and about.
13/08/2008
Happy days the sun is here and it is a gorgeous day. So All our guests are out and about maikng the most of it.
Busy night tonight as we have aniversary parties and birthday parties in.So should be a good night.
12/08/2008
Still a bit of a mixed bay weatherwise here on Tiree.
Everyone is still out and about making the most of it. Neil, Nikki , Jessie and Cams arrived on Saturday for 2 weeks so they are dog sitting for Cron as Ishie has had to go into Hospital.
The Island is Still very busy not quite as manic as the glasgow fair fortnight.
We had some film crews up last week one was filming Coast ant the other was the weather programme. Not sure when it will be on.Will let you know if I hear
08/08/2008
The fishing competition went ahead yesterday , it had to be postponed beacuse the weather wasnt great at all on the Wednesday. It was a lot better last night. Not as many people entered as quite a lot of people had other things on.
Promising start to this morning nice and sunny.
05/08/2008
It has been a great weekend , The regatta was on Saturday and it was really busy , sun was shining and a really nice atmosphere.It is nice to see the Harbour buzzing with people.
The fishing competition is on Tomorrow night so it should be another busy I've got a couiple of the boys playing in the bar afterwards.
Footie season starts tonight so it will be pies all round.We have the wareing family back again which is always a pleasure they are lovely.
29/07/2008
We have had brilliant sunshine for the last couple of days, so of course we were all complaining about the heat. Its a bit cooler today and a light shower had started just as I was coming up the road.So it might cool the place down a bit.
WE got to see Amber yesterday she is just gorgeous , with a very wise old face you get the feeling she has been here before , looks very like her big brother when we a baby. Malin was his usual cute as a button self .
The Tiree show and Dance went very well as did the sportsday on Saturday, it was a busy weekend there was also the Skippinish concert and dance on Saturday. Sunday was Skerryvore playing in THe Lean to. They did a set in the afternoon sitting outside and it looked and sounded Fab.
Sorry if I am repeating any details I have put in previous entries but it would appear the all the entries after October 2006 have been wiped - I didnt realise they were that boring.
This weekend is the Regatta so it will be another busy one in the bar.
Then we have the fishing competition on the 6th so bring you boat and get fishing.
13/10/2006
The island is getting busy as the Tiree Wave Classic week aproaches. Lots of sunshine and enough wind for the keen sports men and women. Our Wave Classic week menu starts on Saturday and we realy have some great grub at great prices for our special visitors. We are also offering Bar and Carry Out Suppers this year, so guaranteed food up until 9.30 every night of the Wave Classic - and at fantastic prices.
Contrary to rumours we are not fully booked for meals, but in fact this year we have extra capacity and extra staff - SO BOOK YOUR MEALS WITH US NOW ON 01879 220308.
ACTION STATIONS!!!!!!!!!!
12/10/2006
It cleared up last night and turned into a nice dry evening with a bit of a breeze. It was looking promising early this morning but then the rain started Cron was out and back in again in a flash.
Not happy chaps in the bar last night with the football, but the pies went down well.
Fi Thomson is coming up on the boat today with a car full of goodies, including my coffee (I'm not good unless I have a really strong caffeine jolt in the morning). Ann was in for lunch yesterday and said the boat was fully booked today so that will be first wave(no pun intended)of the surfers arriving.
Congratulations to Lal & Carolyn.
11/10/2006
It's a bit wet & windy this morning, though I'm sure it wont bother the windsurfers too much.
turned out to be a busy night last night in the restaurant, Karen got an SOS call to come in. Quite a few hungry travellers off the boat.Sandra and Amanda got back yesterday and had a lovely time meeting their new Nephew.
Football on again tonight so the pies and pints will be flowing.
10/10/2006
Sorry about yesterday it was just one of those days . It has been fairly quiet this week but is starting to pick up as the Wave Classic approaches.
On that note Congratulations to Fi's daughter Helen who is now the Amatuer British Kitesurfing Womans Champion
08/10/2006
Great Result for Scotland last night. Very Happy chaps in the bar. The pies went down very well.
Quietish night in the restaurant last night, but the bar was steady but cleared early.
A few booked for Sunday lunch, its a roast dinner kind of day. Hopefuuly Mary & Iain MacDonald will bring their new Westie Puppy along so I can get a peek at him.
07/10/2006
Good Afternoon bit of a busy morning this morning so no time for Diary until now. It was a wild night last night and a very high tide (seemingly the highest tide in 19 years will be on the 19th October)so we may lose the old pier for a couple of hours lets hope its not too windy. Dull morning but it looks like it is clearing. The football is on today Scotland V France @ 5.00pm so it will be pies all round at 1/2 time to keep the boys happy.
06/10/2006
We had a mass exodus last night as Johnny, Denny, Colin , Amanda & Sandra left on the boat last night. I'm sure Colin was very relieved to get away before we managed to rope him into helping again. By all accounts he was a great help at the hall.Everyone was very happy with Ishie & Jennas baking so its all good. Then it was Fish & Chips all round for the delegates who were staying here when they got back.
I managed another driving lesson before Denny left, I think I might be getting the hang of this reversing thing after all. THE BIG NEWS TODAY IS JOHNNY MANAGED TO KEEP A HOLD OF HIS GLASSES ALL THE WAY HOME ON THE BOAT!!
05/10/2006
Bit hectic this morning getting everything over to the hall morning for the Buffet and afternoon tea we are doing for the TDP, Colin our SVQ man has been up seeing the Girls so he has been hijacked as Ishie and Jenna's assistant. I bet he's just estatic with that job. Doesnt look very promising this morning its a bit a cloudy though still dry so you never know.If anyone finds any lost glasses can you froward them to Johnny c/o of us, as he is getting a bit forgetful with his eyewear.Hopefully he's lost his again and cant read the diary.
We did a fair bit of reversing yesterday on my driving lesson and Denny was very patient, though I did get a bit panicky when I thought she wanted me to reverse down the pier (but not even Denny is that foolhardy).
04/10/2006
Not so nice this morning it a bit wet & cloudy. Yesterday turned out to be lovely sunny and not a breath of wind so the Ewings who are here for a visit after 20 years and 35 years got to see it at its best. Karen didnt do so well in her test, never mind better luck next time and they do say that people who pass on thier second attempt are better drivers. I am obviously going to be superb when I eventually get there as I have already failed twice. Just cant get the hang of that reversing thing. Quiet day and night in the restaurant & bar so Ishie & Jenna are baking up a storm in preparation for the buffet in the Hall tomorrow.
03/10/2006
Sorry no Diary yesterday, Broadband was on strike again. Happy Birthday to Grace & Ian for yesterday. Grace got a Raspberry & White Chocolate cheesecake instead of a cake so she was a very happy lady. Good luck to Karen today as she is sitting her driving test so we have got everything crossed for her.
Our guests who were up for the Robertsons Party left yesterday they all had a great time and were a lovely crowd, even if Ina kept dancing on top of the tables.
Jimmy and Charlie getting on great guns with the floor in the laundry room and preparing for there next mission.
01/10/2006
Sorry no Diary yesterday broadband was being a bit stroppy. Busy lunches and bar but it quitened down in the evening. Charlie anad Jimmy getting on great guns with the laundry floor and then its on to the fire, so we have a cosy bar for the winter you just cant beat a real fire.
Its a bit dreich this morning but the last couple of days have been really nice and sunny and as it is the 1st of October its no great surprise.
29/09/2006
Sorry its a bit late today, I did start doing it at 9.00 this morning, it has been one of those mornings.
The RAF boys are attempting to come back up for a visit on the 12th of October so fingers crossed the wind stays away that day.
Its a bit showery this morning but not much wind.
There was a wee bit of a drama with the boat yesterday she had a rudder problem in Coll so everything was running a bit late after though she did make it to Barra and then back to Oban which was good as there were a few people leaving yesterday.Our guests have started arriving for Marion and Iain's Golden Wedding celebration so I must dash as they are all wanting a bite to eat.
28/09/2006
Its was a bit of a wild day yesterday. Which meant our RAF boys didnt make it. Hopefully they will try again in the next few weeks. So the restaurant was a bit quieter than expected. Iain and Marion Robertson and friends were in celebrating thier Golden Anniversary, they are having a big party on the Saturday night so we are full with guests for that.
Laura & Rolly left on the boat yesterday, I'm sure they would have found it a bit choppy. Jimmy and Charlie are now reflooring the laundry room after finishing the fire escape,very versatile chaps.
Sandra & Amanda very Happy yesterday as they are aunties again thier sister had her baby 10 days early but baby and mummy are both well.
27/09/2006
Another mild day. Forgot to report on advance warning about low flying jets! Once the first one had skirted our roof, we rushed outside to catch the second one on Monday pm and we all (all being two of us) waved at the 2nd jet which "waved" at us by wiggling its wings!
The RAF arrive today for a Black Tie Dinner with cloths and candles. Willie G has provided us with the lobster and Nan's beef is also on the menu.
Took a commemorative picture of Jimmy & Charlie beside their brilliantly made fire escape that replaces the previous rather ancient matchstick construction. This new effort is spectacular and worth a detour to the back of the hotel on arrival to admire it.
New staff photo taken and should be on the home page soon.
26/09/2006
A calm, mild morning with total conjestion on the roads to work - two flocks of sheep approaching from opposite directions bolcked the main Scarinish highway. Thank goodness Rolly and I could nip over the machair to take in the pale grey dawn over the harbour.
Quiet night in the bar with a few songs from the Skipinnish boys.
Our afternoon tea guests ended up feeding Freddie the seagull, intrigued by how he had befriended us. As I type he has been eyeing me set up breakfast in the hope that I head out to give him his.
Feeding the tumble dryers again today to clear the mountain of washing after the Pipe Band's departure. The boys played the boat into Tiree and then call and were thrilled to have an escort of dolphins part of the way back to Oban.
25/09/2006
A perfect day for pipers to pipe in the arriving boat. No wind and really hot so factor 50 was on for thier journey home. The Murphy's had extra luggage - 5 cases of coke wee Jamie won in the raffle last night. Steve Kerr, lyricist, pulled it off again in a duet with Laura of There's a hole in my Pipe Bag and the Tiree Raphsody with apologies to Queen is outstanding especailly the vocal instrumental!
The dance on Sat was fantastic and everyone - staff and band were a wee bit tired on Sunday. As in rained, gentle sitting down activities happened and messages for in that bottle were written. The Miller Family learnt A dug A dug and performed it brilliantly later - twice!
Jenna cooked for the dinner crowds with the steak pie a sell out and crab claws a big seller again.
September weekend 2007 is fully booked and only 52 weeks away.
24/09/2006
Great balmy day so the pipers took in biking, golf, fishing and sleeping all prior to the photo shoot and the march ot the Old Folks Home where the cakes and eats stemmed the hunger pangs until dinner. Great excitement for the Miller family when Mum, Lorna, found a message in a bottle on Gott Beach!
The Hebridean Princess docked for the afternoon and sailed gracefully off just before dinnner. The mystery of the blue car surrounded by an electric fence in the middle of nowehere surfaced. Questions are being asked by visitors.
At 9pm there was a flurry of activity as staff and band headed off the The Dance. As I type at 8.15 am no one has surfaced but Iainn is the piper due to do the Wake Up To Tiree Piping session. The low down on the dance will follow!
23/09/2006
The sun has got his hat on hip hip hip hooray the pipe band landed safely and it's play, play, PLAY!
After lunch we had band practice for the Strathaven boys on the beach then a busy dinner with all hands on deck to welcome the band and visitors from America. After dinner, there was piping in the Old Harbour Restaurant for just the pleasure of it followed by singing and squeeze box players from the local Tiree musicians until the wee small hours.
It was so balmy we had all the windows and doors open at midnight just to keep cool.
Bohemian Rhapsody has been re-woeded to give it a Tiree Twist - with apologies to Freddie M.
22/09/2006
At last - the rain stopped and dog walking became a dry event again!
Wildlife in the Lean To yesterday when a frog jumped in out the rain. Amanda had to shoo it out - unfortunately Fiona Mac saw it flattened later in the carpark!
Great teamwork for the final countdown to the Pipe Band's arrival with Karen investing in killer heels for the dance. Absolutely no use for lying on a borrowed house floor trying to start a boiler and still trying as I type.
With Hurricane Gordon now downgraded to a Depression - that is not what last night's wind sounded like. Big seas this a.m. but balmy. Fingers crossed for the Pipe Band boat.
21/09/2006
An all wet day with our walkers using the boiler room facilities to dry out their sodden gear. But all remained cheery as they sat in The Old Harbour Restaurant for lunch and to watch the drizzle. Still very mild.
Tiree on TV again yesterday with the wind turbine and more views of surfers and beaches.
Rolly, the Bichon, met Freddie, the mottled seagull, yesterday and suffice to say, they will not be close friends.
Last call to the Pipe Band to chat over their weekend with us - a three way conversation with Peter Diesel - from his BATH! Too much information perhaps?
Cheers to Johnnie who has his first day of retirement today.
20/09/2006
Well - the boat safely docked last night but Hurricane Gordon has started with us already with winds of up to 80mph forecast for later on. Not sure about today's boat.
Coconuts washed up on Tiree beaches may be due to the hurricanes in other parts of the world but we here don't care as the publicity on national TV over the last few days showing off our beaches has been stuff money can't buy.
Prep for the Pipe Band continues with plans to check out and set up the extra house we take on for their arrival. The welcome gifts of Tiree Paperwights have been collected - Fiona Mac's neice and nephew combed the beaches for them when up on their hols. What a team!
19/09/2006
Quite a pleasant morning this morning between showers. Though the power keeps going off.
Forecast not great for the next couple of days so our guests are up at it making the best of this mornings weather. Hopefully it will be better by Friday so the Strathaven Pipe band get here on the boat ok. They were stranded last year as the boat didnt make it in on the Monday. So fingers crossed the weather behaves itself this year.
Laura and Roly are arriving today with a carload of goodies as usual.
18/09/2006
We are back!! Site was out of service for a couple of days but now we are back with a vengenance(well pretty much the same as before but that doesnt have the same impact).
It was a bit of a wild day today, I was up at the lighthouse watching the waves crash against the rocks -I could stay up there all day.
Freddy is now joining us on our morning walk(at a safe distance and he is flying rather than walking but you get the picture). Well I must dash as we have a busy night in the restaurant tonight.
16/09/2006
Woke up to a stunning sunrise this morning, clear skies with a tinge of red against the backdrop of the Isle of Mull, old Ma Nature really knows how to put on a show. Bit breezy this morning.
Busy night last night in the restaurant & bar. Karaoke tonight so should be another busy one tonight.
Freddie hasn't appeared this morning, I think he may have got wise and waited until after Cron checks his domain in the morning.Everybody leaving today with some new arrivals coming off the boat bringin a couple of dogs. Fred may well be looking for refugee status in Heanish by the end of the weekend.
15/09/2006
Gorgeous morning this morning. Cron and Freddy had thier usual morning ritual.
Popped along to the sheep sales yesterday which was very interesting. I was very careful of waving or nodding at anyone in case I got a small flock of sheep by mistake. Everyone seemed happy enough with the prices they got. Margo, Debbie & Andy are away back on the boat today after having a lovely few days on Tiree. It was great seeing them again and having some time out , though it is nice to be back at work. And on that note I better get on.
14/09/2006
A little late doing the diary today. A quiet lunch but tonight could be busy with yet another lamb sale on the island. The weather has been dry with no wind and we have seen the sun. Fi Mac and her friends had a very enjoyable walk on Balaveulin beach. Very warm-can't complain.In fact we were all in such a good mood that prior to dinner service Karen and Grace had a wee Highland Schottishe dance in the dining room-just testing out the new CD!
13/09/2006
A wild and wet day-certainly not a day for wigs! Lucky Denny flying away from the gales! We only had 2 chance booked last night but had 20 in the end. A few braved the elements today for lunch. Let's see what tonight brings! Back to the soup making!!
12/09/2006
Vidal Sassoon is still at it-lots of people with new hairdo's wandering about unrecognisable! Fortunately not so much wind and rain to spoil the effect! Fiona Mac's friends arrive today so hoping the weather picks up. Our guests have gone cycling ever hopeful that the weather will improve. A quieter day today but full house tonight. Angus the Border has had his sausage- his perk for guarding the office!
11/09/2006
Well Vidal Sasson eat your heart out. There has been a stream of glam new hairstyles coming out of the Hotel today. Unfortunatly it has been very windy and rainy so they are having to withstand the elements. Which on the whole they are doing. Dennys chums Lyn & Susan and Irish John are away on the boat today with Johnny. I think it is safe to assume they all had a great time. Good Food, Good wine and Good friends you cant get much better.
The hairdressers are off surfing with Sudds tomorrow before catching the boat back.
Fiona & Ishies friends from Somerset are arriving tomorrow so its all go here.
10/09/2006
A bit blowy this morning, just the thing for waking you up in the morning. Steady night in the bar & restaurant last night.
John & Co hairdressers coming over on the boat this morning for a couple of days, so we are turning the upperdeck into a hairdressers for the time being. No more bad hair days on Tiree( I've had more than my fair share)for me. Denny and gang coming in for breakfast so I must dash
09/09/2006
Another fabulous day yesterday with warm sunshine before the breeze intervened. Still - the sun shone until the moon came up!
Our RSNO musicians did what musicians do - and in the afternoon they played their concert at the school with participation from the children.
After dinners were served in the restaurant, the "orchestra" set up and an hour of great music was enjoyed in an intimate but casual atmosphere. The repertoire went from Faure, through Mozart to Gershwin with lots in between - this included the Tiree High School's French teacher who sang a wonderful rendering of Danny Boy - she can now say that she has sung in public with the RSNO!
At around 10pm the concert party repaired to the bar, where a fabulous night's music and dancing ensued!
One of the best ever - what a good bunch of dancers the teachers are!
A great big thankyou to the team from the RSNO who have given Tiree a great week of music and fun.
The party ended in the wee small hors and those who were not residing in the hotel walked home in the full moonlight. The best things in life ..........
08/09/2006
We had the most stunning sunset last night with a huge moon and a golden carpet across the sea. Fantastic! The sunrise this morning was equally good and the sun is shining now.How lucky we are! We did 20 dinners last night and the bar was steady. Tonight we are all in for a bit of culture- our RSNO guests are giving an open house concert in the restaurant so looking forward to a very different evening's entertainment. Eat your heart out Glasgow Concert Hall!!
07/09/2006
Sunshine and warm!! Summer is still here! Shena our gardener spent yesterday on her hands and knees sorting out our flower tubs and weeding so we have a very smart colourful entrance. Must keep the sheep away from the tasty pansies!
Charlie and Jimmy have done wonders with our partition along the back corridor. No more drafts for the sweet/baking preparation area! Our orchestral guests are still in residence and were very complimentary about Wilma's tuneful whistling at breakfast this morning. Don't give up the day job Wilma-we need you! The girls did well last night with dinners-Jenna's Pastitcio was delicious!
06/09/2006
Its all calm & clear this morning on Tiree, with a stunning sunrise this morning. Which is appreciated all the more after a day like yesterday.
Problems with the plane yesterday as it was the Saab that came out, but it couldnt make it back so they had to send one of the smaller ones out to get the passengers, it will ba all plain sailing & flying today which will be a great relief to Fi Thomson who is coming by boat today.
Our group from the RSNO arrived yesterday and had a very pleasant evening the in the restaurant even the Illegal camper, they're off to school this morning to inspire some of the kids. We have a lot of very musically gifted kids on Tiree so I'm sure it will be enjoyable for all concerned.
05/09/2006
Its is pouring and blowing a gale outside, I love it as long as you are inside or you've got the old waterproofs on as Fiona had this morning taking Cron out. He wasnt too impressed with the weather.
Busy night again last night but everybody very happy. Micheals recipe for the roast vegetable terrine went down very well with customer and staff alike.
Fi Green and Molly were in last night for dinner and were very Happy with thier Muddle and Choc fudge cake. Molly is moving to Oban in a couple of weeks she will be missed but has promised to come back regularly to see us.
04/09/2006
Lovely morning with the sun shining which is what we want. Great weather for the Kite surfers yesterday. They were out in force in Gott bay. Very quiet in The Lean to yesterday everyone either away or working. Micheal is finshing today as he is back at Uni next week we will all be sad to see him go,as he's been a great help through the summer.Full house tonight & busy in the restaurant. So must get on.
03/09/2006
Sunday so the lovely aroma of Tiree Roast beef is in the air. Our Stag/surfer group are away on the boat with Angus to do a bit of fishing before getting the boat back to Oban. I think they are feeling the aftermath of sampling the delights of the lean- to.
Restaurant was steady last night and the bar was busy in the afternoon and got quieter as the evening wore on.
Freddy has taken a shine to the blue VW and has decided to sleep on the roof much to Cron's horror.
02/09/2006
A bit wet and windy last night, but looks like it is clearing now. Our group of windsurfers are very happy with the weather. Busy night in the bar and restaurant last night which is great and looking similiar for tonight. Norman, fi and Helen were in last night for dinner as it was Normans Birthday and I think the Sparkler on top of his dessert just made the evening for him.Freddy even popped up on top of the hotel car to say hello.
Belated Birthday wishes Norman.
01/09/2006
Another rainy & windy morning , thought it looks promising as the sun is starting to come through.
Busy day again yesterday in the bar and restaurant.
Freddy reappeared and managed to get himself caught in the shed at the back so Ishie and Jenna had do a rescue misson well more of a open the door and shoo him out.
31/08/2006
Its a very dreich morning this morning after a wild last night,the positive was we had busy retaurant and bar last night with the weather being so rotten.
The Tiree Lobster proved very popular as usual.
Carole survived her first driving lesson with Fiona and the ejector button is still untouched even after getting caught up in the school run rush.Elaine had a trainee in the kitchen with her last night, Ruth has just completed a 2 year Cordon bleu cooking course and wanted to see what it was like in a commercial kitchen.
30/08/2006
Another lovely morning this morning apart from the dreaded midgies. Cron and Freddy had thier usual morning ritual Cron barking Freddy flying. Though it does appear to be the only time he does fly apart from when Denny is shouting at him to get out of the car, so it's his excercise routine for the day.
Danny the local Policeman arrived with a couple from the boat who had got a bit lost looking for somewhere to stay luckily we had a room left.
Busy night in the restaurant last night though it was fairly quiet in the bar.
29/08/2006
Freddy and Cron had a bit of a stand off this morning ( I think a Turf war has started).
Lovely morning this morning sun was shining and no breeze. Steady night last night but early finish for the restaurant 10.00pm a sure sign the schools are back.Busy morning with checkouts and phone calls. Karen gave Chocolate Fudge cake the thumbs up so its passed the critics test.
28/08/2006
Freddie's back he was out the back waiting for lunch, so we are all very relieved about that,
though he had to fight a sheep for his bread.
We had a busy old night last night in the restaurant
Cameron kennedy had booked the Marie Stuart for his wife's birthday and a we had a table of 8 who were here for a stag weekend & very civilised good food and drink stag weekend.
Busy afternoon in the bar as the football was on, so it was pies all round.Carole has offered her services to take Fiona out driving in Denny's absence. Good Luck Carole. A big thankyou to Cameron, Jessica & Charlotte on collecting all those lovely stones.
27/08/2006
Its a lovely sunny sunday today. Shaping up to b a busy lunch and dinner, the Island is still quite busy with a lot coming off the boat yesterday.
Freddie the seagull has been keeping a low profile since yesterday, could Denny please check her suitcase in case he fancied a trip to Glasgow.
There was a heavy heavy shower last night which created a bit of a water at the door to the dining room. The Foster family left today after Granny came up to spend the last night with them.
Jenna's Pastisio was a bit of a sell out last night.
All I can smell now is the delicious aroma of Nans beef roasting away in the oven. Funnily enough I'm starting to feel a bit peckish.
26/08/2006
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNIE!
Where are all these people coming from? We are coping well, but there is no let up in the number of visitors and locals wanting to avail themselves of our food and beverage facilities.
This also includes Freddie the baby seagull, who has indeed taken a shine to us. Now that the girls are feeding him at the back door, he's usually there every morning awaiting his bread end. He even tried to get into the car when Denny was unloading the veg yesterday afternoon!
Sandra and Karen are in the bad books - a kindly local handed in a rock cod for Denny's tea - but the girls couldn't bring themselves to kill it, so ran down to the beach and set it free! The pork chops were lovely last night!
The puddings are flying out the door, so Ishie was in the kitchen at 6 this morning baking chocolate sponges.
"Techie" Kenneth has fixed our internet access, as well as a few more computers in Scarinish! Oh to be young and interested in technology!
24/08/2006
Once again too busy to do the diary. What with 50 dinners last night, 39 lunches today and thin on the staffing we don't have our challenges to seek! That said, the team is pulling together spendidly, especially since the arrival of our new control clerk - or should that be control freak! Our motorcycling tourists have arrived and are gently roaring round the island. One big family has left and headed for Barra to be replaced by another fresh in from Oban.
Couldn't get enough lobsters to satisfy demand last night so an sos has gone out today for further supplies. A surprise visit for Denny today by some O'Neills from Carnlough.
Johnnie's grass has germinated and now matches his green fence which is now even more green after Kenneth's efforts.
23/08/2006
A glorious morning after a dreadful evening! Busy dinners last night, and all at the one time - so a challenging time for all!
The borrowed table cloths have been returned to Mable at the Glassary with our grateful thanks - it gave Fiona a chance to have another wee drive around the island.
Lobsters landed yesterday from Willie Fish, so most have already been sold for dinner tonight.
House is full , bar is steady and we are heading for another busy night in the restaurant. Ho Hum!
22/08/2006
Another busy time at the TSH. We thought that things might be a bit quieter but we are wrong. Maybe it's because some of our team have gone back to school, that it seems busier.
Dinners were fully booked last night, so apologies for those whom we were unable to accommodate.
Islay the border terrier and Kilda the Norfolk terrier are staying with us and seem to be having fun with their owners.
Fiona enjoyed her birthday yesterday and continues to enjoy some well earned time off.
Denny has taken on a couple of double shifts - so will she cope over the next two days without becoming "ratty"?
It has started well for her as Amanda's breakfast service this morning was magnificent. Keep it up Amanda!
Kenneth has arrived and is painting the fence, sorting the computer, and various other chores when he is not playing golf.
The key for rooom 8 has been left at the airport, so we are off to collect.
21/08/2006
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FIONA - WE HOPE YOU HAVE MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS ON TIREE!!!! - those of us with the technical ability have hacked in with this BIRTHDAY GREETING. NOW OVER TO YOU FIONA.
Bit of a grey morning this morning after a torrential downpour last night.We had an a lady in for dinner last night and she ended up staying the night as it was heavy rain and Tiree dark when she started heading back to where she was staying, so she decided the safer option was to stay the night here. Unfortunatly it was all us learner drivers that were working last night so none of us could give her a lift - roll on October -Hopefully.
Paula and Malk are leaving today with heavy hearts as they have already extended thier stay by a couple of days - Bye and see you again soon.
Busy night in the restaurant, bar was fairly quiet after the afternoon rush.
Karoake went well all the usual suspects giving us a song and ~Fi Green on top form as usual, assisted by our Micheal. BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY
so the kitchen will be a lot quieter this lunchtime.
19/08/2006
Well - the island has fallen silent as all the lambs have left. The sale went well and the word is that prices were about £1.50 per beast up on last year.
The dining room was busy last night as the buyers, the sellers and the auctioneers enjoyed each other's company, not to say a few drams!
The last of the boats taking the lambs off the island left the pier at 3a.m. as the wind howled and the rain lashed.
This morning dawned as fine as ever, so the new arrivals are already on the beach or sitting outside enjoying the sun.
The boat left on time, with the car deck full of holidaymakers returning to the mainland for the start of the autumn term next week.
The kitchen team are busy preparing for another busy night and we are all thrilled with the Kite Surfing write up that Helen T got from today's Glasgow Herald. Well done and good luck in this week's competitions!
18/08/2006
After a shaky start the sun has come out. The island is just beautiful - right out of the holiday brochures so -Barbados - eat your heart out!
The sheep sales are well under way, and the word is that prices are good. The money will start hitting the bar around 5pm, so we will see what proportion of the selling price of the 6000 sheep we can attract into our tills! A couple of late ferries coming in this evening to take all the wee lambs to pastures new for the winter. They will probably be better off on the mainland than a windy winter here!
We have Oscar staying with us at the moment. He is a great big 9 month old Rhodesian Ridgeback with lots of energy, so his owners are hoping to tire him out on the beach this afternoon.
50 plus booked for dinner tonight, and more sirloin on order for our visiting farmers.
Fi and Angus have headed home and so has Johnnie, even though the fence is not quite finished. The lawn has been sown, so time will tell whether or not the seed will stay long enough to take root!
17/08/2006
A beautiful sunny morning and I've just had a call from Helen to say that 12 Highland cows and 15 "ordinary cows" are swimming up to their necks in Balephuil Bay. It's the cattle sales tomorrow so we reckon they are trying to escape!! The weather conditions are just perfect for wakeboarding and our delightful family are off cycling to the other side of the island. A big thank you to one of our guests who kindly brought us a huge basket of fresh brocolli from his field on the mainland. Elizabeth is now busy making a stilton and brocolli soup and we have ideas for our vegetarian guests tonight. The kitchen team have done brilliantly over the last few nights averaging 45 dinners each night. Jenna's Salmon Kedgeree was very popular. Expecting a private plane to "jet" in today with 4 lunch guests. Denise will also be "jetting" in on BA hopefully with fresh legs to help cope with our busy cattle sales day tomorrow. Watch this space!!
15/08/2006
Monday evening turned out quite busy. Jenna and the team did 42 dinners with the Summer Pasta dish proving a winner. It's a rather wet and misty morning so nobody has appeared for breakfast so far. Sandra is already on the ball organising today's kitchen prep. With the combination of a damp day and a late boat we could be in for a busy time. Can't complain!
14/08/2006
Sunday turned out warm enough for those brave swimmers. Well done Annie!! Slowly working our way through the laundry mountain from the previous hectic two days. The girls did 16 lunches and twenty five dinners between them. Our Canadian guests were very chuffed to have successfully found their ancestral roots. After several lifts and a bit of walking they found where they were looking for and were invited into a house for tea and musical entertainment. All part of the island's charm. The weather forecast for today is supposed to be bright and sunny but rain tomorrow so hurry up Johnnie and get that fence painted!!
13/08/2006
We still had the second wave of wedding guests staying with us so the bride and groom plus friends and relations joined them for an evening meal and so the party continued. Jenna kept the kitchen team in order-her cottage pie went down a treat. Ishie was lucky to get the last portion!
Adam and Jenna are looking very professional in their new kitchen "blacks". Must remember to keep these separate in the laundry!
12/08/2006
Yesterday was a very special day for Kevin and Margo who celebrated their wedding in the Scarinish Hotel. A great team effort from everyone to put this event together. Thank you all!Fortunately the weather was good. With the bridal party and all their guests looking fantastic in their dresses and kilts and with the restaurant beautifully set up there was a great atmosphere and we were all ready for a good time. The meal went very smoothly and there was a buffet for those guests who arrived in the evening. The local Cornaig Ceilidh band played and kept the dancing going until well into the wee small hours so we take it that everyone enjoyed themselves. Everyone has now left for the boat and we have a quieter day ahead to catch up. There is that saying "all over just like a wedding". However onwards and upwards for our next guests who arrive this am. full of anticipation for the Tiree experience. The weather is looking good so ever hopeful for a sunny day.
11/08/2006
Dinners proved to be as busy as expected, so I am afraid there were a few unhappy folks on Tiree last night who couldn't get a table. Sorry!!
We think that Ishie is trying to get out of doing the wedding today as she tried to knock herself out by having the freezer lid fall on top of her. Yes it's in the accident log!
Charlie managed to unblock the kitchen sink, so we all had a lecture about tattie peelings and coffee grounds!
The linen arrived yesterday, so Angus got a kiss for delivering so swiftly.
Change of shift today as Fi takes over the day shift from Denny. All go for the wedding - your timing's emaculate Denny!
Angus the border terrier is back and helping Johnnie in the garden.
Early boat, must dash!
10/08/2006
A late diary - many apologies but we are just so busy!
We just haven't stopped all day, and it looks like a busy evening in prospect.
The divers left this morning after an early breakfast - they were anticipating a rough sail down to the Sound of Mull where they will dive for the next two days. We think that they have taken a room key - so if you read this divers, could you please check.
Most of our wedding guests arrived this morning - so the party has definitely started!
Jimmy and Charlie have put 2 new shelves into the safe, so we don't have to check through layers of stuff (sadly not money) to find what we need.
The linen arrived in time for the tables for tomorrow and the washing machines and Fiona the ironing lady are working overtime.
Our new ( to us) catering equipment arrived today from Skye, just as the beer order arrived and the kitchen sink blocked up. Help!
09/08/2006
Yesterday was pretty dreich, but by the time the boat came in at 6.40pm, the sun was shining. Nevertheless, we had a few wet clothes to dry off in the boiler room.
A wet day meant busy lunches, so the team coped well, having to stay on during the afternoon to get prepped up for dinner service.
The bar was busy, busy last night, with Fiona Green having to shout loudly to get the bar cleared by the end of "drinking up time"!
The Tiree Liver & Bacon went down well with our diners last night, as did the lemon chicken and poached salmon.
The pyjamas which were left by our guests in room 5 this morning were delivered to the pier, prior to the boat leaving at 9.55 - we consider that part of our good service!
Bookings for lunch and dinner looking busy, and the preparations for the wedding on Friday are already underway.
Johnnie has arrived to paint fences and strim the garden. What Ho!!!
08/08/2006
A wee bit rainy this morning - the BBC website says it will clear this afternoon, right over our post code - we will wait and see!
Steady day yesterday, but all was eclipsed by the exam results of Karen and Adam. Our staff gained wonderful SQA results - Karen with an A and 3 Bs at Higher level (an A in Gaelic), and Adam with 8 standard grade passes, the best passes of which were in English, French and Computing. We celebrated with a bottle of bubbly about 9.30, after which it was back to the dishes and a kitchen clean up! Well done to both, and also to Sophie, who wasn't in to work last night, but who gained 7 standard grades - my but they're a brainy bunch!
The L plates are on the volvo, so Fiona has ventured out for a wee spin with Denny in the passenger seat. The first run was to MacLeod's for a newspaper and a Magnum ( ice cream), and we are pleased to report that the ejector seat was not required.
Denny on double shift today as Fiona has a well earned day off.
The divers found the wreck yesterday and are diving off Coll today. They will come back wet.
07/08/2006
Welcome back Jimmy! Jimmy has come back to work today, so we are all very happy to see him. We have missed him a lot over the past few weeks, especially Charlie who has been doing all the maintenance on his own.
The weather is holding up well, in fact, the sun is shining and it is warm. Paddling looks promising for this afternoon!
Change of shift yesterday as Siobhan headed back to the mainland and Denny took over as early shift Duty Manager.
We have a party of divers staying with us. They are exploring wrecks (have you tried the Lean-To bar????) and are hoping to dive today to find the good ship Labrador which went down off Skerryvore in 1899, fortunately, without loss of life. We will hear later if the mission was successful.
A first this morning at breakfast, when one of the divers ordered beans on toast topped with scrambled eggs - interesting combination.
The new recipe for crab pate went down a bomb last night, so it looks like becoming a regular feature on the menu.
More crab claws and lobster coming in from Willie Fish later today - we must off and get the pot boiling.
06/08/2006
The sun is shining this morning - the morning after thr night before for Catriona and Harry and their party guests. Catriona and Harry had a garden party to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary, so a good time was had by all. The marquee and the gazebo are still and quiet this morning! The singing could be heard wafting across the machair at midnight - prior to a wee downpour!!!
Our youngsters did well at the hotplate last night, with the Tiree lobster and the hot crab cakes proving particularly popular.
We had a dog convention last night - exotic unpronouncable breeds as well as a cairn terrier called George. George and his dad had chips for lunch today!
Grace and Denny now media stars having appeared in consecutive copies of the Oban Times. Fiona hoping to be in Hello magazine next week!
05/08/2006
It seems we are the place for lunch on the island as we continue to attract more and more people. Yesterday's weather helped our restaurant as many escaped the rain and the thick fog. The plane did not reach us and we had a frantic call from a local guest house to see if we could accommodate a couple who were due to fly out. Fortunately we had one room left and they were extremely grateful. However the weather today started the same and they decided to not risk waiting for the plane and took the ferry instead as they have tickets for the Tattoo in Edinburgh tonight. We even arranged a lift to Glasgow from Oban for them!
The Coll show seemed to go well despite the weather as some of our staff only got back at 9 am this morning!
04/08/2006
Very busy for lunch yesterday as people were around the island for the day trip and the ferry returns to Oban late on a Thursday evening as it comes from Barra via Tiree. One of the parties brought a copy of the Oban Times with them to show us a feature on our recent selection to be members of the exclusive Scottish Quality Lamb and Beef club. Nan, our island butcher, produces such a unique and quality product that our menu items that feature her meat are very popular. Most of our guests make a visit to her shop before leaving for the ferry.
The weather has turned a bit and there's a mizzle today coupled with some cool air - this will be a disappointment for our neighbours on the isle of Coll as it is their show today and Skipinnish Sea Tours are running trips throughout the day. Many of our staff are playing in the pipe band there and we will miss them tonight as it is shaping up to be a busy evening.
03/08/2006
Breezy conditions continued yesterday but with some nice sunny spells so many guests got caught out on the cycle back.
Wilma in housekeeping had an unexpected visit from her brother this week and has been whistling louder than usual as she does her worK. Her family went out with Skipinnish Sea Tours for a wildlife tour yesterday but there was not much happening so they started to fish. Nothing was biting so the children were a bit disappointed until Angus started playing Jingle Bells on the bagpipes and they couldn't catch all the fish that the music had attracted. So smiles all round on the way back to shore!
02/08/2006
Last night was a steady night in the restaurant with lobster proving to be a popular choice. Willie will have to keep busy to supply us over the rest of the high season.
Our window boxes are a bit windswept after some gusty weather yesterday and the breeze is still strong this morning but most guests have already set out on their bikes.
Our young kitchen team has been busy selecting new gear to wear and it seems that black is the new white! They are also excited at the imminent arrival of some new kitchen equipment so it feels like several birthdays all rolled together.
The RAF have also been visiting us again, even lower this morning
01/08/2006
Quietish evening as many Scots returned home yesterday and today many of our English guests arrive. However it's a full house tonight and we have had advanced bookings for our lobster!
Although the weather is brighter today there is still a lot of wind and the decision to cancel the regatta has left a bit of disappointment for those participating in the traditional lug boats and spectators. However, other transport carriers - the RAF fast jets - seem to be enjoying the weather as we have had a number of low fly pasts today!
Had a lovely email from New Zealand this morning from a previous guest recalling her trip here this time last year and as we have discovered she is now a daily diary addict we send her our best wishes from sunny Tiree - slainte.
31/07/2006
Sunday lunches had many of the islanders in from a coolish morning and the Roast Tiree beef was a favourite. The weather has changed a little but there's still a big swell and not much sunshine.
Lots of changes in the house today with our families leaving and lots of couples arriving.
Willie arrived in with some great lobsters this morning so they have just been cooked off and will feature on the menu this evening served with some lemon mayonnaise, seasonal salad and frites...yum!
30/07/2006
Had a very busy restaurant for lunch yesterday as everyone tried to escape the wild weather - all the poor campers were also looking for accommodation but we were fully booked so after some lunch they were on their way to try and find a bed for the night.
Today dawned bright but the sea is still high and the wind is warm. Our ladies left happy after visiting the croft where they had spent many years when they had been fostered here as children over 50 years ago!
29/07/2006
The weather is looking poor for the regatta today so it will probably be postponed till next week - maybe Tuesday if the weather improves.
Another very wet night and the roof continues to give us problems - oh, for talking rafters that could help us locate the source, once and for all!
Our charming Swiss guest with the wonderful soft-top Jaguar sports car has had to cover up today but with the CDs of Skipinnish, Skerryvore and Rachel Walker that he has just purchased from reception he is looking forward to his all-island tour drive.
28/07/2006
Well, it was very busy in the restaurant last night and the Seafood Cocktail and Nan's liver and saute onions were the favourites. The sunset was glorious and everyone was out with their cameras in one hand and a glass of wine or beer in the other. During the night however it was a change of climate - there was a torrential downpour and after such dry weather over recent weeks we had the on-going saga with our leaking roof - Charlie is still in the attic as I write.
One of our guests from California had left his return leg tickets at home so it was a dash to the airport this morning after he had checked out of the hotel to deliver the FedEx documents with the airline tickets enclosed that had arrived earlier by ferry! First class courier service!
27/07/2006
A baby thrush made its way into the hotel in the morning so Amanda and Sandra made it feel at home and after a quick breakfast it was off to find the rest of the family.
The phone lines were off for most of the morning and this made it difficult for those paying with debit or credit cards - just reminded us of how dependent we are on electronic equipment ..... oh for the good old days! That wasn't our only technical hitch as the electricity went off during dinner but Fiona, Elaine and the crew took it in their stride and all the guests were happy and didn't seem to notice.
The weather continues to be fine on Tiree - with the sun shining and the sea shimmering it is truly quite blissful right now - don't you wish you were here?
26/07/2006
Last night was another busy one in the hotel with a full house and a busy restaurant. The summer season started a bit later for most hotel businesses in Scotland this year but we feel that it really is hotting up now here! We have just put up the posters for the Tiree Regatta on Saturday coming so expecting a heectic weekend.
The weather was just glorious yesterday and after speaking to people in London and Glasgow we are so grateful for that special Tiree air providing a warm breeze and opportunity for people to enjoy a drinkat the picnic tables looking out to the Treshnish Isles. Those people arriving by ferry said they had a spectacular cruise to the island.
A busy day beckons so need to rush to get through a long list today and today it's an early boat for breakafast and departures.
25/07/2006
Our friend and colleague Morag was buried on Tiree yesterday.
Morag had been our housekeeper at the hotel up until 5 weeks ago.
We will all miss her terribly, but none moreso than husband Jimmy, son James, daughter Diane, son-in-law Stevie and her treasured grandsons Craig and Ryan.
24/07/2006
A bit cloudier today, and not quite as warm.
Busy lunches yesterday, with dinners also picking up.
Our guests with the big trailer managed to get on to the boat, despite the fact that they were 4th on the wait list, and despite the fact that it was L.O.T.I and not Clansman. They will have made it to the 1st birthday party which they didn't want to miss.
A late supper was on the cards last night for our guests who were working at the Co-op, but who couldn't start until the shop closed at 6pm.
A very busy day today in addition to our usual regime of weekly orders, banking and general weekly admin.
Off to set up for breakfast service.
23/07/2006
We forgot to tell you testerday that our Tiree Scarinish Hotel eggs got 3rd prize at the show - we just need more of them to keep up with demand.
The farmers and judges all left yesterday morning -after a good dance which finished at 3(ish)!
The Skye man from the Oban Times liked the sound of our own Tiree beef and got even more excited about our Nan burgers, and the fact that we are now members of the Scotch Beef Club - so Denny did an impromtu interview during breakfast, followed by a photocall with a tray of beef at the front of the hotel - a new media career awaits. Expect a write up soon in the Oban Times.
A busy day yesterday between the bar and the restaurant, with a fuse going in the kitchen during preparation of the last food order. Thankyou Charlie for coming out at 9pm to mend the fault.
We think it may be our deep fat fryer, so it may shortly be making a one way trip to the end of the pier!
Sunday lunches looking busy prior to which Johnnie and a guest from San Fransisco need to be colected from the ferry. Must dash!
22/07/2006
Wow! - What a night! The best team effort ever saw us set the Scarinish Hotel dinner record at 92. Yes 92 dinners served last night with nothing but compliments all round for our food and our service. The effort put in for the mise en place (pre-service prep for all you non hoteliers), was immense and it really shone through when it came to service time. A great big thankyou to the whole team - well done!
Adam's Mum was dining with the Show Party and she had to admit that her son's chocolate orange cheesecake is spot on. Looks like family competition for Hynish teas, Monica!
The housekeeping team at the Scarinsh Hotel did particularly well at the show, amongst them a 1st for marmalade, a 1st for clootie, 2nd for cherry cake, 2nd for apple tart (pipped!) and a Reserve Champion Texel which we don't think is baking or jam! There were also prizes for our staff in handicrafts - more details will follow.
Denny was first to flag last night (nae stamina), and headed up the road to take in her washing at 11.30pm!
All change again today as our show guests leave and our next lot arrive.
21/07/2006
A mad morning this morning, with all our guests departing, and a new set of arrivals, most of whom are judges for the Tiree Show, and most of whom are other Argyll farmers and crofters.
Most of the ladies of the island have been up all night baking, those that weren't baking have been up all night blacking the feet of sheep with boot polish! There are days when it's great to be a "toonie"!
Sandra ate breakfast for the third day running yesterday, she hardly ever eats, so three days in a row is definitely worth a mention in the diary.
The restaurant had its busiest night this season last night with 69 dinners - tonight we will be busier. Lunches were also busy yesterday, so the kitchen is in full flow at present preparing for tonight - with Ishie organising Sandra on the veg and Adam on puddings. Arlene is on a hunt around the hotel for more teacups and teaspoons, the migration of which around the hotel is always a mystery! Off to collect the veg order!
20/07/2006
Another beach day - like the mainland it just got hotter and hotter!
Charlie had the power on and off yesterday as he isolated the problem with the fryers, so our hoovers upstairs kept stopping, then after we had abandoned them, they started all on their own, a few minutes later!
Our second hotel limo (the 10 year old Volvo 440) has returned from the garage, a mere 11 months after she developed a sub frame problem. She's now going like a wee dream, so it will be her first outing to the airport later this morning! Denny gave her a big hug in the carpark when she arrived in style with a wheelie turn, ably assisted by big Craig the mechanic.
Wilma found the key today that unlocks the laundry room window, so it's now a little cooler in there.
It's raining, and the boat from Oban is due in before heading for Barra this afternoon. The bank have just phoned to remind us that they close at 11am tomorrow because Friday is Tiree Show day -will the sun shine.
19/07/2006
More hot sunshine - we love it!
Well, in the middle of the heat yesterday, and in the middle of lunches, the deep fat fryer blew up! Charlie was swift to act, but even he was defeated, so the table who had ordered chips headed off in the huff! Hey - it wasn't deliberate!
The spare fryer was duly dug out of the loft and after a thorough clean down it was well in service last night.
The plane got in yesterday, so Johnnie got back to the office, Ishie got to Glasgow for her hospital appointment and Mairi got to party!
Lots of cool lager being consumed at our picnic benches, and one of our guest's even admitted to some skinny dipping yesterday - p..a..l..eese!
Fi, Norman and Angus have headed back to the mainland along with Shirley from BC, Canada.
The tar on the roads is melting, so we are busy removing the marks from the carpet.
Charlie has just reported that the fault with the fryer has been located, so another thermostat is on order from Portsmouth! Well done Charlie!
18/07/2006
Mist again, but the forecast is it will clear this forenoon- we hope so, as there will probably be a riot at the airport if the plane doesn't get in or out , second day running!
Our diners at table 1 last night thoroughly enjoyed their dinner, but were quite unnerved when they returned to their bikes and shopping in the car park, to find that the seagulls had opened the Co-op bags and stolen the croissants and pancakes, with the rest of the groceries being left intact. It wouldn't have been so bad, seemingly, if the said croissants and pancakes hadn't been on a two for one special - obviously our Tiree gulls like a wee bargain when they see one!
And then there was our Sunday diner who took one of the kids ( her nephew) to the loo, only to discover that when she got there, the child's urge had disappeared. Being of an economical nature, our guests thought that she would just use the time to satisfy any future urge she might have had! So - midway through the exercise the child decided to open the door and leave Auntie in flagrante!!!!!! Fortunately, there was no queue!
17/07/2006
Very misty on Tiree today. The plane didnt make it in and sadly neither did Fi's son Kenneth who was meant to be doing a training flight to Tiree (that would be the good old law of Sod at work again)
Busy day in the bar yesterday everbody getting in the holiday spirit or should that be spirits as in bottles of , it was a good atmosphere with the occasional burst of song( I think some peeps thought it was still Karoake )Everybody getting geared up for The Tiree Agricultural Show on Friday with the dance later. Lots of people coming home for that one. I need to Hi to my Goddaughter Lexie Spoto in Brisbane and Mummy & Daddy Spoto as I missed her birthday. Pressie is on the way.
16/07/2006
Karaoke a big succes (preceded by Mr Scruffy and "friends" on the accordian).The karaoke singing was led by Ali from Calinet. Don't give up the day job Ali!
Hot and sunny yesterday, so the beaches were busy (more than two people on each beach)! Have you noticed how happy everybody is when the sun shines - people were even smiling in the co-op queue, and even Jenny at the co-op said she was feeling happy, so shine on golden sun!
Johnnie has finally put his shorts on but not until after his visit to Skerryvore lighthouse with cousin Shirley from Canada.
Two guests' birthdays yesterday so fizzy and cards all round.
A few Sunday lunches booked and orders to be sorted for tomorrow. Must dash...............
15/07/2006
Great weather for the last two days and today looks like being another stunner. Warm and sunny!! Being Glasgow Fair weekend the island is livening up so we will all be busy serving the hungry and thirsty customers. Karaoke and cocktails in the bar tonight so Gemma, Fiona and Amanda will be tempting our customers with Woo Woos, Black Russians and Surfriders to name but a few! We have two different Canadian parties from Vancouver staying with us who met at breakfast and discovered that not only do they have the same surname but also their roots originate from the same part of Wester Ross. It's a small world. Hope Shirley and Johnnie are enjoying their seatrip to Skerryvore this morning.
13/07/2006
Yesterday turned out a stunning afternoon with a wonderful sunny evening. Our diners went cycling off into the sunset after their meal to get photos. Today has not been so bright but it's warm and everyone is out either cycling or walking. A steady bar and restaurant last night which ended up with Amanda and I doing our taxi run at midnight-don't ask!! Our crab claws are very popular-we just can't get enough of them!!
12/07/2006
According to the weather forecast the sun is going to shine on Tiree for the next 5 days. We await with anticipation! All our guests are either cycling or planning a seatrip today. With a pleasant breeze this should suit everyone. A steady restaurant and a busy bar last night. Angus is enjoying being top dog while Cron goes on his holidays at the other end of the island.
11/07/2006
The sun is making a valiant effort to come out this morning so fingers crossed it will make it, as our residents Graham & Karin are heading off for a cycle round the Island on thier hire bikes. (I predict sore posterior's this evening). The play that was on at the hall last night was a great success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
Its Strictly Ceilidh Dancing this evening and as our Adam is in the competition we are backing him all the way, Go Adam Go. Fairly quiet in the restaurant and the bar as the play was on and Skerryvore were playing, so we all had a fairly early night.
10/07/2006
The diary is either really late or very early, I will leave that up to you to decide. Our BBc film crew made it in safely after being out with skipinish, it was really wild during the night so it was a bit touch and go whether they would make it or not.then in true Tiree fashion it cleared up and was a really nice afternoon. Quiet night in the bar and restaurant, by all accounts the ceilidh was a good un.
Fi Green is trying to think of new and different cocktails for saturday night "Cocktails & karoake"
If you have any suggestion let me know.
09/07/2006
Very late dinners last night meant the girls and Michael being late for the dance -not impressed! Sunday dawned a very misty but warm morning after a fairly wild,wet night. Our camping friends left this morning after an eventful night. Their tent nearly blew away and they were frozen.They had tried to buy extra blankets-this is quite difficult to do on Tiree on a Saturday night at 8pm. It was suggested that they went to the dance to warm up but they headed for the tent. .Hmn...they returned promptly asking for a room. The sun has come out as promised so all our visitors are on the beach. Will they all remember to turn up tonight to watch the World Cup final??
08/07/2006
Sun, sun and more sun - keep shining through please.
Well, the Birthday boy had a good birthday, and the staff all stayed after dinner service to crack a couple of bottles of bubbly. The strains of "Happy Birthday to You" could be heard wafting across the machair. Michael has already formed a particular attraction to two of his presents - the mouth organ (he can't play it) and a top hat! So ................ if you see a young man wearing a top hat, playing the "mouthie" (badly) under the Hielander's Umbrella- it will be our Michael.
The skate wings were fabby. We were thinking about all these posh restaurants in London and reckoning that our skate wings in beurre niosette were even fresher than theirs!
Would you believe that we had feet on the table last night!. A dining party decided that they would just do in the restaurant what they do at home. They were asked politely to refrain. "No real", as we say in Glasgow.
Busy again in the restaurant last night, and a shift change today as Denny heads back to Glasgow and Fi arrives with Angus the border terrier.
Our Italian photographer is down early for beakfast - must dash.
07/07/2006
Happy Birthday Michael - 21 today!
Well the sun did come out yesterday, but it took until 5 o'clock. This morning is glorious, so Eric is whitewashing the side of the building, and it should be a good day for the sheep shearing training. Our trainers are here from the Borders, so maybe a new career beckons for some!
A first for Denny yesterday at breakfast when a couple came down and sat at separate tables. We thought at first that they had "fallen out", but the upshot was that he was not fully awake, and after visiting the breakfast buffet table had returned to the table he had been at the previous night, with his wife going to the one we had set them for breakfast! All a bit confusing, so much so that Sandra burnt the porridge, so we had to start again with another pot.
The busiest lunches so far this year as well as 60 + dinners last night, and just when we though it was quietening down, Willie Fish came in with a load of crab claws, lobsters and a huge skate which had been caught in the nets. Denny came to the rescue and took all the beasties up to the house where they were humanely prepared for tonight's table. Ishie and I are having the skate wings for dinner, and our residents have already ordered their lobsters.
Looking busy again tonight, but the team are pulling together well- so bring em on!
06/07/2006
What can we say, other than the weather this morning is nothing short of GRIM. It's one of those days that you remember as a child, if you spent your holidays on the west coast of Scotland - long and wet!
On the brighter side, we will definitely be busy for lunches today, as our Thursday day visitors may choose not to walk in the rain.
Fiona is very excited at the arrival of her new "baby" - yes the new microwave has arrived - all 1900 watts of it! The things that make people happy........
Charlie fitted the new element to our deep fat fryer yesterday, so the new, and the not so new kitchen equipment is slowly coming together.
Quiet in the restaurant last night, but tonight is already busier.
Our man in room 11 departed yesterday with his 9 boarding passes and the kilt that he had put on to sing in the restaurant the night before - when will we see your likes again - not for a while we hope!
Our airport is still being bombed, but the action stopped before lunch yesterday, so we await today's strategic missions!
The sun has come out, so cancel the first paragraph of today's diary!
05/07/2006
Not so sunny, but still not a breath of wind. The sea is flat calm- not something we often see here on Tiree.
The cloud and the rain came in yesterday around lunch time, so a few disappointed beach bums by mid afternoon. At least it stopped the RAF from their continuous bombing of Tiree Airport. We understand that it's a week long exercise, but the fast, noisy, pointy things are flying so low that we feel we should be opening the windows in the building to let them through!
Cron received a beautiful photograph yesterday from his girlfriend Rhona the spaniel. It had been taken in June when Rhona and her owners were holidaying with us. We will be choosing frames later this week!
Busy bar and busy restaurant last night with 3 out of 4 tables on in the Marie Stuart lounge bar.
Denny lost another wager on the football last night, so she has to serve Karen a chilled diet coke with ice, on a tray and up the stairs in the Upper Deck. She will not be betting any more, having lost two cokes so far!
04/07/2006
Sunny and not a breath of wind - perfect. Busy night in the restaurant and the bar last night. every one very happy and relaxed after a day in the sun.
I have just been informed that it is going to be a heatwave today( by Tiree standards any way.) Eric is out painting and strimming so we will all be dazzled by the whiteness of the Scarinish Hotel.
We got our consignment of Skippinish CD's yesterday available at £11.99 plus P&P if anyone is interested in purshasing one. Lots of new arrival coming on the boat this evening, what a perfect day to arrive. Amanda and Wilma are busy upstairs getting ready for them.
03/07/2006
Yesterday turned out to be wonderfully sunny, with that Tiree wind that really catches you with the sunburn. Today is the same, so factor 50 is the order of the day for our new arrivals.
These include the Thomsons, who are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary having spent their honeymoon here at the Scarinish Hotel in 1966!
Naturally, it was Mr T who had organised the honeymoon, with Mrs T getting quite excited when she thought she overheard the words "The Isle of Capri"!!! Mrs T can't quite remember which room they were in back in 1966. She said they didn't come out that much! We said TOO MUCH INFORMATION!
A busy Sunday lunch and busy dinners last night, with Jenna and Sandra doing very well at the hotplate during dinner service.
More stocktaking today in anticipation of phoning in our weekly orders.
Our man in room 11 now has 9 boarding passes for his return trip to Oban on Wednesday! Don't ask!
02/07/2006
The day has dawned overcast and still - could this be a potential midge heaven? The hotel has been quiet, so we are wondering if others know something that we don't!
Our duty managers are enjoying the luxury of having only one shift to carry - so long may that continue!
Our guest in room 11 isn't coping too well with the prospect of no Sunday papers - but we have promised him Sunday and Monday papers all in the one day which has calmed him somewhat.
Sophie leaves us today for her holiday in Italy, so that sounds like a cue for good weather here on Tiree.
Cheers in the bar for a Portugal victory - whatever happened to the United Kingdom!
Come on Andy Murray!
01/07/2006
We have wind and we have sunshine! The ferry has arrived, the busiest of the year so far, we hear. The troops have arrived at the hotel to help out over the next couple of months, so Fiona has had a well earned long lie this morning, and Denny has had her porridge! Sandra's mushroom soup has gone down a stormer, so she is on soup duty again tomorrow.
The first of the summer dances last night, it can't have been THAT good, because the staff were all in promptly for the early shift.
Sheena has planted us some window boxes for the front of the hotel (direct competition for the Royal Bank of Scotland) so we have placed them at the top of the fire escape - no we're not blocking it - lest the sheep see a tasty meal!
The laundry beckons ..........
30/06/2006
Yesterday we revisited winter for a couple of hours with wind and rain, the as it does in Tiree cleared into a lovely evening. Busy bar and restaurant last night every body was in holiday frame of mind with the schools finishing. Everybody wanted crabclaws so willie got an SOS call this morning. We had a few singers in the bar last night (and they were in tune which is a bonus). Our new puggy machine arrived yesterday so no doubt myself and Charlie will be scratching our heads this morning trying to figure out how to set it up.
29/06/2006
Not quite as sunny today (not even close). As the summer holidays are just about to start its not surprising. Its the law of Sod that dictates these things. Happy 20th Anniversary to Mr & Mrs Taylor in Room 4. They had thier Honeymoon here 20 years ago in the chalet at the back. We did offer the use of the chalet but they declined (the chalet hasn't survived the 20 years as well as they have).
Busy night in the restaurant last night we had our group of walker/ sailors in for Dinner and to pick up thier packed lunches. They are staying on a boat overnight. Happy birthday to Amanda for yesterday (she was working but all in all had a good day). Gemma had a lovely evening in the bar last night being serenaded by the locals.
28/06/2006
Sun shine again today. Last night was really beautiful. The water was dead calm, blue skies and you could see Mull really clearly. Picture postcard stuff. Lots of people out and about enjoying it Fairly quiet night in the bar and the restaurant so we are all catching our breath before the weekend and summer starts in earnest.Charlie's making the most of the sunshine and is up a ladder painting the roof. The Curley family are leaving today, they had another trip out with Skipinnish last night and the basking sharks made another appearance to thier delight.
27/06/2006
Goodmorning another lovely sunny morning. Yesterday was the much the same so hopefully it will stay for a while.The Curley family who are staying with us at the moment went out yesterday on Skipinish Sea Tours to Skerryvore and said there were loads of basking Sharks and were just blown away by the whole experience. Jenna's Cullen Skink went down a treat in the restaurant last night. It was a lovely evening last night when Cron was out for his evening, very still and one of those Tiree nights when it didnt get dark at all.
25/06/2006
Perfect Tiree weather today, lovely & sunny with a bit of breeze. Cron really enjoyed his walk this morning. Football on today so no doubt the boys will be in the bar with curtains closed. (mad)Busy boat yesterday si the Island feels a lot busier this weekend. Lots of people booked for dinner this evening. Laura and Roly left yesterday and arrived home safely.All Adam & karen getting quite excited about school finishing so they can do more hours - give them a couple of weeks they will be over that excitement.
24/06/2006
A clear, calm morning so this bodes well for the sailors but it is not good enough for Mr Wright who is up for a stint at the airport.
A steady day yesterday with a late dash to Skinners for the veg order as we needed the Scottish strawberries for dessert at dinner.
We said farewell to Maureen who had been with us all week and welcomed a whole batch of new guests who are all very active being walkers and cyclists. Skipinnish sea tours made the trip to Skerryvore in the afternoon and left from right outside the hotel - we gained some lunch custom from this and the passengers could not believe the size of our crab claws - nor how delicious they are. Thanks for this are due to local fishermen.
23/06/2006
Hooray for a lovely Thursday! The cyclists and walkers had a great day and the Hotel Inspector reconfirmed our 2 stars. Jubilation! Our whole team pulled out the stops to go that extra mile and our food also hit the mark with the famous crab claws a high!
Guests from the Scottish Exec surveyed the pier as Scarinish Harbour is in a precarious state of disrepair.
The Local Enterprise Company came to call too and we had our meeting outside in the sun. Our weekly food and bar deliveries - held up on the mainland on Wednesday, all arrived safely. So as Cardiff University has researched yesterday as one of the happiest of the year - we all agree.
22/06/2006
Midsummer and the rain poured and the wind lashed the waves but - a busy lunch and boat and plane both made it. We waved off the Halls who had been with us for 5 days to celebrate Mrs Hall's 70th Birthday.
Photographers and cyclists have arrived and our Hotel Inspector seems happy so far!!! A busy night in the restaurant with a couple of parties and a full house of residents.
Sandra and Elizabeth were flat out making desserts but happy to report they are all eaten!
21/06/2006
A perfectly lovely day at breakfast that deteriorated rapidly into a squall - we did not think the boat should even leave Oban having read windguru! The usual leaks appeared and we recycled the water to the plants.
Charlie did a stack of wee jobs to prepare for the arrival of The Hotel Inspector tomorrow.
Steady dinner with a good number of people dropping in on the off chance including folk from Jura and Colonsay.
Elaine was at the hotplate and the lobster salad sold out.
20/06/2006
Monday just seemed to get "riper" as the day matured so by evening it was a bit of a classic - a breath of wind, very clear and mild.
George and Duncan left in the morning both thrilled to be let loose on the island with their bikes - schoolboy friends for the last 30 plus years. George is building a house on the island and is panicing about its size.
Vicky headed off too - but by plane having provided a tour bus service to other hotel guests first.
Steady bar later on but Michael tackled the strimming and made fair headway feeing up the nettle surrounded seat down by the waters edges where the squeeze box players sometimes play.
French guests for lunch and a chance for all of us to use our European skills.
19/06/2006
A day of firsts - saw the first duckling family taking a morning swim as we had our dog walk. Next up was the first campers wanting to heat up in our showers as it was such a wet day.
Then Vicky who is up visiting had her first surfing lesson - a 3 hour marathon from Wild Diamond that was a real high for her - but oh, those sore shoulders afterwards!
Then a water diviner arrived to tell us we had loads of water if we wanted a borehole - so that's good news.
Later on we wnjoyed a video in the bar of a guest's 40 yr old tortoise Timmy! Then out came a 1976 photo of same guest to show he was as cool as the young dudes in the bar. Finally we guided 2 guests and their night caps to the Upper Deck to watch the light - as even at midnight on a wet evening there was still light across our bay.
18/06/2006
Total change in the weather and anoraks back on but some of us were out and on two beaches yesterday watching the kite surfers whiz by then calling to the seals at Vaul.
Rolly is back and getting used to no trees or wheelie bins to pee against - Cron will keep him right.
All still very quiet this a.m. after the Karaoke of the night before - the tales will unfold no doubt as the day matures.
17/06/2006
My Apologies for the last couple of days, been a bit busy and I have to admit it forgetful, you cant be any harder on me than I've been on myself. Not very nice rainy and overcast today not a breath of wind though. Busy night in the restaurant, and there were a few in fine voice in the bar last night. maybe they were practising for the Karaoke tonight, yes its that time of the month again. I'm trying to convince Adam & Micheal to do a duet but they are having none of it. Our Morag's not too well at the moment, so all our love Morag and take good care of yourself, we all miss you.
14/06/2006
Weather looks promising this morning, a lovely day
yesterday nice and sunny. Fairly busy in the evening. Jenna's Carrot & Orange Soup went down a treat.Fi Green had the BT boys out round the bay whistling and calling our pet seal Sam (which of course isnt our pet seal) that was very amusing.
Sad day today the love of Crons life Rhona and her daddies are leaving we will all miss them its been great having them stay.
13/06/2006
Sorry yesterday's diary was missed, one of those days. Yesterday was one of the those bizarre Tiree weather days we had summer all day apart from a couple of hours in the afternoon when it turned to winter windy rainy etc. Rob & Shirley spotted a seal out in the bay, so they've seen it all while on Tiree. Seals, basking sharks and Nudists.We had our group of birdwatchers in last night, they are all having a lovely time and Ishies Bread & Butter pudding went down a storm, as did Elaines veg & lentil bake.
11/06/2006
A wee bit of rain late last night, but today dawned glorious, albeit with a good, but mild wind.
Our Dutch visitors have just enjoyed a morning coffee with shortbread, having walked from Balephetrish where they have moored their boat. They are circumnavigating Britain before going off to Ireland, si it's nice to think that we're on the circuit!
A steady day yesterday, with the bar proving busier than the retaurant, so much so that even Fiona Green had to ask for a hand around 8pm!
A busy night in prospect with 21 "twitchers"in for dinner, as well as a few other chance bookings,plus our residents. A birthday cake is being decorated for our residents in room 5 as I write! Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You......................................
10/06/2006
The weather is as good on Tiree as it is everywhere else. The sun was still streaming in the windows at 10pm - don't we just love summer. The restaurant was madly busy last night, with diners young and old.
The wine has arrived for the new wine list, so the chilled rose should go down well this evening.
The machair is fabulous right now with daisies and buttercups in abundance, and the yellow irises are a feast for the eyes. Eric was in swimming yesterday and his sporting his shorts today - competition for Johnnie!
09/06/2006
Running a bit late this morning, early boat and lots of thirsty travellers. Its another sunny day on Tiree.
Proof positive that we are the sunshine Island when its not raining anyway. It was a lovely night last night when I took Cron out, it was a nearly a full moon with the moonlight reflecting on the water and still light at 11.00 pm. Cron & Rhona the
springer spaniel are getting on well( Crons fallen for her big time and shes having none of it). Colin was out yesterday assesing the girls on thier NVQs and they are doing well. Sandra has now completed her level 2 and starting her level 3.
08/06/2006
Big Bill the Bar till is back in place, for those who didnt know he was away far a couple of weeks being fixed and was greatly missed. We have a springer spaniel staying at the moment called Rhona who is staying, I think Cron has fallen for her a bit but she's having none of it. The thrushes are stilling adding the finishing touches to thier new home. There was a boat out in Gott Bay last night ( Fi Green reliably informs me it is the lighthouse boat) and it looked fab at night when it was all lit up.Steady night last night in the bar & restaurant our homemade rice pudding and cinnamon sugar went down very well with customers.
07/06/2006
We have a couple of guests who are not intending to pay. They are two Thrushes who have made a nest on the back wheel of the hotel car, and very determined they are as well as yesterday we had to move them to get the car, as soon as the car was brought back they built the nest again. So if anyone has any suggestions as to a safer place to rehome them please let me know. Busy night in the bar last night though the restaurant was fairly quiet. Cron has had his hay fever injection so he was skipping about the flowers at 7.30 this morning , funnily enought I wasnt.
06/06/2006
The mist lifted eventually (the plane didnt make it though) and it was a lovely sunny day. No more leaks, fuses etc in the hotel, so that was quite nice.
Fairly busy afternoon in the bar everybody seemed to be on a halfday. Took Cron out about 10ish last night and the views were stunning, it really did take your breath away.We sat up at the lighthouse and it looked like a painting it was so still and perfect. It really was one of those how lucky am I moments. Its another hot and sunny day today, Crons away to the vet this morning as his hayfever is playing up(bless him) and Max our lovely labradoodle is leaving today.
05/06/2006
Hello is anybody out there. It feels a bit like that this morning as it is so misty, you couldnt see a thing needless to say we didnt venture too near the old harbour- not doing falling in first thing in the morning.I doubt there'll be a plane this morning unless it clears sharpish. The general feeling is the boat should make it. Put it to the vote this morning. No major of minor disasters yesterday thank goodness. Grace is away with a school trip today for the week, have fun Grace!
04/06/2006
Lovely day yesterday weatherwise the forecast was rain but it was dry and sunny all day. So heres hoping we get a bit more of the same today. The forecast is still rain.We have a labradoodle staying in the hotel this weekend its lovely. I starting to think we are jinxed last night we had a leak in the laundry( luckily Charlie came to the rescue) The tar was melting yesterday so summer is officially here.
03/06/2006
Sorry, Sorry it was a bit hectic the last couple of days so didnt manage to get it done. Wednesday was an interesting day, we had a problem with the water which lasted all day, then the fryer's blew up much to Jenna's horror. No one was hurt and Jimmy and charlie managed to rectify the problem.
Willies Crab clews and lobsters are proving very popular with the visitors and locals alike. Though I have to say they werent too popular with us when
we were cooking and weighing them and trying to get the crab claws out from under some fairly upset live lobsters, I didnt think the full body armour was to excessive, do you.
01/06/2006
A bit overcast this morning but the wind has dropped again. Sorry about the lack of diary yesterday, it was just one of those days when you could do with an extra 5 or 6 hours in it. So I decided to get an early start on it this morning.
Busy day yesterday on lunches & dinners, steady in the bar, Lots of visitors still around which is good.
Fi Green on Hols this week so she popped in all relaxed and chilled out. Congrats to Mairi Green on passing her driving test. Commisserations to those who failed I know exactly how you feel.
30/05/2006
Another beautiful sunny morning and the wind has dropped. Good news for our guests who are on the Skippinnish sail to Skerryvore. A busy restaurant last night with 36 dinners and a steady bar. A quieter morning so a chance to get all the cleaning jobs done-a never ending task. A big welcome to Anne who has joined the cleaning team!!
29/05/2006
Lovely morning this morning when I took Cron out
very sunny with a slight breeze. Busy lunchtime yesterday. Sandra & Jenna did a brill job as usual.
Bar was steady during the day but quiet at night. I think the last week has taken its toll on even the most determined socialites. It turns out Fi Greens bruises were not the worst casualties of the dance. A couple of broken toes as well, our Amanda has one of them. So it really was a good ceilidh. Idid not realise how dangerous a Strip the Willow can be especially if you are doing a Sandie Shaw ( that means no shoe's to any one who is too young to remember Sandie)
28/05/2006
Sorry about the lack of Diary page yesterday, hotel was busy all day. We had the majority of people from the homecoming leaving, so a few tears. Lots of Hairy dogs being consumed in the bar after the Ceilidh on Fri night, by all accounts it was a great dance and Fi Green's got the bruises to prove it.Tiree itself is still very busy with visitors so another busy night in the restaurant. Lovely morning this morning with only a slight breeze, lets hope it keeps up all day.
26/05/2006
Had a nice long lie this morning Fi Thompson did breakfast. Everyone is getting revved up the final concert/ceilidh of the Week. It should be a great ending to a great week. I think there will be a few tears shed by the ones who are leaving, it will be poignant for the ones leaving on the boat as they will get a small inkling of how thier great grandparents etc felt. I think there are quite a few who will be back for a visit.
25/05/2006
What a lovely morning we woke up to, took Cron a walk along to the pier and the sun was shining with a light breeze. Everything is still all go on the Island and our visitors seem to be enjoying as much as we are( which is always a bonus). Eric pushing on the with the painting, so we are going to have a nice white hotel for the summer apart from the wooden parts obviously.Dishy has survived a pump bypass operation and is back working at its full potential.
24/05/2006
What a bizarre day yesterday was weatherwise. Brilliant sunshine early morning then rain and wind late morning followed by massive hailstones in the afternoons. (weird weather at the moment).Another busy day in the Bar and restaurant. Angus (skipinish) was in again in the afternoon on the old accordian (great stuff). We are going to start doing a recipe a week on the diary as some of the visitors keeping asking for the Clootie dumpling recipe. so watch this space.
23/05/2006
Jemma's Learning Curve!
Our new employee Jemma got stung twice yesterday! First time was when she popped into the kitchen at An Talla (the island community hall), where we were preparing the A' Bhuian lunch for 200. She just popped in to say hello, but we kidnapped her for 4 hours to help decorate the finger buffet. She is now a dab hand at filling baby baked potatoes!
As if she hadn't learned her lesson, she was caught out again in the bar last night. Just when she was about to close, the musicians who had been playing at the concert last night , conned poor Jemma into the "just one more drink and we'll go routine"!!! She was still tryting to shoo them out at 2 a.m.
The musicians included our own Skippinish as well as Malcolm the guitarist from Runrig - so a good night was had by all.
Our lunch buffet was a great success, with the Tiree lobster and crab being as popular as Nan's homemade sausage rolls.
Laura has added two more swear words to her vocabulary - "Outside" and "Catering"!
22/05/2006
Today is the start of The A'Bhuinn - The homecoming. The Island is really busy at the moment and lots going on this week. Concerts & Ceilidhs all week.There is a really nice buzz about the place at the moment. Busy bar and restaurant last night.Quite a few locals out celebrating the homecoming even though they never actually left (bless) great atmosphere,. Tiree really is the place to be at the moment, if not always.
21/05/2006
The weather stayed lovely for the wedding by all accounts the bride was stunning, and our Jenna looked fab in her bridesmaid dress. I'm sure there will be a few sore heads and smiles this morning.
Denny & Laura are whirling dervishes this morning getting everything prepped for the buffet tomorrow.
I think Roly is trying to help as well. I am now trying to finish the diary 4 hours after I started, busy day but everybody happy bunnies so thats good. We have our first arrivals for the A'bhuain today and it is a a lovely sunny day so they will be able to appreciate the true beauty of Tiree.
20/05/2006
Congratulations & good luck to Graeme & Lindsay on thier big day. I think the whole Island was out celebrating last night. Very busy night in the restaurant and the bar- but everyone having a good time it was a really good night, rounded off by Willie turning up at 11ish with a load of crabclaws and crayfish. My mum had a lovely time cooking them all. Denny & Laura are up today to get the prep started for the A'bhuain buffet on Monday, so they are having a fun packed day cracking & shelling all the crab claws (lucky old them)
19/05/2006
Congratulations to the Macall family on a new baby
boy- Archie!! A grandson today and a wedding tomorrow talk about a big weekend. We hope David is feeling better.We've all got our fingers crossed that the weather picks up for tomorrow. Not too bad today the sea is flat calm. We had the fire brigade and Police staying last night so we all slept well. All we needed was a couple of Ambulance men and we would have had the full set.
Happy Birthday Sandra from us all.
A very belated happy birthday to Cameron my groovy nephew. ( Sorry Aunty B was away at the time)
18/05/2006
Its a bit wild this morning,I think there may be a few people feeling a bit queasy when they get off the boat this morning.As I am writing this the sun has just come out and the cloud is clearing a bit.
We have all got our fingers crossed that the weather clears for Saturday and Jenna's sister has a sunny day for her wedding. We have Gemma starting today on the bar for the summer, which is great. The Denness party are leaving today but they did manage to fit in a bit of golf yesterday, though they were starting to feel it a bit last night.
17/05/2006
Had a lovely walk with Cron at silly oclock this morning, it was misty but no rain. Nice and peaceful, it has cleared now though still cloudy.
Busy night in the restaurant last night, and it was a mad dash to the co-op this morning as they had no milk for two days,so we had to stock up today, luckily we didnt run out. The Denness party arrived last night, they are with us for 2 days, then onto Coll and Mull.They were loving thier Crab claws and tablet last night (not together obviously).
16/05/2006
Its stopped raining though I have a funny feeling its not for long.We've all got our fingers crossed
for Saturday that the weather clears up for the wedding and also next week for A'bhuain, it would be great if all our visitors could see the Island at its best, mind you it is fairly spectactular no matter what the weather. Quiet night in the bar last night
though the restaurant was busy.
15/05/2006
Its a very dreich day today,no wind but lots of rain.
Very quiet night in the bar last night about 9.00 pm it was just Mina and Amanda watching Braveheart on telly. Restaurant was busy for a Sunday night.
Jennas getting excited about her big sister's wedding on Saturday as she is a bridesmaid. More tablet and shortbread getting made today.
14/05/2006
Karaoke & Cocktails went down well, quite a few
turned up and were in fine voice. I'm sure there will be a few poorly heads this morning.
Not so sunny this morning much to relief of Mr & mrs Maccartneywho went out for a walk yesterday and didnt worry about sun tan lotion as there was a cool breeze, thier a wee bit red this morning. We've all done it before though.
13/05/2006
Well it is very nice to be back after a week off.Lovely sunshine you could almost be in the maldives if you took away the extremely chilly breeze and a few other things like sheep, cows etc.
The Cowboy boots and hats are ready for this eveinings Coyote Ugly in the Bar - be afraid, be very afraid. It will hopefully be a monthly event.
Cron has got his hayfever back, funnily enough the vet on tiree has not come across this problem before so he has had to send away for the medication. Remember and log on tomorrow and hear all the gossip, after a couple of Fi Green cocktails inhibitions and a lot of other things go out the window.
12/05/2006
Late, late.late! Busy busy busy!
The phone just won't stop, so no end of interuptions today and a forgotten diary. Standards what? Whales and dolphins spotted yesterday on the Skippinish trip, so all our guests who ventured out into the bright Atlantic waters were well pleased. We have a botantist who has eaten with us regularly and was well impressed with our floral table decorations. We told her it was the Plantus Ikeas, a new species as yet unknown outside Tiree! Busy bar yesterday and so far today, but it looks like a quiet evening in the house and in the restaurant. The party girls have gone to a gig in Dundee. Do we wish we were 20 again? No- we'll stick to Tiree. Excitment mounting re tomorrows Karaoke and Cocktail night. Stetsons and line dancing - "Hawd me back!"
11/05/2006
Flying fish on Tiree?
Charlie & Jimmy, our maintenance duo, who, when they are not "maintaining" the building, are sitting out the back having tea, were disturbed yesterday by a loud thud on the chalet roof. Turned out to be a half pound saith, dropped from the sky by a squadron of fighting seagulls! The suggestion is that the back door now becomes a "Hard Hat Area" to avoid injury by falling fish!
All outdoor expiditions by our various residents were accomplished in style yesterday. This included Mina, who is on one of her regular visits to see her sister in the home. Mina managed to push the wheel chair from Taigh an Rudha to the pier (via the hotel for a dram in the sunshine) - so well done. Great weather brings out the adventurous spirit - n'est ce pas! The hot water urn is back in business - a sure sign that the season is now officially underway.
10/05/2006
The tar is melting! Hot! Hot! Hot! Another stunner, and a few pairs of shorts have been seen which really should be in a museum!
Our twitchers were thrilled to have seen a female marsh harrier yesterday - according to John Bowler our RSPB man this is a rare occurrenece in Argyll, let alone on Tiree. Our octogenerian cyclists have headed off for the day, so let's hope they don't overheat.
Helen arrived back on the island yesterday. She came over by plane, via Benbecula - don't ask!
Fi and Angus the border terrier have returned to Oban. Alls well when the sun shines.
09/05/2006
Yesterday was a stunning day weatherwise-WARM! Today looks like being the same. Monday was a steady day in the restaurant and bar. Plenty of jobs-a bit of painting and safe breaking(don't ask!!)Watty's new sound system is par excellence-what a difference it makes to the ambience in the dining room! Joint care taking management from Fi and Denny-the staff are cowring in the corner(NOT!)
07/05/2006