Out of the shadows

[GeoffT]

After a couple of weeks, I judged it was time to step out of the shadows and say Halò from the inner Hebrides. DIYer only I'm afraid.

My Mrs. and I self-rewired our fixer-upper English 1950s home in the 90s which had only one switched outlet and one dangling centre-ceiling light per room, on-site fashioned wooden patresses and a metal 4-way, fuse wire and ceramic carriers fuse box. We did involve a local firm to test everything, swap over to a proper MK consumer unit, and finally to connect to the incoming supply.

30 years and doubtless several changes to wiring regs. later, with lungs full of disc cutter plaster and breeze block dust, creaky inflexible joints and a distinct aversion to sweaty lofts, ladders and grazed knuckles we are very happy to let the professionals take over when it comes to electrical changes and additions. Not to mention that our present house was electrically first and second fixed and fitted out by a local electrician whose standards and attention to detail are second to none and which we could not, and would not sully. Take a bow Mr. Donald Mackinnon if you're a member here.
Getting trades here to do work remains a challenge but we've been lucky to find an enthusiastic, accurate and willing professional sparks happy to do what we want.

Sláinte from a stormy Isle Of Mull.

 

[Murdoch]

Isle of Mull - a wonderful place to visit.

Welcome aboard

 

[UNG]

I have lots of good memories of Mull and the surrounding waters and the shipwrecks, usually based in Tobermory but did quite a few trips up the sound from Oban

 

[GeoffT]

Very much a nice place to visit. And after 45 years of visits, an even nicer place to live. Mrs. T. was born and raised here, and her family remains here. Now after 45 years chasing a living in the bustling S.E. of England we had a chance to make a break and move. Sure, everything is further, later, more expensive and less convenient here, but we consider ourselves truly blessed.

 

[kerching]

I’ve done a lot of diving around Mull, Tobermory, Lochaline ( slept in a derelict abandoned Post Office ), Oban etc. best dive was probably the Buitenzörg if you didn’t mind the

 

[binky]

I would happily move to one of the islands, but myy wife doesn't hink it's agood idea

 

[Murdoch]

A couple of years ago we did a trip up the outer Hebrides - the first few days were a heat wave and it was like being in the Carribean - then the weather changed, a storm came in and the ferries were cancelled so we couldn't get off, then once the weather cleared the ferries were all full so we had to wait for any spare places.

However a fantastic holiday

 

[GeoffT]

A couple of years ago we did a trip up the outer Hebrides - the first few days were a heat wave and it was like being in the Carribean - then the weather changed, a storm came in and the ferries were cancelled so we couldn't get off, then once the weather cleared the ferries were all full so we had to wait for any spare places.

However a fantastic holiday

Ferries continue to be a problem, especially for those of us living here. The Scottish government and its various ferry agencies have allowed the fleet to wither and die over the time with results that many boats are old, tired, time expired, unreliable and prone to get moved onto other routes to supplement or replace failed boats. Not funny when you have long-standing, sometimes health-critical appointments on the mainland and get a text announcing your service due in three hours is cancelled.

And don't get me started on the colossal incompetence and mismanagement around the Ferguson Marine replacements.

 

[binky]

So, how do you get access to medical care? I take it it's all on the mainland?

 

[GeoffT]

So, how do you get access to medical care? I take it it's all on the mainland?

We are very well catered for GP care from three manned surgeries around the island. Indeed, having been used to waits on the phone to book appointments two or three weeks hence when living in the Thames Valley, here the phone was answered on the third ring and we were asked 'can you get here in half an hour'?

 

[binky]

We are very well catered for GP care from three manned surgeries around the island. Indeed, having been used to waits on the phone to book appointments two or three weeks hence when living in the Thames Valley, here the phone was answered on the third ring and we were asked 'can you get here in half an hour'?

We have to be 'very determined' to get a GP appointment . We are quite lucky to still have a NHS dentist.

 

[Billy sheds]

What a fabulous area... In 1982 we hired the island of Scarba on the north shore of the Gulf of Corryvreckan... Best diving ever... And we had just returned from 3 months diving in the Caribbean...