Scotland: Ballamory

Ok so it is really Tobermory but it is where the children's TV program was filmed and is the reason many people visit- our interest was slightly more whisky based! The ferry runs from Oban to Craignure on the Isle of Mull and from there the local bus connects to the ferry to run you up to Tobermory. We caught the mid-morning ferry along with every tourist in west Scotland (or so it felt) but once onboard there was plenty of space. The trip over doesn't take that long and is very pretty, you get a lovely view of Oban, out past the old castle and then the lighthouse, although even in the sunshine it was fairly chilly in the wind.

Tobermory did not disappoint with the little harbor of brightly painted houses curving around the bay. We had booked a tour of the distillery for the afternoon, so meantime took a gentle stroll right around admiring the view and nosing in  the many little independent shops. The sea air had its usual effect so we stopped off for lunch at the cafe in the old church to share a prawn sandwhich and a lovely large slice of tiffin to help line our stomachs before the distillery tour.

Understandably we weren't allowed to take photos inside the distillery but the tour was excellent and very interesting. The video at the start was a little cheesy but didn't last long. We were then guided through the whole whisky making process from the drying of the barley through to the finished product. Our guide was very informative and entertaining and more than happy to answer questions. The tour finished up with a dram of their standard single malt, though for a small extra fee you could also taste the Ledaig (leycheck)- which of course we did! After all this tasting Mr Owl then convinced me we needed to buy a bottle to add to our existing whisky collection, and some whisky tablet, and a hat! Even if you aren't a whisky drinker, or even a drinker, then the tour is very interesting and gives an insight into one of Scotland's most famous industries. I certainly appreciate it even more (was this possible?) now I know more about the whole process.

Internally warmed we climbed back on to the bus to connect to the return ferry. All in a fantastic day out in a very picturesque setting!

Surf 'n' Turf

Love of good food is one of the things that Mr Owl and I have in common, and while in Oban we had to try out a few of the amazing local restaurants, in particular we were thinking of the seafood. So one evening we headed down to the Waterfront Fishouse. Admittedly from the outside, tucked away down an alley by the ferry terminal, you're not sure what to expect, but once upstairs the restaurant is beautifully decorated and has a fantastic view out across the port! If you can get a window seat then I recommend it.
We started off well, with both of us deciding to have oysters, provided freshly from the Caledonian Oyster Company. We went for a mix with 3 classic oysters with lemon and tabasco and 3 grilled with balsamic and honey pig cheeks. I still prefer the classic raw oyster with lemon and a tiny splash of tabasco but the grilled ones were also lovely, so good in fact that I forgot to take a photo until after the fact!

 

 

 

 

However our fishy resolve fell apart when it came to the main course. How could we resist a dish called the 'Black and Blue Murder Burger'?  The description from the menu is "Argyll wild venison burger on a brioche bun with cabbage slaw and topped with black pudding and melting blue murder cheese served with fishouse fries and bacon jam." We both caved in and ordered one of these.

 

 

 

They tasted amazing but were incredibly filling, meaning we were forced to share the chocolate and salted caramel tart to finish, although we did manage a Gaelic coffee too! If you are going to be in Oban then I would highly recommend this restaurant, they had a really good choice of food and it doesn't get better than watching the sun set while enjoying a great meal.



Scotland: Seafari

A friend had partly suggested Oban because of the many things we could do e.g. going out to view wildlife and then she mentioned the whirlpool! As a big Enid Blyton fan growing up I had read the Rubadub Mystery so the thought of an actual whirlpool won me over. A quick google later and we had found Seafari, based out of Easdale just down the road (in Scottish terms) from Oban, so we booked ourselves onto the Corryvrecken Wildlife tour on the Tuesday afternoon. You go out on an open Rigid hulled Inflatable Boat (RIB) and they provide all waterproofs! I had prepared myself for a cold wet day with no sightings at all, but we were in luck. The sun was shining and it was lovely and warm. However this made getting into our extra layers and waterproofs a slightly more hot and awkward experience!

All kitted up we climbed into the boat and set off. Once out of the harbour our driver Steve showed us just what the RIB could do- I would go back and pay again just to be driven around on that boat (or even better to be able to drive it)- but if you don't like flying over the waves at high speed while hanging onto the chair in front then maybe this isn't the trip for you. The trip runs out from Easdale and then down and around the island of Scarba and back up again. The wildlife you see will depend largely on luck but can include dolphines, whales, porpoise, otters, basking sharks and a whole host of birds. The sun was shining (literally) on us. We started off with seals, both common and grey basking on the rocks. We then headed down to a Sea Eagle nest only to find that the chick was sat up in it, this was then topped by a sighting of an otter, which is not that common. He wasn't that close to the boat but we could watch him with the binoculars as he dove and floated on his back. Scarba itself has a large deer population which obliged us by standing around on the hills and posing dramatically against the skyline in an almost cliched pose! When a large bird was spotted circling above I thought the suggestion of 'Golden Eagle' was a joke, but no it really was! We watched it circling above the hill and when it dived you could see the beautiful plumage that give it its name. The wildlife was finished off by a pod of porpoises circling around the boat! My only disappointment on the trip was that the whirlpool wasn't whirling. It is not a constant feature and depends on the tides and water levels and sadly our luck wasn't in. However after the amazing wildlife we didn't really mind, and it gives us an excuse to go back and do it all again.
If anyone is heading up to Oban then I would highly recommend this trip, the price is very reasonable for an amazing day out. Easdale itself was stunningly beautiful and I would recommend just going down there to see it. On the way back to Oban we stopped at Seil bridge to take some photos and just admire the view which was worth the trip in itself!

Scotland: Oban

After our time in Glasgow we were swapping the city for the coast and spending the rest of the week in Oban. The drive up to Oban from Glasgow is lovely in itself, right along the shores of Loch Lomond. We had picked up some sarnies in advance and stopped for an 'in car picnic' overlooking the Loch in the sunshine - well it was warm at least!

Oban itself is a small town right on the coast and styles itself as the Seafood Capital of Scotland, which admittedly was one of our main motivations for choosing it. I had been struggling to find any accommodation at short notice until the lovely people at Glenburnie Hotel said that they had a self catering apartment available for a very reasonable price. It even had off road parking which pleased Mr Owl! Admittedly the outside of the block was nothing special, but once inside the flat was lovely. All newly redecorated with a modern kitchen and bathroom, large lounge, diner and double bedroom tucked away quietly on the back. Undoubtedly the best feature was the bay window looking out over the harbour, where we could watch the ferries coming and going as the sun set.  Having unpacked we headed out to explore Oban and collect some fish and chips (scampi for me) for tea. At some point we started the tradition of having a bottle of something bubbly at the start of our holidays or weekends away, and unsurprisingly it goes with everything, including the fish and chips! A great start to our stay in Oban.

Scotland: Glasgow Part II

Our full day in Glasgow was a Sunday and we were up with our fast broken a good hour or so before anywhere opened. We had planned to start the day taking the subway to Kelvingrove Museum, but a quick google maps consultation suggested we should be able to walk out to it taking in a few more sights along the way- so comfy shoes on we set off. We headed along Sauchiehall Street (Sock-e-hall) past the remains of the Glasgow School of Art. Sadly the air around it still smelt burnt and it was largely cordoned off. I would love to have seen it whole as it looked like a beautiful building. We were amazed how many impressive buildings and churches we saw just on our stroll out and the striking difference between the tenements of Glasgow and the little terraces of Manchester.

We got to Kelvingrove just as the drizzle started so were pleased to take cover inside. Lots of the reviews I had read said it was worth visiting just for the building itself and they weren't wrong. The exterior is pure victorian gothic with towers and sweeping entrance stairs while main hall that you come into was beautiful and imposing. The main hall was similar to the National History Museum in London, but with no dinosaurs in the way so you could really appreciate its size and design.

However not only did the museum look good, but it contained a wide variety of displays, varying from natural history, weaponry and local history through to modern art. Their most famous exhibit (apart from Sir Roger the stuffed elephant) is a Salvador Dali of Christ on the Cross. It is a beautiful painting and also quite eerie.

After Kelvingrove we explored the center of Glasgow further until eventually the rain really started and we had to take refuge in the many bars and pubs. We started in the Butterfly and Pig on Bath St. This was the sister bar from the night before, though we were disappointed to find it didn't stock the same wide range of ales and beer. It had a nice atmosphere however and was a welcome escape from the rain in their large comfy sofas. We then carried on down to Vespbar. This bar was spread out over several levels and had a very retro fifties diner feel to it. The emormous pizzas that we saw going past looked amazing as well, definitely one I would come back to.

Having lined our stomachs with a quick burrito at Juan Chihuahuas we finished up at the Pot Still for a wee dram. This bar boasts over 600 whiskies and requires very agile bar staff to fish them all down from the shelves. I loved that all the pubs in Scotland had a little water tap on the bars so you can water your whisky to your own taste. I had a Singleton which was very tasty though nothing remarkable (my memory here might not be entirely reliable so apologies to any Singleton fans) and Mr Owl had a Dalmore which was very tasty. It was the perfect end to a great day in Glasgow, I just wish we had more time there, but the coast was beckoning.

Scotland: Glasgow

After the last year we decided that we really needed a break away to just chill out and distract ourselves. We weren't quite ready to venture abroad in case of any medical issues, so decided instead to head north to Scotland. My Dad's family are originally from this part of the world, but us Owls had only been up here once before, when we walked the Great Glen (Fort William- Inverness) and had since been wanting to return. Our trip started in Glasgow where we had booked 2 nights at CitizenM. This hotel had scored highly online and looked quite novel with its almost Japanese style rooms and slightly communist naming conventions- we were not disappointed!! If Ikea did hotels this is what they would look like, no space was wasted and storage was clever, meaning that despite a small room the bed was enormous taking up the entire bottom end of the room.

After checking in (e.g. jumping up and down on huge bed) we headed out into the balmy Glasgow evening. We had booked a table at No.16 in Kelvingrove due to its high online recommendations. It was just a short ride away on Glasgow's subway (3rd oldest in the world dontchaknow!) and easy to find. As we got there a little early, due to paranoia over first time subway use, we had time to pop into The Butterfly and Pig just opposite where they served a large selection of real ales! If we had known we would have allowed more time here beforehand.

On to No.16 itself, the restaurant is tiny with a few tables downstairs and a little mezzanine level above but this just makes it feel intimate rather than cramped, helped by the soft lighting and fairy lights hanging in the front. Then there is the food, oh my goodness the food! We had seen the menu online and were already excited at what they offered but it far exceeded our expectations. I would have been quite happy to just have a plate of their homemade bread and rosemary & parmesan dipping oil it was so tasty. Instead we just nibbled on it while reading the fabulous menu.

Eventually we decided on the ham hock (me) and sardines (him) to start followed by the lamb (me) and halibut (him). I am not quite sure how to describe the food, you felt like you were eating something amazingly tasty and indulgent, yet at the same time somehow light and healthy. This has to currently be in my top 3 meals of all time! The photos below don't do it justice.

All of this was made even better by the outstanding and friendly service from all the staff. I am now trying to work out how soon we can go back up to Glasgow just to eat here again. If you are going up that way then I highly recommend it. After this amazing food we were left to take the subway back to our giant bed (ok via the bar for a cheeky cocktail) and watch the sun going down over the roofes  of Glasgow!

Tori Amos

So last Sunday we went to see Tori Amos at the Apollo in Manchester. I have been a fan since she first appeared on the scene when I was just 15 (the mathematically inclined can figure out how old I am from that) and have seen her in concert 3 times previously, so when I spotted she was touring again we grabbed a couple of tickets. I was worried I was going to miss it with all the recent health palaver, but after a blood test in the morning said I was good to go, we headed into Manchester to make the most of it.
We decided to eat at Las Iguanas beforehand and started with one of their lovely cairprinhas. No matter how much we practice making these at home (and drinking them, natch) they never taste quite the same. We then started with some chicken wings and nachos before both tackling burritos.

Our stomachs considerably enlarged we waddled off down to the Apollo. The support act were a folksy duo, who I hope were also a couple considering how close together their heads/mouths were when singing, then it was on to Ms Amos herself. As always she didn't disappoint, the uncomfortable looking piano playing, the eclectic outfit, the amazing voice were all still there. The set list was a nice mix of new tracks and the old classics. There was a funny little improv song about putting her glasses on rolled in with Silent All These Years and a fab cover of Moby's Extreme Ways. Cornflake Girl of course made a performance too (Mr Owl threatened to sulk if it didn't!). An excellent night out, finished with a surreal walk back to the car through the center which was full of teeny McBusted fans (they had played the arena) and victorious Mcr City fans!

Absent

I just wanted to let any possible readers out there know that I am still here, even though I haven't posted for a month or so. I have various health issues, that maybe one day I will be brave/stupid/self-indulgent enough to mention on here, and that has made the last month pretty hectic with multiple hospital trips. Once again this has left me in awe of the amazing staff on the NHS who are often overlooked in the bigger issues that the NHS as a whole faces. However please be assured that if there are any lovely readers of this little blog out there that I will hopefully be back soon and please check back for new posts.
On the plus side being ill means that you get some lovely flowers and our house has resembled a florists at points. The photo doesn't do these justice but thanks to my lovely sister-in-law for them.

Fondant Fridays #7

Ok I know what you are thinking- that doesn't look very pastel!? What can I say, it did in 'real life' but  I couldn't quite get the colours to look the same on the camera. I am going to blame it on the light being affected by the Sahara sand which got this far north yesterday, though it wasn't as bad here as down south.
Anyway, I picked this jumper up a couple of years back from H&M from their slighly more expensive range. The colour seems to vary in the light from a pale green to grey to beige. It is actually quite warm being a wool mix but as it is so finely knit it works well in spring when it is still quite cool but you don't want to be wearing a chunky knit. I think it looks great for a casual but more expensive feel, if that makes sense?
My outfit shots were disturbed by the arrival of a small visitor at the bird table and the rest of the evening was spent taking photos of him instead, so I felt obliged to include one in this post.

Jumper - H&M

Jeans - Pepe

Mouse - Wood Mouse