AndyBlog

Yeah, like /that's/ sensible

If you don't see the words, click to enlarge the picture.

I have had to re-add the words on the sign, or something very similar to them as I can't remember the exact wording. This is not a paste-up to make the sign ridiculous, it is just very hard to photograph these matrix signs, as they actually display at around 50-60hz - similar to a TV screen. The human eye sees them no problem, but the faster shutter speed of a Canon IXUS sees just a few splotches of orange.

OK, explanation over.

Real posting goes like this:

Saw this sign as we were leaving Glasgow headed for Edinburgh. I can't believe that traffic department could be more silly - even if they tried. For those of you who hate pictures and can't be bothered to click on this one to read the text, it invites the viewer to dial up a web site to view traffic information.

Now, even if the driver seeing this sign does not immediately grab for their smart-phone and attempt too dial-in the URL, the rush alone, to get a paper and pencil to write down the web address, is likely to cause a few deaths each year.

Whatever happened to that lovely mainstay of illuminated signage: "Tune to 95.7 FM for the latest travel news and information"

This is one of those few occasions where the internet does not, and should not ever, reign supreme.

Just for Jason

Hungry, Jason?

Scarinish to Callander

Cheese to chalk.

From the luxury of Glebe House, and the crystal sea of Tiree to the decayed grandeur of the Dreadnought Hotel in Callander.

Actually, drop the grandeur part of that statement and you'll be nearer the truth. Nevertheless, the room is large and airy, despite the twin beds being somewhat...erm...basic.

In reality, the Dreadnought Hotel would have had to be pretty amazing to wow us after such a blissful stay on “The Island below The Waves”.

Callander got off to a bad start when we chose to eat at “The Old Bank” last night. The menu was beautifully presented in a metal folder - and each item was beautifully described. It gave us, it has to be said, a huge amount of misplaced confidence.

My “beef chilli” was made using soya-mince mixed with the cheapest catering beef - the flavour being masked as much as possible by copious amounts of chilli powder. The chips were OK, but some was slightly raw in the middle. The garlic bread was OK, except that i could not detect even a trace of garlic flavour from it.

TL's “Cajun Chicken and Bacon Salad” salad promised much, but delivered sliced of chicken, refried and with Mexican flavouring shaken over them. The bacon was OK, but tasted a bit old to me. The salad was fine, according to TL.

All in all, my advice would be to give “The Old Bank” a miss if you happen to pass through Callander. All I can say is that the chippy looked nice.

We've had an OK night here on twin beds pushed together, but it all feels a bit more like camping and a bit less like staying at a nice hotel.

Next, the breakfast - see the breakfast blog for a full report. (assuming I got round to it...)

All too soon, it's over.

This morning, we must head southwards once again.

It's been a special time away for a number of reasons:

1: It's been our honeymoon - our first time on holiday together as a married couple.

2: We've been on Tiree - an amazingly beautiful and charming Scottish Hebridean island.

3: We've spent time with Colin & Susan Woodcock of BlueBeyond fame. Colin even now has a blog for you to read and enjoy.

4: We stayed at Glebe House, possibly in its last season as a guest house. It's been delightful to be here in such comfort and with such outstanding breakfasts. Thanks go to Ian & Eileen.

Already, we are looking forward to the next time we will visit this extraordinary place.

Having a lovely time...

Wish you were here.

Please click on these panoramas and see them big - they're quite cool.

Leaving Oban

Here, the “King of the Isles” gently steams out of Oban

After a long, and ultimately successful, drive up to Oban the previous night we arose early to our “cereal only” breakfast and made our way to the ferry terminal.

The dullness of Oban was soon to be replaced by the sunshine I have come to expect on Tiree. The journey was a joy. We even had live folk music and a talk about the Hebrides from a paid heritage lady who also regaled us with her violin playing skills. She sang a few songs and was brave and interesting and all the things Liz and I reflected that we were not.

Now today makes all this feel like, and be, yesterday - but more of that later. First, let us take some time to be opn the isle of Tiree, before relentlessly telling you about it.

It makes sense, if you stop to think about it.

It's really just a question...

...of what you think art is.

It's OK, Dennis...

It's a Northern train, and it took me to Morpeth railway station.

...I took the train to Morpeth.

A friend of ours from Church is involved in the push to re-open the local railway lines in South-East Northumberland. He regularly takes the train to Morpeth - and now so do I. I look forward even more to be able to take the train to Blyth and Ashington in the future - and even the train manager on my Inter-City service seemed to know about what was going on.

It's all rather smashing, actually - re-opening train lines feels so positive. I believe there are even plans to take the trains back to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, now that really is exciting.

True Grit

Not much snow and ice down in Bristol, or so it seems.

The car ride to Bristol - Descent

NBTS - Sunny and beautiful

Wetherby - Clouding over

Pontefract - hosing down

In fact - most of the rest of the journey just like this