Sat very comfortably and at the right temperature on the MV Isle of Mull as she chugs her way to Craignuire from Oban, where I’ve been since Thursday evening. I thought I’d post some photos that I took last night of Oban as I wandered back to the YHA where I stayed over. Cresent Moon and the night lights of Oban.
Looking forward to catching up with Wifey who has driven from Tobermory to pick me up at Craignuire.
Typing here in Oban in the YHA, nice and toasty, and enjoying the silence after the bedlam of a young family being rounded up for bed. It has been a rather good day. I was up early, reading away, spotted a group of female red deer using the garden, to then have a little lie down, followed by a lovely bracing costal walk near Glengorm Castle at Sorne Point by the ruined fort at Dun Ara, where we checked out the bathing pool, in fact a natural man made harbour of possible Norse origin that the fort guarded.
All the photos and videos for the day can be found online at Flickr.
I ventured out from the YHA at Oban into not so bad but dreary weather, bearing in mind it had been blowing an absolute gale overnight and this morning.
Saw a Calmac ferry chugging out of Oban - not sure which one.
Here’s a synopsis of what found us does from Tobermory, Isle of Mull, or Oban on the mainland.
Typing away after a early evening kip for an hour or so. Been gale like today; yet what a Wonderland I wake up to. And as a random half asleep action, I re-post a relatively recent video with an OFFER!
Why people suffering from addiction and other illnesses should think twice about UKAT
I am stunned (well not really) and saddened (well not really) at a conversation I had with a lady as to her son who has been through UKAT facilities, and had a poor experience being let down by what is a truly terrible organisation running addiction facilities across the UK.
It is clear UKAT only put money above the care of people, and treat addiction services as a conveyor belt. The organisation uses clever marketing to draw people and families into its services promising all, and based on my time with them delivering inadequate services. This was back in 2021, and after having spoken to the lady and obtained details, know it is the same state of play as 2024 draws to a close.
A while back I wrote about UKAT and its addiction services in my article A scathing assessment as to Private Rehabs, especially UKAT/Linwood House
This is a business that has the gall to call itself “leading” and utilises clever marketing tactics.
Last night on Main Street, Tobermory, saw the turning on of the Christmas lights.
What a wonderful experience last night being part of the Isle of Mull community as we all saw the Christmas Tractor parade, children choir singing carols, the Tobermory Choir singing carols, Ukulele playing and singing of carols, a raffle, Banjo Beale judging shop fronts, then the countdown to the turning on of the lights.
Full photos and videos can be found at: https://www.flickr.com/gp/petercobley/0t5Cy5zpU1
Vivid sunset one morning this week from the house about Tobermory
Sunday 1st December, end of the week, start of a new month and the run up to Christmas. I have had a productive week and one for the most part run on serenity.
I’ve mused over found us, my consultancy business, and am happy with work I have put into the website when consolidating what found us stands for, and for that matter me. It is a business that ultimately helps people, and is an exposition of my world view; give back what was freely given to you. And it is a shame a lot of people in advertising, marketing, and media don’t give back and possess a myopic world view that revolves around ego and self.
I think I demonstrate with found us that there is another way, that one is rich when one gives in business, in life. Monetary and material things naturally follow, but if one is not solely tied to the material world then they do not matter, and less attention is spent trying to screw people over.
Anyway, I think I’ll post some spectacular photos of Tob (how the locals refer to Tobermory), and why? Because the photos may make people think about making change. Claire and I make a major geographical change, that has helped drive change in self; whilst also dumping what I now realise were tenuous relationships with some not so nice people at the Saddleworth Runners.
A vivid sunrise and two photos of a frosty Tobermory, taken from Main Street
This week saw mixed weather to say the least. As fortune would have it the end of the week, Saturday evening, saw nice mild weather for the Tobermory turning on of the Christmas lights, which was wonderful. Read about it in the next post!
My God, its full of stars. I could not resist that with these two photos of Mull at night.
Swimming Thursday night at Aros Park, looking toward Tobermory
There is swimming and then there is swimming.
Looking back to Craignuire on the Oban ferry from Mull, and snow capped hills
I type as the clock moves toward 11.30pm on Sunday 24th November. And I type in Hamilton whereas the original plan was to be in Tobermory at this point in time.
Nessie hand warmer as discovered at Gretna services on the way back to Scotland yesterday
Not being back on the Isle of Mull was due to Bert’s behaviour. What with rain and snow, we now see Bert blowing and violently farting his way through Hamilton and clearly Oban, where we were due to get the 9pm ferry to Craignuire on the Isle of Mull; which was cancelled.
Doggie hand warmer
What a weekend of wild weather
Yours truly had a load of his gear in storage in Denton. This need collecting from the building, with this weekend being the last opportunity, as the people storing my gear were moving out.
So, we were heading down to England when Storm Bert was due to offload his filth across the county.
Friday evening saw the drive to Hamilton to Claire’s folks where we were to stay overnight. It was a pleasant drive from Oban, but the weather along the M6 over high ground was looking and sounding iffy to say the least.
The Boss made a decision that was correct in that we ate some food, booked into the Holiday Inn in Lancaster, and drove forthwith to the city; weather being fine for driving.
We had a nice sleep in a spacious and comfortable room in a hotel I had stayed at over 15 years ago when on business.
It was then off to Denton, and it was blowing a gale with rain in the hotel car park as we started off. This meant it was a veritable spray fest driving on the M6. By now Bert was shifting over mainland England.
We eventually got to Denton and loaded possessions, including touring bike, with the kind help of Brian Potter, a friend, and then hit the road.
M61 northbound fleeing Manchester and Bert
It rained and rained and rained. If Doctor Foster had been out on his rounds he’d have needed a canoe and life vest.
The decision to not head (we discovered) from Hamilton that Saturday morning as was the original plan, was a sane choice on behalf of Claire as there was snow dumped in Scotland, especially in Hamilton.
We made it back around 7.30/8pm to Hamilton, driving through clear and not clear patches, with thick mist for many miles before and after Lockerbie.
Entering Scotland at Gretna
On waking today, Sunday morning, we had planned to leave Hamilton at 5.30pm to arrive Oban 8pm for the 9pm ferry to Craignuire.
As the day progressed so did the wind, to the point of Bert being quite antisocial.
In Oban according to the Met Office the average wind was 30 mph and gusting to 60 mph. Not good. Not good at all.
And no surprise the 9pm and other ferries were cancelled by Calmac. The next ferry we could get on would have to be the 8.30pm on Monday, the following day. So we may as well stay in Hamilton with Claire’s folks, and that Bertie is what we have jolly well done!
So it is off to bed for me now at the ripe old time of 12.04am, Monday 25th November.
I love working my business found us, set up in 2014 after a career in advertising working for a number of splendid companies. Have a look at the found us website. To be able to work the business out of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull is a dream come true, as are regular trips to Oban on the mainland.
I am updating the website for found us and have created some pages on a number of the consultancy’s services; which may be is of interest to my friends and business contacts.
And specifically
Executive search and head hunting
A panoramic photo taken from the Oban Esplanade
A post on Tobermory, a place of day and night in terms of living here. In a few mere hours we can see two very different Tobermory’s.
For me this is the delight of the island that is Mull. No one moment is the same visually, but then again is that not life?
Sunday morning of the 17th November 2024
The same view on the evening of Sunday 17th November 2024
It is Monday the 18th just after 5pm as I type. It is fresh but mild outside if that makes sense, and with no rain. We await potential snow as does the rest of the country, especially those in high places. So I may soon see my first snow on the Isle of Mull.
Was down on Main Street earlier, about a couple of hours ago, to do some shopping at the Coop, and it is cheese cake for pudding tonight!
Looking down Main Street this evening
A walk with The Boss today for lovely coffee, cheese and venison toasties, and cake at the Isle of Mull’s very own cheese factory (and distillery.)
The Glass Barn (photo courtesy of Isle of Mull Cheese.)
Yes it was a bit nippy and windy, and we got hit with a rain squall as we walked up from the house, but it was worth it - for the food, the café interior, its shop, and the wonderful company of my wife.
Isle of Mull Cheese is well know and produces wonderful cheese; spirits from the whey by-product of the cheese production. The site is one in the same as the dairy, so a wonderful experience for a family and children.
The interior is rustic, as though from a classic Constable painting or Cider with Rosie. It feels to be transported back to olden days, or days of youth. For me another discovery to be found on Mull.
The Glass Barn (1st photo courtesy of Isle of Mull Cheese.)
The walk back saw no rain but great views looking out and over into the Sound of Mull. I got to say hello to a moo cow.
The view from the dairy farm. And a moo cow.
So I am now a permanent resident of Tobermory. Happily welcoming me is my wonderful wife Claire, oh, and Storm Ashley which is bring us all a weather bomb!
Tobermory harbour this Saturday morning. No sign of “Ashley”.
I’m at home in my Oodie carefully purchased for many my darling wife. Initially I thought she was a) taking the p**s, b) in no uncertain terms letting me know we’d not be engaging the heating, since that involves money and she’s Scottish (yes, I’m being financially racist.)
Erm. Darth Cobley. Trainee Sith Lord.
However on wearing said Oodie I have discovered it’s very comfortable, warm, and it is electrically heated!!! My gadget side is in love with it. And it works a treat.
To be honest I’m 53 years old and it’s probably more a case of reaching that age where legally you don’t have to give a toss as to what you wear, or for that matter what people think about what you’re wearing (as long as not naked in public.)
Me and The Boss. Tobermory Harbour.
I am over the moon at being reunited with Claire on a permanent basis, previously only having been up for holidays.
I continue to run found us my advertising and head hunting business, whilst Claire is living the life and loving teaching Biology at Tobermory High School.
Storm Ashley
Well I can safely say that heading over from Oban to get a ferry from Lochaline was windy and rainy to say the least.
Lochaline waiting for the ferry.
Saturday (today) has been lovely to say the least, beautiful sun, the sea a millpond. So, “ha” to Storm Ashley. Come and get me if you dare! I know have a heated Oodie.
It is at this point in typing that I decide to check the Met Office App.
Note the time is 7.22pm tonight. All is gut!
9am tomorrow, Sunday 20th October. All is not gut!
Looks like I’ll be hunkering down asleep in a self heating Oodie and hoping Tobermory does not get blown away or flooded or both. My mind casts itself back to the safety of Tameside and Manchester.
(Oh, and did I fail to mention that The Boss is presently out with the ladies for a moonlight swim in Tobermory Harbour? Help… I married to a nut job.)
A friend has encouraged me to write about myself, showing all the positives I have. Well here goes.
Marrying Claire in Kingussie in 2017.
I’m 53, and today - Friday 18th October - marks my moving permanently to Tobermory, Isle of Mull, to be with Claire my wife, who now teaches there. All very exciting. And she’s on route via Loch Lomond as I type.
Me as a Person
A really nice chap who takes pleasure in helping people wherever he can. A firm proponent of the so called Golden Rule, the premise of which is simply to treat people as you’d want to be treated yourself.
I’m spiritual and believe strongly that all humans have a shared association and form part of nature, and ultimately the Universe. That life is about trying to do what is right, whilst accepting and forgiving the flaws we all have.
I’m well educated and well read, gulp, and keep on learning.
I volunteer where I can to give back, and after a number of enhanced DBS checks have worked with:
OCD Action
Change Grow Live (CGL) Tameside
ANEW
Give what has been freely given to you!
Costa Coffee Oban.
I have my business found us that I have worked hard at for over 10 years.
I have good ethics and am used by leading people and companies in the Regions - Microsoft, Dentsu, Channel 4 to name drop.
Half the business is head hunting/search and selection at senior level for the advertising, media, marketing industries.
Why? If you read my LinkedIn profile, you’ll see that I’ve held senior roles in advertising businesses, both offline and online.
I therefore have a black book of contacts to die for, and closely understand how to set an advertising business up, and run it successfully.
I have, always had, a knack for working with people and commanding their trust.
The other half of found us is Consultancy, Commercial, Sales and Marketing, or plain Non-Exec’ Director support, which I have good experience in, and deliver results.
This ties into the close work I carry out with the Management School at Lancaster University.
Look me up and ask me to help your business, yourself, your career. I’d be delighted to!
www.foundus.co.uk
http://linkedin.com/in/petercobley
I’ve achieved bloody good results for people, businesses, non-profit organisations, and I am keen to emulate this from the Isle of Mull.
And you know what? I am proud to shout about it from Oban, where I’m sat now.
Day 1 of the Saunders.
My passion, as is my wife’s, is fell running. With outdoor swimming (way before it came fashionable) and cycling, though we prefer touring.
Look me up on Flickr. I’ve taken some smashing photos over the years of the GR20 across to ultra fell races.
In repose at the half way camp.
Day 2 Start of the Saunders.
Penultimate check point.
What actually is balance? Life has me thinking on this, especially as we are all taught to have a healthy work/life balance. I’d like to crack open this misnomer as I’d call it.
A couple of photos of the Crinan Canal by Lochgilphead from a walk earlier today.
Where does your journey start?
I believe in life as one holistic existence and there is no private or public life. Just life and of how we live it. We need to really know ourselves (see further) in order to understand, live, and change our lives; so displacing the modern society model or artifice of private life and work as separate entities. This is social conditioning that dictates we live life on society’s, other’s terms, and that work, on average, takes more then 50% of one’s life.
We ought in fact to live life fully and not dissect it or split it and thus ourselves, willingly giving more to work as though it is a separate life to our own real one.
So how do I deconstruct thework/life structure that so many of us live by.
Happiness!
I believe in happiness and that one should pursue what makes us happy. All will fall into place after that. So one should think of what makes us happy. Because surely this is a more sound pursuit. And this then becomes the realm of dreams!
Which so often is conditioned out of us from childhood. You must get a job, a house, a career, get married….. if you can please read the familiar book Walkabout by James Vance. And failing that watch the film staring a young Jenny Agutter.
For dreams read:
https://www.foundus.co.uk/talk/a-scottish-adventure-dreams-fulfilled-what-is-your-dream
We need to be aware of nature and nurture, of us and our place in our environment, of whether we want to be subject to others and what they say. Have you really thought of whether your values and beliefs are those of others instilled in you from young? Work/life balance - where did you learn this and why?
Have you thought, really thought what you actually stand for, believe in, are? This can be quite difficult but worthwhile. Why two diametrically opposed parts to life in the form of work and non-work?!? Can you say to yourself and describe, “my life is… and I live my life to live my dream of….”
Let’s get one thing clear. We have just one life. Not a ‘work’ life and ‘personal’ life, just one.
(From There is no ‘Work-Life Balance’ — there’s just Life by Ant Murphy.
The article I quote one makes for good reading and nails key points I wish to make, and of how my views have changed. I don’t necessarily agree with all Mr Murphy says, but I certainly agree with his last paragraph.
We just have ‘life’ and we get to choose how we spend it. Life’s too short to have anything less.
Know thyself" is a philosophical maxim that means to fully understand oneself, including one's emotions, desires, and abilities.
It is best known from being inscribed on the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, Greece.
Could your life be a wobbly Jenga tower? Work and non work life in cosmic conflict as one never pleases the other. Do you have that constant feeling of chasing your tail? Of never quite achieving? That’s how I was. It was hard, but I collapsed my old tower and rebuilt. But I rebuilt no tower to rival other towers. I live and breathe and am Me, and being Me is an exposition of my dreams. I am authentic to others and myself. True to myself as to where I can be, and for that matter want to be. I am beholden to none.
You need to know yourself first, understand what you really believe in and want. On doing this you can seek your happiness, and life will fit into place for you. Work and other elements come under your control to deliver upon the dream, versus you being under their control.
Happiness rubs off on people as they see a liberation from worldly woes we thought we suffered from.
You have choice and many of us forget this. We let life (environment) make choices for us, including what we believe in.
And with choice we can live life knowing ourselves, look for and give happiness, and achieve dreams in one or many actions. We are not spread thin or in conflict for example by trying to live two very different lives - that of work and private life, or of parent, child, brother, sister etc. We can live as us and be free to chose. We can choose our role in life.
We have choice. We have action.
Making Wise Decisions
“Questions are never indiscreet; answers sometimes are.”
—Oscar Wilde
Over and over again, we circle the same thoughts in our minds, certain that if we keep chewing on them, we’ll be better able to make important decisions. Should we commit ourselves to a new relationship? Is it time to take a new job? Do we need to stand up for a principle?
The harder we try to make that “perfect decision,” the tighter and more obsessed we become. It starts to feel like the most important decision of our lives. The very process of decision making becomes a problem.
Instead of recycling the same thoughts, let us ask, “What’s the worst thing that can happen if we choose a given path today?” “Is this decision in sync with ourselves and our recovery?” “Will it work for today?” When we answer these questions, our choices are clear. And when we make positive, healthy decisions, the cycle of worry can stop. Our lives are more serene, more productive, and more calm.
Today help me to keep my perspective. No decision is without risk—but few are irreversible.
This inspiration is from
Body, Mind, and Spirit: Daily Meditations.
© 1990 by Hazelden Foundation. All rights reserved.
Quoted from the app Inspirations.
I type from Lochgilphead. A place that has certainly grown on me and a hidden gem.
I’m here for one reason or another. Claire is in Tobermory with Calum and Katie. Tonight they are in the town, on the seafront, looking at the parade of cars participating in the 2024 Mull Rally.
Sitting above the town is Druim Hill and Blarbuie Forest which makes for extensive walking and where you can disappear from people and buildings. I’ve walked through the Victorian planted forest, which was to hide the original asylum, now general Hospital, and have also explored the higher working pine forest via its access roads. Highly recommended.
Blarbuie Forest.
On walking from the hospital into town, you are met with traditional Scottish town architecture, and whilst not extensive, there is a range of shops and coffee shops, all of which sits adjacent to the top of Loch Gilp and the entrance to the Crinan Canal.
Speaking of the Crinan Canal, it makes for lovely walking, cycling or running with its high levees giving commanding views over the countryside. The canal was built to enable ships access from the Irish Sea into the Clyde, so avoiding a rounding of the exposed Mull of Kintyre. Claire and I have enjoyed walking the canal and watching an assortment of yachts using the traverse from Sea to Loch.
Loch Gilp.
Oban is roughly an hour and ten minutes north of Lochgilphead and Loch Gilp leads into Loch Fyne with Inverary being the next largest settlement at the top of lunch Fyne. All in all beautiful and interesting countryside with which to explore.
This part of Scotland is worth exploring for its coastline and settlements and numerous Lochs, with you being able to venture inland for wild camping.
I’ve not so much explored this part of the West Coast of Scotland, instead being more familiar with the Rough Bounds area around Arisaig. But I have been impressed and fascinated.
As an Englishman who has had a taste of countryside and metropolitan life, I can safely say I prefer it here. It’s not just the soft and smooth tones, punctuated with idioms, from the locals. It’s the mentality. One of acceptance, friendliness, understanding, and welcome. No one judges on success (whatever that is, and it’s always alluded me) or money or material wealth: it is more about being a part of something, and in practical terms stopping for a chat. You are valued for who you are, not what you have or claim to be.
I won’t miss England, and I don’t miss saying that.
Indigo levitating on Succoth Ward.
Deep in the forest above Lochgilphead.
Sojourn means temporary stay. And I find myself for a month in Lochgilphead (look at a map) prior to Oban, and then Tobermory.
It’s a lovely little place next to Loch Gilp and the entrance to the Crinan Canal. A place of happiness and epiphany for me, but that’s another story.
I’m soon to catch up for a couple of hours with my wife Claire as she’s leaves Loch Tay where she’s been with family to Oban, then onto Mull. She’s in good spirits and that makes me fuzzy warm.
I can now say that I have finally physically, mentally, and emotionally departed England. Mind you I will need to get down there to retrieve possessions that are spread between Denton, Macclesfield, and Coatbridge. So much for being organised. Special thanks to the esteemed Lee Wyatt for watering my plants.
I, my life, found us my business, plus wifey embark on a new chapter with fun adventures ahead. That is both exiting and to the met with trepidation. What will happen? Who knows! But I feel alive again, like I have not felt alive for years.
I’ve learnt a lot since July, faced challenges, and learnt to be grateful for what I have, and those who care for me. And I realise I am rich. Very rich.
A selfie of Loch Gilp.
I can safely say that Vodafone has gone down hill and the organisation would not know customer service even if it bit Vodafone on the bottom. Very hard on the bottom in fact. I say this as a customer from 1995 who left about 3 months ago this year.
I originally acquired my Motorola flip analogue phone (yes analogue) back in 1995 from Carphone Warehouse (yes, I am that old.)
The provider was Talkland, to be acquired by Vodafone.
And believe it or not I stayed with them based on contract phones, other other tech, e.g. iPads, and their customer service and their being British.
By 2024, I possessed an iPhone 13 on contract, my paying approximately £60pcm, V-Home, and Multitracker.
I’d run my Mum’s phone as well via Vodafone.
So I spent a lot of money over the years.
One key reason for Vodafone was and is their network coverage, especially data.
So what did I notice?
By 2022 I reckon Vodafone had begun to turn into a shit show in terms of customer service, and certainly the case by the time I left in 2024.
What shocked me was my simply requesting the PAC code and Vodafone doing sod all.
Shit customer service, when you could get through to a agent.
Waiting times, not to mention the impenetrable and hard to navigate voice system, to then meet (normally and by no means my criticism of culture) a foreign language agent following a script unable to make decisions, and for the most part possessing bad product knowledge, with a failure to understand simple customer needs.
Though when speaking to technical specialists I can say they did know their stuff.
To then make matters worse Vodafone simply exited its V-Home portfolio of products, saying “bye bye” without some much as offering an alternative or saying sorry.
On enquiring of EE off the back of shifting address with our BT home package I was astounded as to cost savings, service, native British speaking agents, better customer App and UI.
Conclusion
If anyone from Vodafone reads this I am glad to be out. You need to sort your customer services out. You prices stink. You let customers down, including me, as to V-Home. In fact you seem to flippantly deal with your customers. And lastly no effort whatsoever was made to retain a loyal customer of 20+ years.
So in the words of Lilly Allen…..
Well I type as I watch vintage TV which I always enjoy with Claire and her parents in the house in Tobermory. Two Ronnies at the moment and very funny. I do think at times contemporary comedy crap.
This was this first full day in Tobermory and what a day. Claire off to school for her last day of term, with a half day then the hols, with a trip on the ferry to Kilchoan on the Ardnamurchan peninsular with fellow teachers for a meal. And they were very merry when I met them off the ferry. Ahem. All the more amusing as some of the soccer playing school girls bumped into them outside the Co Op and asked if they’d been drinking. He he he.
We bought fish and chips from the harbour and walked up to the house.
Earlier in the day Claire had headed for school whilst we pottered around at the house, with my eventually getting my arse in gear to put the running gear on and head up to Crater Loch: Lochan 'S Airde Beinn. A loch that sits in an ancient volcanic crater about 3 miles outside of Tobermory and accessed next to three lochs. It is a pleasant climb out of Tobermory on the Dervaig Road before you come off the road and climb a mile to the crater.
It is a spectacular sight, and maybe more so for me because of the strong wind, low grey clouds, and sense of isolation with my being the only person there. It is a highly recommended run or walk.
I ran back to shower to then walk with Josie and Ronnie to meet Claire at An Tobar (arts centre) across the road from where she teaches.
We were meeting there for drinks and food as next door at 2pm was a concert The Scottish Coast by the Inchcolm New Music Ensemble over from Herriot-Watt University with its Director of Music, Matthew Brown, someone I went to school with, sang with, performed with. A very talented, lovely fellow.
I’d had no idea at all about the concert and luckily a mutual school friend, Gareth Hatch, had spotted a Facebook post by Matthew and let me know. And I am so glad he did. The concert magical in the atmospheric Parish Church next to An Tobar. Matthew and his parents who were there, delighted to see us all. It made for good conversation.
The last piece (will need to find its name) was wonderful.
Ah, Tobermory. I love you every time I come.
Today I type from a delayed Scotrail train to Oban. A three hour trip through beautiful scenery. With me are Josie and Ronnie, my parents in law as I chaperone them to Oban and then onto Craignure on the Isle of Mull via Calmac ferry the Isle of Mull. At platform 4 Queen Street, Glasgow the Scotrail people could not connect the two trains together that form the service and we are now over 20 minutes late, with a potential arrival time of 3.54pm into Oban and the ferry 3.55pm. Sat at the very front of the train I can hear it labour as it chases time itself.
I travelled up yesterday from Dukinfield using the very excellent National Express service for Glasgow that calls into Hamilton. Long gone are the lyrical days of the using a service where you could both hide from, and see life.
Take the National Express when your life's in a mess
It'll make you smile
All human life is here
From the feeble old dear to the screaming child
From the student who knows that to have one of those
Would be suicide
To the family man
Manhandling the pram with paternal pride
And everybody sings, "Ba-ba-ba-da"
We're going where the air is free
National Express by the Divine Comedy - Verse 1 - Released 25th January 1999
My life was a mess but is no longer a mess, and I was happy to see both Josie and Ronnie, catch up on sleep in their comfortable house, with today being our journey from Queen Street via train to Oban, Josie deciding and preferring a taxi with a cheerfully pleasant driver. making the station with time to drink lovely coffee (Danish pastry and tart for me) in kaffateria opposite the station. And highly recommended for its coffee.
All fine and we mosied over to the estimated platform 4, which was where I departed from last time I was off to Mull. Now last time there was a problem, and as fate would have it the same problem occurred again. The difference being I was armed with two Scottish pensioners. Very simply the train is made of two parts. And at Crianlarich it splits into a Oban train and a Mallaig train, with the Oban section being the front of the train, normally four carriages, out of Queen Street. Last time they could not connect the train and everyone piled onto the Mallaig train after watching the Oban section sneak out of Queen Street having failed to couple to its mate. Same again, and we watched as our train, our seat reservations, fuck off into the dark tunnel. Sharp walk to other train, looking through windows for those unreserved table seats.
Now I must admit it was better than last time, which was Saturday, hot weather, and a platform knee deep in people, tourists, cyclists. Back then I’d managed to bag a seat opposite a dog named Snoop.
This time though a new train shot in to Queens Street and connected up with the Mallaig section to give a big train, midweek when less busy, and despite no original reservations we did bag a table and seats at the very front of the train. Mind you I did position myself right at the front of the train by the passenger door. Seat table sorted, bags stowed I wandered down the carriages checking on some unfortunate elderly ladies who were on a three week painting holiday taking in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and like us armed with bags had been caught short on the platform; where we had spoken earlier. All three were good and I returned to the seat to type this post, eat some M&S crisps from a meal deal, and relax at the view, as were Ronnie and Josie.
Shame there is no Trolly Dolly as I could murder a coffee, but laugh inside at some more Divine Comedy lyrics that I remember from the old days of the National Express.
On the National Express there's a jolly hostess
Selling crisps and tea
She'll provide you with drinks and theatrical winks
For a sky-high fee
Mini-skirts were in style when she danced down the aisle
Back in '63 (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
But it's hard to get by when your arse is the size
Of a small country
And everybody sings, "Ba-ba-ba-da"
We're going where the air is free
Tomorrow belongs to me
Verse 2.
Addendum:
As I proof read this I see the Trolly Dolly heading our way. Life is good.
