Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

Watty1

I hope you have a lovely holidays :)

Makingabobor2

Have a great holiday

trix-a-belle

Have a good break

Suffolk_lass

Phew! Back from our hols in Scotland, I will concentrate this post on a few of the holiday things that happened.

We stopped briefly at my Mum's on the other side of Ayrshire from the Island destination, and were lolling happily at her house on the Thursday when I received a text from Calmac about the likelihood of our crossing being cancelled the following day. I phoned at about 5pm and bless her, the lovely customer service agent rebooked us for 10.15am from Troon (we were always from Troon because the Ardrossen Harbour/Port is closed for fender replacement and urgent maintenance. It was owned by Peel Ports until early this year when Calmac bought them out for grater control. Of course they don't actually have the money to do the works needed (yet) and must get this from the state…

The detail (feel free to skip)

Redevelopment work at Ardrossan Port to accommodate the larger MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa is estimated to cost up to £166 million to £170 million. Project Cost Details

• Estimated Redevelopment Cost: Up to £170 million (with recent accountable officer assessments warning of an affordability challenge around £166 million). 
• Earlier Estimates: Initial project estimates from early planning stages were significantly lower (around £35m to £40m or older estimates of £80m), but costs have escalated substantially as scopes and requirements were re-evaluated. 
• Public Ownership: The port was acquired into public ownership by CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited) in early 2026 to allow the long-delayed infrastructure upgrades to proceed. 
• Disruption: The major marine and land-side upgrade works are anticipated to close the Ardrossan ferry service entirely for two to three years once construction begins.

Then there are the boats:

MV Glen Sannox has been delivered, tested and run with no passengers. The changes to the spec during its' build mean it cost much more than it should, is too long, and lays too deep in the water to be usable on the very crossing it was designed for. It's academic really as it could have been running out of Troon if it were not for it's tale of operational failures. Over £3 million on repairing a hole in the hull, the engine and fuel pump persistently fail, and extended periods out of service for exhaust system modifications and severe hull/propeller vibration issues. That's a crock IMHO. It's sister ship, the MVGlen Rosa (also due in 2018) has yet to be delivered, has increased in price and is having its rusty hull remedial works undertaken. Seriously?

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old MV Caledonian Isles and the chartered catamaran MV Alfred keep the island connected. The mezzanine deck on the CI wasn't working last week and the thrusters on the Alfred were not working properly so any wind or see turbulence took one or both out of action.

Back to the holiday - That was the situation on our outbound day. We got the Alfred on the only crossing to the Island and to be honest, there was a bit of turbulence, and some of the decks were swimming in vomit. I feel for people who suffer (neither of us or our dog do!). Anyway, the cottage was lovely, right up in the North where there is a "Turn up and go" little ferry that undertakes a 30 minute crossing to a small harbour (except when it's a bit rough and then it goes to Tarbert, which is easier to dock at). Literally hundreds of people slept in their vehicles, two nights, maybe more for many. On the upside, the wonderful community run Inn had a great atmosphere, was heaving with customers, and our cottage host was visibly relieved when we said we had food with us for contingencies - it was utter chaos as they manfully tried to deal with demand, dramatically outstripping supply - she strongly advised us to eat in the cottage - so we did. That muck-in and help thing was evident all week. More so in the north than our previous stay in the more touristy south east of the Island, or maybe we were just closer, in that smaller community. I loved it and could happily live there (and I could afford to).

We pottered about, with lovely walks or two, I tweaked my long-silent achilles when I slipped (typical me!) so am still hobbling after sitting, and I know it will take ages to calm down - not serious (I have done serious) but being super-stretchy hyper-mobile, I am supposed to be careful as it sometimes resembles a length of over stretched elastic up the back of my leg, when I over extend it. As I get older, I am told it gets worse!

Once again we visited the NT(S) run Castle and gardens (we can't go in the castle with the dog). We stuck with the walled garden and terraced areas on a lovely sunny day. I do think they are missing an income stream and could happily collect and sell seeds to visitors as there are lots of lovely temperate plants in evidence. Anyway, we enjoyed that and then went to our favourite coffee and scone venue afterwards for an early tea and cake and purchase of cheese and bakery items. All the bakery items are enormous - far too big, and around £5 each. However, we loved the pies from the bakery near the smaller SM and the butcher, in Brodick.

A lovely, peaceful week with lots of leisure time, good food, lovely conversations and very lucky with the weather.

Return crossing was much easier, although the first one was cancelled and more cancellations were anticipated later.

Back at Mum's we pottered ahead of her 97th birthday and came home the day after. It was a lovely, low-key day, and all was harmonious with family visitors and

I am so glad I have a dash cam now. In response to the Book Club discussion around other people making allegations of "old people driving failures" when it is no such thing, to be able to defend ourselves! I had three episodes on the drive home (one with an artic lorry who was ignoring the 40mph on the A66 and tried to undertake when driving a foot behind my car failed - he failed again as I closed the door and then accelerated past the lorry I was going to pull in behind, to put 40T between me and Mr reckless). Then a couple of boy racers on the A1 and A14. The second of these might have been trying to escape police as there was an operation just before Cambridge. The whole East-bound carriageway just stopped, and several unmarked police cars (except for the blue lights in the grill at the front and across the top of both windscreens) then several marked cars, went tearing through. After we all started moving there were a number of racing cars stopped on the hard shoulder, surrounded by police cars and evidence of arrests and so on.

Home safe and sound and masses of life admin started and underway!!

beanielou

So sorry to hear of your trials to get to the Isle of dreams. I hear you about the ferries and as for the Ardrossan fiasco well I have no words. In another life we had a family cottage there and later a timeshare. I’m sure you can guess where.

trix-a-belle

it sounds wonderful apart from the ferry chaos, when I had a holiday up there we got to Bute but sadly not Arran or Mull out of Oban which I think was a bit ambitious for a day trip by our planner.

Makingabobor2

Would love to do Scottish islands, but the ferrys always put me off

Watty1

Even with the ferry chaos, Scottish islands remain on my "one day" list. Thank you for sharing

Suffolk_lass

Skye has a road now, and a little ferry, which pops over to Raasay, and rather like the little one from Lochranza, it more than pulls its weight. On the mainland there are lots of stunning places. We holidayed on Lochcarron last year and it was lovely. My favourite is quite a bit further north though, around Lochinver. I mustn't have favourites, it is all rugged and beautiful. North Arran though, I could live there.

Suffolk_lass

Back to the hum-drum, it has been non-stop and a futile list has been written. Yesterday we said goodbye to our dishwasher. Taking the decor off I found a panel with "4 10 16" on it and down the side, 29 September 2016 - so 10 years ago yesterday and Mum's birthday. Spooky!

I won twice on the PBs this month - £500 and £25 - ever so slightly thrilled. Our % wins is now 5.07% so far for 2026. Not too shabby! Mr Sl has won nothing since he cashed in some to buy the truck in March.

My close friend has a newly diagnosed serious medical condition and I am going with her to see the specialist on Thursday and take notes. I've been exploring with my friend AI. I think I know what they are going to say and propose. I want them to have involved a hospital endocrinologist so her care is properly tailored to her immune condition that I don't think they have asked about.

Enough for now, the chimney sweep is due this morning, and the boiler service is now booked for 24th, when Mr Sl will have to be I/C as I shall be away with the Bee "girls"