A WINTER SCENE by Moira Bell.

EDITORIAL WORDS

Because of my stay in hospital [which by the way, was not very nice...] I am a little short of news and am announcing that for February, also, there will be no mid-month Issue of this magazine. One good thing about my trip to Glasgow, was that I got visits from peoplewhom I have, one way or another been 'missing'. Among them were Iain and Christine [nee MacFadyen] Harding, Liz McNichol [About whom, more later!] and Amanda and Richard!!!

I am still apologizing for lack of access to the recent archives and still offering a bit of a solution... If you are on this The Corncrake No. 221 page, you should be able to access 220 and 219 [at least] by changing the address and then pressing either "go to" or, more simply, "refresh". The new address should read www.colonsay.org.uk/corncrake/cornframe221.html; i.e. you add the number of the Issue you seek straight after the word "cornframe" and before the full stop. Due to the small size of the memory for this page, you will only be able to find fairly recent Numbers by this method.

BURNS SUPPER

This traditional Scottish clebration has, somewhat mysteriously, moved to the end of the month, so it is touch and go whether or not we will have a report and pictures ready for inclusion in this Issue!!
However, we do know that the whole thing was a great success and have a great long list of who was doing what, which was sent over by Rhona, who would like to thank all as well as those who worked behind the scenes, laying tables and clearing up, not forgetting, of course the Chef, Ross Moodie.
The WELCOME speech was made by Angus MaCPhee and the GRACE was given by Netta Titterton after the Haggis, which was carried in by Gavin Clark, was piped in by David Johnston.
Diane Clark addressed thebHaggis in The Bard's own wors and in her own inimatable fashion.
The 'IMMORTAL MEMORY' was toasted with a speech by Kevin Byrne and 'THE LAND WE LIVE IN' by William Joll, to much appreciative laughter.L
Christa Byrne celebrated our 'ABSENT FRIENDS' and then Ken Chadwick toasted 'THE LASSIES'; Pauline Campbell impressed everyone cosiderably by her reply, which was made without the help of any notes!
Diane Clark gave everyone a beautiful song and the MC, Angus MacPhee rounded things off with a 'VOTE OF THANKS.'
The photos were taken by Kevin.

   

HONG KONG

Kevin and Christa had a great holiday in the Far East and Kevin has already reminded us that the island of Hong Kong is not really not very different in size to Colonsay, but does have a great deal more people!
Maghnus kindly sent us a couple of photos - one of Christa preparing the traditional Christmas Dinner and another of members of the family taking a rather familiar form of exercise.

   

COLONSAY FORUM

Just a note to remind you not to by-pass the

on your way to The Corncrake. There you will find a wealth of interesting material, especially a new section, on the first page, entitled Colonsay Forum, which is especially designed for people to 'POST' comments, suggestions and adverts....Indeed, it may be all set to take over from this magazine, especially given the printed publication mentioned below!
It is also possible that some of the letters published here should really be addressed to the 'Forum'!!

'THE COLONSAY OBSERVER'

There is now a new publication, going by the above name, on the scene! It is a six page A5 'newspaper', on nice quality paper. It is produced by The Estate and has all sorts of quizes, competitions and recipes, but does not make much mention of the community's own website. [See above!]
However, anything and everything that helps to bring the beauties of Colonsay to the attention of a wider public, is to be welcomed. It also tells us that we have a current population of 120 souls, of which 9 are school pupils.
Please don't ask me how to get hold of this illustrious paper - apply to the Estate Office; there were apparently many copies printed and, as I understand it, those of you on their mailing list will get a copy in the post, quite soon.
Meanwhile, Sarah Moss has noticed that CalMac's new brochure for Summer 2010, has a picture of Colonsay House, which isn't what it seems. She has checked things out and the Big House here has NOT suddenly sprouted a turret!

SEUMAS MACHRINS

Earlier last month, Seumas McNeill had a significant Birthday and of course, there was a party; those of you with eagle eyes will be able to work out how old he is!!!

   

Caitlin composed a special song for the occasion.

CHRISTMAS MAIL

Keith the Post gave me these figures. Is this a national reduction in items? The results of the recession? The rise of the Internet? or what?

Christmas 2009
4 weeks ending 2/1/10
Incoming Mail was 5,543 items.
Last Year, the equivalent figure was 6.641.

The highest total ever recorded still remains as 2005, when the incoming mail consisted of 7,552 items.

NATURE NOTES

As is so often the case, we have here a contribution from Julia Page!!

Was there ever a more amazing invention than YouTube ? Dancing flamingos, galloping guinea pigs, saxophone-playing walruses and piano-playing cats are all featured many times over. Type in the most obscure natural history subject you can think of on your computer keyboard and more than likely up it comes on the screen. This I did with 'grazing limpets' and low and behold, there was the desired short sequence film to surprise and delight.

PATELLA VULGATA

Is it any wonder that the phrase 'stuck like a limpet' evolved as this salt water snail - patella vulgata makes good use of pedal mucus and a muscular foot to clamp down on rocks with impressive force sealing it's edges to avoid desiccation in sunlight at low tide. The shallow conical shell similar to a human patella or knee cap was named in Latin after a similar looking small pan, dish or plate of the same name. An individual limpet can live as long as ten years or more and spawning takes place in the winter months set off by rough seas, which readily disperse eggs and sperm. Larvae float about for a week or two before settling on their chosen rock.
Seeing exposed limpets at low tide it's hard to imagine that these creatures have much of a life but once they're immersed under the waves at high tide they move around in a surprisingly fluid and lively fashion sliding over their rocks and grazing on algae as they go. They move by rippling their foot muscles in a wave-like action and always return to their own patch on the rock just before the tide goes out. It is thought that they follow pheromones in the mucus that they leave as they slide along.
Watching the video it was fascinating to see one particular individual returning to it's 'home scar'. Once it had arrived it rotated 90 degrees until it found the exact imprint of it's original fixture.

I discovered these delightfully regimented limpets at Uragaig. It brings to mind a village schoolroom, country dancing line up or even a game of musical chairs. One gets the feeling that a molluscan group panic attack might ensue if any of the team were late arriving back at the turn of the tide!

LOOK BACK IN ALBUM

The time has come for us to display some quite modern photographs in this slot!! We have already argued about who exactly is who, in this one and will offer an extra point to anyone who can name the venue!!!

Entries as usual to : The Editor or by telephone : 01951 200375 ; or by post to : The Editorial Suite, The Corncrake, Corncrake Towers, Scalasaig, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll, PA61 7YW, Scotland.

NOW WHERE COULD THAT BE

This one eventually attracted quite a number of responses!!

Quick off the mark was Sandy Adrahams with this idea, received on 10 January 2010

'That would be the shoreline of Oronsay (just before my dad's oysters) looking back to Colonsay past the elephant's trunk. (I hope! It looks very much like it anyway!)'

Unfortunately, she was wrong and was corrected pretty thoroughly by the photographer, who was Juulia Page and by various members of Walter's family, starting with John, whose first message had gone astray.

'Hi Georgina,
The picture is from the cliffs at Uragaig above Craiggan looking across to Balnahard and Skeepnish with Mull in the background.I did send an entry in via e~mail after the last Corncrake but it cant have reached you.Keep up the great work that you do to keep us informed of the news from home.
John.H.Williams'

Hi Georgina,
saw the new picture and it took me about one second. It's the wee bay looking to Kiloran bay. Being a relative of Walter it's a fair old familiar place.

Thanks
Simon

Received on 26 January, also correct, but a bit late, I'm afraid!!

'Hi Georgina.
Happy New Year! Hope this finds you on good form. I'd venture a guess that the photo is taken from the shore at Uragaig looking north across Kiloran Bay with Carn Nan Eoin in the background?
All the best,
Maghnus

Here is your next question....

Yes, I think we all know whose boat this is, but do we know from where the picture was taken?

Entries as usual to : The Editor or by telephone : 01951 200375 ; or by post to : The Editorial Suite, The Corncrake, Corncrake Towers, Scalasaig, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll, PA61 7YW, Scotland.

SNIPPETS

The Hydro Board have had a maintenance crew on the island this week, but the fact that we had a power cut on a flat calm day, while they were here, appears to be a coincidence!

On Friday 29 January, our ferry was cancelled, along with some of the Craignure sailings, because the weather was quite wild. In the event, though cold, the day turned out to be a nice one down here and was followed by an even nicer one on the Saturday and they sent us a ferry then, though unfortunately it brought us no post or fresh food though we did get newspapers!
Keith The Post, still delivered local letters to local customers [about three of them], and also sent away a Mail Bag.

Frank Nicholson's daughter, Moira Bell is living with me just now, while her husband Davie is getting their house in the south sold, prior to moving to Colonsay for good. Incidentally, I am having rather a nice time!

The Colonsay Hotel is running a special Vantine's Quiz on Friday 12 February at 9.00pm.
COME ALONG & TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE ON ALL THINGS LOVEY DOVEY!

Jan has sent me this picture of how Archie manages to keep warm on these cold days!

By the way, the dog is called Bumble!!!

Our Drama Group is now fully formed, and has even chosen its play for performance in the Village Hall, on Easter Saturday.

Gavin Clark has been here recently, working in The Pantry, and, we understand, a strategy for his own, triumphant return to the Island.

The big news of recent weeks has been the possible demise and bankruptcy of Highland Airways, which would have seriously threatened Colonsay [and other islands] new-found freedom and regular connection with the High School children on the mainland, but it seems that the crisis has been averted.

The Rev. Brian Wilkinson, our Interim Moderator, has also been here and I am told that, during his visit the Church service was as scholarly and interesting as any in Scotland, in spite of the small size of our Congregation!!

I read with interest, in my google alerts, that the Skye Terrier has long associations with the Island of Colonsay. Of course we all know about the Colonsay MacFie/MacPhee strain of the dog in the USA, but I had always thought this was a family choice. The saving of the Scottish Deerhound by the MacNeill Lairds, in the nineteenth century, is, of course, well documented.

Liz McNicholl, who helped me out of a very black hole this week, managed, at short notice, to get tickets for a Celtic Connections concert in Glasgow and enjoyed brilliant, and televised, seats, while she was supposed to be off the island WORKING!!! [Which of course she was.]

John Bridges and Walter have had both their tractors, with various attachments, out in the fields in Uragaig, preparing a couple of vegetable plots. I am told that it was a wonderful sight!

£2 million of European money has been allocated through the EU's Life+ Fund for the protection of Scotland's Machair areas; this money is to be managed by such bodies as SNH and the RSPB and should be good news for Colonsay.

It is interesting to note that after Colonsay received what amounted to 'hate mail' over the public decision to continue the ban on camper vans and caravans, some islanders, from other Hebridean areas, seem to have begun to realise the damage that thoughtless and unsuitable parking can do to our much-loved wildlife.

Even the controverial introduction of R.E.T. has played its part in this sorry saga.

The Colonsay Marketing Group has been rejuvenated and held a meeting, today, [After the Burns Supper!] in the Pier Shed, and have appointed a sub-committee, consisting of Rhona Grant, David Johnston and Jane Howard, to investigate the up-dating and improvement of Colonsay's Website.

TOPICAL LETTERS

For the convenience of our Readers, letters addressed to The Corncrake appear in two sections. Anything to do with current events appears here, and any letters concerned with historical research etc. appear under "Genealogical Letters" within the MAGAZINE section of The Corncrake.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE EDITOR'S EMAIL ADDRESS HAS NOW CHANGED TO...

georginahobhouse@btinternet.com

OR I think modern technology should give you access clicking here: The Editor

Hi there Georgina,

Thought your Corncrake readers might like to see a picture of Wattie dressed up, and ready to party!

Regards,
Barbara Hamilton

Received on 3 January, 2010

Dear Georgina,
While browsing the internet I came across a mention in Corncrake of my uncle, Ainslie Thin, visiting Colonsay (No.93, Apr 16-30, 2004). He was mentioned within a piece on his grandfather, Symington Grieve. The piece asked if anyone could fill in some details on Symington. Symington Grieve is my great grandfather and I am happy to do so. He worked for Innes & Grieve, which was a small whisky blending firm in Edinburgh. I don't believe they did any distilling themselves. Their leading product was Uam Var whisky. My parents have an empty bottle and the following is the wording on the label. 'Uam Var, Famous Scotch Whisky. Choice Liqueur. Mellow and pure. Has stood the test. Innes & Grieve Ltd, Edinburgh & London. Established 1794.' I think the firm closed in the early thirties around the time of Symington Grieve's death. In a Zeppelin raid in 1916 a bomb destroyed their whisky warehouse in Leith.
Symington (b.1849) was the oldest of his family, born to William and Eliza Grieve. His siblings were Jane (b.1850), Eliza (b. 1852), Isabella (b.1853), Sommerville (b.1855) Harold (b.1857), Amelia (b.1858), Herbert (b.1861) and William (b.1863). I could provide further details of his family tree if anyone was interested.
I am a Church of Scotland minister and have been many times to Colonsay, including a month in 1977 doing mapping for my Honours geology project. I was last there in July 2006 and will be back to take services for two weeks in July 2011.

Kind Regards,
David Bartholomew.

Received on 16 January, 2010, entitled 'Kayak Club'.

hi...
I have always loved and cherished my visits to Colonsay over the years. I was over the moon when I heard that the Island now had a kayak club and would love to spend some time kayaking round the island.
Was wondering if we could arrange a meeting at some time on Colonsay and maybe arrange some time on the water? was also thinking about a club membership which I would be willing to pay....I have spoken to a few kayak friends who have also expresed an interest in joining the "Colonsay Kayak Club".
many thanks.....Gordon Frame

EDITOR'S NOTE: I, TOO, HAVE HEARD MENTION OF SUCH A CLUB; CERTAINLY, THERE ARE LOTS OF ENTHUSIASTS AROUND [BOTH LOCALS AND VISITORS]. THERE IS ALREADY A YACHT CLUB, SO MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A KAYAK CLUB OR MAYBE, FOR INSURANCE AND OTHERS REASONS, SUCH A THING SHOULD BE A SUB-DIVISION OF THE YACHT CLUB.
COMMENTS PLEASE...

Received 26 January 2010, entitled 'Air to Air Heatpumps

Hi Georgina - After 17 weeks in use, and a cost of £3000 per unit, I thought an update might be of interest.
In the church, the unit is performing admirably and the whole fabric has benefitted.
In Homefield (two storeys, not open-plan) we now have reservations. In most conditions, it is fine - there is no question that the house itself is warmer and upstairs is excellent. Unfortunately, during the 14 coldest days, with outside temperature close to zero, the unit was not able to raise the temperature downstairs to 15 degrees other than in its own immediate vicinity. As soon as conditions improved, so did the device. This is not a major problem to us as we are about to replace the downstairs kitchen open fire with a stove, powered by gas and with a timer that will turn it on at a suitable time in the morning. We will retain an existing storage heater in our sitting room and operate it during the coldest two months - so no problem.
Over the 17 weeks we have been much more comfortable and used 5307 units of electricity, instead of 9083 last year, a saving of 42% worth about £600; I think we will save over £1000 per year. The supplier has proved reluctant to discuss our cold-snap problem and we are not certain that the machine is in fact fully functional, so we may be doing it an injustice. Of course, with no supplier input we will have trouble finding out!
So, on the evidence to date we would say it produces great savings but would perform at its best in single storey or open-plan conditions. We have since discovered that one can purchase individual self-install units for specific rooms up to 25 sq. metres for £500 and I toy with getting one for my office. Will keep you posted - Kevin

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