Jane

So I left Glasgow on Thursday morning, after speaking with Ewan on the phone who let me know it was -17C back up the road. I flew to Melbourne with Emirates, who in my humble opinion, are THE best airline to fly with, but I am slightly biased as I've been using them for years. (But when was the last time you got ice cream on a plane...)

I stopped off at Dubai, and headed towards gate 19 - not to board a plane but to go for a swim. Around here is the airport hotel and it has a complex where you can go for a swim, massage, shower, etc. It's a good way to get flexible again after sitting for a while. (Temp 32C at 1am!)

Next stop Singapore - not enough time to go for a swim here at Changi (top floor of the airport) but enough time to pick up messages and call home, to let them know it was a measly 26C.

Got through Customs and out the door of Tullamarine airport on Saturday 4th at 0230 in the morning. At 11am I was up again and heading out the door (I'm staying at Mooroolbark just now) to go into Melbourne City to pick up my uniform. It's a light blue colour, issued with 2 shirts, 2 trousers, 1 hat, 1 jacket, 1 waterproof poncho, 1 bum bag, 1 sunscreen (very glad to have that), booklets and I should have a water bottle, but I left that behind when I went to pick up everything up. (Come on... Jet Lag, Lack of Sleep etc played a part here).

Then I headed back out to Mooroolbark, turning down invitations to go out and instead settling to stay in with a movie and pizza with Bec. Let's just say at 8pm I was needing matchsticks to hold my eyes open. In bed and fast asleep by 9.15pm.

This morning (Sunday) I woke at 7.30am (usual time back home) and I've got a training session today at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). I've no idea what it will entail, but I'll let you know when I know.

On a separate note - I'm taking time out to head up to Sydney tomorrow to visit with another branch of the family, before coming back down to Melbourne on Friday. I've got training again on the 12th at the Telstra Dome, and then the Games start.

I'd like to wish all the teams well, but hey, I'm Scottish.... So I'll finish with saying

"All the Best to the Scotland Team"

Hurray!

Only two sleeps to go before I leave for Melbourne.... Not as a competitor but as a volunteer working there.

As a rugby fan you'll understand how delighted I am to be working at the Rugby 7s competition.

I've been in touch with an old school friend, who is Scotland's Holding Camp Director out at Bendigo to say "Hi and Let's meet up if we can for a drink".

I've also been on the website to back Glasgow's bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. If you haven't already backed them, I'd ask that you go to the Back The Bid site and register your support.

I know how much fun it's going to be in Melbourne. I'd I'm delighted to be carrying on the Family's tradition of helping at the Commonwealth Games.

If I get the opportunity, I'll blog what I've been up to while I'm out there.

Love to you all

J

Good Gracious! December was my last post, and although I've not been home to the island very much since then, a lot has been happening.

Comman Eachdraidh Lismore

Cait McCullagh was appointed in December 2005 as Museum Development Officer for the Comman Eachdraidh Liosmor. Cait has an imposing list of academic qualifications matched only by her infectious enthusiasm, which will be a great help as she sets about her complex job one part of which is digitally archiving the Comann’s collection, currently stored and exhibited in the schoolhouse, but later this year to be on display at the new Heritage Centre at Port Carron.

Burns Supper
Beth and Tony hosted another successful Burns Supper, Jack Scorgie from Appin got the supper under way with the Selkirk Grace and after the soup Freda MacGregor gave her spirited and intelligent rendition of Tam o’ Shanter with many joining in. Angus Nicholson then piped in the Haggis which Jack Scorgie addressed with great style. It fell to Bob Hall to propose a toast to the Immortal memory after he had led us through Burn’s short but brilliant life as a man of letters and a great deal more. We had another chance to hear the splendid piping of Angus Nicholson after the Cranachan and Freda entertained us with a very amusing piece about Scotland in Burns day and Scotland now.

Valentine Tea
The Hall Committee served up a very welcome Valentine Tea on the 12 February. It was well attended as these events usually are in the midst of a damp, gloomy, late Winter Sunday. The usual delicious baking and friendly service went with the tea and coffee and the funds will go to the future development of the hall which at the moment is uncertain. However Julian Wormleighton, the Hall Committee Chair, has called an open meeting for the1 March to put the islanders in the picture and elicit ideas. He hopes for a good attendance.

Can't believe it has been 2 months since my last post, and since I've been home to the Island.

Just would like to take the opportunity of wishing all my co-bloggers and of course the blog readers a very Merry Christmas. May you have a peaceful and loving time no matter where in the world you are.

And, just in case all the Christmas shopping, preparations etc are becoming too much, have a look at this for some light relief. I found it on the BBC Derby website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/derby/fun_stuff/christmas/santas_little_helper_names.shtml

Have taken this report from the Lismore's Island News webpage. Think it will be of interest to those of you who have been following our petrol saga. On a personal note I'd like to say a big thank you to the Petrol Commitee.

"Lismore’s petrol carriage has entered a new phase. The halcyon days of leaving your empty can at Point and collecting it full later in the week have gone for good. And even the arrangement that has been in place for the last 9 months grant funded by Argyll and Bute and the Argyll and Islands Enterprise, carried by Foster Yeoman and supplied and delivered by Gunns, have gone. But a big thank you to Gunns.

Now thanks to the hard work of the petrol sub committee, who have been working non stop since February to find a solution, we have a negotiated a deal with CalMac which ensures we have access to petrol. Further the committee have provided step by step guidance through the maze of regulations to be satisfied.

First we must have “UN certified” cans bearing a Class 3 label which are in sound, leak proof condition. If they are carried in a car the vehicle must display approved class 3 flammable liquids “placards” on both sides and the rear. The Community Council will purchase a set of these and Lismore stores will loan them on a 24hr basis. On an open vehicle if the class 3 dangerous goods labels are obvious on the can then no placards necessary. Each vehicle must also be accompanied by a dangerous goods notice produced by SITPRO, the current version being SITPRO 99. These are in sets of 4 – top and 3 copies - and the completed set must be handed to the ferry crew. You can get these at Lismore Stores and other places on the mainland. Because the regulations by road are even worse no amount over 333 litres can be carried and you should check that you are insured to carry dangerous goods.

Finally if there are over 50 passengers on the ferry no petrol can be carried.

If you are a CalMac foot passenger with a certified can and dangerous goods form filled in, you can place it in a specially provided cage. Maximum cans permitted on any one sailing are 6x20 litres, or 6x10litres or 12x 5 litres. These cans do not need to be accompanied but you have to make arrangements for them to be collected by a well wisher on the mainland. If you have no such person I presume you have to carry your can to the filling station and then carry it back. Only the strong need attempt. The 50 person rule applies here too.

The good news is that Calmac will not charge but they require 24 hours notice of intention to carry.

We must be very grateful to the no disbanded petrol sub committee of Roger and Gilly Dixon-Spain, Steven Green, Mark Willis, and Julian Wormleighton for their dogged work. The Community Council will keep us informed should these condition change. No doubt we will all get used to them and soon think nothing of forms and placards and cages. "

Only have 6.5 working days to go before I leave Common Purpose. I've had fantastic years working for this organisation and met people from all walks of life and all levels. I've been in places you never normally get access to from Prisons (yes they let me out) to petrochemical sites.

I'm off to work on an Estate north of Spean Bridge. It goes by the name of Corrour.

My parents always tell my sister and I "Be careful for what you wish for. You may just get it". Now I've never got the winning lottery numbers, the pools or the opportunity to be upgraded to First Class when flying with Emirates, but I now have my dream job. The job I've been wishing for since I was a young(er) lass.

Have a sneaking suspicion that I'll be seeing a lot more of friends here as the line is on the Sleeper route from London/Edin/Glasgow.

Was going to have a pub night out to celebrate, but what with the Grand Opening of the Fire Station on Saturday, I think we'll postpone that until maybe March!

Had a quick scan of the OT this morning before heading out the door. I don't know whether or not the last snippet of news from Scalpay is true or not, it certainly brightened my morning.

For more of the photos from our Sports and Raft race, head to our website (see the link at the bottom right of this page).

Click on Island News - then the Sports & Raft Race link and you'll get more photos there. Many thanks to Pauline and David for posting them.

J

As most of you will know from previous blogs Lismore has been waiting a LONG time for the arrival of the island's Fire Engine.

Attached is Dave Meddes training some of the island's children on how to use some of the equipment. Forward planning and all that......

Now folks, I'm sorry but the photo taken by my colleague doesn't show the stripe along the right hand side of my head above my ear, nor does it show the blonde tufty bits at the back left hand side. However it is still bright, It would have been much better if it had been taken in the dark, as you would have seen all the colours displayed in glorious technicolour.

I'm now sporting a very dark brown hair do, with "flashes" of copper, peach, blonde through it (in other words the bits that didn't dye dark brown).

I can't believe I'm posting this......