Only a month to go until Oban Live

ANOTHER busy weekend over and only another month before Oban Live hits town, writes Oban ambassador Kay MacDonald.

Time to draw breath and get all my ducks in a row before things get hectic again.

The fringe events for the Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival certainly added a wee buzz to the usual activities. I really enjoyed having music while I worked on Saturday and watching the fantastic Adele Askew dancers in Stafford Street. If anybody missed it there are clips on the LoveOban Facebook page, including Helensburgh Pipe Band performing Highland

Cathedral – always one to bring a tear to a glass eye.

The next event on a much smaller scale is the arrival of the Ocean Nova cruise ship on May 11 and, although it is one of the smaller liners, it is lovely to meet the passengers and help them decide what to do with their time in Oban.

I always envy people seeing Oban for the first time from the sea. It really is beautiful and hearing it from other people makes you appreciate it anew.

One of the best ways to make the most of living here, in my opinion, is to spend the odd day doing things a visitor to the town would do. Walk up to the tower and take photos, visit Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds (it is always changing), tour the distillery or go on a boat trip to see the seals. Even taking a trip to Kerrera for a walk makes you feel as if you’re away for the day and it’s amazing how many people haven’t done some of these things.

Have a look at the Facebook pages for Oban Town Diary and LoveOban if you’re looking for ideas. It is amazing what we have on our own doorstep.

Which brings me to our photo from last week: it’s the doorway to Macarthur Stewart, between Nancy Black’s and Bell Ingram, which is Boswell House.

For this week, something a little different. I don’t know how many times I’ve walked by and not noticed this.