Cruise ships blown off course

What a wild weekend we had ... and I don’t mean in a good too-much-partying way.

My poor wee gazebo has gone to gazebo heaven after it nearly ended up on top of the house and Variety Voyager and Aegean Odyssey, the two cruise ships we were so looking forward to greeting on Sunday, never made it anywhere near Oban.

After the beautiful weather so far this summer, it came as a shock to the system, but it is the west of Scotland so we should be used to it, I suppose.

I have my fingers crossed that August will continue to be as lovely as the rest of the summer has been, with just a wee shower now and again for the flowers.

This weekend we have a summery event to look forward to with Spotlight Musical Theatre’s Summer Showtime at the Argyllshire Gathering on Friday night and Saturday afternoon and, on Saturday evening, we have the talented Argyll Ceilidh Trail at The View, formerly Skippinish.

The young musicians we have in this area are amazing and an inspiration.

I’m lucky enough to meet some of the young pipers from Oban High School Pipe Band who play to welcome passengers from the cruise ships as they arrive and I’m constantly impressed by their skill and dedication. They turn up at the crack of dawn, beautifully presented, and play their wee socks off, even when their fingers are freezing. I honestly cannot praise them highly enough, including Jamie, a former member of the pipe band who is now at university and continues to play for us during the summer while he works at the tourist office. When we talk to the passengers as they arrive, it is the youth and level of skill that impress them so much.

I also love to see all the young buskers. Hearing the pipes on the main streets adds so much to the holiday atmosphere of the town and we’re very grateful to have them. Last week’s photograph was of the flower bed opposite West Coast Motors and this week’s is not too far away, so you probably know it well.