WHERE IS THIS?

What a week! It feels as if Oban has blossomed again with the majority of our businesses able to open.

The excitement of being able to make a hairdresser’s appointment after months of wandering about like a wee highland coo, being able to go for a meal or even a coffee and cake with other people.

There’s an excited buzz about the town this week and I’m delighted to see businesses have put a lot of time and effort into reopening and keeping their customers safe. The way we shop and use our local businesses is going to be very different for the next while and it’s lovely to see everyone working together to make it happen with us as customers being able to do our part by obeying the rules and wearing masks indoors.

Many of the businesses have been able to use grants from BID4Oban to freshen up their shop fronts and despite the pandemic we have two new businesses open, Oban Beer Seller and Mandarin Laundry, which can only be good for Oban. It’s up to us now to help our local businesses survive this difficult time by supporting them and using them. I for one will be having a staycation this year and not leaving Scotland, so I’ll be doing what I normally do on holiday but locally, eating out, having day trips, shopping, relaxing and taking in the scenery, and spending the money here instead.

It’s good to know we’ll be able to have days out to Dunollie and Dunstaffnage, and I love the boat trips to see the seals. It’s time to make the most of what we have on our doorstep, and we’re luckier than most.

The photograph last week was of the cross on top of the white church which is now a nursery. This week isn’t too far away.