Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Saturday 6 August 2016

Carless and on foot to Islay

 The sole ferry to Islay

Calmac Rage – with only one boat operating at the busiest time of the year, there are a lot of disappointed visitors and outraged tradespeople on Islay, who have lost money due to fewer visitors able to reach the island. The problem arises from the larger ferry having crashed into the terminal at Kennacraig about a fortnight ago. Apparently the damage is more extensive than first thought and it is not certain when the damaged ferry will be back in service. 

We were unable to book a place on the sole ferry but advised that we could turn up and, if it was impossible to cross with the car, we could go as foot passengers. This is indeed what happened. No chance of getting the car on the 13.00 ferry but OK as foot passengers – an interesting challenge for CRM's 92 year old mother. However, we managed and Calmac laid on transport to our rented cottage on the eastern edge of Bowmore. Happily the Calmac staff were very helpful.

Our motor is booked on tomorrow's 7.00am ferry providing the forecasted gales do not materialise. For the moment the weather is calm – let's hope it stays that way as we will need wheels for our week on Islay!  

Update: 7th August 2016 Despite the wind getting up our car came over on the 7.00 ferry from Kennacraig, so now we have a set of four-wheels and two sets of two-wheels.


 Looking towards the centre of Bowmore
(above and below)


 'A clean house is a sign of a wasted life'

 Bowmore Distillery
(above and below)


 An E Type Jaguar in front of a house built in 1871

 Bowmore Harbour
(above and below)


 Bowmore: looking up towards the round church





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