tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910221557632849202.post9054262835045621720..comments2023-12-25T01:16:54.487+00:00Comments on A fool on a hill: The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle, by Kirsty WarkSue Purkisshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910221557632849202.post-1205366011480386672016-01-12T10:00:11.551+00:002016-01-12T10:00:11.551+00:00That's interesting - and very sobering. Those ...That's interesting - and very sobering. Those poor people. I wonder what your sister would think of the book? Kirsty Wark obviously loves Arran and knows it well.Sue Purkisshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084528571944803477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1910221557632849202.post-35710487310452621242016-01-11T22:01:14.788+00:002016-01-11T22:01:14.788+00:00My sister lives on Arran.
She, husband, the 2 Lab...My sister lives on Arran.<br /><br />She, husband, the 2 Labradors and the Range Rover Discovery retired there some years ago.<br /><br />They fell in love with the place on holiday after holiday.<br /><br />I'm Scottish to the core. I don't over romanticise the place though. It's flipping cold up there, in a way that anyone who lives in places like Hampshire, Surrey, anywhere down South might hardly realize. <br /><br />Arran is milder due to it's location, sheltered from the Atlantic by Kintyre, and with the relative warmth of the Gulf Stream. <br /><br />As a kid, I became aware of Arran through living in Stranraer. In storms, the ferry returning from Ireland would often be unable to dock safely. The captain would attempt to anchor in Loch Ryan for the night. Due to events some years before, by about 10pm most of the town would know what was happening. If the storm was severe, as it often was, the ship would drag its anchor. The captain would then make for Arran, and shelter in Whiting Bay till the storm subsided. <br /><br />The one exception was when waves breached the rear vehicle doors. The captain attempted to turn for Arran, but realised that in doing so this would expose the damaged doors to even more of the storm. He decided to attempt to reach Ireland. The ship capsized and sank a few miles off the Irish coast. All the women and children perished. My family lived across the road from the captain's widow. <br /><br />Lot's, and lots of wood-burning stoves purchased on Arran after recent winter power-breaks. <br /><br />As said though, sister and husband seem to love it. The dugs certainly do. All those beaches and open spaces. Andrew Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14063661979113168003noreply@blogger.com