Argyll Holidays blog

Hunters Quay Holiday Village Author Jenny Chaplin launches latest book. 

I was privileged enough to be given a personal invite to the launch of Jenny Chaplin’s new book, Beyond the Bridge of Time, at Bookpoint on Saturday.

Beyond the Bridge of Time follows the fortunes of Mary Gregg, her daughter and granddaughter from 1893 to the present day. The three women share a common psychic heritage which at times seems to them more of a burden than a gift. The daughter and granddaughter struggle against recognising it, before finally accepting that, ‘Everything is as it should be.’

I, like so many of my friends, love Jenny’s books; they are so real to me and throw me back into a past I am so familiar with.

Her way with words only accentuates the feelings meant to be portrayed in her books and I can admit to even having my sense of historical smell awakened by her word.

Today, in our house our children laugh out loud when their Father: only a young man himself, says tongue in cheek, things like ‘When I was a boy’ and ‘Calculators, we were too poor for calculators – we used fingers and toes’.

All these comments, while being funny and used as a joke in our home and many others I suspect, are very real to many of us in our age group and those beyond our years.

All children instinctively seek the knowledge of family history. We have all had the question of, ‘Mummy, what was it like in the olden days?’ I think I was in my twenty’s when I first heard that one, and didn’t for a minute think that I had passed through an ‘Olden’ era in the short years of my existence on this planet.

There is also ‘what was it like when you were a boy Dad? Did you have a Nintendo?

We smile quietly when asked these questions, but as adults we also continue to tell our children the stories they so often want to hear.

For centuries we have passed on family and cultural history through the written word. Within her writings, Jenny continues to carry on that tradition in a familiar yet ever changing manner that is attractive to all generations.

Jenny’s book is available at Bookpoint in Dunoon. 

Jackie McBurney

The first swallows arrived back from Africa yesterday to Stratheck Holiday Park by Loch Eck here from Africa yesterday, maybe summer is coming.

The Easter programme here at Drimsynie went well. With the curling season over, and the opening of the summer sports hall, we were able to introduce indoor arts and crafts. Outdoors on the grassy area we started sessions for football, uni hoc, (just like hockey) and the good old fashioned game of rounder’s. These games where well attended – no doubt the great weather helped. There were no age limits to these session and all were welcome from holidaymakers, caravan/chalets owners and villagers.
We will be running these session over the holiday periods throughout the year. Check the activity board at entrance for times

We are at the start of the swimming season in our beautiful loch. I can vouch for the water temperature reaching a welcoming feeling on entry.
I would encourage anybody who fancy’s trying this to give me a shout, We have already had a few sessions out in the loch and last Saturday the 5 young ladies from Cairndow were over for their first taste and the joy on their faces proved that (or was it the cold?).
If you want to try this contact me on 07917888620 or email craignobes@hotmail.co.uk and we can arrange times and dates. I have volunteered to become a regional rep with the open water swimming society with the view to promote this wonderful sport and experience in the Argyll area.
Hope to see you soon
Craig

Saturday, 10 April, with the sun shining down as if on demand, saw a fun packed event at Stratheck Holiday Park. The event was run to raise funds for Clic-Sargent, a children’s cancer charity.

There seemed to be something for everyone attending from face-painting, shinty, highland dancing, kids’ art and crafts, plant sales, to cake sales. One of the highlights of the day was the truck pull which pulled in contestants from both sexes!  The prize, of a family day out at Knockhill and a M.A.N Truck jacket was however, won in the end by Kenny Malcolm, a big strong man! with the girls following on very close behind!

The event managed to attract over five hundred visitors throughout the course of the day with the final total raised for the charity being £1300.   

This was Chris’s first time co-ordinating an event like this and when asked he said that he was ‘astounded at the amount of work that went into running an event like this’ and would like to say ‘a big thank you to all the folks behind the scenes particularly Allan Campbell of Drimsynie Construction for organising all the running about and delivering of the truck for the truck pull, fencing etc. and to Keith Campbell of Argyll Holidays, for hosting the event and providing the facilities.  Not to forget Paul and Gwen the park Managers, for letting the team invade their park.

Grateful thanks also have to go to all the other sponsors and volunteers: Bute FM for plugging the event.Cowal Car Components, Mac Plant, Claire Teirney and team, Strathclyde police stalls, Forestry Commission, who not only lent us, but kindly  put up the marquee – thank you boys, Lazer Combat, All Shinty teams ,Tina Cairns school of dance, Suzy and the Guides, Autosmart Dunoon Round table for the equipment and Paul, The Hillbillies, Fire engines David Turner, Rona and Eric for the woodwork, Maricia and William for the smoked fish and the kind donation, Julie Snacks, Jade partylight, Face-painters and everyone else that came along on the day especially the  wonderful volunteers who gave up their free time to make the event work. Chris added ‘We have noted that Crawford Lamont easily has a new vocation – coconut shy sales, he took us all by surprise in how natural he was on that stall: Guess where you are next year Crawford!’

Finally said Chris ’I would like to thank John Ritchie and Jackie McBurney for their valour in finishing the truck pull event in style with a duel even though both had already pulled the trucks earlier. What an end to the day!’

Look out for next year’s event in your local press.

The Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop are hosting a concert in Strachur Memorial Hall on 18th April.

3pm adults £10.00 SCHOOLCHILDREN FREE

For tickets reply to this email or telephone 01301 703504

Bruce Molsky, guitar, fiddle, banjo and vocals, has been exploring traditional music from an astonishingly wide range of cultures for over twenty years. Considered the ‘Rembrant of Appalachian fiddling’ he is one of the most influential old-time fiddlers around. His high-spirited music melds the archaic mountain sounds of Appalachia, the power of blues and the rhythmic intricacies of traditional African music. His fiddling combines precision and abandon so perfectly that it raises the hairs on the back of your neck’.

Bellevue Rendezvous borrow from the traditional musical sources of a diverse range of places such as Serbia, France, Brittany, Macedonia, Poland, Canada, Scandinavia as well as England and Wales. The trio was formed in 2006, as a result of a mutual love of beautiful, quirky and varied tunes from all over the world. Their Celtic Connections concert this year, where they launched their second CD, was a sell out. They are an acoustic trio featuring an unusual combination of instruments, some rarely heard in Scotland.

Put yourself up against the legends of football Dunoon’s Casey Jones and Cumnock’s  Brian Rae.  Attention all you up and coming footballers and Dad’s and Grandpas that have retired from the game. Come along to Stratheck Holiday Park on Saturday 10th April and take a crack at putting a penalty past one of our two legends on loan just for the day. This is part of the CLIC SARGENT charity fun day.  Why not register for the penalty kick-knock out on the day. Who knows you may end up playing your Dad or Grandpa in the final. Make sure you get your chance to be the CLIC Sargent penalty king 2010.