We've Arrived on Mull!

We have finally moved to the Isle of Mull!

The move went pretty smoothly. We had a very early start as shopping was required from Tesco in Oban before getting on the first ferry.
The ferry ride is always a treat, if you get wrapped up before going on deck.

Bye bye mainland

I am not a tourist

Duart Castle

Who needs a caption?

We met the fellas from MacQueen Brothers that were moving all of our stuff over on the ferry. It was a bit odd to think all of our possessions were on that tub.

When we got to the house the couple moving out, Michael and Linda, were still there. Michael took the time to show us a few things like how to check the water supply. We trotted up a stream at the back of the house, and Michael pulled the inlet pipe from the stream and cleaned the filter, and shoveled away the silt that had built up under the pipe. One of the chores to do when you have a private water supply!

Michael and Linda left the house immaculately clean and tidy, and even left chocolates, flowers, and wine for us!

After they left, the removal guys started hauling all of the stuff in and they were finished by about 2.30pm, so it couldn't have been better really. They did a grand job.

We didn't unpack much the first night, I think we managed to unearth essential kitchen equipment and fling a mattress on the floor.

The place is amazing. Even on the first morning we woke up to stunning views.

From the living room window

From the living room window 2

But it didn't take that long to unpack, I think after a week we were more or less done.

The wildlife is unbelievable around here. Apart from the white tailed eagles nest that we can see from the garden, we've seen buzzards galore, kestrels, an owl, a sparrowhawk, a woodpecker on the nut feeder, and perhaps best of all hen harriers. Hen harriers are so threatened and rare that if it gets much worse you will have to come to Mull to see them, and we have seen them hunting from the kitchen window!

Erm, can you fill this up please?

But a special mention must go to Iona and Fingal, our new eagle neighbours. We have seen them doing some maintenance work on the nest, so hopefully they will use that one this year. Otherwise the RSPB will have a headache about where to put the official eagle watch visitors hide! 

Birds of the smaller variety are too numerous to count, and get through the bird food at an unbelievable rate. They even roost in the garage, which is nice except for the poop. I'll try and get some photos of this birdy madness on the feeders for next time. 

We realised that we needed things around the house, such as curtains. They had not occurred to me, and we had left ours in the old house (not that they would have been the right size). We probably don't need curtains to be honest, as there is no one to look at us but the sheep. But as sheep worrying is probably an offence here we thought we'd protect our modesty. So we have already made our first excursion to the shops in Oban, and got well stocked up.

Shopping is something that needs some thought here. The nearest shop is 10 minutes away in Pennyghael and it is tiny, but ok for milk and a few other bits and bobs.  There is a Spa in Salen which is half an hour away. It's not too bad, but there is a limit to what you can get in a small shop. The biggest food shop on the island is the Co-op in Tobermory but that is a 2 hour round trip, and it is not a whole lot bigger than the Spa.
So, we need to get stocked up, without having to get on the ferry to Oban all the time! And anyway, Tesco is boring. There are butchers who deliver, so we will make a big order for the chest freezer at some point. There is Bill, the fish , fruit, and veg man who comes around every Wednesday. And my neighbour puts in an order to Green City wholefoods every few months, which will be good for stocking up on a lot of groceries like flour. Making bread is pretty much essential, and the breadmaker is doing a wonderful job.

As for cooking, we have an Aga, which is a new experience for us, but we are getting on really well with it. I still can't get my head round an oven being on the whole time, and it may not be the most environmentally friendly thing?

We have met quite a few of the locals, and they have all been friendly and welcoming. The neighbour over the road is really nice and helpful. I've even made a new short, hairy friend called Fergus, but more about him next time.

Anyway, it is a gorgeous day outside, and I shouldn't be sitting in here. This has taken so long today as I have been distracted by eagles, and a red deer in the next field. I will finish with a few pics of the house.

My first log fire

The bit of Loch Scridain that's in front of the house

The house!

The next blog post will be on Feb 6th. Bye bye for now!

Christmas Hobo Tour. Part 2

We are very close to moving to the Isle of Mull. Just two days to go!

We have traveled nearly the whole length of the country, back down South to visit family and are now heading back up North again. So three times up and down, and a lot of diesel. Don't ask me about the carbon foot print.

Here is a map of the tour.

We made it to Coventry for Christmas via Barrow, where the wine flows and the grub is good (if you stay in the right places like my sister's).

Furness Abbey near Barrow

Christmas was better than expected. Dad escaped from hospital and had a nice birthday.

I cooked too many roast dinners (with help) for far too many people for my liking, but they turned out nice. I can't claim I made that lovely birthday cake though.

New Year's Eve was in Mudeford with the out-laws, where a good time was had by all. Jools Holland provided the entertainment, along with a game of Scruples where we discovered no one had any. We stayed in a quaint 300 year old cottage which was lovely, apart from the neighbour who had a party on the 4th January when most sane people are on a detox.

And the journey back up North has begun. This has so far involved an impromptu tipsy night in Coventry.

We are currently in Barrow again, and tomorrow we are doing the near final stretch to Oban. It is so exciting to think we will be in our new house in two days!

This has been a rather rushed edition of the blog as we are a bit busy moving house.
I plan to do a blog entry roughly every two weeks.

Tune in for the next episode on 23rd January.