What We Do In The Winter

A very happy Christmas to you!

This episode is a conversation with Banjo and Ro Beale.

Banjo and Ro originally hail from Australia but have settled just outside of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.

Ro is one of the masterminds behind the distillery at Isle of Mull Cheese, and Banjo is a celebrated interior designer, whose work you may have seen in Interior Design Masters, his own series Designing the Hebrides and whose book Wild Isle Style is available from all good bookshops.

We cover so many topics in this episode as Banjo and Ro talk about their lives and adventures.

To donate to Banjo and Ro's work in Nepal, please drop a line to: [email protected]

Photo of Banjo & Ro by Lisa McKenna

For more information please see the episode links on whatwedointhewinter.com

Thanks for listening!

All the best to you for 2024!

This episode is a conversation with Donald Macgillivray of Pennygown.

We talk about his childhood, go way back into his family history, talk about drove roads and the last cattle drove off Iona to Falkirk, the changes he’s seen in agricultural practice over his career, his work with Highland cattle, abandoned villages and places long forgotten, his dear friend – the late and much missed Hugh MacPhail and so, so much more.

Episode links and more can be found on our website at whatwedointhewinter.com

It's this sort of knowledge that passes so swiftly if it’s not passed on and I am deeply indebted to Donald for his time and sincerity in sharing these stories with me.

Thanks for listening!

This episode is a chat with Cressida Cowell, author of the How To Train Your Dragon books, the Wizards of Once series and Which Way to Anywhere.

Cressida grew up in London where her Dad, Michael Hare, had significant roles in several well known organisations.

In the 1970’s Michael bought the island of Little Colonsay, which lies between Ulva and Staffa, which was to become the family’s summer home.

The island, it’s history, topography and setting had a profound affect on young Cressida’s imagination and her summers would be spent in a reverie of story making, listening to the tales her Dad would tell her of the people of these islands’ past.

These experiences lead to Cressida becoming an author, and not just any author. Her works have been translated into 38 languages and sold tens of millions of copies around the world. There are film and tv adaptations of her work.

In our time together we talked about her childhood memories of Little Colonsay and the people who helped her family to build their home there.

We talk about her father and his love of nature.

We explore the impact that the island had on her imagination, and how that lead to her career.

Cressida goes on to talk about her maternal Grandfather, Alan Hare, and his experiences in the 2nd World War in Albania and how that generation of people influenced her writing.

We then talk about the importance of the natural world and the nature of climate change.

I owe a big thank you to my dear friend Colin Morrison for putting me in contact with Cressida.

Colin and his family run Turus Mara, which, departing from Ulva Ferry, to my mind, is the best way to see Staffa, Fingal’s Cave and to meet the puffins on Lunga for some puffin therapy. See the links in the episode notes for more details.

Most importantly of all though at the end of this episode Cressida kindly took the time to answer three questions from Lachlan, one of her young readers who lives in Dervaig, who sent me some questions to ask.

Thanks for listening!

Episode links and more on whatwedointhewinter.com

This episode is a conversation with Anne Scott about Java and Craignure from the late 1940's and into the 1950's.

Anne grew up in Falkirk, lived in Edinburgh for many years and now resides in Largs.

Alexander Maclachlan, Anne's Grandfather, was the head gardener at Java Lodge. Anne offers up insights into the communities around Craignure in the mid part of the last century and the arrival of the folk from Soay to Java.

Anne is an academic, who is still teaching to this day, she’s been a broadcaster working with Radio Scotland, featuring on the wonderful Jimmy MacGregor’s programmes and she’s also an author.

Her book, 18 Bookshops is an absolute delight. If, like me, you’re a bit of a bibliophile, then this is the book you’ve been waiting for!

Many listeners will also know the work of Anne’s son, Mike Scott of the Waterboys, whose music has brought a lot of joy to millions of listeners.

Links and more can be found on our website at whatwedointhewinter.com

Thank you for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Cameron Fletcher.

Born in Fanmore, Torloisk, Cameron tells us tales of his school life on the island and away in Oban. He talks about a wide variety of characters from his youth, then goes on to tell us about his working life here and away in Argyll and Perthshire.

Cameron offers up a unique take on life growing up on the island that I know will really connect with many listeners.

Episodes links and more can be found on our website at whatwedointhewinter.com

Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Andrew Macfarlane of Glen Aros. Aged 81 he has lived all his life here on the island, starting off at Tiroran, moving to Pennygown, then onto Salen and to Glen Aros.

His family hale from the Isles of Gometra and Coll. We cover a great number of subjects in our chat including childhood memories of Coll, the people around him here on Mull as he grew up, his schooling in Gribun, elements of the second sight which, Gaelic language and culture, farming Aberdeen Angus and so much more.

We recorded our conversation at the Glen Aros road end, where you can often find Andy sat in his jeep watching the world go by.

For links to the topics covered and more info please visit whatwedointhewinter.com

Thanks for listening!

This episode is a conversation with Alastair McIsaac Maclean of Tobermory.
 Alastair is 84 years old and lives at the back of Tobermory main street in a building which used to be a bakery, where he worked as a young boy. 

Our chat we cover his early years in Tobermory and Bridge of Weir, memories of Aros House and the delights of the walled garden, life on the pier in Oban, being wrecked in the Sound of Islay, bands and comedians of the past who paid a visit to Tob, his national service, the construction of Craignure pier, his work on fishing boats and much, much more.


Episode notes and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com

Thank you for listening!

In this episode I speak with Nick Holmes of Aros Mains.

Nick tells us tales of his life and interests, his travels and adventures in the UK, France and America.

Thanks for listening!

For links and more info, please visit whatwedointhewinter.com

This episode is a conversation with Neil Jardine of Iona, a fisherman who runs Iona Seafood, a fantastic local business providing both the local and international markets.

We talk about Neil’s early life on Iona, his adventures away in Australia, the development of his working practice and how he balances his family and work lives.

Thanks for listening!

For links and more info, please visit whatwedointhewinter.com

The HPMA Consultation - Islands Federation Draft Response can be found here: https://www.scottish-islands-federation.co.uk/draft-response-to-hpma-consultation/

This episode is a conversation about the salmon fishing station at Camas in the Ross of Mull.

It features Sheena Walker, Mary-Anne MacDonald, Kirsty Lord, Sandy Brunton, Gregor Cameron, and Douglas Canning. All of whom are part of the MacInnes family, who ran the fishing.

This podcast was recorded both as a podcast and as research for the film Creel of Stories – Cliabh an t-Seanachais, which tells the story of fishing cultures in the Ross of Mull and Iona.

Our conversation was recorded on Zoom, which means that the sound is a bit glitchy here and there, for which I apologise.

Episode links and more can be found at https://whatwedointhewinter.com/2022/12/14/66-salmon-fishing-at-camas/

Creel of Stories - Cliabh an t-Seanachais can be found on this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-whCCTBk3QY&t=28s

Thanks for listening!