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Didn't blog for the last few days, a trip to Oban halted the process.
I got the ferry on Sunday and headed off.I have been to Oban often enough over the years, but commencing on the trip never gets less exciting.Even in the Summer, ones cofidence in Cal Mac and their fleet of robust ships never diminshes.
Leaving Tiree pier on a good Summer's day never ceases to trill, and the aspect before is no less so.
Passing the rocky south coast of Coll, and then onward to the sound of Mull and a new world of steep cliffs and high bens, rolling hills and tree plantations.
Sea - scape, land - scape and sky - scape,a combination that never ceases entrall either natives or visitors.
Oban could then be said to be the gateway to the world for a lot of the islanders; but definately a town they love to visit:old acquaintances nearly always crop up; and so much to see that you dont back home: tall buildings,loads of shops and a waterfront full of boats of every shape and size.
Well,I got my shopping done,returned home very contented,and will soon do the same trip again.

Recently I blogged regarding,first, the Waverly, and then the puffers.As blogging is ,I believe, ultimately fun,I rather enjoyed it all.
I am wondering what direction I shall go in now?
When I first started writing, I thought that something regarding the croft would be appropriate:hence.- Life on the croft from the cradle,... blog. What a title, talk about being top heavy! Anyway I hope to get going on this theme again with a more sensible name. Maybe simply just "The croft".
Eleven blogging islands out there, so
there must be quite a few old time crofters around.
As- Jenny from Mull, said, "A world that is forever future orintated" and again, "The past is the key to the future"
And I add to the above:Lost but for what remains with a few intellectuals.
Bye the now, hope to be with you to - morrow.

Continued:-
Mother decided one day that I should spread my wings and go out into the world by myself. We had very much respected and loved relatives half a mile down the road.I was therefore rigged up in suitable clothing, as I believe it was still only the Spring of the year.I was given a can of milk to take with me, and sent on my way.
The way then, was quite an undertking if not an adventure. There were people dogs and cats to meet with, and as sometimes happened, horses and cows.But better still there were ditches and ponds to be examined, looked well into, lying on my stomach. This had been warned against before starting off to begin with!
Even more interisting still my relitves who had been black smiths for generations were still practising this remarkable occupation.
Having arrived and briefly introduced myself, the smiddy was definately my next stop,to stand at the door and gaze in.
The smiddy was a place of various activities; but to me the most interisting of all was the horse shoeing.Can you imagine a boy not yet gone to school being witness to an event such as this.
More to follow.

Now that I had made my way into the community, I had really started with my journey of life.
I remember so well standig at the smiddy door, so many times since that first time.
Few people now-a-days could hardly imagine what it could have possibly been like to experience what went on there.
In this work place,the black smith, carried out numerous tasks related to crofts and crofting.He repaired implements sharpened various tools,and,to me,most important of all, shoed horses.
Clydesdale horses, in those days were the pride of any crofting community,they were the work animals.
These extraordinery animals were treated according to their special quest in life-to haul,push and shove since they were first broken into various implements, and commenced their life of hard toil.
It was a never-to-be-forgotten experience,then, to watch one of these beasts being shoed-the work and the industry which transpired to fit two pair of new horse shoes.
The blacksmith sweated profusely as he worked at each hoof in turn: The old shoe had to be removed;the hooves completely cleaned and shaped to perefectly hold the new shoes.
As well as this the smith had to work the forge and shape on the anvil.
This became my much respected experience as a child.

There I was standing at the smiddy door as the good old clydesdales were being shod.After the shoeing had been completed I believe that a transformation took place - a change in the personality of the horse. When the horse arrived at first, there seemed to be an air of dejection prevailing,just dragging the feet a bit,and the head a little lower than usual.But now after the job had been completed the proud prancing became more prnounced and an air of wellbeing quite evident.Yes they were movers, with plenty leg action.
It is strange how changes happen; in less than a hundred years or indeed a few decades.
I believe it was during ww2 that the demise of the heavy horse started.I know, that on Tiree, like other parts of the country, the war effort was in progress and tractors appeared.Here as everywhere else, the potential of the new advent was obviously seen.No matter how highly respected the clydesdale was for hard graft;the mechanical tractor could produce much more work.
So therefore,it was during the early 1950s,sadly, that the change commenced.
After many decades of a loving relationship between the crofter and his work companion started winding down.
A new era was now starting,and as far as I can see,not any more pleasing.A complete revolution has evolved among us,in crofting, and I believe that the spirit of man has waned as a result.

When I left school in 1958, I went straight into crofting. My view of this way of life took a different understanding , as I was now involved in all the happenings daily, and all - day- long .
My first season started in the Summer and the hay - season . My father had kept the old mare for sentemintal reasons ( she had done much work and provided a foal every year ).But in her retiement she had one small job to do each summer . The hay - rake - had'nt been adapdet for the tractor so she had to be called on . Wheather the the hay making was easy or arduous depended on the weather .
Every season had it's own occupation : In the autumn , we harvested the and brought both hay and corn into the stackyard - hard work I must say.
The winter was the time when most of the work of the spring and summer was brought to fruition , being used as winter feed . The spring was , of course , a time of renewal with the ploughing and the sowing and planting being the main jobs .
The whole process went on like this every year .It was hard toil where muscle and sinew were used to the full , and the final out come for every hard work was'nt large or excessive .
But this was a way of life , carried on by the same people for generations , often they were very satisfied and happy . And the end result was always the same.

This has become an enormous debate and even bloggers are in on it. I would say that I'm rather unqualified to enter into giving any comment on the issue due to sufficent knowledge on the matter.
It is obvious that in the future we are going to require a tremendous amount of electrical power,especially as old power plants become obeslete;Co2 emmisions are no longer acceptable and the future demands,"no pollution"
We are therefore looking at such options as wave power and wind power,windpower being at moment the most attractive.The obstascels as regards the harnessing of wind are numerous.
Those with a concern as regards "The fragile earth" are making their dissatsfaction clear.And other orginisations such as tourist boards are no less voluable.
Wind farms, although they might be suitable providers of energy, have the the unfortunate
side effect of marring the countryside-the Don Quixotes of this day and age are ready to do battle.I must say that the whole idea of massive stuctures positioned all over the countryside doesn't appeal to my idea of progress either.
What do we do then? Wave power is not sufficiently developed yet; and I hardly think that solar power is the answer.
What next?We'll see tomorrow.

In my last blog I did concede,to some extent, that wind farms could marr the countryside.But need this be the case if we consider wind farms with a 21st century viewpoint.
There is a definate demand for electrical energy,and it looks as if it won't get any less as the years increase. Some of the old methods of generating are becoming obeslete,and as far as nuclear plants are concerned,their demise wll make us all feel happier.
Wind and wave power are ,then, the most likely alternatives, as the Island Britain has an abundance of both wave and wind energy, the latter being our most immediate concern.
Wind turbines to be honest, are clean and efficient and have been tested world-wide.Considerating all modern day developments, tall buildings, various masts, oil rigs,and other unsightly constructions, wind farms blended with the country side, could well be considered a modern day art form. Remember, as I already stated, we live in the 21st century,of space exploration and experiments in art form never dreamed of before.
Anyway, I believe that when the government of the day sees the requirement for increased energy, and in spite of public opinion,the race will commence to its final destiny.

Island Wanderer calling all bloggers resident in the blogging islands - please assist me if possible.
I did bloggs on the west coast puffers recently, and also mentioned horses in the croft blogs.
I am very keen to get some further information for a start, on the puffers. The least little snippets would appriceated - names and any little stories.
As regards horses (clydesdales), any anecdotes even if they appear to be of little value - I am interested in the names of mares,horses and stallions over and above.
Please help me to keep alive some of these precious ties with the past.

Good to be back blogging again after a few days in decline.In the last blog I made I duly asked for information,from fellow bloggers, regarding puffers and horses, as to the former I got a good response-what could now be called a rare bit of information.Horses,well , nothing-too late- or something like that.It is just like our natural assets that are in danger of disippearing due to our modern day way of living.
It's good to see that blogging appears to be on a good footing. Long may it be so and continue to improve.
I don't know what shape my blogs are going to take in the future. I might continue a little further with the debate on renewable energy.Much is still being said and a lot still to be approached-and why should it all be left to those in opposition to progress in the direction pollution free energy.
Blog Blog mentions the Vital Spark, detior ating by the banks of Crianan. Will someone come along to save the situation???

This time I've decided on a bit of "bardachd" (poetry) for the benefit of any gaelic speakers in the blogging islands or anywhere:

An Ceangal

Seollaidh sinn a' null far na cuantan
Gu na H-eileanan an iar, far am beol' sinn
Chi sinn ar luchd daimh feitheamh ruinn 'san am
Bi cridhleas gu leor ann, is orain

Cha bu mhath dhuinn bhith air faonthradh Is tir ar duthchais dluth dhuinn
Ar cairdean 'sluchd ar n-eolais ri laimh ann Connaichaidh luchd gach pairt dheth deas le lamh na failte
Naidheachdan 'sa ghaidhlig 's gach loinn
orra

Tha'n obair - latha sgitheil ach feasgar
ni sinn striochdadh
Bi ridhilean agus ceol feadh na h - oidhche
ann
fleasgaich og 's iad sliobhte
'Sna nigheanan cho boidheach dairribh

Cha mhair gach sunnd ach tiomail
Thig crioch air laithean saora
'S cha 'n fhaoin dhuinn bhi dealachadh bho cheile
Ach bi geallaidhean mar a babhaist
ga labhairt leinn le dochas
na earall do ar daimh gun ar treigsinn.

Next issue: a translation.