Another weekend and what must SURELY be the last book related trip to the Western isles this year. Jings, if Loganair had a frequent flyer programme I’d be Platinum Plus. And I’m not complaining!
But the panic-ridden drives across Scotland to Glasgow airport have got to stop! I left Dundee after Friday’s Riddoch Questions programme with three hours before the departure at Glasgow Airport. And STILL ended up with just 2 minutes to spare and the now customary complete system collapse the moment the ticket was handed over. Success! I was asleep the minute the plane took off (and was probably snoring and strap hanging across the aisle.) Only to be awoken by the bumpiest landing I can recall. In fact, the Edinburgh plane that followed ours made an emergency landing with the fire engines, closed roads, lights flashing – the works!
The standby speaker for the Rotary event in Stornoway was in the queue and joked later that he anxiously asked an airport worker – was that Lesley Riddoch? No, came the answer. That was a plane.
It must’ve been the way he told ‘em. Anyway, I was honoured to be the first female speaker at the Rotary’s “Ladies Night” event for 50 years – yip I was slightly confused too, but refrained from reciting my half of the Women and Men joke-book co-authored some years ago with Ian Black. Apart from – why does it take a million sperm to fertilise one egg? They’ve trouble asking directions.
I know a cheap shot – but a great night. And on Saturday a fantastically wild night. I was staying as Scott and Margaret Bennett’s guest in the Black House they renovated at Borve between two of the greatest beaches in Scotland – Scarista and Luskentyre. Talk about spoilt for choice. And with 50 mph winds, I was able to observe the process of machair being made as several hundred-weight of sand flew through the air and into the fields behind the beach. The Outer Hebs may not get many “White Christmases” – who does in these days of global warming – but they get Big Weather. Back to Glasgow, and the SFEU conference in the Hilton. Chairing this same conference last year I lost my voice, had coughing fits and finally discovered a virus had wiped out my thyroid function. So I was a bit wary of the podium – but as ever great speakers and big ideas are a marvellous distraction. Did you know prisons and the armed forces are responsible for as many qualifications as universities in England? And are the under 25’s (Generation y) fearless and flexible? Cos without any real experience of wars, strikes or conflict, that’s how they see themselves!