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THIS IS MY ACCOUNT OF MY TRIP TO COLONSAY IN THE SPRING OF 1998.
I BELIEVE THAT IF I WERE TO HAVE LEFT OUT ANY PART OR TO HAVE SUGAR COATED MY ACCOUNT WOULD HINDERED MY ABILITY TO GIVE AN ACCURATE
ACCOUNT OF WHAT I SAW, WHAT I FELT, AND THE REACTION I HAD WITH EACH
PERSON I CAME IN CONTACT WITH. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I HAVE REFRAINED
FROM SEEKING OUTSIDE ADVICE AS TO WHAT TO SAY, HOW TO SAY IT, OR WHAT NOT TO SAY.
I WANTED IT TO BE AN ACTUAL UNADULTERATED VIEW OF WHAT I SAW. IN NO WAY HAVE I
MEANT TO HURT OR PUT ANYONE DOWN, BUT STILL LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
ALSO I HOPE THAT THIS DIARY WILL HELP ANYONE GOING, PLANNING TO GO, OR INSPIRED
SOME ONE TO GO TO COLONSAY. IN NO WAY HAVE I TRIED TO MAKE THIS A COMMERCIAL
VENTURE EVEN THOUGH I MENTION MY ART AND MY BUSINESS, IT WAS DONE BY WAY OF REPORTING WHAT WAS
ASK OF ME THROUGH CONVERSATION. I WILL BE GLAD TO HELP ANYONE AT NO COST IN
LOCATING WHO OR WHATEVER THEY NEED TO HELP THEM ON A TRIP TO COLONSAY.
I TOO, WISH TO THANK THOSE THAT HELPED ME IN MY TRAVEL AND PLANS TO GET TO COLONSAY, THOSE THAT INSPIRED ME, THOSE THAT GAVE ME TECHNICAL SUPPORT, AND MY GOD FOR KEEPING ME AND FORGIVING ME WHEN I SIN. HERE ARE A JUST A FEW OF THE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER THAT ARE TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION A THIS TIME.
1. KEVIN BYRNE AND HIS WIFE OF THE HOTEL COLONSAY. FOR KEEPING US.
2. KEITH RUTHERFORD, POSTMASTER OF COLONSAY. MY FIRST CONTACT.
3. CHARLIE MCKINNON AND HIS WIFE. FOR HIS TOUR OF COLONSAY.
4. ALLEN PAYNE AND FAMILY(COUSINS) FOR AIRPORT SERVICES AND ETC.
5. BOB MCPHEE, EDITOR OF CLAN MACFIE SOCIETY. TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
6. JOHN MCPHEE, EDITOR "CRAFTER AND THE LAIRD,"AN INSPIRATION.
7. MY BROTHER, JAY MCAFEE, FOR MAKING LAST MINUTE PLAN TO GO.
8. MY SON, JERRY H, FOR GOING ON HIS FIRST VACATION WITH ME.
9. BOB AND BILLIE COBLER,FOR HOUSING US AT STOWMARKET, ENGLAND.
10. MY WIFE, SUE MCAFEE, FOR HOLDING DOWN THE FORT WHILE I WAS GONE.
11. MY PARENTS, WHO ARE DECEASED, FOR MAKING ME PROUD TO BE ME.
12. JOHN A. MCAFEE FROM EVERGREEN, COLORADO, TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
13. DR. JIM MCAFEE, MACFIE CLAN SOCIETY OF N. A.. FOR TECHNICAL HELP.
14. SANDY MCPHIE,CLAN MACFIE SECRETARIAT,TECHINICAL HELP.
15. PATRICK MAHAFFEY, FOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT.
16. PATRICIA MCAFEE GREEN. TECHNICAL HELP AND INSPIRING ME TO GO.
17. RUSSELL FEE, FOR HIS ADMIRATION OF THE MCFIE STONE, AND ETC.
COLONSAY, ANCESTRAL HOME OF ALL MCAFEES BORN IN AMERICA.
FOR NEARLY 500 YEARS, SOME SOURCES EVEN SAY LONGER. { THE MCAFEE`S JOIN OTHER CLAN VARIATIONS OF SPELLING SUCH AS MCFIE, MCPHEE, AND A HOST OF OTHER VARIATION ) THIS WAS BACK IN THE DAYS THAT A CHIEF WAS HEAD OF A CLAN AND RULED WITH MUCH CONTROL. VERY FEW MCAFEES IN AMERICA AND MOST OTHER COUNTRIES, CAN TRACE THEIR DIRECT LINAGE BACK TO COLONSAY BUT QUITE A FEW HAVE HEARD THEIR PARENTS OR GRANDPARENTS TELL OF IT.
COLONSAY IS A SMALL ISLAND OFF THE WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND`S MAINLAND. IT TAKES ABOUT 2 HOURS OR 25 MILES TO TAKE THE CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE FERRY BOAT FROM OBAN, SCOTLAND TO COLONSAY. TODAY THERE ARE ONLY ABOUT 100 PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
EVEN THOUGH COLONSAY IS ONE OF THE MOST ISOLATED OF THE INTER HEBRIDES ISLANDS AND IT IS PART OF THE PROVIDENCE, ARGYLL COUNTY, IT IS NOT A BARE AND EMPTY ISLAND. IT HAS IT`S OWN CULTURE AND DISTINCTIVE WAY OF LIFE. SOME OF ITS INHABITANTS STILL SPEAK GAELIC, CHARLIE MCKINNON`S WIFE, WHOSE ANCESTORS ARE NATIVE TO COLONSAY, SPEAKS IT QUITE FLUENTLY.
IT IS NOT ALWAYS TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF COLONSAY TO BE A SMALL ISLAND. IT BEING ONLY ABOUT 2 MILES FROM THE EAST COAST TO WEST COAST AND ONLY ABOUT 10 MILES FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, MAKES IT POSSIBLE IN A DAY TO WALK AND SEE THE HIGH STEEP DROP OFF INTO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TOWARD CANADA OR THE FIRTH OF LORN TOWARD OBAN. THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL SANDY BEACHES, ESPECIALLY KILORAN BAY ON THE WEST COAST NEAR THE LAIRDS HOME, CALLED THE COLONSAY HOUSE. THERE ARE LILIES IN THE LAKES, SHEEP IN PASTURES, LANDS IN CULTIVATION, AND OF COURSE THE MANY HILLS ALL AROUND. THE WINTERS ARE COOL BUT SELDOM GETS BELOW FREEZING AND SNOWFALL IS VERY SELDOM. THE SUMMERS ON COLONSAY ARE MILD BUT IT SELDOM GETS ABOVE 60 DEGREES. IF IT EVER GETS TO 70 OR ABOVE THE PLACE IS A MADHOUSE, TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO TOLERATE THE "HEAT WAVE." IN THE SUMMERS THE SUNLIGHT HOURS IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE ISLAND TIREE, WHICH HOLDS THE RECORD FOR SCOTLAND.
IF ONE PREFERS, WHILE ON A VISIT TO COLONSAY, TO WALK AROUND THE ISLAND BY FOOT, IT MAY BE GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE NO SNAKES, FOXES, OR OTHER ANIMALS THAT MAY FRIGHTEN YOU. THE MOST COMMON PREDATOR IS THE RABBIT. THEY CAN BE SEEN IN ABUNDANCE IN AROUND THE SANDY BEACHES OF KILORAN BAY AND AROUND THE GOLF COURSE AND AIRPLANE LANDING STRIP NEAR THE MACHRINS. RABBITS ARE FOUND ALL OVER COLONSAY, BUT ARE MORE NOTICEABLE IN THE AREAS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THERE ARE NO DEER ON THE ISLAND, HOWEVER MANY WILD GOATS ARE PRESENT IN THE BAINAHAR AND ORONSAY AREA. SOME HAVE SPECULATED THAT THESE GOATS ARE DESCENDED FROM THE WRECK OF THE SPANISH ARMADA IN 1588. ABOUT 20 SHIPS WERE LOST OFF THE WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND AND IRELAND AS THE DEFEATED ARMADA SAILED BACK TO HOME.
THEN THERE ARE THE BIRDS. THERE ARE 150 BIRDS SPECIES TO LOOK FOR ON COLONSAY, FROM THE GOLDEN EAGLE, TO THE SWAN, TO THE GREY HERON, TO THE RED GROUSE WHICH ARE SPOTTED RARELY. IF ONE IS INTERESTED IN THE PLANTS OF COLONSAY, ONE CAN FIND 500 SPECIES OF LOCAL FLORA. EVEN COMMON VARIETIES OF ST. JOHN`S WORT, TO COMMON COTTONGRASS CAN BE VIEWED ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS.
WITH THE CLIMATE BEING MILD AND THE PROTECTIVE COVERS SUCH AS THE FEW FOREST, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW RARE SHRUBS FROM ALL OVER THE HEMISPHERE SUCH AS PALM AND EUCALYPTUS TREES. THE COLONSAY HOUSE, WHICH IS THE HOME OF THE LORD STRATHCONA AND MOUNT ROYAL, IS A FLORAL OF MANY OF THESE TREES AND PLANTS. THE EARLIEST PART OF THE HOUSE WAS BUILT IN 1722, ONLY ABOUT 100 YEARS AFTER THE MURDER OF OUR CLAN CHIEF, MALCOLM MCAFEE, ETC. ALL THE PAST LAIRDS HAVE ENLARGED THE HOUSE BUT ALL THE ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN IN THE SAME DESIGN AS THE FIRST BUILDINGS. COLONSAY IS JOINED AT LOW TIDE BY THE ISLAND OF ORONSAY. EVEN THOUGH ORONSAY IS THE SMALLER OF THE TWO, IT HAS CLAIM TO THE MORE IMPORTANT HAPPENS OF HISTORY. IT IS SAID, THAT ST. COLUMBA LANDED ON ORONSAY ON HIS WAY TO IONA ISLAND, WHICH IS ABOUT 12 MILES NORTH WEST OF COLONSAY, FROM IRELAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 6TH CENTURY. THERE ARE MANY RUINS DEPICTING REMINISCENT OF A PROSPEROUS AND RICH HISTORY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PLACES TO STAY ON COLONSAY ISLAND, FROM SELF CATERING TO FULL CATERING. EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO SEE THAT YOU ARE WELCOME AT ANY OF THESE PLACES OF ABODE. EVEN THOUGH IT IS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO GO TO COLONSAY IN THE WINTER, THE SUMMERS OFFER A MORE WIDER SOURCE OF THINGS TO DO. THERE ARE MANY CAVES AND BEACHES TO EXPLORE FROM KILORAN BAY TO BALNAHARD BEACH. THE CAVES,(FROM SOME SOURCES IN ONE OF THE ENTRANCES OF THESE CAVES MALCOLM MCAFEE, ETC, WAS CAPTURED, ACCORDING TO SOME SOURCES AND TAKEN ON A HILL AT THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND, CALLED DUN CHOLLA, ACCORDING TO CHARLIE AND MARY BROWN MCKINNON,AND KILLED, AND LATER HIS BODY WAS TAKEN TO THE ISLAND OF IONA AND BURIED) WHICH SHOW EVIDENCE OF PROBABLY BEING INHABITED AS MUCH AS 6000 YEARS AGO.(OTHER SOURCES STATE THAT MALCOLM MACFIE WAS CAPTURED ON ORONSAY AND BROUGHT TO DUN CHOLLA AND MURDERED) THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIGHTS TO EXPLORE FROM THE STANDING STONES, THE STONE CIRCLE AT GARVARD, THE FORT OF THE WOMEN WHERE THE CHILDREN OF THE MEDIAEVAL CHIEFS OF THE MCAFEES, ECT, WERE SAID TO BE BORN, AT THE MCAFEE, ETC, STRONGHOLD OF DUN EIBHINN AT SCALASAIG, COLONSAY, ETC.
THE SCALASAIG HARBOR OFFERS ADEQUATE ANCHOR FOR MOST SHIPS AND THE HARBOR SLIP ALWAYS HAS WATER FOR LAUNCHING BOATS OR THE FERRIES. FISHERMEN CAN CATCH MACKEREL AND SAITHE FROM THE END OF THE PIER. THE HARBOR IS FREQUENTLY USED BY VISITING FISHING BOATS AND FISHING TRAWLERS. COLONSAY HAS A NUMBER OF SMALL LAKES ON WHICH BROWN TROUT FISHING CAN BE ARRANGED THROUGH THE COLONSAY FLY FISHING ASSOCIATION. THERE IS ALSO A 18 GOLF HOLE GOLF COURSE, ARRANGED SEA FISHING TRIPS, AND OTHER BOAT TRIPS ARE POSSIBLE ON COLONSAY.
IN THE SUMMER, THERE IS A VILLAGE HALL AT KILORAN WHERE VISITORS AND ISLANDERS CAN WATCH AND PARTAKE IN DANCES AND ISLAND FUNCTIONS. THERE ARE 2 CHURCHES ON THE ISLAND, ONE, THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND TWO, THE BAPTIST. ALSO THERE IS A PRIMARY SCHOOL. TOO, THE ISLAND ENJOYS THE SERVICES OF A RESIDENT DOCTOR.
THEREFORE, WHILE VISITING COLONSAY FOR A FEW DAYS TO SEVERAL WEEKS, ONE CAN FIND PLENTY OF ACTIVITY GOING ON. ONE CANNOT GO FAR ON COLONSAY WITHOUT FINDING EVIDENCE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE MEDIAEVAL MCAFEE, ETC. PROBABLY NO OTHER SMALL BAND OF PEOPLE HAVE CLAIM HOLD TO THEIR LAND AS THE MCAFEES, ETC. HAVING DID IT FOR NEARLY 500 YEARS,(SOME SOURCES HAVE IT At OVER 1000 YEARS!) THIS IS A MARVELOUS FEAT IN ITSELF, HAVING STAVED OFF THE MACDONALDS, THE MACLEANS, AND POSSIBLY MANY OTHER INTRUDERS. THIS MAY BE WHY SOME SAY "YOU ARE A MCAFEE,"(I HAVE TO BE A BIT BIAS HERE) "YOU CAN DO IT" (THIS REALLY IS AN OLD MCAFEE SAYING)
COLONSAY WAS A MUCH DESIRED ISLAND OF MANY OF THE CHIEFS OF THE HEBRIDES AS IT WAS CENTRALLY LOCATED AND ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE ISLANDS OF THE HEBRIDES "CONTROLLERS." THIS IS WHY THERE WERE MANY ATTEMPTS TO CONQUER COLONSAY PREVIOUS TO THE ACTUAL CONQUEST. LONG LIVE THE MCAFEES, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CLAN.
WHEN I GO TO COLONSAY AGAIN, I WILL FLY TO GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, THEN TAKE A TRAIN OR A BUS TO OBAN, SCOTLAND. IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO RENT A VEHICLE IN GREAT BRITAIN IF ONE IS NOT ACQUAINTED WITH THE DRIVING AND ROAD SYSTEM. TOO, ONE WILL HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO LEAVE HIS VEHICLE ONCE THEY GET TO OBAN AND THIS CAN PRESENT A PROBLEM. WE STAYED AT A YOUTH HOSTIL AT OBAN, THEY ALLOWED US TO LEAVE OUR CAR THERE, AND WE WALKED FROM THERE TO THE FERRY HARBOR, WHICH IS ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE. THE YOUTH HOSTIL IS AN ADEQUATE PLACE TO STAY IF ONE IS WISHING TO KEEP EXPENSES DOWN. ONE CAN STAY FOR ABOUT 15 POUNDS A NIGHT, HOWEVER THIS MAY BE WINTER RATES.
THE CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE FERRIES ARE THE TRANSPORTERS TO THE HEBRIDEAN AND CLYDE AREA. IT IS A VERY ADEQUATE AND SCENIC WAY TO VIEW THE WATER WAYS AND ISLANDS OF THE HEBRIDES. THEY HAVE A SPECIAL DEAL THAT ALLOWS ONE TO STOP OVER AT MANY OF THE ISLANDS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES EACH. THEY ALLOW A BRUNCH IN THE DEAL, AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO SEE THE ISLANDS. MOST ISLANDS HAVE A STORE AND A GIFT SHOP.
ANYWAY, THE FERRY COST WAS 8.20 POUNDS FOR A ROUND TRIP FEE, WHICH IS ABOUT $14.43 IN AMERICAN MONEY. (THIS IS WINTER RATES AS THE SUMMER RATES MAY ARE HIGHER) FOR THE 1998 SUMMER SEASON THE FERRY MADE REGULAR TRIPS ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS, WEATHER PERMITTING.(THERE HAS BEEN AN UPDATE FOR THE 1999 SUMMER SEASON, THE REGULAR TRIPS ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY EVENINGS, AND SUNDAY EVENINGS. IT WILL HAVE AN ADVANTAGE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND VISITORS WILL HAVE AN ADDED ADVANTAGE AS THEY CAN HAVE A MORE VARIED TRIP PLAN, LIKE A WEEK END EXCURSION TO COLONSAY. THE MONDAY VOYAGE IS THE ONLY TRIP THAT HAS BEEN DROPPED. THE 2000 SEASON HAS NOT CHANGED)
NOW, FOR MY NARRATION OF OUR TRIP TO THE ISLAND OF COLONSAY, WE STARTED IN MEMPHIS, TENN, ON MARCH THE 3RD, 1998. WE ARRIVED AT THE GADWICK AIRPORT IN LONDON ON THE 4TH OF MARCH. MY COUSIN, STEPHANIE PAYNE`S HUSBAND, LIVING IN TONY PANDA, WALES, MET US AT THE AIRPORT AND DROVE US BACK TO THEIR HOUSE, WHICH IS A FOUR HOUR DRIVE. AFTER STAYING A FEW DAYS IN WALES WITH MY COUSIN AND HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN, WHO IS A BAPTIST MISSIONARY AND SEEING SOME OF THE CASTLES AND OTHER SIGHTS, WE RENTED A CAR AND DROVE FIRST TO STERLING, SCOTLAND AND SPENT THE NIGHT. WE VISITED SOME SHOPS AND THE STERLING CASTLE THE NEXT DAY AND HEADED FOR OBAN. WE ARRIVED IN OBAN ON THE LATE EVENING OF MARCH THE 8TH, WE VISITED SOME SHOPS AND ENJOYED THE SCENIC VIEW OF OBAN BAY AND SETTLED INTO A GOOD NIGHTS REST AT THE YOUTH HOSTIL.
AFTER BOARDING THE CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE, AND BEGAN LEAVING THE DOCK AT OBAN HARBOR, I MET A WOMAN WITH HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, THEIR GOVERNESS, WHO WAS FROM FRANCE, AND HER HUSBAND WHO WAS SITTING BEHIND THEM READING A BOOK. (THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ALL THIS WILL BE REALIZED LATER) THE WOMAN, AS I WILL CALL HER FOR NOW, WAS TAKING CARE OF HER TWO SMALL CHILDREN, THE OLDEST WHICH WAS A GIRL, WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD AND THE YOUNGEST, A BOY WAS ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD. THE OLDEST WAS MORE ATTENTIVE AND LESS TROUBLE THAN THE YOUNG BOY. HE WAS ALL OVER THE ENCLOSED UPPER DECK OF THE BOAT. WHEN THE FERRY WOULD ROCK AT TIMES THE BOY WOULD NOT KEEP HIS BALANCE EVERY TIME AND HE WOULD FALL DOWN. THIS WOULD CAUSE HIS MOTHER TO HAVE TO GIVE HIM MUCH ATTENTION AS HE WOULD CRY. AFTER SHE WOULD GET HIM UNDER CONTROL WE WOULD TALK. I ASK HER,"WHAT IS THAT ISLAND TO THE RIGHT?"(AS WE WERE PULLING OUT OF THE OBAN HARBOR) "THAT IS KERRERA ISLAND, THERE ARE NO ROADS ON IT BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL ISLAND." "WHERE ARE YOU FROM," SHE ASK. "I AM FROM AMERICA, ME , MY SON, AND BROTHER ARE GOING TO COLONSAY FOR THE FIRST TIME." I ANSWERED. "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" I ASK HER. "WE ARE GOING TO COLONSAY ALSO, WE LIVE AT THE MACHRINS ON COLONSAY, WE HAVE JUST CAME FROM AUSTRALIA, OUR WINTER HOME. I AM ORIGINALLY FROM AUSTRALIA, FROM THE WINE DISTRICT."
AI HAVE A MAP OF COLONSAY, WOULD YOU SHOW ME WHERE THE MACHRINS ARE ON COLONSAY," I SAID. " IT IS RIGHT THERE," SHE SAID. AOH," I SAID, " THERE ARE SOME STANDING STONES NEAR THERE THAT I PLAN TO SEE IF POSSIBLE WHILE ON COLONSAY, DO YOU CARE IF WE COME BY?" "NO," SHE SAID, "THERE ARE A COUPLE THERE BUT THEY ARE ONLY ABOUT THREE FEET HIGH. YOU WILL WANT TO VIEW THE AIR STRIP AND 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE BEHIND OUR HOUSE, ALSO."THEN I HEARD THE SMALL BOY FALL AND ROLL FOR A FEW TURNS AND LAND UP AGAINST THE WALL OF THE ENCLOSED DECK, HE MADE A SCREAMING CRY AS THOUGH HE WAS HURT. THIS WAS JUST A FREIGHTING CRY FOR HIS MOTHERS ATTENTION. THEN THE CHILD BECAME QUIET AND I HEARD WHAT MOST MOTHERS WOULD DO TO QUIETING THEIR CHILD. SHE TOOK THE CHILD AND BEGIN PLAYING A FAMILIAR SAYING WITH HIM. -----"PATTY CAKE, PATTY CAKE A BAKERS MAN, PATTY CAKE, PATTY CAKE A BAKERS MAN, ROLL EM UP AND THROW HIM IN THE PAN.' AND SHE WENT ON WITH ANOTHER SAYING---- "RIDE A LITTLE HORSE, GO TO TOWN, GET SOME CANDY AND DON`T FALL DOWN."
ALL THIS TIME THE HUSBAND KEPT READING THE BOOK AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK TO HIM AS I RESPECTED HIS APPARENT WISH FOR PRIVACY. WELL, I MUST TELL YOU RIGHT NOW. WHO WAS THIS PERSON? ELEX HOWARD, THIS WAS THE YOUNG LAIRD OF COLONSAY AND HIS FAMILY. THE YOUNG BOY WAS THE NEXT POSSIBLE LAIRD OF COLONSAY. IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL, WE MAY BE ENTERTAINING ANGELS UNAWARE.
I MET MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE FERRY, ONE WAS AN ARTIST, GOING TO COLONSAY TO DRAW LANDSCAPES. SHE SAID, " YOU KNOW, SOMETIME PHOTOS DON`T DO JUSTICE, THAT IS WHERE AN ARTIST PICTURE CAN ENHANCE THE VIEW, ESPECIALLY THAT OF HILLS AND ISLANDS THAT ARE NEARBY."
THEN AS WE WERE NEARING THE HARBOR OF COLONSAY I MET A MAN THAT WAS LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW OF THE FERRY, I ASK HIM, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING." "I`M GOING TO COLONSAY TO WORK IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER."
"WHAT DO YOU DO THERE?" I ASK. "I WORK BUILDING AND REPAIRING FENCES AND ALSO DOING SOME CARPENTRY WORK." " MY NAME IS ROSS MOODY. "WHAT IS YOUR NAME? HE ASK. " MY NAME IS JERRY D. MCAFEE AND I AM GOING TO COLONSAY ALSO," "YOU SEE THOSE THREE WHITE TWO STORY HOUSES?" ROSS MOODY SAID. "YES." I SAID. HE SAID. "I LIVE WITH MY GRANDMOTHER WHEN I AM ON COLONSAY, IT IS THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE, THEY ARE BUILDING A NEW FIRE STATION JUST TO THE LEFT OF IT." "MY," I SAID, "THEY SURE LOOK NICE, THEY LOOK LIKE SMALL MANSIONS." THE HOUSE IS JUST A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE COMBINED GROCERY, GAS, AND POST OFFICE.
THEN THERE WAS A DISTINCTIVE PERSON ON THE FERRY THAT SAT ACROSS FROM ME BUT I DID NOT GET TO SPEAK TO HIM, HE WAS TALKING SOMETIME WITH THE GUY THAT WAS READING A BOOK. HE SOMETIMES WOULD LIGHT UP A PIPE THAT WHEN IT EXITED THE MOUTH IT WENT DOWN INTO A CROOK AND THEN UP WHERE THE TOBACCO WAS PLACED. IT HAD A SWEET SAVORY SMELL THAT WENT ALL OVER THE ENCLOSED CABIN ON THE FERRY.[ I LATER FOUND OUT THAT HIS NAME WAS DUNCAN MACPHEE. HE WAS GOING TO COLONSAY TO SET UP A BREAD AND BREAKFAST COTTAGE, CALLED "SMITTYS." {MORE ABOUT HIM LATER.}
I MET A MAN WITH HIS WIFE WHO SAID THAT THEY WERE TAKING A TRIP ON THE FERRY BUT WERE NOT GOING TO STAY ON COLONSAY. THEY WERE TAKING THE FERRY BACK TO OBAN AFTER A BRIEF STOP OVER AT COLONSAY. THEY POINTED OUT MANY INTERESTING SIGHTS ON THE WAY TO COLONSAY. ONE CAN FIND SOME VERY HELPFUL PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY IF YOU JUST FEEL THEM OUT AND BE POLITE IN RETURN.
THEN THE FERRY BEGAN TO DOCK ON COLONSAY. THE ISLAND THAT I HAD LONGED TO VISIT. A CHANCE OF A LIFE TIME WAS ABOUT TO BE A REALITY. THEN IT WAS A REALITY, WE HAD ACTUALLY DOCKED ON COLONSAY!!!!!!!!!
FIRST WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL ALL THE CARS AND OTHER VEHICLES EXITED THE FERRY BEFORE THE PASSENGERS WERE ALLOWED OFF. WE HAD TO WALK DOWN INTO THE HULL OF THE "SHIP," YES, THIS FERRY IS ACTUALLY A SHIP. FIRST WE WALKED ONTO THE HARBOR PEER THAT EXTENDED OUT SOME 100 YARDS FROM THE SHORE. THEN THERE WAS WAITING A VAN TO PICK US UP AND TAKE US TO HOTEL COLONSAY WHICH WAS ABOUT 400 YARDS WEST OF THE HARBOR.
SINCE I HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS BY E MAIL WITH THE HOTEL COLONSAY, THEY WERE READY FOR US. WE CHOSE A CHALET AT THE HOTEL WHICH WAS MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE REGULAR HOTEL ROOMS, TOO, WE GOT WINTER RATES. THE CHALET WAS 30 POUNDS PER NIGHT FOR ALL OF US PLUS ELECTRIC. AFTER WE GOT SETTLED DOWN IN THE CHALET AND STARTED USING THE LIGHTS, MICROWAVE, AND TELEVISION, THE POWER WENT OFF, WE CALLED THE MANAGEMENT, KEVIN BYRNE WIFE, AND SHE SENT THE HIRED HELP TO SEE WHAT WAS THE MATTER. "DUNCAN," (ANOTHER DUNCAN, IT SEEM HALF THE PEOPLE AROUND THE ISLAND ARE NAMED DUNCAN) TOOK ME UP STAIRS TO THE METER BOX AND SAID, "HERE IS THE PROBLEM," "YOU HAVE NOT PUT ANY MONEY IN THE ELECTRIC METER BOX, I WOULD PUT ABOUT 4 POUNDS IN IT IF I WERE YOU." I DID NOT TAKE HIS ADVICE, ME BEING A TIGHT WAD, AND PUT ONLY 2 POUNDS IN IT. I WAS NOT ABOUT TO PAY THE ELECTRIC BILL FOR THE NEXT PATRON OF THE CHALET, AFTER ALL IT COULD BE A MCDONALD.
KEVIN BYRNE`S WIFE SAID THAT KEVIN IS IN IRELAND FOR AN IRISH FESTIVAL AND HE WILL NOT BE RETURNING UNTIL AFTER WE LEAVE. HE HAS LEFT SOME INFORMATION THAT YOU CAN READ ABOUT THE HISTORY OF COLONSAY AND ABOUT THE MCAFEES. HE HAS ALSO AN E-MAIL FROM R.(BOB)MCPHEE FROM LUTON, ENGLAND ASKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY TREE AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE.{ I HAVE SINCE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH BOB MCPHEE, HE IS EDITOR OF THE GALLEY WHICH IS PUBLISHED PERIODICALLY BY THE CLAN MACFIE SOCIETY-ESTABLISHED IN 1977.} BOB MCPHEES ADDRESS IS-281 RUNLEY ROAD, LUTON, BEDS., LU1 1TY, ENGLAND.- TEL : O11-441582 335866 AND HIS E-MAIL IS bobmcphee@sol.co.uk HE IS VERY INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT ANYTHING ABOUT THE MCAFEES IN AMERICA AND THEIR CONNECTION TO COLONSAY. PLEASE CONTACT HIM IF YOU HAVE DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO COLONSAY.
ANYWAY, WE GOT THE ELECTRIC BACK ON AND SETTLED IN FOR A FEW MINUTES REST, BUT AFTER A LITTLE WHILE MY SON AND I BECAME RESTLESS AND WENT OUTSIDE. WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE BICYCLES TO RIDE. AFTER TRYING THEM OUT WE FOUND OUT THAT THEY WERE A LONG WAY FROM BEING IN RIDING CONDITION. WE OPTED TO WALK. WE SAW THIS FLATTENED HILL WHICH HAD A GREENISH COLOR. WE WALKED TO THE TOP OF IT WHICH IS ABOUT 200 YARDS OR SO FROM THE HOTEL COLONSAY. IT WAS A PRETTY STEEP INCLINE MOST OF THE WAY, SO IT WAS QUITE A HIKE. IT WAS PRETTY AND SUNNY AT THE TIME SO IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO VIEW THE AREA FROM ATOP THE HILL. WE COULD SEE THE STATUE TO THE FIRST COLONSAY LAIRD TO THE RIGHT ON A HILL NEARING THE HARBOR. WE COULD SEE THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND TO THE LEFT OF IT WAS THE HOTEL COLONSAY. THE HARBOR WAS JUST TO THE EAST OF IT AND TO THE LEFT WAS THE GENERAL STORE. IT SURE WAS A GOOD VIEW OF SCALASAIG, COLONSAY. THE HIKE BACK TOOK AWHILE AS WE WENT BY SOME STANDING STONES AND TOOK A LITTLE LONGER WAY BACK TO THE CHALET THAN WE HAD STARTED. WE THOUGHT WE WERE READY FOR ANOTHER BREAK AND SNACK AT THE CHALET BUT ANGUS THE POST (THE SECOND) WHO WAS JUST RETURNING FROM HIS DAILY RURAL MAIL DELIVERY STOPPED AND ASK US HOW WE WERE DOING. "YOU MUST BE THE MCAFEES FROM AMERICA WHO ARRIVED ON THE FERRY TODAY?" ASK, ANGUS. " YES WE ARE," WE REPLIED. " WE HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A HIKE UP TO THAT GREEN HILL, POINTING NORTH." "OH," SAID ANGUS, " THAT IS DUN EIBHINN, (FORT) THE PLACE WHERE THE WOMEN AND THE CHILDREN OF THE MEDIEVAL CHIEFS OF THE MCAFEES WERE PROTECTED. ( ONE SOURCE STATES THAT, CERTAIN SELECTED MEN WOULD GO IN ROTATION TO THE ISLE OF IONA TAKING PART IN THEIR MONASTERY DUTIES, OF WHICH THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN WERE FORBIDDEN TO ACCOMPANY THEM. THIS HELPS EXPLAIN WHY MALCOLM MACFIE WAS BURIED ON IONA WITH OTHER NOBLE PERSONS, THE REFERENCE OF THIS IS PARTLY OBTAINED FROM BULFINCH`S MYTHOLOGY TITLED THE AGE OF FABLE, CHAPTER XLI,
ATHE DRUIDS OF IONA@, HTTP.//WWW.SHOWGATE.COM/MEDEA/BULFINCH/BULL41.HTML)WELL, WE FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO THE CHALET AND CAUGHT A BRIEF REST AND SNACK. THEN MY BROTHER WHO HAD STAYED BEHIND ASK " WHERE HAD WE BEEN." "WE HAVE JUST TOOK A HIKE UP TO THE MCAFEE FORT,"(RUINS) WE REPLIED. "I AM READY TO DO SOMETHING NOW," MY BROTHER SAID.
MY SON SAID, "DAD, I WILL STAY HERE AT THE CHALET AND REST UP, GO AHEAD WITH JAY IF YOU WISH. YOU ALL NEED TO DO SOMETHING TOGETHER.
@WE DECIDED TO GO TO THE COLONSAY HOTEL SOCIAL ROOM.
WELL, THIS WAS OUR FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE HOTEL COLONSAY SOCIAL ROOM AND IT WAS SURE A PICTURESQUE PLACE TO ENTER. THE DISPLAY UP ABOVE THE BAR PART OF THE SOCIAL ROOM LOOKED LIKE IT COULD HAVE CAME OUT OF A DESIGN MAGAZINE. THE BARTENDER FOR THE EARLY EVENING SHIFT WAS FRANK NICHOLSON. FRANK IS AN ELDERLY, SHORT, ROBUST, AND DISTINCTIVE LOOKING PERSON. HE IS A VERY INTERESTING PERSON TO TALK TO ABOUT THE HAPPENINGS OF COLONSAY. HE CAN EVEN HAVE A SMALL BRUNCH PREPARED FOR YOU IF YOU WISH. HE PREPARED ONE FOR HIMSELF AND IT LOOKED LIKE A SMALL SUBMARINE SANDWICH.
ANYWAY, THERE WAS NOT MUCH ACTIVITY UNTIL ABOUT THE TIME ANGUS (THE POST II MCFAYDEN TOOK OVER THE NIGHT SHIFT AND RELIEVING FRANK NICHOLSON. THEN THE ACTIVITY BEGAN, A COUPLE THAT HAD CAME OVER ON THE FERRY FROM OBAN A FEW DAYS EARLIER, CAME INTO THE BAR. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD DOCKED THEIR YACHT AT THE OBAN HARBOR AND HAD RODE ON THE FERRY FROM THERE TO COLONSAY. THEY HAD SAILED THEIR YACHT FROM THE SOUTH EAST COAST OF ENGLAND, CLOSE TO WHERE SHE WAS FROM,(HE WAS FROM THE WEST COAST) NORTHWARD INTO THE NORTH SEA TO A POINT NEAR ELGIN, SCOTLAND, ENTERING THE FIRTH OF MORAY, GOING SOUTHWESTERLY DOWN THE SMALL CHANEL THAT PASSES BY INVERNESS, FORT AUGUSTUS, FORT WILLIAM, AND THEN ON TO OBAN, SCOTLAND. THEY HAD ONE CHILD THAT THEY HAD LEFT WITH FRIENDS ON COLONSAY FOR THE EVENING. THIS WAS SORT OF A NIGHT OUT FOR THEM. THEY SAID THEY KNEW THE YOUNG LAIRD AND HIS FAMILY. IT APPEARED TO ME THAT THEY WERE CONNECTED IN SOME WAY, JUST SPECULATING. THEY WERE WELL EDUCATED AND ABREAST TO THE GOING ON ELSEWHERE AS WELL AS ON COLONSAY.
THEN MY SON, JERRY H., CAME INTO THE SOCIAL ROOM AND NOT FAR BEHIND HIM WAS DUNCAN MACPHEE, (HE WAS BORN MCPHEE BUT CHANGE IT TO MACPHEE WHEN HE WAS VERY YOUNG) HE PULLED OUT HIS SORT OF "S" SHAPED PIPE AS HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF TO US. HE BEGAN TO PUTTING SOME SWEET SMELLING TOBACCO IN IT AS WE GOT ACQUAINTED. "YEAH, I SAW YOU ALL ON THE FERRY ON THE WAY OVER HERE THIS MORNING BUT DID NOT GET TO TALK TO YOU, ANYWAY, DOES YOUR SON LIKE TO THROW DARTS, IT IS A BIG THING IN SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND," SAID DUNCAN. MY SON SAID, " I DON`T DO IT VERY MUCH BUT I AM GAME TO TRY." THEN THEY WENT TO THE SMALL NARROW ROOM THAT IS REALLY PART OF THE SOCIAL ROOM, IT OPENS ENOUGH THAT ONE CAN SEE SOME ONE THROWING DARTS, I OVER HEARD DUNCAN SAY, " LET ME BUY YOU A PINT, JERRY." "HEY, ANGUS BRING US A PINT A PIECE," SAID DUNCAN. AFTER A FEW MORE GAMES OF DARTS, DUNCAN SAID, " IT IS HAPPY HOUR, IT IS TIME FOR US BOTH TO HAVE ANOTHER PINT." " JERRY JUST BEAT ME IN A GAME OF DARTS AGAIN, THAT CALLS FOR ANOTHER PINT A PIECE," AND SO IT WENT ON AND ON. AFTER A WHILE MY BROTHER AND I DECIDED TO TURN IN FOR THE NIGHT. WE ASK MY SON IF HE WAS READY TO GO TO THE CHALET WITH US AND HE SAID,
ANO, I AM MELLOWING OUT, GO AHEAD, I WILL STAY AWHILE.""YEAH, DUNCAN SAID," "HE IS IN GOOD HANDS, I WILL SEE THAT HE MAKES IT TO THE COTTAGE O.K. MY SON WHO IS 22 YEARS OLD MUST HAVE CLOSED THE SOCIAL ROOM (DOWN WITH EITHER DUNCAN MACPHEE OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN ARCHIE KELLY, ALL I KNOW, AS JERRY H. SEEMS TO THINK) DOWN AT AROUND MIDNIGHT. I KNOW BECAUSE I HEARD HIM STUMBLE UP THE STAIRS OF THE COTTAGE. HE SOMEHOW MADE IT TO THE BED THAT HE AND I WERE SLEEPING IN. THEN HE SAID, "DAD, DAD, ARE YOU AWAKE." YES MY SON, " WHAT DO YOU HAVE ON YOUR MIND?" I REPLIED. THEN HE STARTED THINKING OUT LOUD, "DAD," HE SAID, " I AM SO THANKFUL TO GET TO COME TO COLONSAY, JUST THINK, THIS IS THE HOME OF MY FATHERLAND. THIS IS THE LAND OF THE ORIGIN OF THE MCAFEES. I AM A MCAFEE SO THAT MAKES ME SPECIAL HERE. BOY, DAD I WANT TO LIVE ON COLONSAY, IT IS SUCH A GREAT PLACE, THE PEOPLE AND EVERYTHING." DAD, DAD," ARE YOU STILL LISTENING," YES MY SON. " YOU KNOW TOO DAD, I REALLY WANT TO LIVE AND EVEN WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR ME TO DIE, I WANT TO DIE ON COLONSAY." MY SON WAS SURELY IN HOG HEAVEN, HE HAD JUST HAD A WONDERFUL NIGHT ON COLONSAY AND THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED ABOUT TWO HOURS LATER THAT MAY HAVE ALMOST GAVE HIM HIS SECOND WISH, I HEARD HIM GO TO THE BATHROOM AND HE SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS DYING. "BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, WELL ANYWAY YOU GET THE PICTURE. WITH ALL OTHER THINGS PUT TOGETHER WE HAD A WONDERFUL FIRST NIGHT ON COLONSAY.
I GOT UP REAL EARLY THE MORNING OF THE TENTH OF MARCH AS THIS WAS THE FIRST FULL DAY ON COLONSAY. I DECIDED TO TAKE A WALK AND DO SOME SKETCHING FOR MY WOOD BURNING ART WORK THAT I DO. I FIRST SKETCHED THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND WHICH IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE COLONSAY HOTEL. THEN I WALKED DOWN THE NARROW ONE LANE PAVED ROAD DOWN TO THE HARBOR AREA. I SKETCHED THE HARBOR AND THE SURROUNDING LANDMARKS AND NOTICED THAT WHEN THE ROAD TURNS LEFT TOWARD THE GENERAL STORE, THAT THERE IS A TALL NARROW STATUE TO THE MEN THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN WORLD WAR ONE AND WORLD WAR TWO. THE LAST NAME ON THE STATUE WAS A MCPHEE. THEN AS I APPROACHED THE ONLY GENERAL STORE ON COLONSAY,(IT COMPRISES THE POST OFFICE , GROCERY, AND GAS STATION) THERE WAS A PERSON READING THE GAS PUMPS. AS I GOT LITTLE CLOSER I NOTICED THAT IT WAS ANGUS (THE POST II MCFAYDEN) THEN WHEN I WENT INTO THE GENERAL STORE HE CAME IN BEHIND ME AND I SAID, ANGUS, "YOU ARE A JACK OF ALL TRADE, I SAW YOU YESTERDAY EVENING DELIVERING THE MAIL, LAST NIGHT BEING THE BARTENDER, AND THEN THIS MORNING YOU ARE READING THE GAS PUMPS AND CHECKING THE BOOKS OF THE GENERAL STORE." "YEAH, YOU MIGHT SAY THAT," ANGUS SAID,
ABUT I OWE MY SOLE TO THE COMPANY STORE AND I OWE AND I OWE." THEN ANGUS WENT ON TO SAY, " I AM NOT A "SPRY" CHICKEN ANY MORE AS I AM 38 YEARS OLD BUT IT SEEMS THAT I HAVE TO WORK MORE. THEN I ASK ANGUS, " HOW MUCH DOES GASOLINE COST ON COLONSAY?" HE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS 85 PENCE PER LITER, WHICH IS ABOUT $1.49 PER LITER IN AMERICA MONEY. THAT IS ABOUT $6.70 PER GALLON !AT THE END OF THE COUNTER WAS THE GENERAL ATTENDANT. IT WAS KEITH RUTHERFORD, THE POSTMASTER AMONG OTHER THINGS. HE SAID, "YOU MUST BE THE MCAFEES THAT ARRIVED ON COLONSAY YESTERDAY, THAT ANGUS TOLD ME ABOUT. I REMEMBER YOU WRITING ME A FEW WEEKS AGO ASKING ABOUT COLONSAY, I FORWARDED THE LETTER TO KEVIN BYRNE WHO MANAGES THE COLONSAY HOTEL, HERE IS THE ONE AMERICAN DOLLAR BILL YOU SENT ME FOR POSTAGE, I CANNOT USE IT HERE ON COLONSAY." " DO YOU HAVE ANY SCOTTISH BILLS," I ASK.
AYES, I HAVE SEVEN OF THEM AND YOU CAN PURCHASE THEM IF YOU WISH," SAID KEITH. "YES I WILL," I REPLIED.THEN KEITH ASK ME, "HOW ABOUT HAVING A CUP OF HOT TEA WITH ME?" "SURE," I REPLIED. THEN AS HE DIPPED THE TEA BAG INTO THE HOT CUP OF WATER, HE ASK ME IF I WOULD LIKE SOME CREAM AND SUGAR. "SURE,"I REPLIED. THIS BROUGHT BACK OLD MEMORIES OF WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND LIVING WITH MY PARENTS. EACH TIME MY FATHER WOULD GET HIS TEA AT DINNER TIME, HE WOULD POUR MILK IN HIS TEA. COULD HE HAVE CARRIED DOWN A TRADITION FROM COLONSAY? "I ASK MYSELF." TOO, MY FATHERS NAME WAS CLYDE, COULD IT HAVE BEEN A CARRY OVER FROM EARLY DAYS WHEN THE MCAFEE`S WENT POSSIBLY FIRST TO THE ILSE OF BUTE ON THE FIRTH OF CLYDE AND LATER SETTLED IN IRELAND BEFORE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES.
I LEFT THE STORE AND WALKED ON UP PAST A NURSERY WHICH HAD A SMALL MOBILE HOME BEHIND IT, AS THERE ARE VERY FEW STRUCTURES ON COLONSAY OF THIS KIND. IT IS PROBABLY THERE FOR THE NURSERY BECAUSE THERE WERE KIDS TOYS AROUND IT AND IN THE FRONT YARD. THEN AS I STARTED WALKING ON UP THE ROAD, THERE IN FRONT OF ME WERE TWO LARGE PALM TREES IN THE YARD OF THE NEXT HOUSE! THEY WERE NOT SMALL DWARF SCRUBBY TREES AS I HAD VISIONED. I HAD READ THAT THERE WERE PALM TREES ON THE ISLAND AND I THOUGHT, OH YEAH, HOW BIG? NOW I KNOW FIRST HAND. THEY MUST HAVE BEEN 30 FEET TALL WITH A LARGE CLUMP OF PALM LEAVES IN THE TOP.
I WENT ON PAST THERE AND LOOKED TO MY LEFT AND SAW A SIGN THAT SAID, "SURGERY." THIS WAS THE ONLY DOCTORS OFFICE ON THE ISLAND. IT WAS NOT A LARGE BUILDING BUT IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS ADEQUATE FOR THE ISLAND. BY THIS TIME THE BLOWING RAIN WAS BECOMING INTOLERABLE SO I HAD TO TURN AROUND AND HEAD BACK TO THE CHALET. WHEN I RETURNED MY COVERALLS WERE SOAKING WET SO I HAD TO PLACE THEM IN THE HOTEL COLONSAY WASH ROOM FOR AN EXTENSIVE DRYING. BY THIS TIME MY BROTHER WAS WELL AWAKE AND READY TO DO SOMETHING.
EVEN THOUGH MY SON DID NOT WANT TO GO EXPLORING, MY BROTHER SAID THAT HE WAS READY. SO I GOT BACK INTO THE DRY COVERALLS AND WE WENT BASICALLY DOWN THE SAME ROAD THAT I HAD JUST PREVIOUSLY GONE. ONE PLACE I HAD NOT STOPPED WAS THE NEW FIRE STATION, SO I ASK MY BROTHER IF HE WANTED TO VISIT WITH THE CREW THAT WERE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON IT. HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA, SO WE FOUND WORKING INSIDE ARCHIE KELLY, KEITH KITTERFORD, BRIAN SMITH, AND HIS FATHER. THEY WERE ALL IMPORTS FROM GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. THEY WERE TRUE SCOTCH MEN. I HAD TO LISTER REAL CLOSE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY SAID. IT WAS A REAL TREAT HOWEVER BECAUSE THEIR "BROGUE" HAD A VERY PLEASANT SOUND TO IT. I AM SURE THEY FOUND OUR "BROGUE" WAS INTERESTING TO THEM ALSO. FOR INSTANCE, ARCHIE KELLY, SAID, "YOUR PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON, IS A SHAG A DILLIE." " WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT BILL CLINTON?" I ASK, ARCHIE. "BILL IS A SHAG A DILLIE, HE SHAGS WITH OTHER WOMEN," SAID ARCHIE.----I HAD BROUGHT A FEW THIN CYPRESS BOARDS (THAT I HAD CUT ON MY BAND SAW MILL THAT WE MANUFACTURE BACK IN THE STATES) TO DO SOME WOOD BURNING ON. SO AS I WAS SKETCHING THE FIRE STATION ON ONE OF THEM, ARCHIE ASK, "CAN YOU DO THE FIRE STATION ON ONE FOR ME, WITH ME DRAWN INTO THE PICTURE?" " SURE,"I SAID. THEN BRIAN SMITH ASK ME TO DO THE SAME WITH HIM DRAWN IN THE PICTURE ALSO. AGAIN I AGREED. TOO, ARCHIE ASK, " WILL YOU TRY TO HAVE THEM READY FOR US IN TIME FOR THE MEETING AT THE SOCIAL ROOM TONIGHT?" "OF COURSE I CAN, I REPLIED." ------WHILE WE WERE AT THE FIRE STATION, CHARLIE MCKINNON CAME IN AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF. "YOUR PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON, SURE IS HAVING A LOT OF THINGS BROUGHT UP ABOUT HIS PERSONAL LIFE. JUST TODAY, THERE IS A NEW GIRL THAT HAS CAME FORWARD, HER NAME IS MONICA LEWENSKY."
AWELL,@ I SAID, "THAT IS A NEW ONE ON ME". IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO FIND ANYTHING THAT AN INCOMER HAD NOT HEARD THAT WE HAVE HEARD.--- THEN CHARLIE SAID, "WHEN I GET OFF FROM WORK AT FIVE THIS EVENING, I CAN TAKE YOU ALL ON A TOUR OF COLONSAY." WE WERE SURPRISED BY CHARLIE`S OFFER AND WERE LOOKING FORWARD FOR HIS RETURN.
WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR CHARLIE MCKINNON TO COME BY THE COTTAGE AT 5 IN THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH THE TENTH. (1998) SINCE CHARLIE THOUGHT WE WERE ACTUALLY STAYING IN THE HOTEL COLONSAY ITSELF, IT TOOK HIM A FEW MINUTES TO LOCATE US IN THE CHALET WHICH IS ADJACENT TO THE HOTEL. THE FEW MINUTES LOSS COST US SOME BADLY NEEDED TIME AS DARKNESS WAS NEARLY UPON US AT THIS TIME. CHARLIE MCKINNON KNOCKED ON OUT DOOR AT THE CHALET AT ABOUT 5:20 P. M. HE SAID, "WE MUST HURRY TO TAKE CARE OF THE DAY LIGHT THAT WE HAVE LEFT." SO WE HURRIED INTO HIS 4 DOOR BRITISH MADE CAR WITH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE "WRONG" RIGHT SIDE. IT DOES NOT MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE ON COLONSAY AS ALL THE ROADS ARE ONE LANE WITH PULL OVERS EVER SO OFTEN.
CHARLIE DROVE THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF SCALASAIG, AFTER LEAVING THE CHALET AT HOTEL COLONSAY. THEN HE TURNED LEFT AT THE FERRY BOARDING DEPOT, WHICH WAS TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD AND TO THE LEFT WAS A STATUE TO THE MEN THAT LOST THEIR LIVES IN WW I AND WW II. IT WAS A LARGE SLENDER MONUMENT THAT MUST BE 12 FEET HIGH OR MORE. THE LAST NAME ON THE MONUMENT WAS A MCPHEE. THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER MONUMENT ON A HILL OVERLOOKING SCALASAIG HARBOR, WHICH IS A STATUE TO THE FIRST LAIRD OF COLONSAY, LORD COLONSAY. EVEN WITH ITS LARGE DISTANCE FROM THE HARBOR, IT IS VERY VISIBLE.
FROM HERE WE DROVE IN A DIRECTION THAT WAS ALMOST NORTH, NOT FAR FROM THE STATUE TO THE MEN THAT DIED IN THE WARS. WE WENT BY THE POST OFFICE AND THE NEW FIRE STATION WHERE THERE WERE THREE, TWO STORY HOUSES THAT WERE ELOQUENT LOOKING TO SAY THE LEAST. THEY WERE BUILD MOSTLY OF STONE OR PLASTER. THE ONE TO THE RIGHT OF THE NEW FIRE STATION WAS THE ONE THAT ROSS MOODY HAD POINTED OUT TO ME THE DAY BEFORE ON THE FERRY. (HE COMES BACK TO COLONSAY EACH SPRING AND SUMMER TO BUILD AND REPAIR FENCES. HE ALSO DOES OTHER ODD JOBS, INCLUDING CARPENTRY.) IRENE CAMPBELL THE ONE THAT WORKS AT "THE SHOP," WITH MARY MCKINNON, LIVES IN THE ONE TO THE LEFT OF THE FIRE STATION, SHE HAS A DAUGHTER NAMED LORA BROWN WHO IS MARRIED TO IAN BROWN.(LOOK FOR A SURPRISE LATER, IN UPDATE OF COLONSAY).
FROM HERE WE WENT BY THE DAY CARE CENTER, THE DOCTORS OFFICE, THE HOUSE THAT HAD THE TWO LARGE PALM TREES, AND THEN WE STARTED UP THE HILL WHICH CHARLIE CALLS THE NON ARABLE LANDS. THERE WERE NO HOUSES FOR A WHILE AS THE AREA WAS MOSTLY ROCKY. THIS WAS THE HILL CALLED GLAS AIRD AND THEN THE NEXT HILL WAS CARN MOR. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS "SHARP" CURVE. CHARLIE CALLED THE CURVE THE "DEVILS ELBOW." IN THE STATES WE WOULD CALL IT A HAIR PIN CURVE. I REMEMBER IN 1950`S GOING TO BIG FLAT, ARKANSAS TO PICK UP A COUCH WITH MY PARENT AND HAVING TO TAKE THE HAIR PIN CURVE ROUTE NEAR SILIMORE CREEK CLOSE TO THE WHITE RIVER.( THIS IS JUST A FEW MILES FROM WHERE JOHN GRISHAM, PARENTS LIVE. THE NATIONAL FOLK CENTER IS 5 MILES WEST. THERE IS A GREAT VACATION SPOT AT THE HAIR PIN CURVE NOW, TRAVEL TRAILER HOOK UP AND ALL).
THEN, NOT FAR FROM THE DEVILS ELBOW, WE CAME UPON LOCH (LAKE) FADA. THIS IS THE FRESH WATER SUPPLY OF THE ISLAND. AT THIS POINT THE ROAD TAKES A FORK AND ONE CAN EITHER GO ACROSS THE LAKE OR TURN RIGHT,(THIS IS A MUCH REMOTE ROAD AND IS NOT ADVISABLE TO USE ANYWAY) TOWARD THE COLONSAY HOUSE. CHARLIE TOOK THE ROAD ACROSS THE LAKE. THIS TOOK US BY THE OLD LAIRDS HOUSE WHICH WAS BEING USED AS A FARM SHED, THIS IS CALLED "KILORAN HALL." THEN THERE IT WAS, THE COLONSAY HOUSE. "IF WE ARE CAREFUL WE CAN DRIVE AROUND THE BACK AND TAKE PICTURES." "QUICK NOW, QUICK NOW." CHARLIE KEPT SAYING. THE FLOWER GARDEN AND GROUNDS OUT BACK WERE BEAUTIFUL TO SAY THE LEAST. TO GET A "SNEAK" VIEW OF THE GROUNDS BEHIND THE COLONSAY HOUSE IS NOT A EVERY DAY OCCURRENCE. AS WE DROVE AWAY, WE SAW A MEADOW THAT CHARLIE SAID ONCE WAS TAKEN CARE OF MORE INTENSELY AND BARLEY AND OTHER GRAINS ONCE WERE GROWN THERE. CHARLIE SAID, " THAT THEY JUST LET THINGS GO TO WASTE ON COLONSAY NOW.
"COLONSAY IS SIMPLY DYING,"SAID, CHARLIE. "THERE ARE LESS THAN 100 OF US LIVING PERMANENTLY HERE NOW AND IF THINGS DO NOT CHANGE, MY WIFE AND I WILL BE LEAVING. SHE IS NATIVE TO COLONSAY AND I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE I WAS A SMALL CHILD AND I AM 59 YEARS OLD NOW,(HOWEVER I AM FROM THE OLD GREAT CLAN ALPINE OF WHICH MY CLAN FIGON AND THE CLAN DUFFIE ARE DESCENDANTS , THUS I AM KIN TO MALCOLM MCFIE " WAY BACK ALSO, SO THAT MAKES US COUSINS TO THE 40TH DEGREE.) THERE IS VERY LITTLE INCOME ON COLONSAY, WE ARE LIVING ON OUR SAVINGS AND IT IS ALMOST GONE", SAID CHARLIE. " WE WERE ONE OF THE FEW THAT BOUGHT OUR CROFT( "FARM"), WHEN MARGARET THATCHER MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BUY OUR CROFT FROM THE LAIRD" CHARLIE CONTINUES. "THE LAIRD ONCE OWNED THE WHOLE ISLAND BUT NOW THERE ARE--MYSELF, WE WALTER, CHARLIE MCBROWN, W. WILLIAMS CRAIGGAN, (HE AND HIS WIFE ARE BAPTIST, THERE ARE ONLY 5 BAPTIST LEFT ON COLONSAY!) ( CHARLIE AND HIS WIFE BELONG TO THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND) AND THEN THERE IS FRANNIE COLBURN. SHE LIVES IN MANCHASTER, MASS., SHE AND HER LATE HUSBAND, IKE, PURCHASED ORONSAY FROM, ACCORDING TO SANDY MCPHIE, CLAN MACFIE SECRETARIAT, THE TEACHERS WHISKY PEOPLE ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. ORANSAY HAD FAR EARLIER BEEN SOLD BY LORD STRATHCONA AND WAS IN NO WAY AFFECTED BY THE AMENDMENTS TO THE CROFTERS ACT UNDER WHICH CHARLIE MACKINNON PURCHASED HIS FARM, AGAIN THIS WAS PRESENTED TO ME BY SANDY MCPHEE, HE IS FROM AUSTRALIA. (I LATER LOCATED FRANNIE COLBURN AND SENT HERE A COPY OF THE JOURNAL AND SHE SENT ME A VERY NICE POST CARD WITH THE VIEW OF TRAIG A` MHILL BHAIN
ABAY@ ON ORANSAY AND SAID THAT IT WAS TOO BAD THAT WE MISSED THE BEST PARTBORANSAY, SHE GOES TO ORANSAY ABOUT TWO TIMES A YEAR TO ATTEND TO THINGS)CHARLIE WENT ON TO SAY, "WE PURCHASED OUR CROFT BACK ABOUT 1987, THAT WAS ABOUT THE FIRST YEAR ANYONE COULD BUY THEIR PLACE FROM THE LAIRD". ABOUT THAT TIME THE YOUNG LAIRD AND DUNCAN MACPHEE JUST PULLED OVER TO LET US GET BY THE ONE LANE ROAD. THEY APPEARED TO BE GOING TO THE COLONSAY HOUSE. THEN CHARLIE STARTING BACK TALKING, "THAT IS THE YOUNG LAIRD, HE MAKES IT VERY HARD ON THE ONES THAT BOUGHT. WE ARE CONSIDERED A CONTRACTORS THEREFORE WE CANNOT CHARGE THE VAT TAX, WHICH AMOUNTS TO 17.5 %.(DON`T FOR SURE WHICH END IT EFFECTS?) IT IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION FOR FRANNIE COLBURN WHO BOUGHT ORANSAY SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THERE ARE 5 PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF ORANASAY. THE BIRD SOCIETY DOES RESEARCH ON THE ISLAND THUS HELPS PAY FOR THE COST OF OPERATING THE FARM ON ORANSAY. JAMES HOW IS THE MANAGER, AS CHARLIE CONTINUES, " HE IS FROM RUGBY, ENGLAND. HE IS A FAIR HAIRED GENTLEMAN OF 23 YEARS OLD. ONE CAN CROSS OVER TO ORANSAY FROM COLONSAY ONLY WHEN THE TIDE IS LOW."
ANYWAY, FROM THE COLONSAY HOUSE WE DROVE IN A NORTH EASTERLY DIRECTION TO AN AREA CALLED KILORAN BAY. IT IS A FLAT CONCAVE LIKE BAY THAT HAS A BEAUTIFUL WHITISH LIGHT BEIGE LOOKING BEACH, WHICH EXTENDS INWARD IN THE MIDDLE FOR A SMALL DISTANCE. (SOME SOURCES SAY THAT MALCOLM MCAFEE (MCFIE AND ECT} WAS CAPTURED IN A INLET TO A CAVE ON THE SOUTH WEST SIDE OF KILORAN BAY. (AS CHARLIE AND SOME NATIVES OF COLONSAY HAVE PASSED IT DOWN THROUGH THE AGES) MALCOLM WAS SUBMERGED IN A CAVE INLET THAT OPENS TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND KILORAN BAY. HE WAS HIDING IN SEA WEEDS IN THE WATER BREATHING THROUGH A CANE STRAW TO PREVENT CAPTURE. HOWEVER, A SEA GULL(LARUS CANUS), HOVERED OVER OR LANDED ON THE STRAW. THE SEA GULL APPEARED TO BE STANDING ON WATER. THIS CAUSE AN ENEMY INTRUDER, {TRADITION HAS IT THAT COLL KITTO, (AS HIS NAME WAS COMMONLY CALLED) (GILLESPIE AS HIS FIRST NAME WAS) MACDONALD OF ISLAY SEARCHED FOR MALCOLM) THIS CAUSED THE INTRUDERS TO DEMAND CLOSER INSPECTION, THEREFORE MALCOLM WAS DISCOVERED HERE AND TAKEN TO ANOTHER PLACE ON THE SOUTH END OF THE ISLAND AND MURDERED (CALLED DUN CHOLLA, AND OLD FORT RUINS OR OLD CHURCH RUINS IS ON THIS LOCATION AND IT IS NOT FAR TO THE EAST WHERE THE MCFIE STONE HAS BEEN RE ERECTED, TO SYMBOLIZE THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS MURDERED, NEAR BALERUMINMORE) (MORE ON THE MCFIE STONE LATER)
WE LEFT KILLORAN BAY, WE WERE SURELY NOT DOING IT BY HASTE, "MYAH," WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT. IT WAS JUST BREATH TAKING EVEN AT THE BEGINNING OF SPRING! WORDS CANNOT EXPLAIN, SO, IS, IT NOT TIME FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO START MAKING PLANS TO TAKE THAT CHANCE OF A LIFE TIME ADVENTURE TO COLONSAY? I MADE MINE AND I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL.
CHARLIE TURNED HIS CAR AROUND AND HEADED IN A SOUTHWESTERLY DIRECTION, GOING BACK NEAR THE COLONSAY HOUSE AND ON DOWN WHERE THERE WERE A FEW TREES, YES, ONE MUST SAVOR THE MOMENT OF SEEING A FEW TREES BECAUSE THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN ON COLONSAY, AT LEAST ALONG THE ROADS. THEN THERE WERE A FEW FARMS AND THEN WE WENT BY THE SCHOOL HOUSE, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO PAY THE HEAD SCHOOL MASTER A VISIT EVEN WHEN SCHOOL IS IN SESSION, WHO KNOW ONE MIGHT GET TO LET THE STUDENTS TEACH THEM A THING OR TWO. AFTER THE ROAD TAKES A MORE WESTERLY DIRECTION THERE APPEARED ON THE RIGHT THE BAPTIST CHURCH, THERE ARE FIVE MEMBER THAT ATTEND REGULARLY. I MET 2 OF ITS MEMBERS, W. WILLIAMS CRAIGGAN AND HIS WIFE. I GAVE THEM A CALENDAR EACH AND TOLD THEM TO GIVE SOME MORE TO THE REST OF THE MEMBERS. THEIR ADDRESS IS: W. WILLIAMS CRAIGGAN, ISLE OF COLONSAY, ARGYLL, PA61YT, SCOTLAND. MANY YEARS AGO THE BAPTIST CHURCH ON COLONSAY WAS THRIVING AND IT WAS THE BIG FORCE IN ESTABLISHING MANY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCHES IN CANADA! NOW THE HARVEST ON COLONSAY IS IN NEED BUT THE REAPERS ARE FEW.
THEN JUST DOWN THE ROAD WAS A PLACE THAT CHARLIE CALLED, DEAD CENTER, WE CALL IT IN AMERICA A GRAVE YARD. HE SAID THAT THE YOUNG LAIRD, ALEX HOWARDS`S GRANDFATHER IS BURIED THERE. HE WAS THE FIRST LAIRD TO BE BURIED ON COLONSAY. THE OLD LAIRD AS HE ONCE WAS CALLED, WAS WELL THOUGHT OF BY THE OLD ISLANDERS. THE PRESIDING LAIRDS AFTER HIM WERE CALLED THE NEW LAIRDS. IT SEEM THAT THE LAIRDS HAVE TO BECOME "OLD" BEFORE THEY ARE CONSIDERED "WELL" THOUGHT OF."
THERE ARE MANY FINE FARMS ON THE KILCHATTAN ROAD. ON THE LEFT IS LOCH FADA WHICH RUNS ABOUT THREE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH IN THE MIDDLE OF COLONSAY. JUST AT THE SOUTH END OF LOCH (LAKE) FADA AND TO THE LEFT OUT IN A FIELD ABOUT 200 YARDS ARE TWO DISTINCTIVE STANDING STONES. THESE ARE THE MOST INTERESTING STANDING STONES ON COLONSAY. AS THEY APPEAR COMING OUT OF THE GROUND TO SAY WE ARE HERE FOREVER, WE ARE FRIENDS AND OUR FRIENDSHIP WILL LAST FOREVER ALSO. PATRICK MAHAFFEY OF 316 W. HORRONEGH DR. # 2, PHEONIX, AZ. 85027 RELAYED THIS INFORMATION ABOUT THE STANDING STONES TO ME: " THE PAIR OF STANDING STONES YOU OBSERVED ON THE ROAD BY KILCHATTAN, NEAR THE SOUTHWEST END OF LOCH FADA AND JUST TO THE NORTH OF THE MACHRINS, ARE CALLED FINGAL`S LIMPET HAMMERS. FINGAL WAS A NORSE GIANT OR HERCULES (UNSURE OF WHICH) THAT USED THE STONES TO KNOCK OFF THE SHELLFISH CALLED LIMPETS FROM THE STONE UPON WHICH THEY WERE ATTACHED."
THEN NEXT CAME CHARLIE`S FARM. HE HAS A FINE CROFT AND ELOQUENT APPEARING HOME SIGHT. HIS HOME PLACE IS ABOUT 200 YARDS TO THE RIGHT OF THE MAIN ROAD. CHARLIE`S FARM EXTENDS TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD ALSO, WHERE THE LAND SLOPES DOWNWARD TO WHAT IS CALLED RAISED BEACHES. CHARLIE HAD SOME SHEEP GRAZING AND THEY CAME NEAR THE CAR WITH ONLY A FENCE SEPARATING US. CHARLIE STOPPED HIS CAR AND WE ALL GOT OUT AND VIEWED HIS RARE SHEEP. ONE TYPE OF SHEEP WAS BLACK AND HAS THREE HORNS, HE SAID THAT THEIR WOOL WAS HIGHLY VALUED.
AS CHARLIE DROVE ONWARD FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, HE SAID, "RIGHT DOWN THERE TO THE RIGHT IS WHERE DONALD GIBBIE LIVES, I DO NOT THINK HE WILL EVER DIE, HE IS TOO TOUGH , HE IS NEARLY 80 YEARS OLD NOW." HIS WIFE IS A DESCENDANT OF THE MCAFEE (MACFIE) ETC, CLAN. THEY LIVE ON LOWER KILCHATTAN WHERE THE ROAD TAKES A MORE SOUTHERLY DIRECTION AND A NARROW LANE WESTERLY. THIS IS NOT FAR FROM PORT MOR WHERE THERE IS A BAY, ALTHOUGH NOT AS PRONOUNCED AS KILORAN BAY. IT IS GETTING TO LATE TO GO BY AND SEE DONALD GIBBIE, AS NIGHTFALL IS SUDDENLY APPROACHING AND WE MUST CONTINUE QUICKLY TO BE ABLE TO SEE THE REST OF COLONSAY. " OH, BY THE WAY, WHILE I AM THINKING ABOUT IT, ANDREW ORANSAY OUR LAST BAG PIPER DIED JUST A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS AGO. THERE IS NO ONE ON COLONSAY TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION," SAID CHARLIE.
THEN JUST AS THE ROAD TAKES ANOTHER TURN, GOING IN A MORE SOUTH EASTERLY DIRECTION, THERE IS A SCENIC PLACE TO PULL OVER. IT WAS ANOTHER BREATH TAKING SIGHT, TO THE RIGHT WAS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN, WITH NOTHING BETWEEN COLONSAY AND CANADA EXCEPT A LIGHT HOUSE.(I AM TOLD) CHARLIE SAID THAT LOGS FROM CANADA AND ELSEWHERE WASH UP ON THE BEACH AND A LOT OF OTHER DEBRIS AS WELL. CHARLIE SAID THAT IEN MULHOLLAND WHO LIVES AT CRAIGHOUSE ON THE ILE OF JUAR, COLLECT SOME OF THE LOGS (ON JUAR ISLAND) AND SELL THEM TO A COMPANY IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. CHARLIE SAID THAT IF HE HAD ONE OF MY PORTABLE BAND SAW MILLS, HE COULD COLLECT SOME OF THE LOGS THAT FLOATED ON THE BAYS OF COLONSAY AND SAW THEM INTO LUMBER AND COLONSAY COULD HAVE IT OWN LUMBER TO BUILD WITH. 30 YEARS AGO THE SALVATION OF COLONSAY WAS THOUGH TO BE MAYBE A WHISKEY DISTILLERY, THEN TODAY CHARLIE SUGGEST A SAW MILL ON A LAND THAT HAS VERY LITTLE TREES, THEN WHAT SUGGESTION DOES ANY ONE ELSE HAVE FOR THE SALVATION OF COLONSAY? MAYBE CHARLIE IS LIKE THE CARTOON I SAW IN A DR. OFFICE ONE TIME AT LEACHVILLE, AR., IT SHOWED A HORSE GOING OFF A CLIFF, THE RIDER AND HIS ROPE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE HORSE AND A SMALL TREE AT THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF. PEOPLE NEARBY WERE LOOKING OVER THE CLIFF AND SAYING, "HANG ON." FROM THE LOOKS OF THE CARTOON THE RIDER HAD NO CHOICE. SO MY ADVICE TO CHARLIE IS TO "HOLD ON."
ANYWAY, THE VIEW TO THE LEFT WAS WORTH NOTING, THERE WAS AN 18 HOLE GOLF COURSE AND AN AIRPLANE LANDING STRIP, THIS WAS ABOUT THE MOST LEVEL PLACE ON COLONSAY, WHAT A COINCIDENCE.
THEN WE ALL GOT IN THE CAR AND JUST AROUND THE NEXT CURVE GOING IN A MORE EASTERLY DIRECTION WE WENT BY THE MACHRINS FARM. CHARLIE, SAID "THAT IS WHERE THE YOUNG LAIRD LIVES WITH HIS WIFE AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SHORT STANDING STONES NEARBY." "I KNOW," I SAID. CHARLIE ASK, "HOW DID YOU KNOW?" "CHARLIE, I MET THE YOUNG LAIRD AND HIS FAMILY ON THE FERRY TO COLONSAY YESTERDAY, AND
HIS WIFE TOLD ME ABOUT THE SMALL STANDING STONES NEAR THEIR HOUSE." "OH,"SAID CHARLIE. THERE IS NOT MUCH THAT SLIPS BY AN "INCOMER." THIS TIME IT DID!
ON PAST THE MACHRINS FARM AND TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD IS A HILL CALLED SLIABH RIABHACH, THEN JUST PAST IT IS A MORE LEVEL AREA THAT CONTINUES ALMOST ALL THE WAY BACK TO SCALASAIG. THEN JUST TO THE NORTH EAST OF THE LEVEL AREA IS A HILL CALLED CARN NA CAINNIE. IT IS A POINTED HILL THAT HAS SOME STONES PILED ON ITS TOP THAT MAKES IT MORE POINTED.(IS IT A COINCIDENCE OR A REALITY THAT THE DRUIDS HAD ALSO THEIR HIGH PLACES, WHICH WERE LARGE STONES OR PILES OF STONES ON THE SUMMITS OF HILLS. THESE WERE CALLED
ACAIRNS, AND USED IN THE WORSHIP OF THE DEITY UNDER THE SYMBOL OF THE SUN)NEXT TO IT WAS THE GREEN MACFIE HILL!!(THIS AND OTHER THINGS ARE OPENING THINGS ABOUT OUR CLAN) BECAUSE ITS ENTIRE SURFACE IS GREEN WITH GRASS, ANGUS "THE POST THE SECOND” MCFADYEN HAD POINTED IT OUT TO ME THE DAY BEFORE AND MY SON AND I HAD WALKED UP ON IT JUST BEFORE THAT.INSTEAD OF GOING ON BACK TO THE HOTEL COLONSAY, WE TURNED RIGHT ABOUT ONE MILE PAST THE MACHRINS FARM. THIS TOOK US SOUTH BY SOME FARMS AND ABOUT TWO MILES WE TURNED DOWN A NARROW GRAVEL ROAD TO THE LEFT OF THE ROAD AND CHARLIE STOPPED HIS CAR AND LET US OUT AND TOLD US TO GO SOUTH DOWN A NARROW SOGGY PATH TO THE MARKER THAT REPRESENTS THE PLACE WHERE MALCOLM MCPHEE (MCAFEE) OR ETC, WAS MURDERED. (HE WAS ACTUALLY MURDERED ON A HILL , CALLED DUN CHOLLA, JUST TO THE WEST OF THE MARKER ABOUT 200 YARDS, CHARLIE TOLD ME) THEN IT APPEARED, IT WAS A TALL SLENDER STANDING LOOKING STONE THAT HAD BEEN REPAIRED AND RE-ERECTED IN 1977 TO DESIGNATE THE PLACE WHERE HE WAS MURDERED. THERE WAS A METAL PROTECTION FENCE AROUND THE MONUMENT THAT COVERED ABOUT A 16 FEET SQUARE WITH THE INSCRIPTIONS : CHARRAGH MHIC A PHI------ MALCOLM, LAST CHIEF OF OUR CLAN WAS MURDERED AT THIS STONE BY A RENEGADE MCDONALD. DAMAGED OVER THE CENTURIES, IT WAS REPAIRED BY ULF MACFIE HAGMAN, SWEDEN, CHARLIES MACPHEE, AUSTRALIA, AND DUUNCAN, SCOTLAND. THIS SPOT OF GROUND WAS GIVEN TO THE CLAN MACPIE BY LORD STRATHCONA AND ERECTED BY GIFTS FROM CLAN FOLKS.
ON 10TH MAY,1977 ULF HAGMAN,------ MACPHEE, CANADA & CLAN HISTORIAN, DEDICATED THE MEMORIAL TO THE CLAN. COLONSAY MEN, HUGH MCDOUGAL, ANGUS CLARK, DUNCAN MCDOUGAL, PETER MCALISTER, AND DON ALEXANDER ASSISTED IN THE PROJECT.
THE MONUMENT IS SURELY A SACRED PLACE FOR ALL THE DESCENDANTS OF THE CLAN THAT MALCOLM WAS THE LAST MEDIAEVAL CHIEF. CAN I SAY IT AGAIN? YES! YES! HE WAS THE LAST CHIEF OF THE MEDIAEVAL MACFIES, [VARIATIONS IN THE SPELLING OF THESE NAMES ARE ACCEPTABLE AND MAC/MC PREFIXES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE] OH, WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO VIEW THIS HISTORICAL PLACE!!! THIS ALONE WAS WELL WORTH THE TRIP. JUST THINK, I AM STANDING ON THE SAME GROUND AREA THAT MY FOREFATHER GAVE HIS LIFE IN DEFENSE OF ATHEY, COFFEE, DUFFIE, MACAFIE, MACCATHEY, MACDUFFIE, MACFEE, MCGUFFIN, MACPHIE, MEHAFFEY, ATHIE, COFFEY, DUFFY, HAFFEY, MACCAFFER, MACCATHIE, MACDUFFEY, MACHAFFIE, MACFEE, PHEE, CATHEY, DUFFEE, FEE , HAFFIE, MACCAFFREY, MACCUISH, MACDUFFY, MACGUFFEY, MACHAFFY, MACHAFFY, MACFIE, PHIE, CATHIE, DUFFIE, GUFFEY, MCAFEE, MACCAFFIE, MACDUFFEE, MACDUFFIN, MACGUFFIE, MACPHEE, MAHAFFEY, AND OTHER VARIOUS SPELLINGS YET TO BE VERIFIED. [VARIATIONS IN THE SPELLING OF THESE NAMES ABOVE ARE ACCEPTABLE AND MAC/MC PREFIXES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE INTERCHANGEABLE], THESE ARE THE NAMES THAT ARE ACCEPTABLE TODAY. FOR YOUR NAME,_____________________ ______________________ OR FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HEARD OF OR ARE JUST OUT THERE WAITING TO DISCOVER THEIR CONNECTION, TODAY.
SEEING THIS STONE WILL HELP MEND THE TIDE THAT COULD DIVIDE ALL THE DESCENDANTS. YES, WE HAVE BEEN A BROKEN CLAN, WITH ALL THE VARIOUS SPELLINGS THAT HAVE SPLINTERED AND DIVIDED US. BUT I GET A FEELING THE DIVISION IS NO MORE. JUST ONE VISIT TO COLONSAY AND IT WILL INCREASE ONES PRIDE, LOVE OF WHO THEY ARE, A SENSE OF WHERE YOU ANCESTORS ONCE LIVED AND A SENSE OF WHERE YOU ARE GOING. [IN ADDITION, THE CLAN COMMANDER, CATH A. C. (SANDY) MCPHIE, RECOGNIZES THE HISTORICAL LINKS CLAN MACFIE HAD WITH THE MACDONALDS LORDS OF THE ISLES, CLAN CAMERON IN LOCHABER AND A BRANCH OF THE MACNICOL FAMILY IN GLENORCHY. MORE RECENTLY, THE CLOSE LINKS ESTABLISHED WITH CLAN MACFIE BY THE THORBURN FAMILY IN SWEDEN AND THE BREW FAMILY IN NEW ZEALAND ARE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE CLAN COMMANDER]
ANYONE GOING TO COLONSAY, PLEASE GIVE A SALUTE TO THE MONUMENT
FOR ME!!!!! THE REPAIRED STONE THAT WAS ONCE BROKEN REPRESENTS THE BROKEN CLAN AND ITS STRUGGLES TO MAKE IT A COMPLETE CLAN AGAIN!!!!
LONG LIVE THE MCAFEE, ETC, CLAN.
FROM HERE, CHARLIE DROVE US BACK TO THE NARROW PAVED ROAD AND TURNED SOUTH TO THE EDGE OF WHERE THE HIGH TIDE HAD SEPARATED COLONSAY FROM ORANSAY, AS IT DOES ABOUT EVERY 11 HOURS. LOW TIDE WOULD NOT BE UNTIL 10:30 P.M. AND IT WAS ABOUT 6:30 P.M. AT THE TIME. I DID NOTICE SEVERAL VEHICLES JUST TO LEFT OF THE ROADS END AND I ASK CHARLIE ABOUT THEM AND HE SAID THAT SOME OF THEM BELONGED TO A FAMILY THAT LIVED NEAR THERE THAT "CAUGHT" LOBSTERS FOR A LIVING. THEN CHARLIE SAID THAT IF WE WOULD LOOK DOWN AND TO THE LEFT UPON A HILL CALLED RUBHA BAGH`HAN CAPULL, (PROBABLY GAELIC FOR HANGMAN ROCK) YOU WILL SEE THE HANGMAN`S ROCK. IT WAS VISIBLE EVEN AS LATE AS IT WAS. WE ASK CHARLIE WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT SOMEONE WAS HUNG THERE AND HE REPLIED, " LAST NIGHT, AND IT WAS A MACFIE,( OR FEE) FROM WASHINGTON." WE ASK CHARLIE, WHEN DOES HE THINK WHEN THE NEXT HANGING WILL BE AND HE SAID, " IT COULD BE TONIGHT IF A MCAFEE GETS OUT OF HAND." CHARLIE IS ALWAYS IN A HUMOR MOOD, READY TO "CRACK" A JOKE WITH ANYONE. FROM HERE CHARLIE TURNED THE CAR AROUND AND TOOK US BACK TO THE CHALET AT THE HOTEL COLONSAY. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD PICK US UP AT 8:30 IN THE MORNING IN HIS SMALL BUS AND TAKE US TO "THE SHOP" AND TO THE CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE FERRY. THE SHOP IS ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE BOARDING DOCK. EVEN THOUGH THE TOUR WAS A QUICK AND LATE TRIP AROUND THE ISLAND, WE MADE THE MOST OF IT. OH, HOW I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE THE TIME AND EXPLORE MANY OF THE SIGHTS THAT I DID NOT HAVE TIME FOR, MAYBE IN MY NEXT CHANCE OF A LIFE TIME I WILL MAKE SURE I WILL.
WELL, WE FINALLY MADE IT BACK TO OUR CHALET FROM A TOUR OF COLONSAY BY CHARLIE MCKINNON. WE ARRIVED BACK AT ABOUT 6:30 P.M.. WE GRABBED A BITE TO EAT AND TOOK A FEW MOMENTS OF REST BEFORE GOING TO THE SOCIAL ROOM AT HOTEL COLONSAY. THIS WAS OUR LAST NIGHT ON COLONSAY SO WE WANTED TO VISIT WITH EVERYONE THAT WE HAD MET AND WE WANTED TO BID THEM FAREWELL. BOY, HOW CAN YOU BEGAN TO BOND WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE AFTER ONLY A DAY AND A HALF? COME TO COLONSAY AND FIND OUT. I CANNOT EXPLAIN IT! AFTER THE BRIEF REST, WE CHANGED CLOTHES AND REFRESHED OURSELVES AND PREPARED TO GO TO THE COLONSAY SOCIAL ROOM.
WHEN WE WENT OUTSIDE, WE WERE IN FOR A SURPRISE, THERE WAS A BRISK BLOWING RAIN. WE HAD TO GO THROUGH IT TO GET TO THE SOCIAL ROOM. WE KNEW THAT WE WERE IN FOR A STORMY NIGHT. ANYWAY, MY BROTHER AND I WENT AND JERRY H., MY SON, SAID THAT HE WOULD STAY BEHIND FOR AWHILE. WE WERE THE FIRST ONES THERE. ANGUS, THE POST, MCFADYEN,(THE SECOND), "WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU?" ASK ANGUS. MY BROTHER SAID, "I WILL HAVE THE SPECIALITY BEER OF THE HOUSE." "OUR SPECIALTY BEER IS A DARK BEER", SAID ANGUS. MY BROTHER SAID, " I WILL TAKE A PINT OF IT." ANGUS SAID, " THAT WILL BE TWO POUNDS SEVENTY FIVE PENCE." THAT IS ABOUT FOUR DOLLARS AND 80 CENTS IN AMERICAN MONEY. THEN ANGUS ASK ME, " WHAT WILL YOU HAVE?" I SAID, "I AM A TIGHT WAD, WHAT IS YOUR CHEAPEST PINT OF BEER?" THEN ANGUS SAID, "YOU ARE IN LUCK, HAPPY HOUR JUST BEGAN, IT WILL ONLY COST YOU ONE POUND. ANGUS WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT BEING A TIGHT WAD ON COLONSAY MEANT BEING "MEAN WITH YOUR MONEY." ANGUS SAID, " I SHOULD KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THE MCAFEE`S TOO, AS MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER WAS A MCPHEE. HERE IS A COPY OF OUR PEDIGREE CHART AND OTHER PAPERS ON OUR FAMILY, TOO, HERE IS A COPY FOR YOUR BROTHER, ALSO." "THANKS, ANGUS(THE SECOND), I SAID, "YOU DID NOT HAVE TO DO THAT." FINDING OUT THAT WE HAD AN "INCOMER" IN OUR MIDST THAT HAD MCAFEE, ECT, CONNECTIONS HELPED START OFF THE NIGHT ON A PLEASANT NOTE. JUST THINK ANGUS THE POST (THE SECOND)IS OUR COUSIN MANY TIMES REMOVED. HIS FATHER, ANGUS THE POST(SENIOR) HAD PASSED AWAY ONLY A YEAR OR TWO BEFORE.
ABOUT THIS TIME THE ACTIVITY OF THE SOCIAL ROOM BEGAN TO INCREASE. MY SON CAME IN, THEN RIGHT BEHIND HIM WERE THE MAIN LAND SCOTCH MEN AND THE REST OF THE CREW THAT WERE PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE NEW FIRE STATION. THEY ALL SAT DOWN AT THE BAR AN PLACED THEIR ORDER. ARCHIE KELLY TOOK HIS USUAL PLACE AT THE LEFT END OF THE BAR AND BRIAN SMITH AND HIS FATHER SAT TO THE RIGHT OF ME AT THE RIGHT END OF THE L SHAPED BAR. FIRST, ARCHIE ASK, "DO YOU HAVE MY WOOD BURNING OF THE NEW FIRE STATION READY, WITH ME DRAWN INTO THE PICTURE?" ARCHIE LOOKED AT THE PICTURE AND SAID, "I SEE THE NEW FIRE STATION, BUT WHERE AM I IN THE PICTURE?" "DO YOU SEE THE SMALL BUILDING JUST TO THE RIGHT OF IT WITH, BAR, WRITTEN OVER THE TOP OF IT, WITH THE DOOR OPEN?" I SAID. " THAT IS YOU STANDING UP AT THE BAR!" "NOW I SEE, ARKY, I SEE, ARKY," SAID ARCHIE. THEN BRIAN SMITH ASK, "WHERE IS MY WOOD BURNING OF THE NEW FIRE STATION WITH ME DRAWN IN THE PICTURE?" "HERE IT IS READY FOR YOU, BRIAN," I REPLIED. BRIAN SAID, "I DO NOT SEE MYSELF DRAWN INTO THE PICTURE, WHERE AM I?" " THAT IS YOU IN THE TOILET NEXT TO THE NEW FIRE STATION WITH THE DOOR OPEN, BRIAN, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CLOSE THE DOOR TO DO SOMETHING PRIVATE." I REPLIED. WITH THIS THERE WAS A LARGE ROUND OF LAUGHTER AT THE BAR AT THEIR MILD MANNERED RESPONSE. I SAID, "DO NOT ASK A MCAFEE TO DO SOMETHING UNLESS YOU WANT IT, YOU JUST MIGHT GET IT." ANOTHER ROUND OF LAUGHTER.
WITH THE RAIN AND WIND BLOWING INTO THE ENTRANCE OF THE BAR WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPEN, IT CAUSED ARCHIE KELLY TO COMMENT THAT THE FERRY WILL NOT COME TOMORROW AND THAT THE MCAFEES WILL HAVE TO STAY OVER UNTIL FRIDAY. WE TOOK HIM SERIOUS AS WE HAD HEARD TALES OF THE FERRY NOT COMING WHEN THE GALES WERE HIGH AND THE AREA WAS STORMY. WE WERE BEGINNING TO SETTLE INTO THE IDEA THAT WE WOULD BE HELD OVER FOR A FEW DAYS.
ABOUT THAT TIME DUNCAN MACPHEE CAME IN TO THE SOCIAL ROOM AND CAME OVER TO ME AND NOTICED THE WOOD BURNING THAT I HAD DONE FOR ARCHIE AND BRIAN. FIRST HE SAID
A YOUR PRESIDENT IS A GONER, I JUST HEARD TODAY THAT MONICA LEWINSKY HAS CAME FORTH.@ I SAID, ADO NOT BE TOO SURE AS I HAVE SEEN HIM LOOK LIKE A GONER BEFORE. -CTHEN HE SAID, AI HAD ALREADY CALLED MY WIFE AT HER HOME SOUTH OF OBAN AND TOLD HER THAT I WAS GOING TO DO HIM A WOOD BURNING PICTURE OF "SMITTYS COTTAGE." THIS WAS NEWS TO ME BUT I WAS GLAD TO TRY TO DO IT, AS I WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER TO THE COTTAGE WHICH WAS ONLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE WE WERE STAYING. I WOULD HAVE TO TRY TO DO IT REAL EARLY THE NEXT MORNING AND SKETCH IT AND THEN BURN IT ON THE WOOD WITH A HOT BURNING TOOL THAT I BROUGHT WITH ME FROM THE STATE, THE SAME WAY I HAD DONE ARCHIES` AND BRIANS`. I WOULD HAVE TO DO THIS BEFORE MY SON AND BROTHER WOULD AWAKEN AND BEFORE CHARLIE MCKINNON WOULD COME BY TO TAKE US TO " THE SHOP" AND FERRY. ANYWAY, IT WAS A CHALLENGE THAT I KNEW THAT I COULD HANDLE. EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLY ON COLONSAY FOR A FEW DAYS, I DID MANAGE TO GET A FEW OF MY WOOD BURNINGS FINISHED AND PRESENTED TO THE INCOMERS AND OTHERS WHO WERE ON COLONSAY. I DID ONE FOR KEITH RUTHERFORD, (OF THE COLONSAY HARBOR)ONE FOR THE COLONSAY HOTEL, ONE OF THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND, ONE OF THE COLONSAY HOUSE, AND SEVERAL OF THE NEW FIRE STATION."SMITTYS PLACE WAS ONCE A PLACE THAT THE OLD RENTER LIVED WHOSE NAME WAS SMITTY.(DAH) AND HAD A BLACK SMITH THAT WAS A LEAN -TO ON THE SIDE OF HIS PLACE OF RESIDENCE,". DUNCAN SAID. " THERE ARE STILL SOME TOOLS IN THE ABANDONED BLACK SMITH SHOP AND AN OLD BELL," NOTED DUNCAN. DUNCAN SAID, "THE NEXT TIME YOU COME TO COLONSAY, YOU MUST STAY WITH ME, YOU MUST COME FOR THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION OF 2000, WE ARE EXPECTING A LARGE GATHERING SO YOU MUST BOOK EARLY."
THERE WERE MANY OTHERS THAT CAME TO THE SOCIAL ROOM, LIKE JAMES HOW WHO MANAGES THE ORANSAY FARM, WHO WAS WAITING TILL THE TIDE WAS LOW SO HE COULD GO BACK HOME AT 10:30 P. M.. I JOKED WITH HIM THAT THE NEXT TIME THAT I CAME TO COLONSAY THAT I WOULD FLY IN MY JET AND LAND ON ORANSAY, HE COMMENTED TO ME THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO FILL IN THE RABBIT HOLES AND THAT HE WOULD NEED A FEW DAYS NOTICE TO GIVE HIM TIME TO DO THE WORK. EVERYONE HAS SUCH A GOOD SENSE OF HUMOR, THEY WILL EXCHANGE JOKES WITH ANYONE AS FAST AS THEY CAN BE "SPILT" OUT.
AFTER VISITING WITH ALL AT THE COLONSAY SOCIAL ROOM AND BIDDING THE PATRONS FAIR WELL INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ARCHIE KELLY, ANGUS THE POST MCFAYDEN, THE BARTENDER, BRIAN SMITH AND HIS FATHER, DUNCAN MACPHEE, AND JAMES HOW, WE LEFT THE SOCIAL ROOM TO A BLINDING WINDY RAINY STORM OUT SIDE. THEY ALL SAID THAT THEY WOULD SEE US TOMORROW NIGHT. BECAUSE OF OUR SCHEDULE WE COULD NOT HANDLE ANOTHER DAY TO BE HELD OVER. ONE OTHER THING I DID LEARN IS THAT A COUPLE OF DAYS SHOULD BE BUILT INTO ONES SCHEDULE IN CASE SOMETHING UNEXPECTED DID HAPPEN. ANYWAY, WE MADE IT BACK TO THE CHALET O.K. AND BEGAN SETTLING IN FOR A GOOD NIGHT REST FOR THE TRIP BACK TO OBAN, SCOTLAND THE NEXT DAY. WELL, IT WAS MY BROTHERS TIME TO GET A CASE OF THE BATHROOM RUNS, I GUESS IT WAS THE DARK BEER BECAUSE NEITHER ME OR MY SON WAS SICK FOR THE NIGHT.
THE NEXT MORNING I GOT UP AS I HAD PLANNED AND DID THE SKETCH OF SMITTYS COTTAGE AND DID THE WOOD BURNING BEFORE MY BROTHER AND SON AWOKE. THEN I HURRIED IT OVER TO THE HOTEL COLONSAY TO BE DELIVERED TO DUNCAN MACPHEE AT A LATER TIME. I ASSUME HE RECEIVED IT?
THEN WE ALL GOT READY AND WAITED FOR CHARLIE MCKINNON TO PICK US UP AT 8:30 AM TO TAKE US TO "THE SHOP," WHERE HIS WIFE AND IRENE CAMPBELL WORK. SURE ENOUGH, CHARLIE WAS ON TIME AND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT "THE SHOP," HIS WIFE HAD HOT ROLLS AND THE COLONSAY SPECIAL READY FOR US. ALSO, W. WILLIAMS AND HIS WIFE WERE THERE TO MEET US. THEY ARE TWO OF THE BAPTIST MEMBERS ON COLONSAY. THEIR FARM CONSIST OF ABOUT TEN ACRES ON THE LOWER END OF COLONSAY NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO THE STRAND THAT GO TO ORANSAY. AFTER VISITING WITH THEM AT "THE SHOP," WE HEARD THE WHISTLE OF THE CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE. THIS WAS AN INDICATION THAT THE SHORT STAY ON COLONSAY WAS COMING TO AN END AND ONE GOOD NEWS WAS THAT THE WINDS AND THE RAINS HAD DIED DOWN DURING THE NIGHT, THUS ALLOWING US TO PREPARE TO BOARD. BOARDING WAS NOT AS QUICK AS ONE MIGHT THINK BECAUSE THE VEHICLES, THE PASSENGERS, AND CARGO HAD TO BE UNLOADED FIRST. THIS GAVE US TIME TO REMINISCE WITH CHARLIE IN HIS SMALL PASSENGER BUS. I ASK CHARLIE, "WHY, DON`T YOU AND YOUR WIFE COME TO AMERICA AND SEE US?" CHARLIE REPLIED, "OH, WE CAN`T AFFORD IT." I TOLD CHARLIE, "SOMEDAY YOU WILL WAKE UP DEAD AND WISH YOU HAD." CHARLIE GOT A BIG KICK OUT OF IT. HE SAID THAT IF HE HAD SOLD 9 ACRES TO THE MACFIE CLAN THEN HE MIGHT OF BEEN ABLE TO HAVE AFFORDED IT, BUT THEY JUST COULD NOT COME UP WITH THE 75,000. POUNDS. (THEY ARE INTERESTED IN BUILDING A MACFIE WELCOMING CENTER ON COLONSAY)
THE TIME WAS FINALLY UP AND WE ALL BEGAN BOARDING THE FERRY AND BID CHARLIE FAREWELL BUT WE WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. I WELL RECOMMEND TO EVERYONE TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME, YOU WILL TRULY NOT BE SORRY. REMEMBER IF YOU DON`T YOU MAY WAKE UP DEAD AND WISH YOU HAD.
LAST UPDATE OF THE JOURNAL WAS JULY 1,2000
BY JERRY D. MCAFEE
219 CR 549, MONETTE, AR. 72447
TEL. 870-486-2705
E-MAIL
(THERE HAVE BEEN MANY CHANGES ON COLONSAY SINCE THE SPRING OF 1998 AND NOW THERE IS A MONTHLY UPDATE ON THE COLONSAY WEB SITE THAT TELLS OF THE MEETINGS, BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, GATHERINGS, AND ECT., THANKS KEVIN BYRNE AND OTHERS. GO TO THE CORNCAKE SECTION OF THE WEB SITE)
1. KEVIN BYRNE AND HIS WIFE HAVE SOLD THE HOTEL COLONSAY TO A BELGIAN COUPLE. CHARLIE SAID THAT IT SOLD FOR ABOUT $500,000 POUNDS, DUNCAN MACPHEE SAID THAT, TALK IS, THAT IT SOLD FOR NEARLY 1,000,000 POUNDS. [DUNCAN MACPHEE IS THE BARTENDER THERE NOW.]
2. KEVIN AND HIS WIFE DID NOT LEAVE COLONSAY, BUT RATHER HAVE MADE THEIR RESIDENCE ON UPPER KILCHATTAN, SOUTH OF KILORAN BAY.
THEY HAVE KEPT SOME OF THE BUSINESS. E-MAIL:
hotel@globalnet.co.uk3. MARY BROWN MCKINNON, CHARLIES WIFE, JUST TOLD ME, (3/7/99) THAT FAMILY ON COLONSAY ARE EXPECTING TWINS! THE MOTHER TO BE
=S NAME IS LORA BROWN, HER HUSBAND=S NAME IS IAN, THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO MARY HOWEVER. THE GIRL'= MOTHER, IRENE CAMPBELL, WORKS WITH MARY AT ATHE SHOP.@ SHE LIVES IN THE LARGE TWO STORY HOUSE TO THE LEFT OF THE NEW FIRE STATION.UPDATE: 7/5/99 LORA BROWN HAS HAD TWIN BOYS. NAMES: NEIL AND TOM BROWN. THEY ARE 8 WEEKS OLD NOW!4. ANOTHER WOMAN IS EXPECTING ON COLONSAY, ALSO! UPDATE: 7/5/99 JENNI
MCNEIL JUST HAD A SON. HIS NAME IS GRAIG MCNEIL. GRANDMOTHERS NAME
IS ELENOR MCNEIL.
KEITH RUTERFORD TOLD ME , 7/5/99.
5. THE LAST DEATH WAS THE LAST BAG PIPER, ANDREW ORANSAY, HE DIED IN LATE 1997.
6. CHARLIE AND MARY GO TO THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND AND THERE ARE ABUT 10 TO 12 THAT ATTEND CHURCH ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. THE RESIDENT MINISTER IS A WOMAN, HER NAME IS FREDA MARSHELL. SHE COME FROM OBAN, SCOTLAND ONCE A MONTH.
7. CHARLIE AND MARY BROWN MCKINNONS ADDRESS IS KILCHATTAN, COLONSAY, ARGYLL PA61 7 YW, SCOTLAND. THEIR TEL. #:011-44-1951-200341
8. W. WILLIAMS CRAIGGAN, GLASSARD, ISLE OF COLONSAY, ARGYLL, PA 61 YT, SCOTLAND. THEY ARE OF THE BAPTIST FAITH.
9. DUNCAN MACPHEES BREAD AND BREAKFAST IS DOING WELL AND IT IS STAYING BOOKED AS OF 6/8/99. HE IS NOW BARTENDERING ABOUT 50 HOURS AT THE COLONSAY HOTEL HE SAID THAT FRANK NICHOLSON AND ANGUS THE POST MCFAYDEN ARE NO LONGER BARTENDERS AT THE HOTEL. HIS ADDRESS IS: B&B, SMIDDYS COTTAGE, SCALASAIG, COLONSAY, ARGYLL, PA 61 7 YW, SCOTLAND. HIS TEL. #: 011-44-1951- 200275 (FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN E MAIL KEVIN BYRNE)
10. HOTEL COLONSAY, COLONSAY, ARGYLL, PA 61 7 YP, SCOTLAND TEL. #:011-44- 1951-200316, E-MAIL:
hotel@premier.co.uk11. CLAN MACFIE SOCIETY EDITORS ADDRESS IS: BOB MCPHEE, 181 RUMLEY ROAD, LUTON, BED. LU1 1TY, ENGLAND. TEL. #:011-44-1582-33466 E-MAIL:
bobmcphee@sol.co.uk12. MRS. ELEANOR MCNEILL, B&B, MACHRINS FARM, TEL. #:011-44-1951200312
13. PLACES THAT SELLS KILTS AND OTHER CLAN MATERIAL: CHAMBERS OF OBAN GEORGE T., OBAN, ARGYLL, PA 34 5 SF, SCOTLAND, TEL. #:011-44-1631- 562053 ALSO MOFFAT WOLLEN MILL MOFFATT, DUMFRIESHIRE, DG 10 99 EP, SCOTLAND, TEL. #:011-44-1068-220134 FAX #:011-44-1683-221066
14. CALEDONIAN MACBRAYNE, (HEAD OFFICE) THE PIER, GOUROCK. PA19 1QP, SCOTLAND, (OBAN OFFICE) FOR RESERVATIONS: 011-44-1631-562285, FOR INFORMATION: 011-44-1631-566588 AND TEL. # FOR HEAD OFFICE: 011-44- 990-650000
15. MRS. ANNIE LAWSON, B&B, SEAVIEW FARMHOUSE, COLONSAY, ARGYLL. PA617YR TEL. #:011-22-1951-200315
16. JOHN A. MCAFEE, WENT TO COLONSAY IN 1982 AND IS GOING BACK THIS SUMMER. CAN HELP YOU IN GOING TO COLONSAY.
JAMAC3@sol.com17. JIM AND GINGER MCAFEE A BIG HELP TO ALL.
J-GMcAfee@worldnet.att.net18. JERRY D. MCAFEE, HAS DIARY OF COLONSAY, 1998
jdmcafee@fastdata.net19. PATRICK S. MAHAFEE, WENT TO COLONSAY, 1998
patrickm@primenet.com20. RUSSELL FEE, WENT TO COLONSAY IN LATE 1997
CLANMCFIE@aol.com21. PEOPLE WORKING WITH DIFERENT CLAN NAMES
A. MCAFEE-PARTICIA MCAFEE GREEN-
B. MCDUFFEE- (NEW HAMPSHIRE LINE)
BWILLIAM S. MUTCH- Mutch2B@aol.com 555 VALLOMBROSA AVE. #9, CHICO, CA. 95926-4059 TEL. #:916-898-1183C. DUFFIE- RICHARD LEDYAR-
75603.141@CompuServe.COM B604 HERTHSIDE RD., KNOXVILLE, TENN. 37922- TEL. #: 423-671-2555D. GUFFEY AND MCGUFFEY
B DR. CARROLL W. MCGUFEY, SR. B GWKW90A@PRODIGH.COM B RT.1, BOX 145A, COLBERT, GA. 30628- TEL. #: 404-548-3879E. HAFFEY- SUSAN A. HAFFEY-
corarmagh@worldnet.att.net 1204 AGATE ST. APT. D, REDONDO BEACH, CA 90277- TEL. #:717-737-4971F. THE MCDUFFIES. ETC. DR. GILES F. CARTER, 243 GROVE DR. CLEMSON, SC. 29631
22. OTHER CHANGES THAT HAS WENT ON AS OF APRIL 20, 2000.
I JUST SPOKE
TO CHARLIE MCKINNON AND HE AND HIS WIFE MARY HAD JUST RETURNED FROM
A TEN DAY VISIT TO HIS BROTHER THAT LIVES ON ARRAN ISLAND WHICH IS
ON THE FIRTH OF CLYDE EAST OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. ALSO, CHARLIE HAS
A NEW BUS AND IT SEAT ABOUT 25 PEOPLE. IT IS A 5 YEAR OLD FORD.
THE LATE ANGUS THE POST@ MCAFYDEN`S SON HAS JUST GOTTEN MARRIED.
HE IS THE PART TIME MAIL DELIVERY MAN NOW. HE JUST RECENTLY MARRIED
AN EMPLOYEE OF THE COLONSAY HOTEL THAT WAS FROM AUSTRALIA. THEY MET AND HIT IT OFF REAL WELL. ANGUS IS ABOUT 40 YEARS OLD. HIS MOTHER`S GRANDMOTHER WAS A MCPHEE SO THAT MAKES HIM A DISTANT RELATIVE OF MCAFEES, ETAL. KEITH RUTHERFORD IS ALSO THE PART TIME MAIL DELIVERY PERSON ALONE WITH BEING THE POSTMASTER OF COLONSAY.
THE PRICE OF SHEEP HAS GONE UP SOME, EWES ARE SELLING FOR ABOUT TEN POUNDS AND THE PRICE OF LAMBS ARE GOING FOR ABOUT 2 TO 3 POUNDS.(THEY HAD BEEN ABOUT 50 PENCE PER LAMB!!)
THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF CONSTRUCTION LATELY ON COLONSAY. THERE HAS BEEN 2 NEW HOMES BUILT NEAR KILORAN BAY, ONE NEW HOME NEAR W. WALTER WILLIAMS PLACE, ONE NEAR THE OLD MILL, A CHURCH OF SCOTLAND MASS, AND A NEW VILLAGE HALL NEAR
ATHE SHOP.@ THE SHOP IS WHERE MARY MCKINNON AND IRENE CAMPBELL WORK. IRENE`S DAUGHTER DOES NOT WORK THERE ANYMORE AS SHE IS BUSY TAKING CARE OF THE TWINS AND HER OTHER TWO YOUNG KIDS. THE COLONSAY HOTEL IS NOT DOING VERY WELL AT THIS TIME. THE MANAGER`S HUSBAND HAS LEFT AND SHE IS HAVING TROUBLE MANAGING IT BY HERSELF.ANGUS MCPHEE STILL HAS HIS B&B BUT NO LONGER WORK AT THE BAR.
(AGAIN, ONE CAN NOW GET AN UPDATE OF THE HAPPENINGS OF COLONSAY BY THE COLONSAY WEB SITE AND PUNCHING IN THE CORNCAKE SECTION WHICH APPEAR ON THE LEFT)