Off doon South for the day

Visiting family in a town south of the border. Anyone recognise it?

Thought for the Week

'Why are same sex marriages so controversial? After all, most people are in a same sex marriage. They have sex, and it is always the same.'

Oban Whale update

For those of you concerned about the future of our local Oban Bay whale it appears to have moved on.  Whale I like the bit when the writer thanks the local boat owners for letting the whale to be about the Bay, they had a choice?

Never let talent get in the way.

Guess where Sir James Crosby (knighted for services to the financial industry, two years after Fred Goodwin) went to work when he left HBOS? The FSA (Financial Services Authority) of course. You really couldn't make it up. Have one guess who is (or used to be) a special advisor to the Treasury on the operation of the mortgage market. Got it in one.  For those of you not familiar with the gent here is a link http://goo.gl/zsjP8 

If you think having talent will help your career have a look at what happened to Mozart.  Bitter and twisted me??

Turn for the worse.

Can I misquote from Emperor Hirohito on his speech to end the war with the Allies, "my career situation has developed not necessarily to my advantage".  I had applied for a position as 2^nd Mate back in February and having not heard anything I contacted the office a couple of times to ask about the interviews, I hold the required qualifications, have relevant experience and indeed my appraisals have indicated I was suitable for promotion, last time away I was sailing as 2^nd Officer. 

Today after not being contacted by our HR department, I managed to speak to someone who informs me that the interviews for the post were last week and I have not been considered.  I asked if there was any reason, but apparently the man who decides such things is leaving the Company on Friday and it seems unlikely that I will receive any feedback. Thank you Caledonian MacBrayne, I feel like a valued employee. 

I know to many this probably makes me sound like a spoilt brat and that I should be grateful for my present job, but what makes me annoyed is that I spoke to the office when they were probably doing the interviews and was fobbed off, it took me to call them and now this is the second time this has happened. 

Here we go again

The start of another season, as ever spirits are up and the hopes are that this is the year when the winds will be fair and the sun shining to allow those long down wind cruises to far flung exotic spots to the South and West of Arran.  Remind me of this when I write to complain about being storm bound in Rothesay.

More whale pics

The whale is still with us here in Oban Bay, some say it's a sperm
others a Minkie. Whatever species, it seems reluctant to leave and we
are getting a bit bored with the regular broadcasts from the
Coastguard warning all vessels of its presence.