Holiday from Hell

[SSH]

Well, our little family went away for a long weekend to the isle of Iona. Sounds romantic, doesn't it.

Well, we set off for the four hour journey with spirits high. The scenery was great and the rain in Glencoe was mitigated by the rainbow. OK, we realised that my wife had forgotten to pack any waterproofs, but hey, the weather was going to get better, wasn't it?

So we crossed the very short ferry to the Ardnamurchan peninsula and I drove down the single-track road to the Loch Aline ferry to Mull.

BANG!

What that, I wondered? Probably just a pothole. However, after a bit more driving, it became obvious that it was somethign more. Stopped, examined wheels. Front left totally flat. Started to rain heavily. Changed tyre for spare. Now realised that could only just make the ferry had planned to get... next one 1.5 hours later. Lochaline doesn't exactly have much to occupy a toddler for 90 minutes, so pressed on as quickly as possible.

Just made the ferry and crossed to Mull. Thought I'd check at local garage we passed to see if they could fix tyre, but no-one was there. "Closed on Saturdays" said the guy in the nearby shop. Oh well.

Went round Torosay castle and gardens. Rained intermittently (i.e. stopped while you were inside and rained while outside). Rode on minature railway. Went back to car. Back left tyre flat too. Bugger.

Called Green Flag assistance, who I'd had free with car insurance and  had only just got around to putting their contact info in the car that morning! They said that no-one could fix the tyre but they could tow us up to 25 miles. Well, that was neither far enough to get us to our B&B nor back to the mainland. Fortunately, the great people in the castle shop helped a lot, phoned round the people they knew and found a guy who would come and repair it and was covered by green flag. So we got to our B&B that night. However, it was just a temporary fix and he would get us two new tyres on the Monday. Fine, we weren't planning on using the car on the next two days anyway.

Next day, got ferry to Iona, where you need a special permit to take a car, so we left car parked in Mull at Fionnphort. Struggled on foot with luggage to our B&B through mild wind and rain.

Rain and wind got worse from there on. Couldn't do much on Iona, which is geared up for people looking for contemplative silence, not full-of-beans toddlers. Spent night sleeping, but with drips in our room and tiles rattling on roof, not to mention constant winds howling round teh bed and breakfast.

Morning weather was slightly better, looked round island quickly and decided to head home. Caught very stormy 11am ferry back to Mull. This truned out to be the last one that day. Tried to put temporary spare tyre from garage on car: locking nut would not budge with my pathetic Ford wheel-nut spanner. Eventually mamanged to inflate the slow puncture and get hold of mechanic's mate to arraneg to meet him as he got (late) off the ferry from Oban to Mull, 35 miles away. Drove 35 miles through poruing rain with half-flat tyre on single-track roads. Met guy, got tyres, found another guy to fit tyres. Just made 5pm ferry to mainland. Thought troublers were over.

Then had to drive 4 hours back again through what turned out to be partially-flooded roads in many places.

AAAARRRRGGGGH!

On the other hand, I've never been so happy to be back from a holiday. And the people we met were all great and helpful (except the people on the phone at Green Flag). And our duaghter behaved very well considering what we went through. And its kinda funny lookign back, but it was hell at the time. Oh, and those tyres that burst were both quite new. 

[m0ds]

Damn, thats a real shame for you, SHH. Iona backwards sounds like "annoy" though...

Not so sure where you're talking about, it sounds like places in Scotland - why not go to Ireland for your next holiday? It's supposed to be relativley superb for holiday makers.

Also, things like what happened to you is one of the reasons I wouldn't want kids. I know that in that situation I'd love it, because it's an adventure - but the rest of my "family" would get pee'd off.

Also a handy tip, I'd try Norwich Union breakdown, they're about 20 times better than Green Flag. But not quite as good as Red Flagg.

[SSH]

Iona is here

If I went to Ireland, I couldn't resist going into Waterford's PC World and asking if they know when Fountain of Youth will be released I've been to (London)Derry and Giant Causeway, etc. though.

And Green Flag came free with my Zurich insurance... but if you can get me a discount come renewal time in November, then maybe I'll go with yours, what was it called aagain? 

When you're on an island with only 4 or 5 repair garages on the whole place, it doesn't make much difference which one you're with as they'll all call the same guy anyway!

[Privateer Puddin']

Brittens is a great place for a british holiday

[SSH]

Where is it going to be next year, anyway? Somewhere further north, I hope.

[Timosity]

As much as that holiday sucked, you'll look back on it in years to come and laugh about it, those little things will stick in your memory and it might even be something you talk about for years to come. You can tell the little one on the way in a few years that he/she was on that very holiday.

And what's this rain stuff you talk about, I've heard of it, apparently its like having a shower or something, but you're outside. strange concept.

[Nacho]

Sad to read that the most lovely family on earth has had bad holidays... Come to Spain, here never rains. 

On the other side, totally out of topic, I've dreamed tonight that Vel dies drowned in the sea... I hate to admit it ( ) but I awoke totally shocked. I think I must take a rest of AGS!