Hospitality in Skye or the lack of it...
Posted: Wednesday, 19 April 2006 |
Comments
I will give you a brush and some tar but it might take a long time for you to cover every Englishperson in the world. You wouldn't dare say the above about a black person, so please don't think that you can sully a country because you've had a bad experience. Perhaps you should talk to these people and explain you weren't happy with them, or their prices.
Biggartree from Ray schism
Who said anything about the English? Incomers can be Scottish too...
observer from the mainland
These definitely weren't Scottish. If you do give me a brush and some tar I would know exactly what to do with it as I am from an era before slating arrived when every summer the roof had to be done. The hospitality was unquestioned in those days because it comes naturally to the islanders who are still just the same today. And finally I would say it against anyone regardless of colour as I don't allow people to use the race card as an excuse. Some of the nicest Asians you will find anywhere used to bring drapery to the door in Lewis and they've integrated far better than these plastic Skeannochs and are a positive asset to the island life and economy. It's when the Blackpool landlady syndrome comes to Skye that the problems begin.
calumannabell from Dungroanin Lewis
My son decided to spend part of his Easter holidays in the Western Isles hospital. I would highly recommend it - 4* service and it even has a playstation. You don't even have to book in advance.
BoB from Lewis
It says english accent and sheffield, is that Sheffield in Scotland? Read again.. "on an area where caravans can pull on and were approached by an gentleman with an English accent (Sheffield) who asked who we were looking for. He operates the Band B next door to where we were booked. He gave us a lurid story of a man who sends rats through the letterboxes of local trailer " Without incomers these islands would have all died on their feet years ago..
Is that those Scottish English from Yorkshire from Oh, I see..
I forgive you C&A for you know not what you do..... Our humans plus Shetland Granny are booked into a Skye B&B for a WHOLE WEEK in July and now fpu is a gibbering wreck wondering if she has booked her ancient female parental unit into the B&B from Hell. But, on reflection, it was advertised in the Skye and Lochalsh brochure, so it will be just fine. Won't it? Whimper. I'll give you a tarry brush too and you can paint the roof of the Sunroom of Eternity to expiate your sins! Let's hear it for Twinkletree!
Flying Cat from from a cabin trunk oop north
I think anyone that thinks the islands would have died without incomers has an inflated sense of their own value to Hebridean society. House prices have gone up because of incomers, the way of life is shattering because of their demands for Sunday ferries etc, the language is disappearing because of increased Anglicisation - yeah The Western Isles owes a big debt to the incomers.
Dr Hamish Boswell from The Surgery Brue
The arrival of the 'Duine Dubh' clothes seller definitely brought some excitement to Ness and opened up whole new worlds of fashion (mainly nylon, crimplene, tricel and acrylan as I recall), proving that outgoing incomers can contribute something positive (and electrostatic) to the community. There's an article about the well-known former Stornoway character Nazir Ahmed on the One Scotland site at: http://www.onescotland.com/onescotland/osmc_display_leveldown.jsp;jsessionid=CF25136146C3C8B5CBF69DC16D5C321D?pContentID=48&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show& Hope BoB's boy is OK now and that Flying Cat & Co. don't get eaten by a man from Sheffield who lives in Skye.
Annie B from Lone Sheiling
And just how does an island die on its feet? Perhaps they would catch bird 'flu? If it wasn't for these 'plastic skeannochs' (great phrase - do you mind if I steal it?) then mebbe I'd have been able to find a decent job and stay on the island, or at least had more compunction to try. <seethe>
Big Shim from Exiled in Anderston
And just how does an island die on its feet? Perhaps they would catch bird 'flu? If it wasn't for these 'plastic skeannochs' (great phrase - do you mind if I steal it?) then mebbe I'd have been able to find a decent job and stay on the island, or at least had more compunction to try. <seethe>
Big Shim from Exiled in Anderston
And just how does an island die on its feet? Perhaps they would catch bird 'flu? If it wasn't for these 'plastic skeannochs' (great phrase - do you mind if I steal it?) then mebbe I'd have been able to find a decent job and stay on the island, or at least had more compunction to try. <seethe>
Big Shim from Exiled in Anderston
(to Dr. Hamish Boswell) yeah, and the incomers want English muffins too .... Oh well, for those well qualified, irrespective of race, creed or mainland/island of origin, we'll make you welcome in these US of A. We have English muffins, Irish oats, Highland malt, and you can always order Guga on the internet. As for BIg Shim, if you can't compete you are going to be displaced by better qualified or harder working folks wherever you may be. Hamish again: I note that dental and medical practices ("surgeries") on some islands could not survive without incomers. If you have decent teeth, you may have to thank immigrant Polish dentists: and they have to buy a house to live in, don't they? Housing prices are up everywhere ... incl. the States. And, assuming you are a native Dr. Hamish, you have probably inherited or long paid off the mortgage on your mansion, right?
mjc from NM,USA
surely the point is not whether or not these people were incomers or not - its the price you felt forced to pay and/or lack of hospitality. it is irrelevant who dished it out. anyone - local or incomer - can be pleasant or unwelcoming. Perhaps the most interesting bit is that this man told you an alledged story about rats and cats - and you left - presumably this was his aim?
unsure from scottish island
And the story was confirmed elsewhere. I was very sceptical and checked it out with two other locals - quite separately- who confirmed it.
calumamiable from Anyhwhere but Skye
So much for pie in the .... (I dare not complete the phrase! Lightning might just strike!!).
mjc from NM,USA
I suspect Flying cat will be safe so long as its levitating idiosyncracy holds. Even I can't (quite) believe Skye dogs have taken to the .... (good grief, I must be having a bad day!) sky.
mjc from NM,USA
I too was disappointed by my visit to Sky last year. I did feel that the prices were a bit of a rip off and that the level of hospitality was a bit of a hit or miss. I expect that the tourist industry is a welcome source of revenue to the Island, however the balance between the true Island way of life and the trumped up farce which is churned out to the visitors, seems to have gone wrong. I am extremely worried that the same thing could happen on Westray if the tourist industry keeps expanding.
Backie from Westray
I am thrilled to be credited with a levitaing idiosyncracy, as long as it's not some arcane medical condition, but, mjc, could you not refer to me as an it? I'm a bit sensitive about my lack of.....bits.....and much prefer 'he'. mrrrrrrrrrrp.
Flying Cat from nose-in-a-tourist brochure
As long as Westray doesn't get given either a bridge or a tunnel I think you are pretty safe from the worst excesses of tourist tat. Westray, of all the North Isles, has just about got it right - a good mix of accommodation, places to eat and shop and interesting small businesses, idyllic scenery, good walks and friendly, dynamic people who are making sure the island doesn't languish in the Norse Twilight. Only reason my humans are going to Skye again is because the afpu requested it. What does "looking after our inheritance mean?" I must find out.
Flying Cat from refurring to a ferry timetable
I always find it funny when Scots blame the English for pushing up house prices in the Highlands - I blame the Scots for selling them to the highest bidders. Would your accept less for your land from a Scot? - no chance - so whos to blame? greedy Scots or the innocent English who want to live in what they beleive to be a harmonius enviroment with a race of people they think are fair and just? Oh and its Sgiathanach not skeannoch dont embarrass you race with bigotry, more Scots live outside Scotland than live in it.
Phileas Fogg from Skye
...WELLWELLNOW...THERE YOU AAR,,
john from lewis
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