The Persabus Whisky Ambassadors

| June 2, 2020
With the Islay Whisky Festival happening last week, and Persabus being the gateway to the north Islay Distilleries, our very own Brand Ambassadors, were out in force, forming the welcoming party for the north Islay Distilleries. It appears no one thought to tell them that the whisky festival was only happening in a virtual world, [...]

Egg Nomination

| May 25, 2020
Pressure is mounting. The latest lockdown craze for NHS donations involves nominated people filming themselves swallowing a raw egg, a spoonful of sugar and a large dram. The short video clips are then uploaded onto social media with more nominees being presented with the challenge. On the island the challenge is spreading like wildfire, appealing [...]

Crabbit Tourists

| May 18, 2020
Lockdown did not stop our latest visitors in their mission to enjoy a holiday sampling ‘The Persabus Experience’. Despite the government restrictions tourists arrived at our door looking for suitable accommodation for their brief holiday on the farm. At Persabus we remain closed for bookings just now, apart from key workers. We will not be [...]

Bruichladdich Paparazzi

| May 12, 2020
There is a bite to the wind, but the beautiful blue skies and billowing clouds continue as spring blossoms away on the island. The sound of birdsong filling the air, with the early morning dawn chorus, waking me from my slumbers ever so early. The mellow, throaty bleating of the sheep calling to their offspring. [...]

Lockdown at the Sheep Fank

| May 4, 2020
With the lockdown continuing I was abruptly pulled out of my self-imposed happy ‘farming retirement’ at the weekend. Years ago, I had sensibly managed to ease my way out, as quickly as humanly possible, from most tasks that had any inkling of being associated with the word ‘farming’. Lambing duties and feeding pet lambs their [...]

Sprouting Times

| April 27, 2020
Tarzan style cries have been yodelling across the yard as the Happy Farmer has taken on the last remaining wilderness at Persabus. This week has seen him wrestling his way through a thick jungle of undergrowth within the four walls of the original old stone barn. Sky high fuchsia bushes, with thick, woody, broad roots [...]

Curve Balls and Creativity

| April 20, 2020
With everything in ‘lockdown’, the pace of life has changed and slowed. We are flowing on a completely different frequency here at Persabus as we continue forward into unknown territory. Usually April sees us flying at full speed ahead into a busy season. All the different areas of our lives suddenly becoming a tactical juggling [...]

Nesting Times

| April 13, 2020
The Happy Farmer has had a challenging mission. Apparently, our son was keeping a few birds tucked in behind one of the upstairs walls. Those birds were keeping him awake at all hours of the night. At this point I must hasten to add these birds are of the feathered variety. They make their appearance [...]

The Happy Farmer Communicates

| April 6, 2020
It has been a mixed bag this week. My head in a complete fuddle. Dry, clear, wild and windy days allowing for gardening projects, cleaning programmes, pottery sessions, interspersed with daily walks and runs. Then the hard slap in the face of reality when the national news creeps into the living room. Here the community [...]

Little Moments

| March 30, 2020
Yesterday was a day for lacing up the hiking boots, packing a flask of tea and a picnic, and heading out across the hills to explore Islay’s north coast. With huge blousy blue skies, the hills and the sea were calling. Eldest, announced, rather last minute, that she was heading off on this epic hike [...]