‘Tis the Season

It has reached that heady time of year again as Christmas comes hurtling around the corner, firing on all cylinders.
The younger clan get the job of designing the Persabus Christmas card each year. A journey our friends have followed over the past twenty years from the innocent and beautiful child art of giraffes hanging over the crib in a scene from the nativity when eldest was in P1. Artwork which has morphed, from capturing all the farm animals in Christmas scenes, into fine art depicting livestock and treasured pets. There are youngest’s cartoon images of life on the farm, always promising ‘to be continued’, which have now grown into designer pieces ready for the catwalk, depicting her journey into the world of fashion and beyond.
Every year the Ileach office has overseen the printing in what is always a last-minute request. Those designs are returned to us captured on cards to send out across the world. I am always in a rush to meet the final posting day, no time for sherry and mince pies, as we get caught up in the Christmas madness.
The Happy Farmer has the Christmas tree in pride of place. Another beauty selected from his small plantation of pine trees. The scent emanates throughout the home as the whole place is glittering with fairy lights and candles. Pine branches and greenery wait to be hung around the fireplaces and throughout the kitchen. Dried rosehips are threaded on wire to make decorations , the Happy Farmer’s clootie dumping is simmering away on the Aga, and with a huge roaring fire, it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Persabus and beyond.
Over the past few weekends the island has been in danger of sinking, and not just in whisky, or because of the wild and stormy weather. There has been a mass exodus of people heading over to Glasgow first for the Vatersay Boys Christmas Ceilidh and then for a magical concert by Skipinnish, with maybe just a bit of snatched time for the city lights and Christmas shopping.
The Happy Farmer whisked me away to the Skipinnish concert and what a fabulous performance. A weekend of Christmas dinners and gatherings followed, as we caught up with family and friends on the mainland to celebrate. I am now in the race to get to the finishing line. To get the last of the pottery orders boxed and posted, the final workshop treasures handed out and those presents wrapped, our own decorations finished, the baking done….and then, relax …it’s time to enjoy all the trimmings of an Islay Christmas.
At this point can we offer you and yours a very merry Christmas from all of us at Persabus. To all the new friends we have met this past year, and our old treasured friends who have helped us to make wonderful memories as we enjoy the ride. We will be raising a hearty glass to you all during the festivities and look forward to offering you a warm Persabus welcome soon.
Slainte.
Until next time…