Tag Archives: Scottish Cup Final

Ordinary, Scones

Antonio’s

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We just happened to be passing and because we had heard that Antonio’s had undergone a bit of a face lift we thought we should check it out. On our previous visit it was known as Antonio’s Deli. That was about a year and a half ago when we were concerned for the safety of our Australian friends as the whole country appeared to be consumed by flames. It was also before we had even heard of coronavirus and COVid-19. My, how times have changed … but would they have changed at Antonio’s as well?Internal view of Antonio's

Well, yes they had. The main dining area had been stripped back to the bare sandstone and was looking rather swish. It was full of customers when we arrived so we had to sit next door next to a counter full of delicious looking Italian cannoli biscuits.

Cannoli is a tube-shaped shell of deep fried pastry dough filled with slightly sweet and creamy filling, Enough of this temptation! We need to maintain discipline … we are here for the sconesInternal view of Antonio's

Carried away

One of the memorable things from our last visit was Alina. A lovely Rumanian lady who looked after us back then and she was still there, yeah! A scone at Antonio'sShe soon had us sorted out with some lunch and a scone which she offered to hold until after we were finished. She also said she would toast it for us as well. In spite of all this, however the scone did not quite hit the topscone grade. You can see from the picture that Pat got a bit carried away and cut it up before I was able to take a photograph. Years of training and for what?

Cannoli biscuits

Taking the biscuit

When I went to pay our bill, Alina gave us a wee box filled with cannoli biscuits … what a girl! And what did we do, we put the box down and then left without it. It wasn’t until we got home and looked at the pictures that we realised we had left it. I was so intent on waiting for a fleeting space in the traffic to get a picture that I hadn’t noticed Alina trying desperately to attract our attention. And then we just drove off.Alena trying to get my attention

When we realised what we had done we went straight back and Alina had put them to one side for us … what a girl!

logo for Antonio's

What a team! St Johnstone from Perth won the Scottish Cup earlier today playing against Hibernian from Edinburgh. St Johnstone have now picked up a host of trophies.  And all on a minuscule budget compared to the likes of Rangers and Celtic. Well done

Remember Palestine, remember COVID, yes, well tell the BBC. Since the Martin Bashir/Princess Diana story broke there has been nothing else on their news channels. The BBC are, of course, ashamed. Not at the story but the fact that they have been caught trying to cover it all up. Their polished exterior as the bastion of truth has been well and truly tarnished. Of course, anyone in Scotland will tell you that their so called impartial, truth-telling ethos was tarnished long before now. This is the self same corporation we all have to pay a fortune to every year for fear of ending up in jail if we don’t. Time for the BBC to have along hard look at how they do things and get themselves sorted out. Antonio’s has done it, so they can too!

FK1 1HR         tel: 01324 637000        Antonio’s FB

island, Ordinary, Scones

The Wineport- Again

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This is yet another repost from 2016 at the Wineport on the Isle of Arran. Yes, even we are surprised at how many island scones we have consumed. Back in March, we were trying to narrow it down when we decided to repost island scones. But who would have thought we would still be doing it in the middle of July? Amazing but let’s get on with some serious grouching.

The 51st State

Day by day the UK is becoming more and more like the US. As the Union comes under increasing strain over COVID, no UK government official can now be seen on TV without the background being draped in Union Jacks. A  desperate sign of newfound insecurities. Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon gets vilified for saying that she cannot rule out health checks on the border with England. Meanwhile, in Australia, the government has just closed the border between Victoria and New South Wales for exactly that reason. These are just two states within a country whereas Scotland and England are two different countries? Make of that what you will!

And like the US, our UK government now has a department to explain what our Prime Minister means when he speaks. Again like the US, usually, the exact opposite of what was actually said. In anticipation of the inevitable enquiry into their lamentable handling of coronavirus, Boris has attempted to offload blame. He said, “We discovered too many care homes didn’t really follow the procedures in the way that they could have.” In true Trumpian style officials then lined up to say that what he really meant was that care homes had done an absolutely brilliant and outstanding job. Unbelievable!

Back to 2016

This is a lovely spot, in Cladach on the outskirts of Brodick.  Cladach actually used to be the main village before modern Brodick was built on the south side of the bay. Now, most of the former houses are used for small businesses. The Wineport is just one example. It probably derives its name from a small harbour area, now disused, a short way along the coast which at one time would have been used by all ferries and imports to the island.

Last year it came under new management and now provides a fantastic family-friendly relaxed atmosphere with all the facilities you could think of. Unlike Brodick Castle they use lots of local food and drink suppliers such as; Arran Dairies, The Arran Butcher, Island Cheese Company, Creelers, Arran Brewery, Taste of Arran, Arran Ceramics, and Arran Aromatics. That’s more like it. This place can show the National Trust for Scotland how to do it!

Outside the front door is a large beer garden, perfect for our kind of birdwatching. It’s at the start of the path up Goatfell, maybe we would catch sight of an eagle? Wineport 03We sampled some of the local beer and then because we had seen some scones on the bar, we thought we should give one a try. It came with lots of jam and the coffee came with a little piece of millionaires shortbread … nice touch. The scone was fine, lots of fruit but just a tad on the heavy side.

Summary

So, by way of a recap … as we sadly prepare to leave Arran after a great trip, all the scones have been enjoyable enough but we are left with a total of one topscone -at Machrie Bay Tearoom. Well done them. Wineport 02

Barcelona and the Saltire

Today, of course, is football day with the English and Scottish Cup Finals both being played. Arguably of more interest, however, is the Copa Del Ray cup final in Madrid between Barcelona and Sevilla. The Catalans are just as uppity as the Scots so the Spanish government, in their infinite wisdom, banned the use of the Estelada  (Catalan flag) at the game. The Barcelona supporters, however, said they would use the Scottish Saltire instead. That was enough for the government to revoke its ban … the power of the Saltire!  Grey wagtail might be the last to be added to the list. But we still have a little time left on Arran, so our final bird count won’t be revealed until the next post. Will there be an eagle on it?

KA27 8DE      tel: 01770 302101         The Wineport

Earlier we were berating the National Trust for Scotland for not stocking Scottish produce in their cafés. Yesterday, at least they managed now got rid of their odious President, Neil Oliver over the equally odious David Starkey affair. His leaving may provide the Trust, with all its dukes, barons, earls and lords with a long-overdue and much-needed opportunity to have a long hard look at itself and how it manages its affairs.

shed on the west coast of the Isle of Arran
What’s left of a shed near Balliekine on Arran’s west coast

 

island, Ordinary, Scones

The Wineport

1 Comment

This is a lovely spot, in Cladach on the outskirts of Brodick.  Cladach actually used to be the main village before modern Brodick was built on the south side of the bay. Now most of the former houses are used for small businesses. The Wineport is just one example. It probably derives its name from a small harbour area, now disused, a short way along the coast which at one time would have been used by all ferries and imports to the island.

Last year it came under new management and now provides a fantastic family friendly relaxed atmosphere with all the facilities you could think of. Unlike Brodick Castle they use lots of local food and drink suppliers such as; Arran Dairies, The Arran Butcher, Island Cheese Company, Creelers, Arran Brewery, Taste of Arran, Arran Ceramics, and Arran Aromatics. That’s more like it. This place can show the NTS how to do it!

Outside the front door is a large beer garden, perfect for our kind of birdwatching. It’s at the start of the path up Goatfell, maybe we would catch sight of an eagle? Wineport 03We sampled some of the local beer and then, because we had seen some scones on the bar, we thought we should give one a try. It came with lots of jam and the coffee came with a little piece of millionaires shortbread … nice touch. The scone was fine, lots of fruit but just a tad on the heavy side.

So, by way of a recap … as we sadly prepare to leave Arran after a great trip, all the scones have been enjoyable enough but we are left with a total of one topscone -at Machrie Bay Tearoom. Well done them. Wineport 02

Barcelona and the Saltire

Today, of course, is football day with the English and Scottish Cup Finals both being played. Arguably of more interest, however, is the Copa Del Ray cup final in Madrid between Barcelona and Sevilla. The Catalans are just as uppity as the Scots so the Spanish government, in their infinite wisdom, banned the use of the Estelada  (Catalan flag) at the game. The Barcelona supporters, however, said they would use the Scottish Saltire instead. That was enough for the government to revoke it’s ban … the power of the Saltire!  Grey wagtail might be the last to be added to the list, but we still have a little time left on Arran, so our final bird count won’t be revealed until the next post. Will there be an eagle on it?

KA27 8DE      tel: 01770 302101         The Wineport