成人快手

So, I innocently log back into Island Blogging, and there's my blog in all its glory. A "Featured Blog". Where did THAT come from????? I was kind of horrified at first - still very new to this whole blogging thing - but then I read the very nice comments that had been added to the blog and started calming down. So thank you Dave, Wee Fi, Ruth and GrannyE. Glad you liked the irst post. And thanks to Anne at IBHQ too.

So, feeling somewhat daunted, I'd managed to forget what my next post was going to be about!!!!!! Impressive, eh? However, I'm a good Glasgow boy, and we always have something up our sleeve, so here goes with a subject close to my heart: Swally!

BROAD_FORD AND THE QUEST FOR THE BEST LOCAL

So, Broadford is the second biggest settlement on Skye. Even so, according to the most recent population figures I can find there would appear to be less than 600 people who live here. That's smaller than Aberfoyle or Kinlochleven. It's half the size of Millport or Ullapool and a quarter the size of Gretna. My previous home town, Glasgow, on the other hand has an estimated population of over 1 million - 1,171, 460 to be precise. Needless to say, this has resulted in a vastly different lifestyle. There are far less shops and services in Broadford than even in my small part of Glasgow, although there IS a 24 hour garage nearby (thank goodness!). This means that I have to plan my life in far greater detail than previously. Even something as simple as buying something for dinner needs me to be very time-aware, rather than operate in my old cavalier attitude to everything.

This rule has also applied to drinking establishments. In Glasgow, one is spoilt for choice. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of bars of all shapes and sizes catering for every taste possible. However you feel on a night out, you are liable to find a bar to match; from the down to earth working class drinking den (The Beechings for example) up to posh, late-night piano bars (Blue Dog) or massive 'superbars' like Lloyds Number One or Stavka. Many of them are very close to each other, so you can even have a 'buffet-style' approach, having a little bit of everything you feel like.

Broadford is a very different proposition. Having a 'nose' for such things, I quickly ascertained that there are only a few pubs in the town. There is the Hebridean, the Claymore, the Crowlin Bar at the Dunollie Hotel and the newly refurbished Gabbro Bar at the recently bought-over Broadford Hotel. In the interests of fairness, I felt it prudent to test-drive each of these establishments before coming to a decision about which one would be awarded the dubious honour of being named my local.

First off was the Claymore. I had been in here before for dinner, and had really enjoyed the food. My return visit was equally pleasant - including some squat lobsters - but I did feel that the ambience was more akin to a restaurant than to a pub (not that that is a complaint you understand). I resolved to revisit it off-season to see if there was a noticeable difference. I shall keep you posted!

Next up was the bar at the Hebridean Hotel. http://www.hebrideanhotel.co.uk
I was lucky enough to visit on one of the regular Karaoke nights. The place was lively, and the crowd of regulars seemed to be having a ball. Plenty of other customers drifted in for a quick one or two, and there was a nice if somewhat tranquil atmosphere. If I was looking for somewhere to take my parents for a wee drink, this could be just the job.

The Crowlin Bar at the Dunollie Hotel was the next port of call. I don't think I have ever seen it empty; there always seems to be someone at the bar. It has regular band nights, and a quiz over the winter months (Shut iiiiiiiiiitttttttt!). It reminds me a lot of a number of pubs in Glasgow - the kind you might go into on your way home of a Friday, and pour yourself out of in the early hours of Saturday morning hankering for a large donner. I think I will be back in here!

And last of all we come to the Gabbro Bar at the Broadford. From what I can gather, the hotel had been going downhill for a wee while now, but was recently bought over and is undergoing a complete refurbishment. There has certainly been a huge amount of work ongoing since I got here. The Gabbro was one of the first bits done. It is very smart, with a decent size bar, a good amount of tables, a couple of nice comfy couches, a couple of plasma TVs, a pool room, a wee 'snug' type area. And they sell Magners too! Result! On the downside, the place still has that 'brand new' smell and feel about it, but hopefully that will sort itself out soon enough. The toilets need 'finishing' too - they are clean enough and all that, but are still awaiting that final lick of paint etc.

The entertainment is fairly decent too, with bands every week, a dj quite often (I want to say Dodgy Dex, but that can't be right, can it???) and a weekly quiz on a Thursday (Shut iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! again). The bar menu seems reasonable, and the neighbouring bistro is doing good trade and attracting decent word-of-mouth. They have a good value carvery on a Sunday afternoon/evening, and have scheduled some 'themed' food nights (Steak Night, Curry Night....). I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the hotel turns out.

So, which bar has taken the title? Whilst I will definitely be back to all of them, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and actions speak louder than words, or so they say. And most of the time when I have been out on the town I have been in the Gabbro Bar, and have thoroughly enjoyed myself too - as have my visitors!

(Were anyone to bump into me in there, bottle of Magners - with ice)