What We Do In The Winter Alasdair Satchel

This episode is a conversation with Gail Struthers.

Gail hails from the Hillfoots, the villages and towns around the foot of the Ochil Hills, near Stirling.
She’s lived on Mull for many years now and has worked principally in catering in hotels and cafes in the North of the Island. She currently works at Bowman Court and our local hospital in Craignure.

Our conversation takes us through Gail’s childhood, her working life and travels away from the island, her life here on Mull, including her time running the Glengorm Café, where I first met her, and then into her passion for reading.

For links and more please visit whatwedointhewinter.com

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This episode is a conversation with Eilidh Young. Originally from Penmore in North West Mull, Eilidh lives in Lochdon, where she was the head of Lochdonhead Primary for many years.

Our conversation brings the North of Mull to life during the second world war, so much so that we’ll hear what the infamous Lord Haw Haw, Nazi Propogandist on ‘Germany Calling’ had to say to the people of Tobermory one evening. Eilidh has tales of herself and her father, her training in Edinburgh at Moray House, her work as a teacher in St Neots, Murihouse and of course here on Mull.

Eilidh and I spoke in December in the midst of a great big storm, which you’ll hear in the background to our chat.

Image of Eilidh Young courtesy of Meriel Young, with thanks!

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Episode notes and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com

This episode is a talk between Seamas Carey of The Reason Why podcast and me, Alasdair Satchel, of What We Do in the Winter which explores the nature of our podcasting work.

Seamas’ podcast The Reason Why was released in the spring of 2022. It consists of 10 themed episodes and two live episodes which round the project off.
It explores the social issues, hidden history and culture wars of contemporary Cornwall.

What We Do in the Winter is an oral history podcast about the lives of the people of the Isles of Mull, Iona, Ulva, Gometra, Erraid and Little Colonsay.

The conversation you’re about to hear took place in An Tobar, Tobermory on the 4th of October 2023 in front of a live audience.
It came about thanks to Rhona Dougall and Nina Pope where were at the time of recording the curators of the visual arts programme at An Tobar Mull Theatre.

Sound at the event was by Louise Gregory and Tim Olden.

Episode links and more can be found on whatwedointhewinter.com

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A very happy Christmas to you!

This episode is a conversation with Banjo and Ro Beale.
Banjo and Ro originally hail from Australia but have settled just outside of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.

Ro is one of the masterminds behind the distillery at Isle of Mull Cheese, and Banjo is a celebrated interior designer, whose work you may have seen in Interior Design Masters, his own series Designing the Hebrides and whose book Wild Isle Style is available from all good bookshops.

We cover so many topics in this episode as Banjo and Ro talk about their lives and adventures.

To donate to Banjo and Ro's work in Nepal, please drop a line to: ahoy@banjobeale.co.uk

Photo of Banjo & Ro by Lisa McKenna

For more information please see the episode links on whatwedointhewinter.com

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All the best to you for 2024!

This episode is a conversation with Donald Macgillivray of Pennygown.

We talk about his childhood, go way back into his family history, talk about drove roads and the last cattle drove off Iona to Falkirk, the changes he’s seen in agricultural practice over his career, his work with Highland cattle, abandoned villages and places long forgotten, his dear friend – the late and much missed Hugh MacPhail and so, so much more.

Episode links and more can be found on our website at whatwedointhewinter.com

It's this sort of knowledge that passes so swiftly if it’s not passed on and I am deeply indebted to Donald for his time and sincerity in sharing these stories with me.

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This episode is a chat with Cressida Cowell, author of the How To Train Your Dragon books, the Wizards of Once series and Which Way to Anywhere.

Cressida grew up in London where her Dad, Michael Hare, had significant roles in several well known organisations.
In the 1970’s Michael bought the island of Little Colonsay, which lies between Ulva and Staffa, which was to become the family’s summer home.
The island, it’s history, topography and setting had a profound affect on young Cressida’s imagination and her summers would be spent in a reverie of story making, listening to the tales her Dad would tell her of the people of these islands’ past.
These experiences lead to Cressida becoming an author, and not just any author. Her works have been translated into 38 languages and sold tens of millions of copies around the world. There are film and tv adaptations of her work.

In our time together we talked about her childhood memories of Little Colonsay and the people who helped her family to build their home there.
We talk about her father and his love of nature.
We explore the impact that the island had on her imagination, and how that lead to her career.
Cressida goes on to talk about her maternal Grandfather, Alan Hare, and his experiences in the 2nd World War in Albania and how that generation of people influenced her writing.
We then talk about the importance of the natural world and the nature of climate change.

I owe a big thank you to my dear friend Colin Morrison for putting me in contact with Cressida.
Colin and his family run Turus Mara, which, departing from Ulva Ferry, to my mind, is the best way to see Staffa, Fingal’s Cave and to meet the puffins on Lunga for some puffin therapy. See the links in the episode notes for more details.

Most importantly of all though at the end of this episode Cressida kindly took the time to answer three questions from Lachlan, one of her young readers who lives in Dervaig, who sent me some questions to ask.

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Episode links and more on whatwedointhewinter.com