Category: Scotland

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy2 Comments

Background to the Sample story

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

I wanted to share some background to the sample story from my upcoming book, A Storm On Any Course. The main two components of this Sample story happened in other and quite different places. 1     The collapse of the motor bike line happened during a parade day in Rome. The riders, all policemen, had parked their bikes just as described and gone off to act as crowd marshals. I did not see what started it, however I did witness the spectacular and noisy domino effect of the bikes falling down! 2     The seagull was hit by a lone … Continue reading Background to the Sample story

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland, Zander Trilogy1 Comment

Sample story

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Taken from my upcoming book A Storm On Any Course, the final chapter of Zander’s Trilogy. A Birdie  – Melville Golf Centre Zander’s leg was improving by the day, but wasn’t yet strong enough to let him walk out to the practice areas in the middle of the course, let alone get all the way round and, with the club’s driving range out of commission for at least another two weeks, how was he going to hold his game together? Then he thought about going to a public driving range and heard someone talking about, The Melville Golf Centre on the … Continue reading Sample story

A Storm on Any Course, Golf, Scotland1 Comment

Have your name in my book – limited offer date closes 16th September

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

A Storm on Any Course -the 3rd and final book of Zander’s Trilogy. BUY MY BOOK AND HAVE YOUR NAME PRINTED INSIDE IT ALL PROCEEDS TO CHARITY To celebrate the completion of the Zander Trilogy I –  Johnny Jones, an 86year old Edinburgh author – will be donating the profits from a special limited edition of its third and final book, A Storm on Any Course, to the charity get2gether (SC043027). This is a small group of dedicated volunteers who provide a vital service to the communities of Edinburgh and The Lothians by helping Disabled Adults to find friendship and … Continue reading Have your name in my book – limited offer date closes 16th September

More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Western Isles2 Comments

A Waterfall in Tobermory!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Excerpt taken from chapter 17, The Wee Wee Waterfall – Tobermory in the second book of the Zander Trilogy by Johnny Jones – More Ports More Storms. On sale now. Topographically, a significant part of Tobermory lies on the high ground above the harbour and it is there that the Western Isles Hotel occupies a prominent site. The hotel’s position allows its guests to enjoy magnificent panoramic views from Tobermory down the Sound of Mull.  Access to the hotel is via the Back Brae, a road that doubles back on itself up a steep hill.  To landward, the road cuts into … Continue reading A Waterfall in Tobermory!

General, More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles4 Comments

Fast Lady

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Zander and his crew could not believe their good fortune, to ‘manage’ the luxury 45 foot yacht the ‘Fast Lady’. It had everything they were not used to having aboard a boat! Zander was amazed to find digital controls in the bridge, including a GPS! Everything was in pristeen condition, not like what he and his crew were used to in previous yachting adventures. Their job was to take business associates of the yachts owner, on scenic trips around the Western Isles of Scotland and to ensure they were all well fed and hydrated, with the finest foods and whiskies. … Continue reading Fast Lady

More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy10 Comments

Iona Abbey and Beyond

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

From the second book of the Zander Trilogy, More Ports More Storms, chapter 12, Zander and his crew’s itinery was set to take in a number of beautiful places on the West coast of Scotland, aboard their ‘borrowed’ 45 foot luxury yacht, the Fast Lady. The following places were included in their planned trip: The Sound of Mull, Iona Abbey, Ganavan Bay near Oban and Loch Buie Iona Abbey is an abbey located on the island of Iona, just off the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest Christian religious centres in … Continue reading Iona Abbey and Beyond

More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy8 Comments

To the Pub!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The pub visited by the yachting crews from More Ports More Storms, in chapters 17 and 18 was based on a real place, the Mishnish Hotel and Bar, on the seafront in Tobermory. ‘The Mish’, near the pier on the harbourfront, is a favourite hang-out for visiting yachties and a great place for a pint, with a very convivial atmosphere. Wood-panelled and flag-draped, this is a good old traditional pub where you can listen to live folk music, toast your toes by the open fire and enjoy some local banter. Tobermory was built as a fishing port in the late … Continue reading To the Pub!

More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Zander TrilogyLeave a comment

Fastest promotion ever!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Excerpt taken from Chapter 4, Do it in style get out fast, in More Ports More Storms; On one occasion, by virtue of an unpredicted passage through the transit area of an airport in a war zone, the army awarded him a Campaign Medal for active service there.  This went some way to make up for the one denied him by the sea scouts.  In a service career littered with ups and downs, Zander experienced occasional minor ‘ups’, but principally major ‘downs’, the most significant down being his spell of two years National Service, that put his professional career on … Continue reading Fastest promotion ever!

More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Zander TrilogyLeave a comment

No No No -Yes – Waverley Station Edinburgh

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Are you sitting comfortably?  Good.  I am about to tell you a series of stories about the adventures of one extraordinary man, and believe me – you do want to be sitting down for this. Yes, I know you have heard many stories before, exciting stories, thrilling stories, stories that set your heart pounding and your blood racing.  However, these particular stories are different.  They are funny ones that make your heart sing; your body convulse with laughter and leave you to enjoy a warm contented glow.  You may think yourself a veteran of the works of tellers of tales … Continue reading No No No -Yes – Waverley Station Edinburgh

General, Historical, More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Video, Website, Zander Trilogy5 Comments

Explosives and Jewellery!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

There are loads of new short stories in More Ports More Storms, my second book of the Zander Trilogy, and I wanted to share with you one such story which involved  Zander, many years before he got involved in Sailing. How much is Fiction, I will allow the reader to decide, but let me say that I was there and have the T-shirt to prove it! In the late 1960’s, Zander was training to be a Chartered Engineer and was required to work at a place called Harthill, where construction was underway to create the first Motorway Service Station in … Continue reading Explosives and Jewellery!

A Storm in Any Port, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy12 Comments

Sailing home

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

For anyone who has sailed a boat, anywhere in the world, the joys of heading into a berth for the night, after an exhausting experience is very welcome. To view the scenery, on the route whether familiar or not, stays with you forever. “Late afternoon found the despondent Emeraldeers south east of Arran puttering up the Firth of Clyde in almost flat calm conditions, the sun scattering diamond like reflection on the surface of the sea. Their intended route would take them between Bute and the Cumbraes, past Wemyss Bay, with Dunoon on the port side then turning to starboard … Continue reading Sailing home

A Storm in Any Port, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles9 Comments

Midges and Clegs

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

A wee bit of advice for any visitor to the Highlands and West Coast of Scotland, is to take suitable insect repellent/ clothing, as these wee beasties have a habit of appearing just when you least expect it and interrupt your plans. Midges, pronounced Mijjee,  The Scottish midge belongs to a family of midges known as Ceratopogonidae – biting midges. Other members of this family are known as ‘no see ums’ in North America Clegs also known as Horseflies cause piercing burning sensations and can take a long time to heal, and may become infected. One of my chapters in … Continue reading Midges and Clegs

A Storm in Any Port, More Ports More Storms, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy19 Comments

Auld Reekie – Puffer

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The Puffer featured here in my books is the Auld Reekie, one of the last to be built for the Royal Navy in 1943. It was built by Isaac Pimblott at Northwich on the River Weaver in Cheshire. When it was subsequently demobbed, it plied its civilian trade around the western seaboard of Scotland. Victuals Inshore Craft (V.I.C. No 27) was initially designed, fitted out and registered as a shore-to-ship water carrier. She originally worked out of Rosyth then later at Scapa Flow before moving to the west coast of Scotland. She was one of a number of different types … Continue reading Auld Reekie – Puffer