A Storm on Any Course, General, Golf, Historical, Scotland, Zander Trilogy10 Comments

Thank you!

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

For the past couple of months, I have been working on my 3rd book of the Zander Trilogy, A Storm in A Tin Cup and I apologise that I have not been able to keep up to date with all the kind comments received on the website posts, and throughout social media platforms that I am connected to. I have become engrossed in getting A Storm in A Tin Cup finished and the daily re-reading and checks take up most of my time. I am hopeful that I can get this to the publisher within the next couple of months, … Continue reading Thank you!

A Storm in Any Port, General, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy13 Comments

Isle of Gigha

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The crew of the Emerald set of for the Isle of Gigha, after their high-jinks on Islay, now looking forward to some rest. Ch52 – A rock or a soft place, in A Storm in Any Port. The Isle of Gigha is an island located off the Kintyre peninsula’s west coast (Argyll and Bute, Scotland). Gigha island has a total area of approx 14 km2 and a population of around 200. Gigha Island features mild climate, more than average sunshine hours and fertile soils. In 2002, a “community buy-out” transformed the island, whose population is constantly growing and new commercial activities complement the … Continue reading Isle of Gigha

A Storm in Any Port, Sailing, Scotland, Western IslesLeave a comment

Lost Youth – Jura

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The ding-a-ling of a bell gave warning that the bar of the Jura Hotel was about to close and also brought the triumvirate’s evening of serious drinking and even more serious ‘blethering’ to an end. As usual, the intensity of opinion, on the most inconsequential of matters, had increased in proportion to the amount of alcohol they had put away. Now it was time to get back to the boat. All evening Grunt, not a seasoned drinker, had been matching his messmates, measure for measure and quaff for quaff, so by the time they left the hotel, he was by … Continue reading Lost Youth – Jura

A Storm in Any Port, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander TrilogyLeave a comment

Ardfern

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Excerpt from Chapter 44 – A Stand In – Ardfern With his mind still full of what he had just seen, Zander went into the Estate Office where, as promised, his client gave him maps showing the positions of the lodge and the loch. They were copies of the  1906, six inches to the mile Ordnance Survey series, and although beautiful examples of the draughtsman’s art, they had no contours. All they showed was a scattering of spot levels and even fewer benchmarks1. Nonetheless, from what Zander could see, it looked as if his task might not be too difficult. … Continue reading Ardfern

A Storm in Any Port, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy3 Comments

Island of Coll

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Excerpt from Chapter 42 The Battle – Coll A Storm in Any Port – Book 1 of the Zander Trilogy “Looking along the road, the Emeraldeers could see that the hotel was on the near horizon and a fair way off and unfortunately, there was neither a bus stop nor a telephone booth to call a cab. In their desperate rush to make their futile advances towards Seonaidh, the would-be smoothies had forgotten to ask her if there was any public transport on the island. The long walk to the hotel did not appeal to any of them but they … Continue reading Island of Coll

A Storm in Any Port, Historical, Sailing, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy11 Comments

Something Galore – Eriskay

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

The nearest island to the north of Barra is Eriskay and to Zander, that was probably the best place to go. His mind made up, the skipper went back up on deck and informed the crew of his decision; it was either Eriskay or turn back. Having come almost one third of the way towards the Outer Hebrides, his crew were not in the mood to be going back anywhere. To them Eriskay was an island of intrigue, romance and adventure and was not only the focus of the song, the Eriskay Love Lilt, but it was there that Bonnie … Continue reading Something Galore – Eriskay

A Storm on Any Course, Sailing, Scotland, Western Isles, Zander Trilogy3 Comments

Four Men in a Dinghy

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

Prologue from A Storm in Any Port West Coast of Scotland   – Fairly recently The skipper, mate and two deck hands who made up the crew of the chartered yacht, were feeling the effects of their combined ages of more than 300 years, as they motored into Puilladrobhain on Seil, an island just off the west coast of Scotland. Although none of them would admit it, the day’s motor sail from Crinan had taken its toll on both bodies and minds. The slightly corpulent, white haired skipper firmly believed he was a good sailor and had an inshore certificate to … Continue reading Four Men in a Dinghy

A Storm on Any Course, Scotland6 Comments

Eigg Highland Games

Johnny Jones - Nonagenarian Author

An island 10 miles off the west coast of Scotland, Eigg was hosting their annual Highland Games, and the fictional crew of the Emerald took part in the events of the ‘games’, including Tossing the Caber, Hammer throwing, the 100 yard sprint and the 400 yard relay race. For some fun stories surrounding this event, see chapter 32 and 33 of A storm in any port. Continue reading Eigg Highland Games

A Storm in Any Port, General, More Ports More Storms, Scotland, Zander Trilogy3 Comments

Gift idea for Christmas

Change Therapy

With Christmas fast approaching, and a lot of uncertainty about how the pandemic is going to affect our Postal services, why not consider purchasing one or more of the books as a gift for someone here or abroad? A Storm in Any Port – Have a read of the Prologue  – Click here Set principally in Scotland’s beautiful Western Isles with side trips to Hong Kong, the Lake District and the Balearic Islands, the narrative is an expose of an ambitious, accident prone Scot with a sailing bug who leads his scallywag crew and breathes life, fun and nostalgia into … Continue reading Gift idea for Christmas