Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 15 on 18/7/2004.

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Scotland's all weather food

You can’t guarantee the weather in Scotland. But as Sue Lawrence reports, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on barbecues

It was early June, 1989 and we had taken a hort holiday to the island of Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, with the children who were all quite small. Anticipating downpours and gales, we were well prepared, with kit including wellies, waterproofs and woolly jumpers, all of which is the norm on Scottish holidays.

This one, however, was different. I still look back at those photographs and cannot believe we were not in Bermuda (even better as there was no-one on the beach) – for we had landed on Islay in the midst of a heat wave.

Instead of lugging wind breaks and macs down to the beach, we had to roll up trousers (we hadn’t even brought shorts) and strip down to vests (this is Scotland; vests are never seasonal).

It was absolutely stunning with desolate, white sandy beaches and our only company being the odd cow paddling along the shore to cool off. For once, our beach bonfire was not agony, huddling around a fire to keep warm, having spent hours trying to find dry kindling. This was a dream – and the bonfire sausages, foil-wrapped bananas, Smores and marshmallows on sticks tasted all the better for it.

Fast forward a couple of years and our next Scottish west coast holiday, to Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The week started off fine but by day three not only did the July temperature never rise above 10 degrees Centigrade, it also rained. Almost constantly.

Still we battled on, dragging equipment down to the beach because if Brits in general are stoics, Scots are even.....

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By Sue Lawrence

Section : Scottish Food

Page number : 54