NO TO LISBON

If you have ever wondered what UKIP do in the EP then the photos from my office might explain:

Happy New Year!

I'm up in Port Appin, Argyll for the weekend with some friends of ours before heading back to Brussels next week and if you've never been to Port Appin, it is worth a visit. We were up here last New Year for a week and this time we are up to see our friends get married on the shores of Loch Linnhe. For me its a great place to gather my thoughts before the onslaught of Brussels begins again, not least with the European election campaign ahead of us.

We were staying in the Pierhouse hotel - a great place if you love seafood. The scenery up here is stunning with Castle Stalker sitting out there on Loch Linnhe and the Morvern mountains behind. Today we went across to the island of Lismore and had a walk round the island. There is a great community spirit there and if you fancy a trip across there you could try and time it so that you are there for Lismore's own Homecoming celebrations which it is planning to mark from 8 - 14 August, and apparently there is the chance to enjoy a glass of Lismore malt whisky at its opening reception.

Photo above: Looking across to the Morvern mountains

Photo above: Port Appin

Photo above: With the "Lismore" boat across to the island of Lismore

Photo above: The island of Lismore

Photo above: Looking across from Lismore to Morvern

Photo above: Still on Lismore with Port Appin behind me

Photo above: Winter sky from the beach at Lismore