Islander I felt I had to leave Bute eventually. The ferry issue meant it became unfeasible to do a job that required regular travel from an island base.

The fact that we *still* don't have a Winter CalMac Ferries timetable gets more ridiculous by the day! We need to get livestock away, people have hospital appointments, it's just unbelievable. @Robbie_Calmac

CalMac Ferries @Robbie_Calmac I'm afraid that's absolutely no use to anyone here. There are people with hospital appointments on the mainland *next week* and they need to be able to plan their travel arrangements. Jenni Minto MSP

It has been suggested, in some quarters, that the communications outage in #Shetland is directly related to the sh**t show happening in UK politics right now. Fair play to them. I have had enough of it too.

Planning hearing yesterday for controversial staff hostel devt on Jura for staff at #Ardfin estate. Comm council, local ppl & local Cllr spoke to object. Only applicant spoke in support. Estate rep literally said 'the views of the community are irrelevant.' Plans were approved.

#LandReform is all well & good but if planning regs still allow communities to lose out like this to mega rich landlords what's the point? Estate was heavily criticised by cllrs for lack of community consultation & serious concerns raised about capacity of community to cope.

In response to critism #Ardin Estate rep stated 'we play by the rules' (incl squeezing devt in literally just under size where comm consultation is req'd) They also tried to blame comm council for not running consult when the volunteers only had 4 wks & were busy with ferry bs.

We are seeing an increased overlap of land ownership and land use planning issues like this one! We are working to make both fairer and better for communities.

The is incredibly sad - but also, why Sky News do you bill #Ischia as a 'holiday island?' The island is home to thousands of people. Or do damage, injury and potential deaths only matter because it might mess up someone's holiday? #IslandLife

Interesting how freedom of speech is paramount until it comes to tweeting publicly available information... Time to rethink whether you do actually need some moderation here Mr Musk, or are you only up for clamping down on stuff that directly affects you?

Jura kids xmas play was a comic tale of fighting for better #Ferries & flights, #AffordableHousing & broadband, complete with songs about not accepting that things have to be rubbish & working to make it better for all. I'm not crying, you are. These brilliant kids give me hope.

Imagine if social media is just a massive fad that eventually burns out in about 15 years and folk in 2100 study it as a craze from the 'beginning of the last century'. Might seem a mad idea now but I know plenty young 'uns who avoid it. See also: Fax machines.

Discussion on the failure of ferry services in the Western Isles due to be discussed on The World at One (Radio 4) shortly. Will also be able to listen again later via BBC Sounds.

The #HPMA proposal is like something CalMac would have written as a strategy for easing over-tourism in St Kilda.

Island life is fucking stressful.

I recently met someone at an event who I only know from on here. He thought for a minute and said, "oh aye, I know you. You have some thoughts on things." I do. Indeed I do...

Someone posted in the island FB group saying they are moving here in a week or 2 and asking how expensive food shopping is and whether there is a scout troop. Seems to be fretting over the former in particular. How do you get to the point of moving and still have Qs like this?

Googling class action law suits to understand if CalMac Ferries can be held to account for all the many ways it is screwing islanders. Not just about the fleet issues. It's about how issues are dealt with and how islanders who have no option but to use them are being ignored.