by Helen Westwood

AFEW YEARS ago we were invited by a friend of ours, Hamish to join him on an island hopping flight to Mull in Wee Dram. Wee Dram is a privately owned float plane which some of you might have seen at the various Scottish Air Shows over the years on Ayr seafront, performing the famous “splash and go” manoeuvre. We were to experience this first hand on our exciting trip.

We set off from Prestwick Airport with our overnight bags stored securely behind Captain Ham’s large yellow rubber duck, which is part of the interior décor. We were soon flying over Glasgow and his Mum’s house where we spotted her enthusiastically waving a tea towel in the garden at us.

Like a castaway who has suddenly seen land after days at sea

Taking off from Glenforsa

We splashed down on Loch Lomond as Hamish needed to pick up a camera he’d lent to a friend, which was lucky as I was already dying for a pee. It must have been all the excitement. I scrambled ashore and legged it up the beach like a castaway who has suddenly seen land after days at sea. I dived into the nearest hotel and strolled into the Ladies to use the convenience. Two very elegantly dressed women were admiring their outfits in the mirrors while applying their lipstick, as I nonchalantly wandered in. I must have looked a right sight in my drippy trainers, wet from the loch and luminescent yellow lifejacket with a hairstyle which looked like I’d been stuck in a wind tunnel. “Does my bum look big in this?” I asked, as they gawped back at me. “Anyway, I must dash as my float plane is parked outside!”……..off I trotted.