This week we are taking a holiday on the island of Arran, staying in the lovely village of Lamlash. Arran doesn't have any tower bells, but Timothy Billings, who comes to the mainland from time to time for tower bell or handbell ringing, has started a handbell group. Yesterday we joined their weekly session.

The group consists of four other ringers besides Timothy. Brian and Amanda are also tower bell ringers, while Helen and Jill just ring handbells. Timothy has taught all of them from scratch, and they have made impressive progress, especially considering that he is the only experienced ringer. Yesterday we met all of them except Amanda, and we rang plain courses of Plain Bob Minor, tried some Little Bob, and finished with some plain hunting on eight. We hope that some of the group will be able to come to our next handbell day, in October.

Although Tina and I didn't bring a set of bells with us, we were able to split into two groups because both Timothy and Brian/Amanda have bells. Brian told us how he had bought a set of 13 (12 plus a semitone) at an auction, for the amazing price of £420. They had been refurbished by Whitechapel, and close inspection of the original leather caps revealed "Warner, London" as the founder's stamp. They're lovely and he really got a bargain.

I think this must be the closest to home that we've ever booked a holiday house. The distance is 43 miles as the crow flies. Being on an island makes it seem further away, partly because of the journey time. Apart from handbell ringing we have been walking, kayaking, swimming (Tina), and while out for dinner we were persuaded to enter the local pub quiz, which we won thanks to the musical knowledge of the young members of our group.