It don't 'alf Pennan Ink

Pennan, the "picturesque" village that clings ot the coast of Aberdeenshire, is in danger again after severe flooding, causing the "Local Hero" location to be closed to all but emergency vehicles. This comes after a major mudslide two years ago which devasted houses. According to a report in The Times, only 12 householders reside there now.

I vistited Pennan a few years ago, as a sort of pilgrimage to see the location for "Local Hero"

"Local Hero" was a fantastic film; quirky, fresh, visually pleasing and heartwarming. The actual place was none of these. The Pennan Inn, at which we were planning to eat, had been neglected badly, and was a stinking, nicotine stained pit. The menu was of the sausage and chips variety, and so filthy was the bar that it took about 5 seconds to decide to move on and ended up at Portsoy. The local pub in Portsoy was run by a Londoner and the food was good. Outside, some loud East End types with lots of thick gold jewellery were tucking into some fish. I got talking to them and quipped that there were so many East Londoners here they must be on the run, and it was like the Costa Del Crime. One of the group fixed me with a strange stare and replied, "You are not far from the truth, there".

Pennan has attracted incomers. I suppose it may have had something to do with the film, but, apart from the pub, the only accents we heard were Surrey accents. Their houses cling to the edge of the pebbly grey coastline for dear life. I would feel doomed if I had to live there. Maybe they are.