Sunny

WHILE most Brits are ditching the UK for the bright lights of Australia – one couple has gone the other way.

Interior designer Banjo Beale and his husband, Ro, have set up their lives on the wild Scottish island of Ulva and are even in the process of opening a new hotel there.

After growing up in Australia, the pair set off on an epic journey around the world travelling to Sri Lanka, across Europe before eventually settling on the Isle of Mull where they worked on a cheese farm.

The couple then moved from Tobermory to Ulva where to say life is very different on the island would be an understatement.

Talking to Sun Travel, Banjo said: “We swapped Tobermory which has a population of 2,000 for Ulva which has 13.

“But I think it’s a beautiful, wild place, it’s an island off an island with no roads – it’s a really special place.

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“Mull is all the best bits of Scotland on a tiny island, and Ulva is the best bits of Mull on an even tinier island- it’s like another world.”

Now, he and Ro are embarking on a project together – renovating Ulva House, which they’ve documented on their BBC series Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel.

But thanks to its location on Ulva, it hasn’t been the easiest project to take on.

Banjo said: “The biggest challenge was the logistics of getting it across on the world’s smallest ferry.

“The island has no cars either – just a tractor, and a horsebox which you have to get up a very small goat track.”

When it comes to accessing the island, you’ve got to get to the Isle of Mull first and take a tiny ferry across the strait.

Unlike traditional ferries, visitors have to signal for pickup using a red panel on the pier – then the ferryman will come over which according to Banjo is ‘where the adventure starts’.

The best time to visit Ulva are from April through to October when Banjo said “the island swells in population” – which it does considering its 13 residents.

Banjo told us: “It’s lovely to see energy come back in spring – all the flowers and bluebells are blooming and tourists are exploring the island.

“I like that we get to share it – because when we first came to Ulva, we completely fell in love with it. It’s a very special place to live.”

So, when you make it onto the island, here’s what Banjo suggests you do including a stop at The Boathouse – which Banjo and Ro also manage.

He said: “Once you step off the ferry, I’d stop off at The Boathouse for a pre-walk coffee just to wake up and then go for a lovely walk maybe to Ormaig.

“You’ll be able to see ruins of the island’s villages – Ulva was once home to around 800 people and it even had the largest bagpiping school in Scotland.

“There’s also Livingston’s Cave, and if you head over to the other side for a gorgeous view of Inch Kenneth where the Mitford sisters used to live.

“Then head back to The Boathouse for lunch – we serve fresh langoustines, crab and lobster which you can enjoy with a fresh bottle of wine.”

For those seeking wildlife, there’s no shortage of sightings on Ulva.

Banjo said: “We’ve got otters, dolphins and seals swimming by, and one ferry you can take from Ulva is called Turus Mara which goes to the Treshnish Isles, it’s home to puffins.

“Often we go there for a puffin picnic just to sit with them, that’s one of our favourite things to do.

“There are more cows than people too so you’re likely to see a lot of them. And you’ve got a great chance of seeing the Northern Lights when the sun goes down.”

However, not all aspects of life on Ulva are as easy and idyllic as it sounds.

Banjo added: “We have no shops on Ulva, the nearest supermarket is on Mull which is a ferry ride and then a 40-minute car ride away.

“We have to plan ahead during the winter so we’re pickling, preserving and getting ready for the year ahead.  

“There are frequent power cuts, so sometimes we get stuck on the island. Once there was a storm and we couldn’t get off for five days.

“Those who live on Ulva, we rely on each other – when there are no shops to buy sugar from, you’ll have to borrow it.”

When it comes to their way of life, what is it about Scotland that Banjo enjoys so much?

He joked: “In the depths of winter I ask myself the same question.

“But actually, I think both Scotland and Australia are similar, especially when it comes to extreme weather – there’s just a little less sunshine.

“And in terms of the Scots, I’d say we have the same sense of humour, we’re very similar and self-deprecating – we don’t take ourselves seriously and Scots are the same.”

The eager-eyed will recognise Banjo from BBC’s Interior Design Masters which he won in 2022.

The island itself is unique too, with Banjo and Ro having to renovate Ulva House on a rent and repair lease as Ulva is owned by the community.

Banjo explained: “The community bought the island, so nobody owns anything. We rent Ulva House, repair the building, make a living off it and a proportion of that goes back into the island into community projects.”

Ulva House will open to guests in 2027.

Watch all episodes of Banjo and Ro’s Grand Island Hotel on BBC iPlayer now.

In a State of the State speech that largely ignored any talk of the big, fat budget black hole that threatens to swallow the California dream, Gov. Gavin Newsom instead laid out a vision of the Golden State that centers on inclusivity and kindness to combat Trump’s reign of darkness and expulsion.

In a week dominated by news of immigration authorities killing a Minnesota mother; acknowledgment that “American First” really means running Venezuela for years to come; and the U.S. pulling even further out of global alliances, Newsom offered a soothing and unifying vision of what a Democratic America could look like.

Because, of course, far more than a tally of where we are as a state, the speech served as a likely road map of what a run for president would sound like if (or when) Newsom officially enters the race. In that vein, he drove home a commitment to both continuing to fight against the current administration, but also a promise to go beyond opposition with values and goals for a post-Trump world, if voters choose to manifest such a thing.

It was a clear volley against Republicans’ love of using California as the ultimate example of failed Democratic policies, and instead positioning it as a model.

“This state, this people, this experiment in democracy, belongs not to the past, but to the future,” Newsom told the packed Legislative chamber Thursday. “Expanding civil rights for all, opening doors for more people to pursue their dreams. A dream that’s not exclusive, not to any one race, not to any one religion, or class. Standing up for traditional virtues — compassion, courage, and commitment to something larger than our own self-interest — and asserting that no one, particularly the president of the United States, stands above the law.”

Perhaps the most interesting part of Thursday’s address was the beginning — when Newsom went entirely off script for the first few minutes, ribbing the Republican contingent for being forced to listen to nearly an hourlong speech, then seeming to sincerely thank even his detractors for their part in making California the state it is.

“I just want to express gratitude every single person in this chamber, every single person that shaped who we are today and what the state represents,” Newsom said, even calling out Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, one of his most vociferous foes, who released a questionable AI-generated “parody” video of Newsom in response to the speech.

It was in his off-the-cuff remarks where Newsom gave the clearest glimpse of what he might look like as a candidate — confident, at ease, speaking to both parties in a respectful way that the current president, who has labeled Democrats as enemies, refuses to do. Of course, he’d likely do all that during a campaign while continuing his lowbrow online jabbing, since the online world remains a parallel reality where anything goes.

But in person, at least, he was clearly going for classy over coarse. And gone is the jargon-heavy Newsom of past campaigns, or the guarded Newsom who tried to keep his personal life personal. His years of podcasts seem to have paid off, giving him a warmer, conversational persona that was noticeably absent in earlier years, and which is well-suited to a moment of national turmoil.

Don’t get me wrong — Newsom may or may not be the best pick for Democrats and voters in general. That’s up to you. I just showed up to this dog-and-pony show to get a close-up look at the horse’s teeth before he hits the track. And I’ve got to say, whether Newsom ends up successful or not in an Oval Office run, he’s a ready contender.

Beyond lofty sentiments, there was a sprinkling of actual facts and policies. Around AI, he hinted at greater regulation, especially around protecting children.

“Are we doing enough?” he asked, to a few shouts of “No,” from the crowd. This should be no surprise since his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, has made oversight of artificial intelligence a priority in her own work.

Other concrete policy callouts included California’s commitment to increasing the number of people covered by health insurance, even as the federal government seeks to shove folks off Medicaid. In that same wellness bucket, he touted a commitment to getting processed foods out of school cafeterias and launching more medications under the state’s own generic drug label, including an $11 insulin pen launched last week.

On affordability, he found common ground with a proposal Trump put out this week as well — banning big investors from buying up single family homes. Although in California this is less of a problem than in some major housing markets, every house owned by a big investor is one not owned by a first-time buyer. Newsom called on the Legislature to work on a way to curtail those big buyers.

He also hit on our high minimum wage, especially for certain industries such as fast food ($20 an hour) and healthcare ($25 an hour), compared with states where the federal minimum wage still holds sway at just more than $7 an hour.

And on one of his most vulnerable points, homelessness, where Republicans and Trump in particular have attacked California, he announced that unsheltered homelessness decreased by 9% across the state in 2025 — though the data backing that was not immediately available. He also said that thousands of new mental health beds, through billions in funding from Proposition 1 in 2024, are beginning to come online and have the potential to fundamentally change access to mental health care in the state in coming years. This July, a second phase of Proposition 1 will bring in $1 billion annually to fund county mental health care.

Newsom will release his budget proposal on Friday, with much less fanfare. That’s because the state is facing a huge deficit, which will require tough conversations and likely cuts. Those are conversations about the hard work of governing, ones that Newsom likely doesn’t want to publicize. But Thursday was about positioning, not governing.

“In California, we are not silent,” Newsom said. “We are not hunkering down. We are not retreating. We are a beacon.”

It may not be a groundbreaking stand to have a candidate that understands politics isn’t always a battle of good and evil, but instead a negotiation of viewpoints. It’s surely a message other Democrats will embrace, one as basic as it is inspiring in these days of rage and pain.

But Newsom is staking that territory early, and did it with an assurance that he explained in a recent Atlantic profile.

He’d rather be strong and wrong than weak and right — but strong and righteous is as American as it gets.

SUNSHINE fan Scott Dixon has spent every winter in Benidorm for the past seven years and the canny traveller insists the annual pilgrimage SAVES him money.

The 55-year-old takes his work with him on his annual lengthy getaways, saying he sleeps better and returns to the UK refreshed and energised. Sound too good to be true? Here, he explains how he gets such “staggering value’ on his winter sunshine breaks.

“It’s a no brainer,” says Scott, as he preps to jet away from his “freezing” home for the Spanish holiday resort. 

“Many people think extended winter sun breaks are a luxury but I say it’s smart budgeting.

“Covid has opened up a whole new world of possibilities to work and live anywhere affordably

“I’ll have no food bills, no heating bills, no petrol bills and I’ll be spending my days in 20C sunshine instead of enduring it in freezing Edinburgh.”

For the past few years, Scott has tried out several different kinds of accommodation in Benidorm’s Old Town for the season, including self-catering long term lets, but this year he has booked two, three week half-board holidays with Jet2. 

The digital nomad’s Benidorm package deals will include breakfast, evening meals with half a bottle of wine each night, flights, transfers and WiFi. 

The ‘snowbird’, a name for people who move to sunnier climes for the winter, says the three weeks in December costs him £1,443 and the three weeks in February £1,205, totalling £2,648.

This, he has worked out, breaks down to a spend of £63 a day. 

“To put it into perspective, my one bedroom flat in Edinburgh costs me up to £45 a week for electricity,” says Scott, who is mortgage free.

“Food is another £30 a week plus a load of other household costs.  

“At home, I’m paying hundreds of pounds just to sit around in the cold, cooking for myself and keeping the heating on.

“The value for money I’m getting abroad is staggering – I’m getting sunny weather, daily cleaning with no housework and cooked meals.”

Thousands of Brits head to Benidorm every winter, with the resort’s long-stay visitors attracted by its weather and British-style pubs and shops. 

“I’ve got to know a few familiar faces over the years,” says Scott, who is single and travels solo.

“Regular winter visitors, locals, bar staff and people who have become friends. 

“You see a lot of the same people each year and there’s a real community feel.

“It’s become quite common for people to escape the UK winters, especially pensioners, remote workers and anyone who realises they can live well for less in the sun for a few weeks.”

While the lively, budget-conscious destination in Southern Spain has been unkindly dubbed ‘Blackpool with sunshine’ by some, the writer insists Benidorm’s Old Town is a true hidden gem.

Filled with whitewashed buildings, narrow streets and traditional architecture, this area is known for its tapas bars and vibrant nightlife. 

“The Old Town is traditionally Spanish and a polar contrast to the New Town, which is where everyone forms their ‘Brits abroad’ and ‘Blackpool with sunshine’ negative opinions,” says Scott.

“People who have seen my photos can’t believe how nice and clean it is, with pristine beaches and everything you can wish for.

“It’s reliable, warm, affordable, has everything I need and only a two-and-a-half-hour flight each way.

“Benidorm is a completely different place compared to the summer peak season in general – it’s calm, clean and more chilled out.”

The weather in the winter is mild and pleasant, with an average of six hours of sunshine each day compared to less than two hours back in the UK.

“The weather is the biggest draw,” says Scott.  

“It’s perfect. Not too hot, not too busy and the weather is warm enough to sit outside with a beer on the beach front, go for long walks or just have a snooze on the beach without getting burned.

“Once you’re into January and February, it can sometimes be a bit too hot to sit out in.” 

Moderate exposure to sunlight is a primary source of vitamin D for most people and this vitamin produces the ‘happiness hormone’ serotonin that positively affects people’s mood, appetite and sleep.   

It could be why wintering in the holiday resort always has a positive effect on Scott’s mental wellbeing.  

“I started going during the winter in 2018 because I realised I didn’t need to spend it in the UK, freezing, paying high bills and feeling miserable,” he explains. 

“And the first time I tried it, I honestly couldn’t believe the difference in how I felt – more energy, better sleep, a better mood and a different mindset. 

“That made it a yearly habit.

“I eat better and walk more, and return home refreshed and energised – not run-down and drained.”

Scott, a consumer rights expert known as The Complaints Resolver, takes his work with him on his extended holidays – and says he usually isn’t the only digital nomad around. 

“Since I freelance, I’ve built flexibility into my schedule,” he explains.

“WiFi is good, and hotel staff are used to digital nomads now.

“I have stacked my work in advance so I can relax, and do some light work in the sunshine if necessary.”

So as Scott packs his suitcase for Spain, he has a simple message for anyone thinking of becoming a ‘snowbird’: do it. 

“You don’t need to be wealthy,” he says.

“Package deals in winter are cheaper than many people think and if you compare it to the cost of staying at home you may find it’s not that expensive.

“The endless days of blue skies and warm sunshine really lift your spirits and benefit your mental health, you can’t put a price on that.

“It’s a place where you can relax without thinking about life admin, bills and the day-to-day drudgery of winter in the UK.

“I couldn’t imagine spending winters anywhere else.”