Well, I've started the 2019 blog four times now. First we had the first daffodil (middle of January, a record), then we had the first primrose, then we had the frogspawn ( dead on time on February 17th) but I reckon the first camelia is the best. Camelias are very contrary - one year you get none, and the next the bush is covered. A trip to the gardens at Gigha used to be a joy with swathes of gorgeous flowers, but years of neglect have left them a shadow of their former selves. However we will certainly go over to the lovely island this summer just to check up.
And how is the village getting on? For all you afficianados of Carradale, the main big change is that the shop has closed. So no more gossip from Jean, and fight for the papers. However all is not lost. True to our re-incarnation as Kintyre's Ambridge we now have a 'Community Shop'. Housed in a wee cabin on the Village Hall car park it opens on 29th March (of all days!) and full marks to the energetic team that have got the whole thing going , and the volunteers who are going to run it. It will be fairly functional with basics only, but will save tedious trips to town for the odd loaf and tin of dog food. Next on the go is a village composting point ( a composterie?) and surely we must be getting lined up for another Village Panto .
Incidentally Campbeltown now has a super re-furbished Picture House which has endless films on at all times of day and night so on that odd wet day it's a most enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours .Pick up all the times on your tablet. For Carradale's burgeoning retiree population it enlivens the weekly (Thursday is Carradale's day) trip to Tesco.
We are exceedingly well off for coffee shops in the village which certainly , to Mike and myself, is the requisite of a good holiday.(I think we know pretty well every coffee shop in Ireland). Drumfearne's baking just has to be sampled.
And the cottages? Colin's has had a good old makeover with new carpet and decoration , and Mhairi's porch is in for a rebuild if we can persuade Jerry to brave the road from Campbeltown. A smashing joiner who we discovered when the cottages were created who did all the lovely pine panelling and who we have regularly used for tricky jobs ever since. His piece (I can't do grave accents on the computer) de resistance was one December when we were having the works Christmas dinner (14 of us) in the house and he arrived on a wild and windy morning and proceeded to take out all the windows in the dining room and replace them. Floor was covered with glass, everything was soaked, but boy, what a night we had!
We hope you manage a wee trip down to see us. Apart from our three night rule we are infinitely flexible on dates, and we welcome dogs, although our new, 'must be kept on a lead round the premises ' rule is to allow our free ranging hens, especially our precious wee hen 'Sultana' to have a happy life and furnish us with lots of eggs .More of her next time
