Yes, you may well wonder at the symbolism of a narrowboat on a cottages blog, but Mike and I have just had a smashing week-end sailing from the Falkirk Wheel to Edinburgh and back in a dear little narrowboat. Which reminded me that it was our holidays on narrowboats that inspired Mike's design for the studio cottages. When we took over Colin's cottage it was a rather run-down 3 bedroom family cottage, but we had found that staying on a well-designed, compact little narrowboat was great for a holiday. Much tinier than our studio cottages but with all mod cons it was all you needed for a week's break, and fun as well. So he designed the studio cottages to be compact, well appointed, and hassle free. Hope you think he succeeded.

Lots of lovely rhododendrons out around the estate, although a spot of frost last week has damaged some of them and turned the edges brown. But they are wonderful tropical looking flowers and very cheering after a long bleak winter. Daffodils too, just everywhere. Kintyre is brilliant for daffodils, they pop up everywhere. I found a lovely little bunch growing among the trees by the river, and all along the shore walk there are sudden unexpected flashes of yellow. How on earth do they get there?

Place is still quiet, though two of our cottages are occupied this week, and there are enough places open round and about to ensure you can get a meal, or have a nice jaunt some where. Portavadie is proving a very popular haunt - get the wee ferry across from Tarbert and find yourself in an unexpectedly plush marina with super food, lovely shop, and sensible prices.

Sadly the Semple's petrol station had had its last load of petrol, so make sure you fill up at Lochgilphead or Campbeltown. It will be quite a loss to the village -there are talks of a Community buy-out, but I think that's beyond us!