THE GREEN ROOF

Some of you may remember our plans to create a green roof on the garage replacing the old corrugated iron one. So last April I clambered around , after much sturdy work by Mike and the gang preparing the base, with 103 'plug plants for green roofs. The result was not spectacular!

However we nurtured it carefully, hosing it down during dry spells, and weeding out the thistles and willowherb, and to our huge surprise this is what we now have

A very green roof, but tucked in are some poppies, a terrific evening primrose, and some rather fine flags. So it's a good start but most people don't know what to make of it.
If Dougie can get his tractor up he can have some very fine silage.

The wagtails in the woodpile have kept us all fascinated at their efforts to produce a family and now we have some little fluffy wagtails tearing around and bobbing up and down. They join our young blackbirds who are very demanding and come on to the balcony insisting I feed them. Their preference for cat food is a mystery to no one but me and Mike, but they turn up their beaks at anything else

Village is getting busy, and last Saturday an excellent evening of Carradale in days gone by was hosted at the hall. Unfortunately we had other ploys, but it was clearly a great success. Next on is the summer quizz which is always hugely popular and throws up some unexpectedly brainy people ; as we don't even know what sport Andy Murray plays, we can never get anyone to team up with us.
And we also have the ever popular Harbour Day. The harbour has been looking pretty untidy as the fish farm have been changing all their gear, but it should be spruced up by then and hopefully the new flower tubs will be blooming .

Village shop is proving very handy and fills a need, although how we miss the gossip of the bakers - in fact if you are in the Campbeltown Co-op you may well bump into Jeandoing her own or everyone else's shopping, and there's your chance to catch up.

                                      THE DIRECTORS' LUNCH

On the last Tuesday of every month, the eight of us (soon to be nine) who work at Jewellery Casting Scotland (our other business) troop next door to the Directors' dining room ( i.e. go through into the house) and have our monthly picnic round our rather tiny dining table. This is called 'bonding'   . As we've all known each other for up to 40 years and may well be related it's really just an excuse to sample the amazing food produced by Drumfearne. Every month is different , from the most delicious vegetarian sausage rolls (vegetarian sausage rolls?) to strawberry tarts and eclairs to die for  and  it means fasting for the rest of the month. We strictly don't imbibe in case the Health and Safety Officer pops in to catch us working the big snippers, or sniffing the nitrogen. So if you are in one of our cottages and hear gales of laughter coming from the house, do pop in and join us. 

Cottages getting really busy now but lots of shorter visits than the good old days of a fortnight at a time. We do it ourselves having just had a lovely trip to North Yorkshire. Can't help being envious of the amazing flowers and gardens - I'm afraid our salt spray and nasty winds seem to put paid to such lushness. Or is that just an excuse? Hopefully our new garden centre down at Saddell will encourage everyone - he has a lovely display of super plants and has inspired me to get Mike to dig up the border and completely replant it. The hens are much enjoying it as well but we've come to an arrangement whereby if they keep off the border we'll keep Mr Fox out of their run. So far they're not honouring their side of the bargain.

Glorious coloured pictures to follow soon. Or not.

How often we get a dry May - over the years I can think of trundling buckets of tadpoles from the forest pool down to the burn by the house. Far too late for that this year. Apart from one heavy shower it has been dry for weeks, so it's out with the hose and 'thank goodness we moved to mains water'.  Yes, you lucky cottage visitors no longer need to arrive with a trailer full of bottled water because you're scared of pine needles!

Just back from a trip to Ireland - they say Scotland's beautiful but you should see the Wicklow Mountains. But horses for courses and we were happy to be back in our own little patch (despite the fact that no-one had watered my new border). Came by the Ardrossan - Campbeltown ferry . It was delightful to be back on an old Cal-Mac boat - we were familiar with Isle of Arran from past visits to Colonsay. The P&O European Causeway - she who nearly capsized last winter - was sparkling and clinical , but give me Cal-mac where we could eat chips and drink brandy on the top deck watching the sunset over the wee toon.  A great and inexpensive alternative if you are coming up from the south.

Next task is to replace the flower tubs down on the pier which have rather fallen apart. We have bought some very snazzy ones which appear to have come from Holland (tulips all the year round?) and once they are set up our good friends from Drumfearne will plant them up. They  have already planted billions of bulbs around the urban motorway (new path to the hall) which looked glorious.

Having had no swallows last year they are in abundance this year - even coorieing doon in our porch. When we rebuilt our original collapsing byre we had to  leave a hole for the two families that nested in what is now our bedroom. We have also acquired wagtails in the wood pile. (no racist jokes please). I am reading a fascinating book on how birds and insects navigate  and  clearly it's a doddle for them to pop over to Carradale from Africa. The eyes have it.

Which has to bring us to Brexit. Or not. The Irish felt very sorry for us!

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

Well, on Wednesday the first storm of the winter hit us - Storm Ali. Amber warnings from the Met Office and terror all round. As a  gesture  we closed the hoop house door, took the chairs off the balcony, and one of our braver cottagers gave up half his holiday to hi-tail it back to that safest of places - Harrogate. (Having lived in Leeds for a number of years I experienced some of the worst storms ever, but there you go). Of course it was all exaggerated. 60 mph gusts at Machrihanish but here at the Mains we are very sheltered and, apart from the wisteria descending from the pergola, all was well.

At least it could give CalMac an opportunity to have a new excuse for the boats not sailing. It has been a terrible year for the timetable - boats endlessly breaking down and at the moment they've had to shuffle them all around and at the week-ends they are all whizzing backwards and forwards round the Mull of Kintyre to provide the next sailing to Stornoway or Uig or  Barra. The down side of living on the islands. My cousin's daughter has just moved to Coll and has a new baby, so every visit to the obstetrician in Glasgow necessitates boat and train and overnighters in Oban.

Cottages are suddenly easing off and at the end of this month we move into the cheapest of price brackets, so be tempted! We often holiday at the beginning of October and nearly always get lovely weather. Apart from a hill-walking break up north one year when we got soaked every day as we tramped the mountains in gales and rain, and draped our cottage with sodden jackets and dripping dogs (try getting a sheepdog onto a pulley) every night.

Enough, the sun has come out and the tomatoes will be ripening.

Well, I'd never winner 'Blogger of the year' as there 's no time to blog! Far too busy growing monster marrows. Yet again we mourn the passing of the garden show. So that's 10 jars of wonderful chutney (we hope - you have to be patient with chutney)  My brother-in -law, clearing out his mum's house a few years ago, found some home made jam dated 1956. However , if you're into that sort of thing, the brambles are brilliant this year - huge and juicy and masses of them. I always freeze them and end up making jam the following July.

Village is over the summer rush so no exuberant dances  or exciting golf matches ahead of us. And sadly the famous Carradale Duck Race is no longer ,which is a huge miss for all the visitors.

And yet more depressing news - the shop has finally closed. We all had great hopes last year when
a young couple moved in, but it just didn't work out . We can still get milk in the Post Office - and digestive biscuits - but it's a trip to the toon for anything else, so be warned.

I can offer wonderful dark skies however.  We've had a couple of nights with amazing displays of stars, and with Mars and Saturn both hovering above the southern horizon it's very spectacular. Out with the telescope.

And just to sum up the recent weather, we have an Israeli couple in the cottage just now, and last dreich, drizzley Sunday  he said to me  'Trish, what is this weather called - we don't have it at home?' Thank goodness we've now had 2 sunny days.

Rain at last - and the only people not overjoyed are Mr Claffy and his merry gang who are just putting finishing touches to the Village Hall roof. They have done a wonderful job repairing and reslating it and haven't they been lucky with the weather? There was only one week-end when we slightly panicked that the tarpaulin was going to blow away and leave a gaping hole , but all was well and for most of the two months or so that thay have been working away it's been almost too hot to hold the slates! We will really miss them - ice creams have been exchanged, as have packets of Pringles and the brave lady in the team has got a marvellous suntan.

The garage roof much appreciated a dowsing and is growing away brilliantly. Not to be outdone by Mrs Claffey I was up there on my hands and knees weeding it at the weekend, and although far from having complete coverage it's coming on nicely. We had a lovely stray poppy the other day which was very cheery and who knows what other goodies will arrive. It was thistles and willowherb that I  had to remove .

Lots of discussion about the village shop which is being vacated by the  present tenants in August, and no one knows what will happen. We are so lucky having it and if nothing else there are plans to make it a community shop,  A meeting last week was inconclusive until there is more information, but at the same meeting was discussion of  the proposed community composting project.  We really are getting like a village in The Archers! 

Enough, I'm off to pick blackcurrents (having only just made last year's crop into jam). And the sun's coming out again.

85 degrees here yesterday - what a change from these freezing winter days. But lovely and cool inside - the sound of bees, a distant saw, the smell of peat wafting through the window..........the smell of peat wafting through the window? 

We rushed outside to discover that our intrepid cleaner, Sue, had managed to set my geranium pot on fire when she stabbed out her cigarette.  No wonder they tell us we mustn't use peat based compost. Fortunately Lynsay is in the local fire crew so she knew what to do. Spray the whole thing with foliar fertiliser.

After that excitement it was a nice chance to continue with the watering. Hanging baskets are all very well but until we get the automatic sprinker system going again its a bit of a palaver keeping them moist. And now we have the 'green' roof to add to the list. Which is, incidentally, doing tremendously well and now even has poppies bobbing around in the breeze,

So there we were sitting on the balcony last Sunday and heard a familiar  clanking and round the point came The Waverley.  For those of you who haven't heard of The Waverley, it is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and cruises around the Clyde all summer reminding people of the good old days of going 'Doon the watter'

She is a real icon, and a few years ago we were hugely miffed when a lady from Bristol came into the workshop and said ' I see you have borrowed  our steamer', We soon put her right. But the cruising season does start in Spring when she bravely battles down to the Bristol Channel for a few weeks. Then it's back up to Oban for some marvellous trips to Coll. Tiree and around the coast. But her real home is here on the Clyde , and there couldn't be a nicer treat than catching The Waverly at Tarbert on a Wednesday afternoon and cruising up Loch Fyne. Combined with a pre-cruise lunch over at Portavadie it makes for a grand day out.

Delighted to have storm Hector last night - we were getting really fed up hosing the garage roof. Unfortunately it coincided with a day that the electricity people decided to disrupt our power for the day to do maintainence.So for the poor souls in the cottages, not only did they have to wander off to find heat and light on the first of our greyer days, but the electricity was 2 HOURS late coming back on so drenched and starving they had to wait ages before there was any respite. AND they missed the Scottish News. Here's hoping they had all been visiting the distillery. A stiff letter has gone to the Hydro Board and a lot of use that will do. But huge apologies all round.

We are delightfully sheltered at the Mains, but not so just up the Glen and poor Judi, my trusty assistant, got held up coming to work by a fallen tree.  A fairly common occurance round here and it is miraculous how quickly a few experienced guys with chain saws can clear it all away. At least the trees are all well in leaf now , so not as much damage as a gale earlier on. Our cousin sailing back to Ireland this morning had a VERY bumpy trip, and most of the ferries were off but for once the Ardrossan-Campbeltown ferry has managed to sail.  If I rush up now to the balcony I will see it on the horizon. Or not.

One of our hens is sitting ( for about the twentieth time so we don't hold out much hope) so we are hoping for chicks. They are rather special Rhode Island Red bantams, and though we started off with 6 we are now down to 3 , so the egg supply really needs replenishing. One year we had a hen who produced 20 chicks from a shed at the bottom of the garden in November. She solemnly walked them all up to the house over the gravel. We rescued most of them and they ended up at the farm next door.

I will keep you posted....

Who would have thought of it. For once while it is floods and thunder storms down south, we are basking in our second glorious week of sunshine. So much so that we've been out watering the garden and the farmers are (of course) worrying about the barley crop. But all the way to Campbeltown the bright green landscape shows us that the silage is in and already en route for a second crop.
A lovely afternoon spent indulging myself in a spot of sunbathing down on the bay. Two other groups of people there happily splashing around and a couple of yachts , and  that was it. Apart from hordes of gannets up from Ailsa Craig and having a splendid time swooping into the sea.

The ridiculous new path from the Hall to the village is now complete with lights so no longer can dance goers justify falling into Dougie's field - what spoilsports the Government are. But visitors to the cottages will not even need a torch as they wend their way home. Will it spoil my  stargazing from our balcony? That remains to be seen, but for any would-be astronomers amongst you we have an almost perfect 'dark skies' area here, and once we're over the longest day it will soon be out with the telescope again.

Time to go and have a taste of my first strawberries of the year from the hoop house,although sadly the gooseberries are looking very sad  - that's gardening.

I don't know what happens to the blog over the winter - we still have people coming and going, we still have bookings coming in, but basically outside it's damp and cold and there are no leaves on the trees and the place just doesn't look inviting! But it is, it is! Since I last wrote we have had dances, concerts, the terrific little Music Festival (worth coming to next year ) , the Kintyre Way Ultra with runners and cyclists whizzing past the window, and now the huge excitement of re-roofing the Village Hall and a mammoth and ridiculous path project from Hall to Village which involves about 50 men, cranes, diggers, road rollers and huge trucks -  all of whom trundle down the single track road from Lochgilphead. So much for austerity! And all we want is a few of the potholes filled in.

But this means that you will be able to walk very very safely as far as the next dangerous corner. 

Now, I know you will be wondering why I'm showing you this dreary picture instead of the bright green young leaves of the beeches and limes of Carradale, BUT, this is very special. Because this is the start of our green roof.


As we sat on our balcony and looked at the tatty garage roof which leaked like a sieve, we knew something had to be done, and I hit on the idea of planting the roof and making a garden. We got very enthusiastic and then looking at all the pros and cons we sort of gave up. However a Christmas present of 'How to plant a green roof' did the trick, and about 2 years later (and a lot poorer) we have just completed planting the roof with 'Seascape plug plants for green roofs'.

It is a very tedious process - very strong joists and wood followed by waterproofing then a serious liner, than a fabric liner, then 5 tons of special soil carted up (mainly by Mike) in bucket loads, and then planting 203 wee plants (mainly me) and then letting the whole thing get going. but even after 6 weeks it is thriving and we actually have 6 flowers! 

I will keep you posted.

It can't have been such a bad summer after all - the fig tree in the Douglas Cottages sitooterie has produced masses of fruit - here are two nice specimens . In fact we have had a wonderful crop of apples and are still coping with pounds and pounds of tomatoes - there is only so much chutney you can make. Sweetcorn in the poly tunnel has been very feeble, although the cobs we get taste wonderful.
Grand finale for the Duck Race tomorrow - perhaps after 20 years my duck may actually win. An iffy forecast means it may have to be moved to the Village Hall again, which rather spoils the effect. And that, in theory, is the end of the Carradale holiday season, although our October calendar is filling up and promises of that elusive Indian Summer plus spectacular Autumn colours make thoughts of an Autumn break very tempting.

Next week-end marks the end of an era - the last duck race! For years now the church have been running their duck race down the burn at Dippen on the September week-end. People come from far and wide to take part, and  the fight even to get a duck leads to fisticuffs outside The Glen. Some brilliant names emerge  (there are prizes for everything from the winning duck to the wittiest name) , much barbecue food is scoffed, and many visitors who only see each other at this auspicious occasion go home delighted to have had yet another memorable September week-end. And this is the last! Here's hoping some other exciting event will take it's place - but the ducks were getting a bit weary.

One of the surprises of living down here is that you never know quite what's going to turn up on the entertainment scene. A far cry from booking Fleetwood Mack 6 months in advance and just knowing you'll be watching it in a concrete arena with the band tiny specks in the far distance.
Anyway, an e-mail from Crear reminded us that the following week there would be a string quartet playing at their  wonderful venue at Kilberry. So as usual we got together a picnic and trundled off on the hour's journey on single track roads to our little spot overlooking Gigha and Jura. Nicely sustained, we arrived at the venue for the most marvellous concert by the Gringolts Quartet. What a treat. A wonderful crowd of people sitting around tables listening to outstanding music with a brilliant view in the background. AND tea and buns at the interval!
Sadly the Crear Concerts are being discontinued, but no doubt something equally surprising will take their place.
And so to Carradale's treat last Saturday. Word got around that Lachie and Sheila were doing their 'herring thing' again. Fortunately we got a ticket as, arriving at our usual last minute, we found the hall packed to the gunwales (appropriate phrase). The presentation is the most unusual and fascinating mix of slides and video of the old herring fleet days interspersed with poetry, readings and music. Chris Stout, Carradale's favourite fiddler, just happened to be staying in the village so better and better. Tatties and herring were somehow doled out to everyone in the interval - a real loaves and fishes effort - and it wasn't until 11.30 that the show finished. A few stalwarts stayed on for music and dance afterwards.
So the moral of all this is that if you are staying in the village and see some event advertised , then don't miss it. It will probably be unexpected and very good, and you'll be made incredibly welcome.

Wonderful news for the village - Heather and Johnny have taken on the Paterson's shop.

When Angie decided to sell there was gloom and doom - would the village be without a shop? would we have to cobble together a Community buy-out? (in Carradale!), but no, these brave youngsters are going to run it .

Heather is one of the extensive Mackinnon family (2 of whom work for us here in the casting business) and old hands will remember the wonderful days when Mum, Josie,  ran the Network Centre cafe. Amazing  baking - what about Effies' Heavy Stuff........?     Heather then went off to Catering College, and the next thing we know she's running 'The Green Room' above the harbour. More wonderful baking. But that closed and off she went to Glasgow, only to return with Johnny and a wee one!  Some girl.

So they took over at the beginning of August and  - breathing a sigh of relief - we all wish them great success.

As well as that excitement we had a busy time last week. The ladies in the church ran their bi-annual flower festival and this year they really excelled. The theme was 'Musicals' and we had everything from 'Singing in the Rain' in one corner to Les Miserables setting up the barricades at the end of the pews. Huge imagination and a lot of hard work made this a terrific display and it seemed a shame that it has to be so short lived.  

We then had the Camera Club's annual exhibition and again we saw just how talented so many members of the community are.  A great cross-section of ideas and subjects and over the years it seems to get better and better. While some Clubs in the village come and go as enthusiasm dies, the Camera Club seems to go from strength to strength  - if only the Bridge Club had been as tenacious.

Well, we had a great day yesterday - went to Gigha.


It takes just over an hour to get round to the ferry terminal at Tayinloan, so off we set in plenty of time, on a lovely sunny day. Too often in the past we have found ourselves hurtling up the west side watching the boat heading for the slip, but not this time. Parked up and first stop is Big Jessie's cafe. There you can sit outside with a latte and some lovely home baking and watch the ferry approaching, then it's all aboard for the 20 minute sail.

The M.V. Lochranza is one of Calmac's more dilapidated boats but it does it's job just fine. Originally built for the Lochranza- Claonaig crossing in the eighties, it was soon moved over to the Gigha run and has been plying backwards and forwards ever since. I would like to say 'in all weathers' but nowadays Calmac seem to draw the line at sailing in anything much more than about force 4. Gone are the days when the web site said ' the Master will decide'. Nowadays it's the Met Office who decides about 2 days in advance.

Anyway it was a lovely calm sea and there is nothing nicer than sitting up top as the ship tootles across the Sound of Gigha - keeping a hopeful eye out for some porpoises or dolphins, or measuring the very shallow bottom as we approach the island.

Then it was into the Boat House where we had ordered lunch. Being a sunny day the place was thronging with people and it was more akin to Ayr beach than little Gigha, but in the seclusion of the restaurant we were able to enjoy our splendid seafood in peace. But too much to do and it was off to visit the Gallery (alas, closed on Sunday) and then down the road to Achamore Gardens.

 Some people take their cars across for their visit. Mistake! The beauty of Gigha is the magnificent hedgrows full of roses , montbretia, juniper, grasses, heather all mixed up in a wonderful jumble of shapes and colour. The meadows on either side - meadowsweet, thistles foxgloves - with butterflies flitting around are mesmerising, and of course we took so long to stroll to the Garden entrance that there was no time to go in and we had to stroll back again! Note - don't go on a Sunday when the last boat is 4.30.

Anyway, there was still time for a tub of Gigha Ice Cream from Joe and Hannah's shop which WAS open and then back to join everyone for the sail back in the sun, with Islay and Jura on the horizon and a shadowy Northern Ireland away in the distance.

A good day.

Well, the Carradale Canter went without a hitch - no fatalities as they say. Loads of medals doled out and some very exhausted looking people panting past our kitchen window - did they realise that this wasn't actually the route?

Church Sale of Work last night. The art is to go early and place your hand on your favourite chocolate cake so that when the opening speech is over you've already bagged it. Lots of people attending as ever - it really is an  evening that's in the regular visitors diary. So cakes in the workshop this afternoon!

Weather continues to be pretty awful - one day shine and the next rain. Midges aren't too bad this year although I met a visitor the other afternoon on a lovely sunny day, not a midge in sight, with her midge hat and veil on. Clearly this had been the instruction in her travel guide, though how she could actually see to walk down the hill I'm not quite clear. Secret as ever is lots of Jungle Juice, cover up well, and get the chimera puffing away if you're sitting outside.

Next on the agenda is the Golf Club Dance which was great fun last year. A good old ceilidh dance in the Village Hall. At the April Dance we were at I ended up being hurled across the floor in the Dashing White Sergeant so better be a bit more careful this time. After a generation of youngsters who couldn't dance a step, they are all now well into the familiar dances again and thoroughly enjoy Stripping the Willow with the best of them.

After a very disrupted start to the season the Ardrossan- Campbeltown crossing has got going again and is a nice alternative to the road over the Rest. Saves driving but not much else. Give it a shot - details on Calmac's excellent web site.

Well, quiet times here in Carradale - while the south basked in a heat wave we made do with our usual 14 degrees and grey cloud. Still, Mike and I went up north for a hill-walking weekend and it bucketed the whole time with mist down to the ground.

However Sunday is the Carradale Canter and it looks like being bright and dry for all these brave souls hurtling about the village. I have to say that in Torridon we came across the Celtman Triathlon - 3.4 swim in Loch Shieldaig followed by a marathon over 2 Munros and then 126 mile cycle. And that was in rain and gales. Very fit people.

Still no news about the baker's shop which is for sale. We would be really stuck if it closed but at the moment it's still there - allbeit not making their own lovely baking  any more - and we're crossing fingers that a solution will be found.  gone are the days when there used to be a stream of people hurtling past the kitchen window from the caravan site desperate to get their morning rolls. Probably all motor homes come equipped with a breadmaker.

Lots of familiar faces coming to the cottages now which is always a pleasure - and they can enjoy our new garden chairs as all the lovely wooden ones seem to have fallen apart! 

Well, I will spare you another picture of my famous blue abutilon in full flower, and tell you what you just missed in Carradale.

Last week we had a real treat in the Village Hall. Chris Stout and Catriona McKay played some wonderful music for us. Incredibly well known as a fiddle/harp duo they play traditional Scottish, and their own works.  Saturday was largely the latter and quite superb. Much appreciated by the small, but knowledgeable audience.  Coincidentally, Mike and I had seen them a fortnight previously in South Cork where they were playing at a Fiddle Fair.

For the more energetic, the Mull of Kintyre 10K and half marathon take place on Sunday. Campbeltown is throbbing with excitement, the event is a sell-out, and much fun will be had by those who survive. Will the weather hold up or will everyone have to dodge the thunder and lightening?  We'll see.

The Carradale Canter , a sort of junior version, is on the 25th of June and will be a lively event ending up at the pier .It is a 10K and a 5K , and MUCH more scenic and fun than Campbeltown.
Food available down at the pier as you cheer the winners in.  Last year Mike was a marshall and was so inspired that he started running again and promptly pulled an Achilles tendon. However he's started again so if you get overtaken on a stroll round the bay by an energetic looking man and two very cross looking dogs then that's him.

Meanwhile, for me, there is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle up the Glen and back by the forestry road. Ian can hire you a bike and off you go.

Goodness me, aren't passwords a bind? Not having written anything since we got into the summer season LAST YEAR, I found it impossible to get back into the blog this evening. Seven goes at e-mail addresses and passwords later........here I am.   I got a wonderful password reminder called Dashlane on my computer;  this would solve all the problems.  Well, no. It's almost worse than useless. Sometimes remembers, sometimes doesn't. Last night , attempting to pay HMRC some money ,I was in despair that I would end up in jail for failing to submit the VAT form on line. Down in the shed was last year's file and, yes, there was the password.  

Enough. Here we go into the 2017 season  - our 19th with our cottages. We hope over these years we've kept standards up, done improvements, and kept you all happy. We do try, and still get as much pleasure as ever in running them.  We have the marvellous Neelie as our cleaner. Although he is really part of our other business and a master caster, he is also a whizz at looking after the Mains Cottages.  And VERY proprietorial about them.  So any complaints, he's the chap. 

It's been a great winter and already the gardens are full of the last of the snowdrops, cheery daffs, and camellias just beginning to make a showing. We have had odd visitors recently (although Mike and I have comandeered Douglas while our new kitchen is being fitted) . Hopefully that will be pretty well complete in a week or two.  When you work full time, these DIY tasks seem to take ages. And only Mike would insist on making and finishing all the doors himself to get the right colour. 

Main change in Carradale for you  old hands is that  Marcus and Mo have left the hotel - and Carradale . A new family - 4 ladies no less - are running the place. This only happened in September, so we'll see how they cope with a summer season! Otherwise - well the beach is still there and the latest fad is for all the year swimming so you may well see some stalwarts whizzing along with the seals in the Bay.  How long will it last?  Mike and I aren't tempted.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing both old and new faces in the coming year;  prices are the same as last year and hopefully we'll be seeing hordes of our EU friends visiting before they need passports........

trish