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Here we are, the first daff of the season - not the earliest ever but not bad going.  I hope it's cheering up passers-by as we have yet another awful week-end ;  sitting on the balcony overlooking Dougie's sodden fields is a bit like being on the bridge of the Arran ferry. (well, we don't actually sit on the balcony at the moment, just press our noses against the salt strewn glass hoping for a fleeting glimpse of the sun).

Currently we are waiting for Andrew  to come and do some painting in Mairi's Cottage, for Ewan to chop the tree down in Colin's garden, and for Gerry to put new windows in.  It was a shame that Mike packed the tin of paint badly so when he opened the car door it upended over the car park;  still, it missed the back seat which was something.

Latest chat is that a fabulous cake maker has moved into the village (as they do) and is planning a super tea shop so we'll see; but the place seems to be reverting back to its holiday persona again and who knows what will be in store for you this coming season.

Meanwhile the dog is barking so I better go and see who's at the door....

A VERY HAPPY 2016 TO YOU ALL

The year started well for us here in Carradale;  while everyone was struggling with floods and closed roads we got off very lightly with nothing more than a stiff easterly gale.  Mind you the poor souls coming down for New year had to do major expeditions - the Rest had a landslide, Callendar was flooded, the burn was over the bridge at Drymen.  But they all made it , feeling rather smug.

I have now got next year's prices up on the web site so you will have to pay a deposit - being a simple site we can only cope with one year's rates at a time and although it will take a booking, it is beyond it to work out details like deposits.  But all is now clear and we have only put up prices slightly - what with minimum wages (it's O.K., we've always paid well over th minimum wage) , and various other price rises it's important to make a slight increase each year rather than suddenly having to do a huge jump.

Carradale is looking forward  to good year;  the Glen still goes like a fair, the Ashbank has new occupants, and Alen tells us that at last the house down at the quay will be repaired after the fire, so we'll all be looking very smart.  The ferry from Ardrossan to Campbeltown has been confirmed as a permanent (summer) fixture which is wonderful and could save some of you a big chunk of the journey.  Keep an eye open for slightly more sensible timetables than it's had in the past.  Occasionally it decided to go home via the Kilbrannan Sound, so sitting on our balcony we could see it chugging  past.

Hopefully a bit of decorating  will be done in Mhairi's Cottage, and a bit of refurbishing elsewhere - although before we know it Easter will be upon us and the cottages filling up. We have been incredibly busy with our main business - our coup being to supply pendants for Tim Peake to take up to the space station - but this is the time of year when that side of things eases off.

Anyway, look forward to hearing from you all .

Well, I always like to start the blog with a photo and this one came to hand  which has nothing to do with Carradale but is of Brodick Bay, taken by my Dad in 1952!  Only difference to today are the haystacks and the puffer.  But of course the point is that not only can you see Arran from Carradale, but here too there is a timeless quality.  In 50 years there has been surprisingly little change, and what there has been has been to the good. A few new houses, a slip into the harbour, one of the nastier humps in the road smoothed out....

And so , of course, to the wonderful weather we had to end the season.  Thank goodness.  It didn't save the tomatoes, but many of the farmers must have been breathing a huge sigh of relief as the crops were gathered in and the ground dried out.  It has been a stunning autumn and makes the long haul of winter seem a bit less of a thought.

As for the village happenings;  well SSE have pretty well finished their huge project so we are now losing the perk of lots of guys needing accommodation;  on the plus side we can get up the road without being mown down by a stream of white trucks.  They still have to fell the old pylons which could be fun.  The Ashbank has just changed hands so we have yet to see what happens there. Angie's  shop is going strong thank goodness and we still have a Post Office. And we're all getting used to filling up with petrol whenever we go to the town.

We already have the dates of the Skipness Christmas Dance, and the New Year Hall quiz (the Hall incidentally has had a green makeover with insulation and heat exchangers  - which they can't get to work - so we'll all be nice and snug). And next year's bookings are beginning to arrive.

As for work here at the Steading;  despite no shop we are working harder than ever .  Our greatest coup at the moment is sending some of our pendants to the space staion with Tim, Britain's first astronaut.  So we will be watching the take off with extra excitement.

Time to watch Grand Designs and get some new ideas - green roofs on the cottages/

Well, at long long last we're getting some decent weather, and what could be better than a good September. The colours are wonderful and a walk over the forest road was delightful.  This bit of road near Grogport is now known as the 'haul road' as it was used by SSE to bring big machinery over to their site.  If only the crane had stuck to it, it wouldn't have ended upside down in a ravine!  I now thought it was quite safe for dog walking when a grumbling and rattling echoed round , and over the hill, heading for the dogs, was a huge crane on a low loader.  Arne leapt into a peaty pool in terror.

And once this stuff gets stuck on them it just has to wear off round the house. Be warned!!!

Last burst of excitement in the village will be the famous Duck Race at the end of the month.  A long standing institution for the September week-end , it is organised by the church and there are all sorts of festivities as the ducks putter down the burn.  And wonderful prizes. Don't miss it!

But of course a late autumn break in one of our snug little cottages might be just the thing you need to set you up for winter so don't forget us.  We're busier than ever in the workshop so there will always be someone around to look after you.

At last!  A good drying day.  And just as well with three cottages changing over, our number 1 gentleman cleaner winging his way to the Algarve to play golf, new taps needed in Mhairi's,  and piles of ironing to be done so we had enough sheets. However Mike and I can turn our hands to anything, and wonderful Audrey did the ironing in double quick time, so all was well for our next visitors.  But as you get shown into a nice clean and tidy cottage, little do you realise the rushing around that has gone on in the background.

At one time I had 4 letting caravans on the caravan site and armed with our ancient land Rover (which Mike swears he will rebuild one day) fitted with a generator (for the vac.) I would sometimes have to get them all changed over and ready on a Saturday.  Nowadays many people book for shorter than a week, and for  any day, which actually makes our life much easier.

This coming weekend is the Mull of Kintyre Music Festival in Campbeltown with some terrific gigs. It has gone back to its Celtic Roots and with the Treacherous  Orchestra and Diamh it has some real pros.  We saw the latter in South Cork in May when we go over to a Fiddle Fair, and it will be nice to see them again in the Heritage Centre which is a lovely venue.

We are coming up to the last trips of the season of  The Waverley paddle steamer  from Tarbert.  We went a fornight ago and had a brilliant afternoon.  To be hugely recommended.  2.45 from Tarbert Pier every Wednesday afternoon. 

Well, despite the cold erratic summer we are managing to get some nice weather at the week-ends and yesterday was no exception though we started off our Sunday walk in a fine drizzle.  This excused us from one of our 7 mile marathons, and we decided to wander over Deer Hill.  By the time we got to the top the sun was out and there were wonderful drifts of mist ;  with the rhododendrons out and fresh green tips on the firs, it was well worth the hike.
Next excitement in the village is the Great  Carradale Canter - the harbour group's first stab at running a 10 K and  5 K. (sounds as if they are doing the running which I doubt)  Lots of entrants so it should be  a good day.12th July - details on line if you fancy a go.

Well, high drama  and panic in the village - the bakers stopped doing the papers!  Imagine the shock horror amongst our retiree population.  And what's more - if you hadn't got them from the pier shop in the past you certainly weren't going to get them now.
All because the Campbeltown supplier had closed.

However after about a week of tension - and those who were getting them posted up from Campbeltown lambasting  poor John the postie if he was late with deliveries - the issue has been resolved.  Papers again.  Phew........