For the first time since April we have a wee respite! and only because we had a cancellation. Cottages have been busier than ever this year and we have had so many super people to stay - and lots of lovely very well-behaved dogs as well. But it was all out on Monday for an empty few days - just as well as the wonderful Catherine who looks after them for us is on holiday. In such times Mike and I get down to the changeovers. For years Mike managed the Caravan Site on Carradale Bay and there is not a thing he doesn't know about cleaning, so they usually get an extra dust when he's on duty. Two days of heavy rain didn't help things on the drying front - life in Carradale without a tumble drier would not be funny. But all the cottages have them which does help.

Out brambling at the week-end and got about 2lb in half an hour - they make wonderful jam. Hazelnuts are good this year but having picked pounds one season and ended up with 1/4 oz by the time I'd spent a whole evening shelling them, I just cheat and buy them on the Co-op. We have terrific chanterelles in the woods behind us as well, so country living has its perks.

I tell a lie! the swallows haven't gone at all - met about a hundred of them on my beautiful morning walk down to the Bay. Sadly there was actually ONE OTHER PERSON there , and not even someone I knew. He said he hadn't a clue where he was which seemed strange as he was staying on the caravan park at the far end. A lot of people arrive at the park and never find the rest of the village, the harbour, the shops. Or they put on their hiking boots and gaiters, get out their GPSs, and head for the hotel. That's Satnavs for you.

Autumn always hits Carradale early, and the chestnut tree along the road is beginning to turn. Always the first to come out and a real sign of Spring, it's now going a lovely orange. The colours on these nice sunny days we've been having are super - expecially if you get up to the trig point on the Deer Hill walk. Loads of purple heather, red rowans, and black brambles - Scotland at its very best.

And the swallows have all suddenly departed having had their usual get together on our telephone lines before they set off on their amazing journey.

We are having our busiest September ever, but don't forget our last minute booking offer of 25% off - there may be a wee gap for you; not to mention the ridiculously low rates on October.

Had to show you the passion flower; despite the awful winter it has survived and is flowering away. This plant started off with us in the early eighties, then didn't survive a very cold winter we had in the nineties- BUT Dorothy from the farm next door had taken a cutting, and was able to pass a bit back to me, and so it goes on. Dorothy's didn't survive last winter, but I know she'll be round to get a cutting soon.

And all this is just to show you what a lovely mild climate we have here.

In a couple of weeks I'm off to Cornwall to check out the gardens there and see if they can compete with ours. I feel the Eden Project may be slightly grander than Gigha, but will it be as nice?

We've bought a picture! Well you may wonder what that's got to do with holiday cottages, but it just shows you what nice things you can do when you come and stay down here.
Lots of good artists and galleries in Mid-Argyll and last week-end they opened their studios to the public, so it was a lovely excuse for a tootle round. We started in Tarbert, and finished in Crinan, going by the highways and by-ways via such hidden treasures as Slockavullin and Crinan Ferry.

The area just reeks of ancientness with its standing stones and chambered cairns; it is the centre of the old kingdom of Dalriada , and the first Scottish kings were crowned at Dunadd. There are raised bogs and fabulous wild flowers and deer keeking at you out of the trees. Yachts locking out to sea at Crinan , and beavers at Loch Coille Bhar.

Start at Kilmartin museum and have a really delightful day - and you might buy a picture.

A hectic week-end in Carradale. Two concerts - one of Friday and one on Saturday. Both packed out, and set in a relaxed way round tables, with a bar. Friday was modern, and definitely for the youngsters, but Saturday was a good old fashioned Ceilidh with some of our local stars. Lorne is a fabulous professional piper, while the Gaelic Choir are Mod winners. You can't get better than that. And it all ended up with an enthusiastic dance.

Then Saturday was a great day at the Cricket Club with the President's eleven playing the team. don't know who won but they had great fun. Here we have Donald, Laird of Torrisdale (70 this month!) and Brian, skier, cyclist, tennis player, and cricketer.

Yesterday the village was out of water, so we were very grateful to be on our own supply.

A trip to Glasgow on Tuesday to get the car serviced, but also the chance to top-up cottage supplies -there is only so much you can get in the local agricultural store,but they do have a fine selection of loo rolls!

So, a new microwave for Mhairi's - the last one was getting a bit contrary , and after all it was well over 10 years old. And also some nice striped Jamie Oliver crockery - does food taste better off Jamie Oliver crockery? You know, I think it does. We have some Jamie Oliver huge pasta bowls and Mike's pasta is superb.

Anyway, having got domestic issues out of the way, we went to the 'Glasgow Boys' exhibition in the Kelvingrove Gallery. What a treat. Difficult to pinpoint why it was so good, but they were just very fine painters. And it's always a treat to go to the Kelvingrove. A magnificent building - like so many Glasgow buildings - recently re-furbished and just buzzing. Not like a museum at all.

If you don't know Glasgow then have a night there on the way up; it's a really wonderful city - masses to see, superb people , great eating places, and a real treat.