Sadie

Bucket Hound!

You can tell it’s winter and the days are short and the nights long, as I am home alone with the dog. So I turned my back for a few moments and ambled off to the kitchen in search of a tea top up, leaving hound snoozing in front of the fire. Slowly I became aware of odd bangs and crunching sounds from the sitting room. So we are either being burgled, mice are munching their way through the walls (no joke), or Bartie is up to something. The pictures tell all. Heaven knows how I will get the coal dust off that nose and ears?

Chasing Cheese

It’s been a tough day for the Barty Hound Dog of the Castle. This morning, whilst helping me get the Lairds Retreat ready for a lovely couple celebrating a birthday, he helped himself to a bin full of rubbish, caught in time, he only managed to snaffle a half eaten pack of cheesy snacks, refusing to be parted from his prize!

Next, whilst helping me discuss ground clearance works, for our new Bell tents, he captured a chunky ham and cheese sandwich, from a workers back pack, and was forced t gallop away up a hill to keep his prize, all to the serenade of indignant shouting.

Finally, this evening, he pilfered 1/2lb Italian cheese from the fridge, which he had accidentally opened, whilst I was hanging up laundry. Outraged by my indignant bellows, he hoofed off with said cheese at a surprising rate of knots gobbling it all up as he went. Having drunk 2 bowls of water, he is lying on the floor groaning and farting disgusting cheese smells….. poor old thing (not)!

Once in A Blue Moon

The glorious blue ‘blood’ super moon was gazed at all over the globe last night For some it was huge and red, for some, bright and blue, but for us, wherever we were, it was thing shared, a phenomenon that has not happened for 150 years. I was home alone at the Castle, just me and the old hound, and the sky was overcast, yet in the small hours, my bedroom was suddenly washed with bright light. And so, a few moments later, there I stood, balanced, barefooted precariously on a snowcapped flat roof, to stare at this new moon, in the dead quiet of the night. It felt for a brief moment like I was the only person under the sky, an overwhelming sense of peace and being.

I did take a couple of photo’s, which really don’t do the moon or the Castle justice, however my thoughts turned to the last ‘Keepers’ of Dunans to see the Blue Moon hanging over the Castle. The Fletcher Family in 1868, 4 years after the Victorian Castle section of the building was completed. Harriet Fletcher and her husband Bernard, may have stood just as I did, watching the clouds roll back and forth over white hills, with the exceptionally bright hard, white moonlight, flashing down engulfing their newly furbished rooms in sudden light and then dark as the clouds swept by. Time rolls on and people come and go, although thankfully Dunans still stands, in the hills of Glendaruel. I wonder who will stand with the Castle the next time a Blue Moon visits our dark Scottish skies?

Blue Moon, Dunans Castle, Fletcher Clan, Glendaruel, Night Sky

Happy New Year 2018 a new start

Its now three weeks into 2018 and I am slowly working through a huge mountain of things ‘to do’ and once again I feel like I am at the bottom of a steep hill, I say its a huge amount of stuff, although if I am honest, I’m not sure how much of it is stuff that really has to be tackled and stuff that I should just pass on, consign to the bin of ‘does it really matter, and do I really care’.

So shoving all that stuff aside, I have been staring into space, seeking writing inspiration for this sadly neglected blog. Wandering about the place muttering, clearing snow, mumbling, stomping around the garden, chuntering to the dog and the muse of inspiration is still, sadly on holiday. Due to a minor injury, I have been home alone at the Castle for a couple of weeks, getting fit and taking it very easy. I have been amazed at the help and care and support I have had from friends, my injury, a minor back moment, rendered me briefly immobile, with the warning that I should not be lifting crates of logs and buckets of coal. A tad tricky when you live in a place like ours, as no wood and no coal, means no fire, no joke in these few weeks of -8 degrees and counting.

All on the mend now and feeling a good deal less sorry for myself, and still seeking inspiration to write this blog of ‘good intentions’. In all honesty, I just don’t really feel interesting enough, and I cant see how Dunans is of much interest. Each day brings it highs and lows, and things to be done, just like every household all over the world. However I do think when you live it, you take for granted. Posting some snow pics on Facebook, I had so many lovely comments, I was kicking myself for not getting on and blogging, I mean, how hard can it be!

Then last night, I got a ping (I know, I am such a lucky girl), a Facebook notification, that we were mentioned in the Scotsman, a Scottish National Broadsheet of significant gravitas, both in the paper and in their cultural section. What a happy ping that was, a fabulous article, that really sums up the work we are doing and the value of our amazing membership. It was upbeat, focussed, no-nonsence, detailing the vision, selling our decorative titles to generate funds to rescue a heritage building, that would have by now, been lost. Inspiration to blog, yes I think so. So if you missed it, follow the link and please pass it on. Happy New Year one and all.

Sadie x

https://www.scotsman.com/news/fancy-becoming-a-laird-or-lady-while-helping-to-restore-a-historical-scottish-castle-1-4669856

Back in the Saddle

We are always looking for new ways improve and build on what we offer at Dunans Castle, beyond the painstaking re-build of our pile of tastefully arranged stones. We have so many folk who come to see us, that we see, that the more experiences we can provide the better, so this morning I had a rare treat, a tryout experience.

The most beautiful hack along the drovers’ and forestry tracks of Glen Massen, with the Cowal hills all around us. As someone who has never had a formal riding lesson and who has not a clue about horses, I had the most astounding morning. Cara of www.wilderways.scot, was beyond excellent, skilled and patient. We were a mixed ride (i.e 2 fabulous and accomplished riders and me, the little fat one at the back). None of us felt pressured or scared and under a skilled eye, we all had a joyous ride .

I found my horsey bottom (which I am currently sitting on, no mean feat after a 3 hour ride); I found my courage and; I think I might just be in love with a horse!

Next year we are aiming to offer rides, to and from Dunans, working with Wilderways. This talented company are in high demand and travel all over Scotland. This experience will only be available for limited set times in the year, however. Just imagine staying at the Lairds Retreat, then heading off on a ride, exploring the droving paths that the Fletchers of Dunans would have themselves once walked and ridden. Then returning to a hot meal and a night at campfire side (with a good comfortable bed and a steaming hot shower to ensure the sleep of the just). I am tempted to book myself in right now.

Watch this space dearest Ladies and Lairds, not just any old horse ride, a wilderways ride, up mountain and through Glen and as our leader said today, “None of our horses are armchairs, they all work you” – and Amber certainly put me through my paces.

Thank you wilderways – so good, I’m booked in tomorrow!

Sunshine and Scotch Mist

I waved the family off at 6.30 am, as they head off on the long drive to school, after a lovely and rare couple of days all together. Then got to it, to set about preparing the Lairds Retreat for an adorable wedding couple, whom I must confess I have only met on line. Its to be an intimate day and I am really looking forward to meeting our intrepid couple and to welcoming back our talented bridal team, who will turn up in an hour or so and place the finishing touches. The sun is shining as the early morning mist slowly rolls back revealing dewy grass and the bright newly washed colours of autumn. As I walked back to the Castle a huge owl flashed past me, and into the Castle, an omen! I believe so. Happy days.

Do You Want To Fight Me?

As you know, we live at Dunans Castle and spend by the most days being happy and hardworking. Life some-times gets in the way and rain always does. Tours are booked by our fabulous members and Gordon, our tour guide does a great job, whatever the weather literally chucks.

Some times, deep in our rural world we smash hard into the outside pace of of life and it leaves me pondering! Yesterday, a very smart, happy group of US internationals arrived for a tour, in a mini-bus, complete with driver, that they had booked to take them on a big trip around the west coast. When chatting to them in the shop, we all laughed and smillled as they told me, how their mini bus driver, an Edinburgh ‘lady’, had attempted to ‘talk them out’ of their trip to us, after all ‘there was nothing here. this part of Scotland is a backwater’. Well, she may have a point in the latter sentiment, a ‘backwater’ we may be, however these thriving, vibrant, challenging, working, rural communities, all over Scotlands outerlands, are and places of amazing endeavour, cultural development and rich in asset that plays its part in sustaining all life in Scotland and always worth a visit.

The group having set off on their booked tour, I was slightly startled to be the unwilling party to the mini bus driver’s strident point of view. She, as the driver of the bus, not the client had, quite rightly, not gone on the tour, choosing to spend her time instead, once her clients were out of view, to climb over protective barriers, ignore all signage and make her determined way to the ruined castle. Upon being intercepted and escorted back to her mini bus, she enriched my day with a diatribe on how, a) she could go where she liked because ‘there is the right to roam in Scotland’, b) we had ‘no right’ to stop her, c) she had brought people to us and was doing us a favour in coming to this backwater, d) she would not be treated like this in Edinburgh and e), my personal favourite, as she climbed back over the security chain, declining my offer to open it and being asked to stay on designated paths or stay with her car), did I want ‘to fight her’!!!!

It is an odd place this world of ours and this little episode has took up far to much of my busy working day, I do remain perplexed by the experience. The ‘lady’ has now removed her person and left this ‘backwater’ to recover from the energy she brought with her, clearly the drive from Edinburgh, took her deeply out of her comfort zones, surely she could have turned down the job. Why carry all this rage and antagonism about, dumping it when thwarted. She had not paid or contributed in any way to come Dunans, she is not a member and she was making money out of our members desire to visit this project, them and us.

A sad experience, it is always leveling to see a fellow human so angry, and always hard not to take it personally. Although as I reflect I am feeling a little cross, not by the odd behaviour or the raging assumption of personal entitlement, but by her contemptuously chucking her lunch rubbish into a hedge, before gathering her party and zooming off up the drive. Look our fellow backwaters, it may your turn next.

To book a tour and touch our world of fun

: https://scottishlaird.co.uk/products/special-tours?variant=42762221070

Summer Fun in Glendaruel ‘ARC”

Summer fun starts here….., so its not all act, act, write and act! 11 years ago I started a Summer School programme ‘ARC’ (Arts and Recreation Club) in the community of Glendaruel, as there were lots of small children dotted about, with crazy, isolated, demented mothers in tow. It seemed like an obvious solution, kids activities, super fun learning and a few hours working time for the grown-ups .

Would you believe, it is still going strong and some of the kids who were there at the start are still going, all be-it with lots of teen attitude! The older ones are now supporting our new youngsters and learning new skills and a couple are volunteering for the Duke Of Edinburgh Award.

Its drama and Stand Up Comedy this week, just in case all our kids are not smart or funny, or cheeky enough. We have some amazing activity leaders and I am proud to say that the project employs local leaders. I almost gave it up last year, glad I didn’t though, the laughter as I left the Village Hall this morning makes all the hard work, well worth it. I also see a new tranch of crazy demented mothers, clutching small children, who just maybe, will still be coming back in another 10 years. We may be rural, but we know how to shake things along.

This is our programme for 2017.

ARC 2017SummerFun

Find your funny bone’ in ‘Comedy in the Glen’ Drama week

10^thJuly Drama & Comedy, slapstick ‘make em laugh’ fun

11^thJuly Drama & Comedy, slapstick ‘make em laugh’ fun

12^th July Drama & Comedy,slapstick ‘make em laugh’ fun

13^th July Drama & Comedy, slapstick ‘make em laugh’ fun

Filmography and Photo’s, Week of multi media inspired by Summer Days.

17^th July Film & Fotography Fun in the Sun

18^th July Film & Fotography Fun in the Sun

19^th July Film & Fotography Fun in the Sun

20^sthJuly Film & Fotography Fun in the Sun

Sports Crazy Try Out Week – Fitness Fun.

24^th July Mixed Martial Arts: Discover your inner Ninja!

25^st July Yogido – Build core strength and stamina and get Bendy!

26^nd July Mixed Martial Arts: Balance & Strength

27^thJuly Mixed Martial Art: Games

Create On The ARC: A week of arts & Crafts

31^st July Sensory Art – Art of Discovery

1^st Aug Sewing Bee – Stitch and Sew

2^nd Aug Cant Cook Wont Cook – Foodie Fun

31^st Aug 3^rd Aug Cant Cook Wont Cook – Foodie Fun

*All sessions run in 2 hour slots with 1 hour for lunch.

*The day starts at 10am and will finish at 3pm.

*All activity days are different.

Week long themed sessions, working on a project. You can dip in and out.

Older ages very welcome, we are all inclusive and our activity leaders are skilled in providing a day that suits all

£7per day, per child. ALL ages welcome.

Please bring a packed lunch and plenty of snacks and drinks.

Sun Hats and midge spray for outside.

Celtic Life International & Tom Langlands, write about….

Me! The Walking Theatre Companycelticlife2017

Rescue Me 4 paws

I come from a long line of serial animal rescuers, growing up in a busy, bustling household, we always had a range of various rescued beasts about the house, from adored dogs to crazy cats, a goldfish that systematically ate its piers over a good number of years, finally meeting its own end at the claws of one of the crazy cats! For a while, we were home to 3 ex zoo tortoises, which would zoom (and I kid you not) about the ground floor of the house, terrifying dogs, amusing us kids, by nibbling our toes when left carelessly dangling within reach and infuriating the crazy cats in their efforts to consume said resilient reptiles.

There have also been terrapins, rabbits and a number of goats, the last being Kevin the Kid, who came to us when my mother swapped 2lb of mince meat for him, as he was unwanted and was ‘gonni gea in ma freezer’, according to her neighbour, and I must not forget the ex riding school pony.

In my adult life and with the support of the long suffering husband of mine, I have modestly continued the tradition, acquiring, dogs, cats, a couple of ducks, rescuing owls, moles (from our own crazy cats) and most recently finding ourselves the reluctant adoptees of a very elderly ewe, who clearly likes being by herself, is most interested in our daily antics and has firmly resisted all efforts on our and her farmer owners part to return her to her flock.

Giving an animal a home is dear to my heart and I am keen to support organisations that promote animal welfare, we are part of the animal kingdom and I believe have a duty to be ethical and mindful in our relationships with other animals, upon who’s bounty we greatly rely upon.

I came upon this organization and their ethos really made me smile. Re-homing and or sharing a pet, is a fantastic idea, good for the animal and the person they go to. Spread the love and the intent. Well done ‘give the dog a bone’

For more info visit

http://www.giveadogabone.net