Uncategorized

The Cairngorm ski area is only 10 miles from Inshriach and I hadn’t been up for about 5 years so when our friend Gwennie made a surprise visit we phoned around, borrowed some kit and got ready to hit the slopes (I bottled the tweed because I expected to spend a lot of time on my backside).

Being a Tuesday there was hardly anyone out so we clocked half a day in lovely weather, didn’t queue or fall over and now my legs ache.

… Only because I realise that my last few posts, while constructive in their subject matter, show us pratting about covered with paint and dont reflect either the quality of the house or of its setting, or that we intend to take the business of showing our guests a good time very seriously, in case any of the above were in doubt.

Hopefully these redress the balance

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22727843@N03/

The new utility room, nee study, was my first ever attempt at plumbing and apart from the cold water inlet coming unstuck and soaking my desk (the plumbing crosses the gun room / now study next door) it’s all good. This coming week Im at last closing in on the kitchen and putting up pictures.

The big bed is amazing unless you fall out of it, some of the old beds were pretty medieval but I have restored and lengthened 3 rusty Victorian iron bedsteads bought for peanuts from a derelict house and bought a beautiful Victorian mahogany double from a dealer. We are entering an age of comfort. Not much in the way of heating but comfy beds.

Passed a very relaxed weekend fishing. Spring is here. The snow is supposed to still be excellent so, progress permitting, I will dig out some suitably unsuitable tweed and hit the slopes.

We got caught rummaging through peoples attics, subscribed to some auction catalogues and spoke to the odd dealer but nobody would charitably donate a second spectacular bed. So, if you cant afford it, make it. I took 2 days off from decorating and got going, using, amongst other junk, joists and the floor from a house that had been pulled apart and a hand rail from the OT department in Aviemore.

One half tester bed, looks a bit tudor, not at all small, total cost £19 (couldnt find anything for the slats). Shown here before the considerable effort of getting it upstairs.

Its short, its silly and it is part of an experiment whereby i try to prove that adding folk or bluegrass makes anything exciting. In this case, decorating. Plumbing to follow. Thanks again to Tired for 2 weeks of his time in exchange for nowt but beer.

Pippa and Gus asked if we want in on a pig. It must be coming from someone with a thick accent because the process of ordering left a few details unclear. These include;

Is it alive?
What sort of pig is it? A small, cute, babe sort of piglet or a mahoosive perma hungry tusked sausage monster?
If it is alive are we expected to ride it / make friends with it / feed it up and have to kill it?

Is it dead?
If its dead is it in pieces?
If it is dead and huge, how on earth do we cook it?

How do you make parma ham?

The paint samples in the library turned out a totally different colour from the real paint so I have to go back and redo it. It has become a mix of modern furniture and Edwardian joinery and I’m intrigued to see how it turns out.

On the lawn this morning were two roe deer, its unusual to see them calmly grazing mid morning and it goes to show what an unstalking estate we have become. The place is also teaming with relaxed pheasants and my second attempt at fishing (admittedly i didnt try very hard) also went unrewarded. The wildlife is winning.

The first tentative bookings are coming in, we cant confirm anything yet but thats very encouraging… Thanks to everyone spreading the good word!!

The plan is to restore this rusty Toyota Landcruiser and give it some Inshriach branding and maybe a V8, but, in the meantime, between decorating, Tired and I made another film….