Damon & Renate's Holiday Cottages

First daffodils - clematis windows

2012-02-24T14:40:00.001-08:00

Our first daffodil appeared rather lonely yesterday among the snowdrops. The other sign of spring was the frogs on the road on tuesday night with the heavy rain, all coming to spawn.

Out with the old, in with the new. New windows for Clematis, which is the last of the works that needs doing to complete tge insulation of walls and floor throughout. Obviously a solid wooden floor on top plus new bathroom thrown in.

And finally, out with the old, in with the ....... Older. Barbara has been given an old piano that is a better quality and in concert pitch for the Edwardian. We have given our old piano to Ardmaddy holiday cottages through freecycle.

Renate
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Snowdrops - again

2012-02-17T05:55:00.001-08:00

We've had barely any rain for over a week and are eagerly awaiting the snow forecast for tomorrow. The skiing has been getting thin and could do with a top up of snow.

Fantastic light yesterday again, so i made the most of it to take pictures of new angles.

But where's a squirrel when you need one? They've been hopping around the front drive and have been spotted lots.

Renate

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Magical light on Ben Cruachan

2012-02-11T00:22:00.001-08:00

Monday's magical light gave some great pictures, each with Ben Cruachan from a different aspect and at different times of day.

Renate

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2012-01-24T23:24:00.001-08:00

Its Burns night today. This is when the Scottish celebrate their most famous bard (poet), by catching the haggis on the hills and 'addressing the haggis' (saying a poem to it in broad scots) once cooked, before stabbing it with a knife. Haggis is eaten with tatties and neeps (potatoes and swede). There is a Burns ap giving you lots of his poems. Burns was from Ayrshire, although local folklore is that his father came from Taynuilt - house on the Burn.

Pictures from Weem by Aberfeldy. Although there is woodart throughout the forestry walk, I was inspired by nature's art.

The picture below is from the track up to the windmills. A small hydro scheme is being built up there by the farm.
The snow level keeps going up and down this winter. But the wind is taunting the skicentres as well.

Renate

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Happy New Year

2012-01-02T06:45:00.001-08:00

I was watching this weather coming in this morning. A few minutes later we had lots of hail. Also some thunder, snow on the hills and of course some windy weather!

We had a high tide that covered the pier over Christmas. This photo was taken an hour and a half after the highest point, with seaweed all over the road again.

The owners of the Taynuilt Hotel have gone into receivership last September, and unfortunately there appears to be no interested parties. Although the group are in administration, the Taynuilt Hotel was trading profitably. I have therefore initiated a Community buyout of the hotel to avoid it closing, as its an essential part of the community and for visitors to the village. There is a lot of interest in pursuing this option, and I now have an active group of 15 who are canvassing further. We have decided to look at a shares company structure, either as a co-operative, a community interest company or a standard shares company. This will hopefully give the opportunity to raise the capital. Our next meeting is on the 2 February while I dig further into company structures and set up a business plan.
The best wishes for the New Year,

Our first snowdrops of the year under the fig tree
Renate

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Christmas shopping

2011-12-17T10:04:00.001-08:00

Beautiful weather and snow up here at the moment. So Christmas shopping has been abandoned for now. Got a feeling I'll be in trouble next weekend but you have to make the most of it.

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After the storm

2011-12-10T03:11:00.001-08:00

3 big trees down. Including what was a very beautiful Scots Pine by the swings

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2011-12-06T09:38:00.001-08:00

Beautiful snowy morning

2011-11-27T03:40:00.001-08:00

Tonight is the 'replacement fireworks' in Oban over the harbour. This is the free event that's been put on to replace the bonfire night event where all fireworks went off in 50 seconds. It's worth watching in YouTube.

It marks the end of the Oban winter festival, which has had a Victorian theme. Many shop fronts were changed, our kids liked this one from Mary's meals best, but the pancake place is really good too.

I have been busy painting furniture for Torr Na Locha on Mull. This is a new style I'm trying out, would love some feedback.

We also have a Facebook on bonawehouse that I'm updating more regularly. We'd love you to 'like' it.
Renate

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Oban winter festivities and litter pick

2011-11-13T13:37:00.001-08:00

Damon's starring in the cave rescue on the landward programme is on iplayer for another 5 days. The link is
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zq2x9

We've had fabulous weather for the past week. Yesterday morning I had a kayak with my friend, launching from Kelly's pier at very high water.

I also had a walk last week, taking the train from Tyndrum to the remote Corour station on Rannoch moor. I then walked 25 km over 2 Munros to end at Tulloch station and took the train back from there. I even put some suncream on before I left!

Next weekend is a winter weekend in Oban, with Festivities. The usual iceskating and reindeer, switching on the lights and other activities such as cooking for kids, tea and walks around Dunollie House. There will also be an unexpected free fireworks display. Oban's fireworks on the 5th of Nov went wrong and it was all over in 1 minute. So an extra performance is put on.

Our first mince pies made by the girls, to get us into the winter festivities. This was after the major litter pick we did in the village with the primary school. The village is all spick and span again.
Renate

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2011-11-04T02:01:00.001-07:00

Another starring role for Damon. Landmark at 7 pm tonight, probably only in Scotland, but I'm sure you can get it on iplayer too. It is a mock rescue of a presenter lady out of a cave bythe cave rescue team. Then Oban Mountain rescue take her over a small ravine on a tyrolean. And an interview with Damon.
Enjoy

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Location:Landmark

Highland rescue

2011-10-24T14:08:00.001-07:00

We seem to be in a phase where the Oban Mountain Rescue team is on tv regularly. Next one coming up : Highland Emergency on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm on Channel 5 will feature Oban MRT doing a daring rescue on Cruachan! Www.chanel5.com/shows/highland-emergency/episodes
And it's episode 7.

And soon there will be the Landmark show, another Scottish one, with a simulated cave rescue where Damon was interviewed. Probably mid November.

The weather has been very mild here, but fully autumn. Plenty of rain and very gusty winds today. Last Saturday I didn't think there was any rain left in the sky, and sure enough Sunday started dry.

We are all preparing for the onslaught of autumn festivals. Halloween, the enchanted forest in Pitlochry, lantern festival in Lochgilphead, bonfire night, winter festivities the last week of November in Oban with an ice skating ring and Victorian theme. For us it's then St Nicholas as celebrated in Holland on the 5th December. Then finally it will be Christmas, and I'll be organising the Hogmanay party for Taynuilt in the village hall.
Renate

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Adventure show

2011-10-23T02:00:00.001-07:00

Only 2 more days to see the adventure show on iplayer featuring Kerrera. An excellent programme. The ferryman, Duncan is also part of the mountain rescue team.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016d8hc

Also my photo of Kerry MacPhee the female winner and 5 overall. She was awesome.

Renate

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Carsaig arches on Mull and Iona

2011-10-17T01:54:00.001-07:00

The adventure show on Tuesday 18th oct on BBC Scotland at 19.00. This one features the Craggy island triathlon that was in aid of Oban Mountain rescue.

We had a few days on Mull last week staying at Torr Na Locha, and walked along the coast to Carsaig arches. The guidebook time is 6 hours, and it certainly took us that time. The terrain varied between crossing streams, boggy, awkward rocky, boulders on beach and eventually grassy.

We saw lots of wild goats, this one stayed asleep while I photographed it.

The arches were spectacular. Damon climbed down so he could go through, and popped out at the more impressive arch beyond. From where I stayed you could just see this first arch.

On the way back we found nun's cave. The roof drips down on you as you enter, but it's very impressive inside.

We went over to the Isle of Iona the next day, where we went to Martyr's Bay, and up to the highest point, Dun I, only a 15 minute detour from the road. We could see right the way to the Isle of Rum and Skye, even though it was quite a rough day. Then to the St Columba hotel for tea and scones.
The Abbey has finally had it's scaffolding taken down.

Renate

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Turning Japanese and first snow

2011-10-08T02:25:00.001-07:00

Oban is turning Japanese. A new restaurant is set to open, just off the main street. It is advertised as an organic, vegan and japanese, their first outlet beyond London. So I went for upside down too!

The menu is advertised as

We had our first snow on the hills on Thursday morning. Not a great photo I know, but I had to pull over while driving to Glasgow and it was still dark.

This is from just east of Dalmally going up to glen Lochy, looking at Ben Lui.
We are off to Torr na Locha on Mull tomorrow for a few days with the kids. Part holiday and part doing jobs. And of course the kids will be seeing their 3 chicks!
Renate

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Weather

2011-10-02T14:36:00.001-07:00

While England has been basking in sunshine, we have been more modest up here. Plenty of variations on cloud, blue, rain and sun. Today started dreich and Cruachan was firmly clothed in cloud all day, but by late morning it was rather nice in Oban and it stayed nice all day.

View from Pulpit hill over to Kerrera and Lismore.

Pulpit hill with Oban in the background.

The North Pier with Piazza. This pier was built on top of a ship that was sunk there first.

Update on our chickens: of our 4 hatchlings we've been having a spot of bother with the one we kept, Poppy. She doesn't want to go in the hutch and stays out all night in any weather unless we force her in. The other 3 were banished to Torr na Locha on Mull, as I thought they were cockerels. BUT, they have all started to lay.... I'm in serious trouble!
Renate

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Countryfile

2011-09-18T00:34:00.001-07:00

Tonight's episode on countryfile is set around Loch Etive. Damon set up the abseil down Cruachan dam. I think it's at 7.30 on BBC 1.
Renate

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Craggy island triathlon

2011-09-17T04:22:00.001-07:00

We had a fabulous Sunday for the first craggy island triathlon on Kerrera. Competitors set off by swimming across to the island, then on their bike and round the track. Back at base run over the highest point, past the tearoom and finish at the castle. Below are the bikes waiting for competitors.

Fastest was 1 hr 10 mins. Fastest women was 1 hr 11 mins, this is her running past my control point. All proceeds to Oban Mountain Rescue.

We also had the Cruachan challenge. It had been delayed from June due to bad weather. So in true Argyll style the weather was out in force again! This is the kids being helped across the torrents.

Luckily Katia hadn't yet arrived, she was delayed too. She arrived later the next day, but was nowhere near the storm we had in May.
Following the May storm all our trees along the coast have looked like autumn where the salt spray damaged the leaves.
Renate

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Mushroom hunting

2011-08-26T11:06:00.001-07:00

I went mushroom hunting last night at our secret location. This was one of the large patches.

I managed to collect over a kilo of chanterelles, and also a few hedgehog mushrooms.

The spines of the hedgehog can be clearly seen at the front, whike the chanterelles are behind.
There was also one cep (also known as penny bun), which i cut up to dry. This will be used for soups in the winter.

Renate
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Chicken tales and tails

2011-08-22T02:53:00.001-07:00

Pulp, on the right, showing off her newly grown tail feathers after an encounter with a dog in the summer.

Our clutch of 4 chicks have grown up and 3 are clearly cockerels, that are now on their journey to banishment at Torr Na Locha on Mull. We had mayhem trying to catch them this morning, the last one being caught by Ceri grabbing his tail. All the chickens were out of sorts afterwards.

The very red comb so young is a sign of cockerel. Below is the only hen from the clutch, Poppy, who is feeling rather lonely this morning.

Speckles, who succesfully brooded the chicks, has been broody again for a while, neglecting herself. Her comb has gone all floppy again, so she is in the hutch on the front lawn during the day to try and break the habit.

We are down to 3 to 4 eggs a day now. Poppy should start to lay within a few weeks.

Renate

Oban 200 years celebrations

2011-07-17T03:14:00.001-07:00

There were cheers when the stuck lorry eventually came off the Calmac on Friday. We left for Oban nearly 2 hours later. The rumour was that the lorry had been loaded on the wrong side.

After the Taynuilt highland games we set off for Oban to join the guiness world record attempt for 'strip the willow' being danced on the street. I decided to drive the back road via Glen lonan, but was stopped for 10 mins by a different jam.

Then onto Oban where over 2000 were gathering and dancing in sets of 8. All men had to wear some tartan. People were lined up along the pavements until the police closed the road and it was all out mayhem.

Afterwards we listened to the Oban and Taynuilt Gaelic choirs on the street and had dinner at piazza with 12 of us.
We look forward to seeing the entry in next year's book!
Renate
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Taynuilt Highland Games

2011-07-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

Despite the wet forecast the sun came out for the afternoon and a great day was had by all.

The Taynuilt Caber still hasn't been tossed properly though and the prize money is up to £600 if anyone fancies their chances?

2011-07-15T10:02:00.001-07:00

Damon and I are at craignure, mull, and have been watching for an hour for Calmac to get a large wagon off. They still haven't quite managed! Who knows when tge 5 o'clock ferry will leave?

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Kayaks and sailing

2011-07-13T12:23:00.001-07:00

I went on a days kayaking with seafreedom in connel today. Fabulous weather, had lunch at this spot on north lismore.

We were on mull last week and watched the round of mull sailing race leave Bunessan harbour on Sunday morning.

Renate

Chicks, hedgehog and weather

2011-06-19T12:52:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I heard something scurrying around in the deaf nettle, as I went to do some sanding by the shed. I assumed it was a chicken, but it was a rather large hedgehog settling in for a nap. I managed to take a picture really close up, I could have stroked it.

The small chicks have now been abandoned by Speckles. She's become quite aggressive, working her way up the pecking order. She also pecks at the chicks.

We are just leaving them in the pen during tge day and letting the big chickens out to wonder around.

Damon and I went to mull the day before yesterday to do our changeover as our cleaner there was away. We were warned by Mark to leave in time due to tge retarmaccing. And sure enough. Here we stood for 40 mins while they battled through the rain and wind to improve the roads. We just made it to the ferry on time.
Renate