Innellan here I come!!!!! (Tomorrow)

Here's what Sarah wrote over on Airbnb...... "We had a lovely short stay at Marianne's place, which is even cosier in real life than it looks in the pictures! The cottage is beautifully set out and has everything you could ever want! Check in / keys was super easy and Marianne was contactable at all times. There are some lovely walks and we great fun spotting seals in the firth - would definitely come back!!" Thanks Sarah! https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/14459287?location=innellan%20&tier_override=0&s=urqtN-NM

It's been a fantastic week in the Anvil Cottage, the weather outside has been cold and wet, but inside it's dry and snug. The intention was always to keep the refurb of the cottage to Robin and Susan's original recycle and reuse philosophy, so other than the windows, blinds and a few smaller prices we've been able to source so much for free or via the Glasgow Wood Recycling (https://www.facebook.com/GlasgowWoodRecycling/) this is NOT a cheap option, and the time and effort put in is amazing. Each board has to be stripped of nails, staples and a multitude of other metal hazards then planed and sanded before you can even begin, so time is always the enemy. But if you love wood, then it's worth every minute. :-) Anyway..... What's been happening. Neville's been working hard on the stairs up to the double bed, (Kitty's bed we call it as the little Princess claimed it as her own!) the stairs now hold firewood, are roomy enough for cases and bags and the smaller holes have a number of leaflets with tips on the local area, and a menu for the Chilli Grillz on Argyll Street in Dunoon (https://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-chilli-grillz-dunoon/menu) who will deliver to Innellan. Yummy food. They'll soon be attached to the large cupboard being built by the ever talented NevilleSharpe, then sealed and oiled. Can't wait..... The cabin bed (Ryan's bunk) is also looking good, I've put his cover and cushions on it to dress it up a wee bit. The wallpaper will go up after the storage cupboard and side table (storage for bags for the person sleeping here) is complete, in the meantime he has these two lovely pictures from Fyne Photography on Argyll Street in Dunnon to keep him company, (https://www.facebook.com/fynephotography.dunoon/) then again sealed and oiled then all done. :-) Outside we've finally found a solution to the welly mountain in the form of a welly rack made of the recycled pallet wood and broom handles, it's looking great and Neville will soon be taking orders if you want to contact me I'll pass on your details, they do make a big difference to the welly and the storage of them moving to the outside is perfect. Oh and have I mentioned our new windows by the lovely people at Everest? And check out the nice new bay roof. All in all, it's getting there..... Anyone with old decking, I'd be greatly appreciate if you want to get rid of it...

Replacement box stairs on their side...... Looking forward to seeing them in place this weekend!

Neville Sharp is amazing. I point and tell him what I want, what I see in my head, and he nods and makes it just as I saw it...... The cabin bed has been built, the light has been fitted, the mattress arrived, the cover I made has been fitted and it's all looking rather smart. Stage one of Ryans sleeping area completed.... Moving on, wallpaper, side table, storage, er, storage and stairs that will provide even MORE storage. Looking good!

There are so many reasons I need to come to the Anvil Cottage on my own..... Like, I need to wash the windows, or read the meter, or check if I turned the cooker off...... Gilly's wondering if I might just have fallen in love with the place. Answer: YES! In my defense, it is amazingly calming and wonderful for the soul.

The tiles on the kitchen splash back are nearly complete, just a few above the sockets and cooker switch..... These are the original tiles taken off the Cottage, they're over 130 years old. And still beautiful. I think I'd like the shower clad in these..... What do you think? Yes or no?

Neville's in this week and next. Finishing the kitchen and starting the cabin bed and storage. How exciting is that?

Well we just had a little working holiday in the beautiful Anvil Cottage. I'm sad to be back in rainy London after nearly a week of sunshine and smiling faces. On the working side we put up the lovely new blue roller blinds, the nice men from Everest came to correct their colleagues sad attempt at our bay window roof and Gilly painted the covering in black to match the rest of the building. I turned my hand to a wee bit of painting too and now the porch blends in nicely as well. We're hoping Neville Sharp gets time this month to gather the reclaimed wood needed for our next major project, the new cupboard/firewood storage and replacing the stairs to the loft bed with cupboard/stairs. That's just about all the internal big jobs done, now to look at the patio and how to improve that..... Might be a job for Batman and Robin, or Gilly and Ryan as I call them. :-)