News from Staffa House
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January 2008
What better way to celebrate our first New Year at Staffa House than with a Hogmanay house party?
Thanks to friends and band musicians Judith Smith,
Dave Hall and Ian Hall, we had our own live band to set everything rolling.
Staffa House was full to bursting, we enjoyed delicious afternoon teas, dinners and
were joined by local folk in Fionnphort and Bunessan for a great ceilidh in nearby Creich Hall on Hogmanay itself. All this followed closely by a fabulous New
Year’s Day brunch featuring Ali’s mouth-watering kedgeree, scrambled egg and smoked salmon, home-made stollen….. the table was laden! Folk were definitely
in need of fresh air after that, so down to Ardalanish Beach for the traditional shinty match, in beautiful winter sunshine and with a spectacular backdrop of silver
sea and the faint outlines of Colonsay and Jura.
The meetings and sharing, conversation and laughter were a great way to begin 2008.
Enjoy the photos:
Pictures from the shinty match
New Year Ceilidh at Creich Hall
January also saw a marathon marmalade-making session in the Staffa House kitchen!
Ali was at it for 3 days, the whole house was filled with the
wonderful smell of marmalade and we had to go out to beg and borrow every spare jam jar in Fionnphort (and Iona!). We hope you’ll come and taste the results!
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February 2008
Why is it that February brings the snow?
February 1st and the ground, even at low level, was covered in white. Not for very long it’s true, but beautiful all the same.
Almost at the same time the first daffodil shoot poked out from the ground and now the tub at the front door is dancing with little yellow heads…..
People say winter’s a quiet time here, but we’re not so sure! We’ve been to poetry nights, quizzes, meetings about renewable energy on Mull,
and on February 20th, a local networking event featuring the island’s food providers, photographers, sign makers, craftspeople…..
What an amazing array of fresh produce – delicious meats, cheeses, seafood, biscuits, cereals….. not to mention the beer and whisky.
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We’ve just had the loft insulated with Warmcel – ever heard of it?
No, we hadn’t either, but it’s re-cycled newspaper, very green in the manufacturing
process and one of the best materials to fill all those cold spots in your loft. We now have a thick, thick blanket nestling snuggly between us and the roof!
We’ll be pleased to oblige if curious guests want to poke their heads into the loft space to inspect!
Now February’s almost over, but just a minute, there’s an extra day this year, so time to squeeze in a Fairtrade coffee morning at Staffa House,
offering local residents and the odd visitor a chance to sample fairly-traded drinks and snacks. Even Gillian’s been baking for this one – under Ali’s
supervision! Chocolate Brownies, made from Divine Fairtrade chocolate. Yummy!
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March 2008
A rare trip to the mainland, to Aberdeen in fact, during the first week of March saw us returning laden with food, tablecloths, dishes, and a new mop!
The freezer is well stocked for the coming season and the kitchen floor should be sparkling clean! Easter came early, it was lovely to have a full house of guests.
They enjoyed good food around the table, competitive games of Scrabble, they ventured out on the first trip of 2008 to Staffa, and shared a special Easter breakfast
together complete with Fairtrade Easter eggs.
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April 2008
The skylarks are back! It’s great to hang out the washing and hear them overhead, singing their hearts out. Wheatears and stonechats have returned to the Ross of Mull
also, and, on 23 April, we heard our first cuckoo of the year, at Kintra, while going to fetch eggs.
Apparently the puffins are in the sea around Staffa, although not on dry land yet. It shouldn’t be long before they’re in their little burrows.
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We have a very hungry guest who pays us regular visits – one of the local sheep has found that she can jump the wall and enjoy the lush grass
inside the garden of Staffa House! No sooner have we chased her out then she’s back in again. We haven’t added her to our tally of B&B guests,
we are too busy trying to think of a way of stopping her jumping over. Any ideas gratefully received……..!
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Upcoming events….
Warm soup and Winter words
November 14 - 18
A long weekend at Staffa House
on the Ross of Mull
with opportunities for gentle walking, storytelling, listening to and writing poetry in a wild and beautiful place –
and coming home to good food
round a big table. With Jan Sutch Pickard, writer and storyteller
(More...)
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