We've had a succession of very contented and happy guests this week. First a group of 6 who were walking or supporting two of the group that were finishing the Pennine Way. One of the walkers also celebrated his 60th while with us, and the whole group celebrated with  a 4 course meal that we prepared for them. They supplied their own drinks and had a super evening, inviting us to join them once we had served the last course.

Another couple on their way back to Lossiemouth after a holiday booked on laterooms and were thrilled with everything here, the location, the scenery and the accommodation.

And finally a lone Pennine Way walker that took us up on our Pennine Way package. He left saying we were one of the best B & B's he's ever stayed in, and certainly the best on this trip. He even bought Jon a bottle of port as a birthday pressie.

We certainly don't have the biggest of rooms, but what our guests seem to like is the fact that they are made to feel at home, and we try hard to live up to our motto of "nothing is too much trouble.............something special?  just ask"

It's been a while since I have updated the blog. We have been very busy (thank you to all our guests), and I think I've ended up a bit brain dead of late...........maybe it was reaching that awful age that I celebrated 6 weeks ago.

We have a few gaps in July and August, so if you are still undecided there are a couple of short breaks available for self catering and then a reasonable spread of B & B dates.

We've had quite a few takers for our St Cuthberts Way Walking Break package, some have taken it for just the middle section and others for the whole walk.

The first two guests to take up the St Cuthberts Way package complete their holiday tomorrow. Everything has gone really well, and they have enjoyed the walking knowing that they don't need to move on the next day. We gave them a booklet with details of some of the history of the area (towns, monuments and places), and gave them a meal on their first night (our meals are always 3 courses with wine and coffee). Each day we have taken them to the start of their walk or where they finished the night before, via local sights and towns so that they have seen something of the area. At the end of the day, we pick them up and bring them home. The two ladies have also taken advantage of our spa treatments, and yesterday spent the evening so chilled out, I wondered if they would be able to rouse themselves for the final leg to Holy Island today.

.......and then today we have had a booking for 4 more guests to take the package in August.

Other guests have taken a part package and have used us for the section between Morebattle and Fenwick, others between Harestanes and Hethpool. We can work out something to suit most guests........as long as we have the rooms in the first place!

We had a walking group from the Wirral staying over the weekend. It was quite nice to have everyone knowing each other meal times were buzzing and they seemed to enjoy themselves. Several of the group were finishing off the Pennine Way and other were undertaking shorter walks around the area. On Sunday evening we held a formal sit down meal for 11, quite an undertaking with three choices for each course, but it went well, especially considering the shelves on the door of the fridge broke just as we were serving the starters,which resulted in 4 pints of both milk and orange juice forming a large lake on the kitchen floor.

Well come and stay with us! It has been great to see our guests so chilled out and laid back. Many are now using the hot tub and they come prepared with plastic wine glasses and a bottle of wine and just chill out.

We are also having more enquiries about the treatments - three lady walkers have just booked the "Total Timeout for Ladies", they are staying with us while doing St Cuthberts Way and as the day they arrive is a short walking day - they are using their time in the best way they know how!.

Congratulations to Andi and Kathy who celebrated their anniversary last weekend.

We've had some super compliments about our evening meals lately - "Excellent" and "As  good as anything we've had in any of the local restaurants".

We are currently working on discounts for long stay Bed & Breakfast guests. We hope to be able to apply a discount to any stay over 4 nights. We will similarly formalise discounts for group bookings... still working out the finances!

It always lifts my mood when I see the swallows and today I saw a couple in the advanced party checking out the old outbuildings for their nest sites again. Please don't let the weather turn again...just let them have a fighting chance to reproduce and get back to their old numbers.

All the birds are starting to build nests now and it looks like we will have some bluetits in the new nesting box that we have put up just outside the dining room window - will be great to watch them progress each day. We  put up about 6 nesting boxes and 4 roosting pockets last autumn, so we are hoping that there will be more than just the one new family to watch.

The volcano eruption has spoilt many a holiday, and lots of people seem to be going to Scotland. We have already had a couple that should have been in Crete and another that was heading for Nice.

Our first guests have gone on the private tour of Thirlestane Castle that I can arrange with the castle administrator. The castle doesn't open til May, so this really is a special.

We received a fantastic thank you letter from one of our guests yesterday. They stayed just one night at the end of March, but as well as themselves we also provided an evening meal for the rest of their family that were camping while doing St Cuthberts Way, it is great that they took the time to show their appreciation.

We've had our first photography activity break and our guests went away very happy.

We have also had our first booking for the St Cuthnert's Way Walking Holiday, the lady booking it is very excited about what we are offering - a change from the traditional walking holiday which necessitates moving on each day to a new B & B or guest house.

We have already got a couple of bookings for our Pennine Way package - so things are looking good for 2010.

We laid on a special meal for a walking group  on Tuesday, and we have more of those planned in May.

Back from Sunny Spain to lovely sunny Scotland. Finally snow free, but soooooo windy today.

So today is what we really consider the start of our second season, we have been saying once we get back from holiday we'll do this and that, so now we have got to get going. Sort out the chicken run, order the hens, insulate the summer house for our treatment room, start in the veggie garden.

We have a lovely apartment where we are staying, and although they have had terrible weather in this part of Spain for the last couple of months, the sun has shone most of the time and it has been just like a spring day back in the uk.................................................but......................the Tv blew up on our first day, a heater blew up two days ago and last night the water tank leaked into our wardrobe! The only thing that hasn't gone wrong (so far) is the internet connection - so at least we can check the bookings etc each day. 

Currently in Mijas in Spain on hols. Didn't realise how much we needed a break - haven't woken up before 10.30 each day. Still will e ready for the new season when we get back.

Have finally got all the details of the treatments etc on the website. It will be a while before the treatment room is ready, but we can use a room in the house instead.

There will be something for everyone no matter your age or sex- walkers/massages, girly weekends / waxing& tanning, relaxation breaks...the works!

Still have to sort out the relaxation breaks - have sources for group hypnotherapy, visualisation, reiki, crystals, therapies and reflexology

Well our Valentine Weekend Special went really well. It was the first time we had tried a package option and I think it worked well. The treatments were a huge success, and Tracey our beauty therapist now comes well recommended by our own guests.  We had a Bucks Fizz breakfast included in the package, but our guests also asked for dinner on the Saturday night. Even I was pleased with the way it went, the table looked good and the food went without a hitch - their comment - "it's so good to go out to dinner in your stockinged feet and not have to drive home".

We are having trouble getting our treatment room ready. The weather has tied up all  the local tradesmen so they are behind with their work, and we have had to have our back porch reroofed - it started leaking so badly that we had to have a dustbin in the porch catching the drips that often turned into a cascade. The weight of the snow had made things worse and we were told we were lucky the roof hadn't caved in! Lucky that it isn't an entrance we use for guests. So our work is behind and we are in a bit of chaos in the "working" part of the house....but we just keep smiling!

Until the treatment room is ready we'll use a room in the house...just have to get the prices and treatments listed on the website!

It's been a while since I've updated the blog.

Jon & I have had a couple of trips away - we went to Brugges for a couple of days in December, then went south to stay with family over Christmas and have just had a Centre Parcs break with our two youngest grandchildren. Just a couple of days in London to see Oliver with the elder two before we have our holiday in Spain in March and then we'll be back to work full time.

We decided to close up to the online agencies and only take a few bookings during Dec & Jan. Our guests around Christmas and New Year all turned up (more than they did at one of our local pubs - who lost all their business once the snow started). We had a lot of snow, it was nearly 5 weeks before we saw the grass in the fields again. The amount of snow on the roof and the length of icicles was unbelievable. The snow pulled one of the soil pipes off of the wall, pulled gutters off and we lost a few slates, but not as bad as alot of the local farmers that had stores completely collapse under the weight of it. I've put a few pictures on the site so you can see how lovely it looked. I think we spent as much money on wild bird food as we did on dog food during January!

Our bookings for 2010 are going well - May especially is about half full already. We have a few groups coming - for various reasons (Jim Clark rally, walkers and families). A walking club is staying mainly with us and  those that are hoping to finish the Pennine Way we have offered to drive to their start and finish points each day, plus we are doing a meal on one evening for the whole group, including those not staying with us.

Our Pennine Way and St Cuthbert's Way offers are being picked up , and we are have 2 couples (so far) staying for our special Valentines Day break (Wine in the room, Bucks Fizz breakfast, Spa treatments) and they want a special meal as well.

So far we haven't got off the ground with the photography and birdwatching, but it is early days yet - we had an enquiry today.

The Spa/Beauty treatments will definitely be available from April - just waiting for the joiner to insulate the summerhouse which will be our treatment room. Have just bought the massage table. Also ordered the towelling robes today for use by guests when having treatments or using the hot tub.

We are really going to town on our home produce this year - loads of seeds already ordered.

Oh and our best bit of news - we'll be shutting the B&B the last weekend in September - Jon's son is getting married!

Photography and Birdwatching short breaks have now been arranged for the spring, with a Relaxation break in the planning process. I also intend to advertise a Valentine Weekend Special  - pampering treats, wine and a late checkout.

Hope to get the newletter out within a couple of weeks.... in time for Christmas ....Boxing Day being the time when people start thinking about holidays

Not only will you be able to laze in the hot tub when you visit from now on, but from Easter next year we are hoping to offer health & beauty treatments for men and women. One of the local therapists (who has worked at Stobo castle & the Roxburghe Hotel, and now has her own salon) is willing to come and treat everyone to a wee bit of luxury and pampering. We are currently finalising arrangements, and Jon & I need to prepare a room  for this, but from April (latest) you will be able to have a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, eyelash tinting, tanning, reiki, hopi ear candles and much much more. I'm also going to be looking for someone with reflexology skills, that can also be available for pre-booked treatments.

So all you walkers and those just wanting pampering ....The Farmhouse is the place to come.

The new beds are now in place and what a difference they make, both in comfort and to the look of the rooms.

I'm also putting together a calendar of all the events that have been confirmed in and around the area.

We always try and go to the Melrose Book Festival, and last week there was a spin off from it (a new book festival at Lennoxlove, nr Haddington) it was excellent. Anyone who has just a passing interest in books do try the Melrose one in June. We have seen Michael Palin, Gervaise Phinn, Sheila Handcock, Germaine Greer, Bill Patterson, Jackie Kay, Martine McCutcheon, Hardip Singh and Kate Adie. 

Just a few more bookings and then Jon and I are having a break for a couple of months. Watch out for your newsletter if you have stayed with us before - it will tell you all about these changes.

........just seen the woodpecker again!

Only another couple of weeks and we will be shutting the door for a few weeks to give us time to touch up the paint work and get ready for 2010. We are over the moon with our trading in 2009. We have 100% recommendation on laterooms, several of our guests have already been back more than once, and we are looking at ways we can improve for next year.

We are going to replace the two double beds (ordered today) in Thistle and Lavender, and have already replaced most of our pillows -although they were mostly new this year they were of a very poor quality and the new M & S ones I have just bought are a huge improvement. One of the duvets is also going to be replaced - again it was a new one - I shouldn't have been seduced by the bargain!

I am trying to re-arrange the Thistle room to give a little more space, I don't have many options, as I am limited by doors & windows, but I don't give in easily!

We are going to change our breakfast menu - providing other options such as bacon butties, sausage sandwiches and reminding people of the kedgeree and kippers we can serve but need a little notice for. We may also provide snacks as well as evening meals. We are already offering hot homemade soups during the day - just the thing for those walkers that come in from their walks in November - feeling great, but cold and hungry.

We have three bird feeding spots in the garden. One (and our favourite) is outside the front door and can easily seen from the kitchen. We see loads of different birds the normal blue & great tits, coal tits and long tailed tits, siskins, sparrows, chaffinches, robins, blackbirds, dunnocks (I think), green finches, gold finches, rooks, jackdaws, ring necked doves, the odd pheasant, very occasionally a yellow hammer and today a great spotted woodpecker. We have seen them a couple of times before but at least a couple of years ago, so today was quite a thrill, almost as good as the day I looked out and saw a barn owl on the bird table.

Well tonight was calm and not too cold, so I took my first dip in the hot tub since it's commissioning. At 100F the fact that it is November was irrelevant as we sat, glass of wine in hand, under the stars, in the steamimg water as the clock in the Kirk chimed midnight. Who would have thought it!

What a fabulous day we had on Saturday. My friend who is the administrator at Thirlestane invited us (Jon & I and our friends from London, Ireland & Australia) to see the hunt leaving the castle and then gave them a private tour of the castle - they didn't stop talking about it all weekend. Thirlestane is such a lovely place.

The hot tub arrived and after a lot of cutting down of tree branches and shrubs it is finally in place.

Things didn't start too well when the driver of the lorry that delivered it, said the tail lift on the lorry (a huge beast) wasn't big enough to get the tub off and onto the ground. I had already arranged for one of the local farmers to lend me 2 of his men and a fork lift to lift it over our drystone wall and into the garden.....but they were out moving cattle at the time!. So we had to have the tub delivered to the garage, in the other village as they could offload it with their fork lift, then once the cattle were moved, the hot tub was back on the move from Town Yetholm to Kirk Yetholm on the farmers fork lift.

Then we had to get it into the garden - quite a task in itself - one large branch off the eucalyptus tree, an espalier apple is now a stump about 12inches high, and many of the other shrubs are a shadow of their former selves....but it is in!

The electrician has done most of the wiring and will connect it up on Friday and all that is left for us to do is interpret the instructions which were obviously originally written in Chinese and have been literally translated.

Roll on the weekend, hopefully a lovely relaxing treat is in store!

We have a guest staying this week that was interested in doing some trout fishing - I put them on to Forrest of Kelso and also Ron at Tweedguide, but they did some more research on the net and came up with  a Trout Fishery over at Chatton. He spent the day there today and not only did he catch two fish one of which weighed 5lb (I think) - he gave the big one to us - what a star! cos not only did he gererously give it away, but he gutted it and prepared it for us as well. It has now gone into the freezer for our dinner on Thursday when we have friends arriving from London, Ireland and Australia (no paying guests for much of the latter half of the week!...too much catching up with old friends to do).

I have spent the last few weeks making more jam, drinks and soups that are all in store to get us through the winter and where the jam is concerned probably through next season.

The fruit has been so good this year even the wild and ornamental trees have produced fruit - we had pounds of plums off of trees that (in some cases) I knew were relatives to the fruiting plum tree, one tree at the bottom of the garden which must have been in place for decades suddenly produced the most beautiful and sweet golden plums - a really rich gold - not the yellows that you see in the shops. We have had pounds of crab apples, blackcurrants, damsons, gooseberries and raspberries plus loads of wild fruit such as elderberries, sloes, the berries from hawthorn trees, and rowanberries. I missed the blackberries and rosehips. So we have plum, rasberry, apple, elderberry & apple, raspberry & apple, cherry, gooseberry and damson jams plus the most delicious apple butter made for the first time this year. It is an American recipe and is full of spices (lots of cinnamon and the like), put it on hot toast or crumpets and it is like eating Christmas. We then have lots of fruit in the freezer for pies and deserts next year. Then of course there is the chutney made from all the odd bits and pieces.Any thing else like the sloes, raspberries and plums have been put to good use making sloe gin, and plum  and raspberry vodka liqueurs. I have yet to make the blackcurrant version.

We have put into store a couple of sacks of potatoes and onions and there are more onions to pickle. The vegetables were a bit of a disappointment this year, but we were so late planting out it isn't really too surprising. Still I have made loads of soup to see us and our guests through the winter. (The curried carrot and apple sounds weird but that was really good for lunch today).

We've decided to take self sufficiency a bit more seriously and are intending to rear hens next year to enable us to have our own organic eggs. I went back onto ebay (should have stayed clear of it after my hot tub purchase...we'll have no profit left!) and bought the henhouse on Monday.

So now we are working hard with Peter the gardener to get the garden ready for the hot tub and the chickens. We had one of the farm workers round today with his huge forklift truck working out how to lift the hot tub in (over a 4 ft wall and across the garden) when it arrives next week....that should be fun, apparently it weighs nearly half a ton. Just got to get the electrician here to do the work so that we can heat the water up.

We're shutting the guest house for a few days over the next couple of weeks I'm taking the grandchildren to the Lake District for a couple of days, then friends arrive from London, Australia and Ireland (using up all of our rooms), and finally a couple of days in Harrogate at a spa hotel with a friend (Jon's running the B & B while I'm away). He's just had a couple of days with his daughter in Aberdeen and will be going to Kent to see his son at the end of November. It's quite strange how different life with a B & B has become. No more setting off for nice breaks in the summer!

I managed to win a Hot Tub on ebay last night, I had been after several, but finally won one. It is a large 6/7 seater that we will be putting in a sheltered spot in the garden, so that it will be useable all year round. So all you guests visiting in 2010 (and maybe even from Nov 2009) bring your swimsuits with you!

Last weekend (Oct 3/4) saw the start of the Kelso Races season. We had several couples staying that were attending the races. 2 couples stayed after the races and arrived in good spirits because not only did they have a horse that they owned racing, but it also won!

Exactly one week ago I had just left to drive to Edinburgh to run my son's hotel virtually single handed for the weekend. He had let it for a month to performers at the Edinburgh Festival, but unfortunately when it was handed back it was in a bit of a state, and he had 20 guests booked in for the weekend. Luckily I had the parttime help of one of his long term guests, and between us we muddled through the weekend. It was a bit of a panic when I went to serve breakfast on Sat morning and couln't find enough cutlery for more than 6 guests....luckily Tescos is just around the corner. Anyway we finally got straight and I think the guests had a good time.

Meanwhile Jon had a houseful at The Farmhouse, he managed the evening meals that were booked, and all in all we had a really sucessful, if not exhausting weekend.

Our bookings keep coming in, our first season has exceeded all our expectations. We seem to be getting quite a few business people staying now, along with holiday makers, although the walking numbers seem to have dropped off a bit. Last night we had 3 lots of Farmers staying- they were all attending the Ram sales in Kelso. Our other guests last night were motorcycle tourers. I now have to investigate the BMW GS owners web site for more potential guests.

Today, saw the finishing touches to the garden, now it is just a bit of tidying and planting that is needed. I spent most of the afternoon knee deep in the large new pond finishing off the rock pool effect. I'm so pleased with it. It was so frustrating when my arm was either in plaster or so painful that I couldn't do the pond. I knew how I wanted it to look, so just had to do it myself..............and I had to get it finished this weekend as I have family visiting next week.

Although I've just said the walking numbers were dropping off, we had someone take a room at the last minute today. He has just 2 days off, so decided that he would do St Cuthbert's Way. Today he walked from Melrose to here and tomorrow he goes all the way to Holy Island........................and me? I'm just about to go all the way upstairs to my bed!

We must be doing something right in the garden. Today , while having his lunch our gardener saw a red squirrel on our new lawn. I intend to make a feature of the wildlife in the garden by putting up lots of nesting boxes and creating log piles etc.....but I never expected a red squirrel.

We have put together a package for all would be St Cuthbert's Way walkers - stay in the same B & B, relax in our gardens or read on the terrace when not walking, eat good homecooked food and be transported to the start of your walk each day, and picked up each evening. Start and finish where it suits you - not where there happens to be a B & B. Prices get cheaper per person as the group gets larger. If some partners don't want to walk they could perhaps fish, shop or tour while their partner is walking but still see them in the evenings.....just need to talk to us and we can make up the package to suit the party.

We have just had 2 very special guests (Mr & Mrs Young) that just make me happy to see them. Having just celebrated their Ruby Wedding they have bought themselves a fabulous "Ruby" red Honda Goldwing.
Motorbikes have a special appeal for me, not that I have ever ridden one, but to see two people obviously devoted to each other on such a fab machine, just makes me happy to be alive. Unfortunately Mrs Young isn't too well, so they have had to cut short their stay, but I hope they have many more years of pleasure touring on their brilliant bike.

The last 6 weeks have been a struggle as many of our recent guests will know. On July 13th I tripped over and broke my arm. Cooking breakfast and evening meals has at times been very difficult, the plaster cast making it impossible to carry pots and pans in my left hand, and even holding and slicing food has been awkward. Well the cast came off 2 days ago, and although it is sore and a little swollen - I just have to get the strength back in it....poor Jon....he's still going to have to do the rooms for a while yet!

We've had some fantastic reviews on Laterooms, one which we had a preview of today had 3 excellents in 2 short sentences. To see them log on to www.laterooms.co.uk

We get lots of comments about our food and it's presentation. Many say how nice it is that we don't serve jam in the plastic individual serving pots...................but that would be impossible as the jams and marmalades are all home made often from our own home grown fruit. We are also serving our own veg now: potatoes, courgettes, broad beans and salad so far but much more to come, and of course all the herbs are from the garden as well...........and we mustn't forget the homemade raspberry vodka liqueur (mainly for our own consumption!)

.................and last night's guests did just that. On the way to the wedding of one of the group, they had a birthday to celebrate. The house was decorated with banners and helium balloons and they enjoyed a family meal complete with homemade raspberry liqueur..............their comments................."great food, warm welcome, just like being at home"

The last 4 weeks have seen a transformation in our gardens. The garden that led down to the old mill lade, was so steep and unmanageable plus two years of building work had left it a total mess deep in weeds and rubble.

Our new gardener has worked so hard, and it is turning into a peaceful haven, with winding paths, seating, lawns and a large pond. The colour scheme will be restful pinks whites and blues. Just the place to go to escape from the troubles of the world

............and then we had a mass invasion of Pennine Way walkers...we saw 6 in 2 days! The jacuzzi bath had a good workout!

Only two days after the exodus of the dogs and we were full of musicians and crew. Playing a show in Kelso, they stayed with us  before moving on to Peebles with their Elvis Show. One of the guys was a member of MUD (of Tiger Feet fame) and another was called "Rock Star". It was quite funny being around the ageing rockers....happier with a cup of tea than smashing their guitars and thinking about throwing our TV sets out of the windows....well we all have to get older!!!!!

No one can accuse us of not being dog friendly! Last week was the championship dog show at the Kelso Showground - over the course of the weekend - we had Border terriers, West Highland Terriors, Bearded Collies, Dalmations and Spaniels booked in - but you would never have known it, they were all so well behaved, had their special crates to sleep in and we didn't hear them at all. Didn't even worry our own dogs!

It has been interesting understanding why people come to the Borders to stay.
We have already had bookings from participants in the Jim Clark Rally, exhibitors and competitors at dog shows at the Border Union Showground, walkers on St Cuthbert's Way and The Pennine Way, people attending weddings and just plain "holiday makers".

HAve just spent the day compiling a database of activities and places to go when staying in the Borders. I intend to offer a holiday planning service to anyone staying more than a couple of days. I've also printed off a load of walks and bike rides (with their maps) and am going to laminate them all. Nothing huge like the Pennine WAy or St Cuthberts Way, but walks that people can do in a day.

The words of others usually describe your work better than you can yourself. We had a launch party on Saturday when many of our neighbours from Kirk Yetholm saw the renovation work for the first time. A few of the comments follow: "we were truly amazed at the transformation.....it is beautiful...definitely has the "wow factor""....." it is so sympathetically done, making the most of gorgeous wood and stone"...."your home is a triumph & that view across to the sunset from the balcony is a delight"

Well today I took some of our guests out birdwatching -  a trial run with the expert that I hope to use for future birdwatching days out (Ron McCombe of Borders Birdwatching Tours). The weather was glorious and we had a fabulous day travelling down the east coast from St Abbs Head to Burnmouth. We saw the birds flying to Bass Rock to nest, thousands nesting at St Abbs Head and then waders and other coastal birds...not to mention the seals sunbathing in Eyemouth Harbour.
All I have to do now is develop the birdwatching package and the web pages to promote it.

Every available bed will be used next weekend (17 - 19 April) as we hold our houseparty to celebrate the completion of the renovation work. Looking forward to seeing friends and family from far and wide

It's Easter and the sun is shining on a new season, and a new way of life.

After all the builders and upheaval of the last 2 years we have finally managed to open our new accommodation business at THE FARMHOUSE at Yetholm Mill, Kirk Yetholm.

The cottage has been taken by a couple with a young family. They have brought their dog with them and of course they only have to walk a few yards and they are in the fields and can let him run free.

We have also had a young New Zealand couple walking St Cuthberts Way. They chose to have an evening meal....and the new posh china came in very handy!