Pink footed goose

The Loch of Strathbeg is currently home to thousands of geese. Visitors to Greenbrae can get up early and witness them leaving to fly to feeding grounds, or be there at dusk to watch them come back. An awe inspiring sight. Or guests can just sit in the warm here at Greenbrae and watch them fly over calling to each other.
On the home front we are almost fire safe. Self closing doors, working fire alarm, more extinguishers on the way.
We shall also be much smarter as a new entrance door and replacing of some failed and draughty windows are on order.
The Three Degrees - our new ducks are giving us concern as we do not think they are eating well. I sometimes wish I did not surround myself with animals and birds as I worry too much!

More feathered friends

When you telephone us here at Greenbrae you will hear strange noises in the background. The two zebra finches live in the office and have managed to get their tweeting on the answer phone message also. They actually belong to one of the four daughters who left them here 'to be collected'. They live in the office as anywhere else would be just too much temptation for the cats.
Last night we had two officers from the Scottish Government staying with us.
Tonight we have a couple in who have visited before.
So its on with the ironing.

Greenbrae Bed and Breakfast

Yesterday we had our Fire Inspection under the new regulations which now include everyone who has the general public entering their premises.

Bed and Breakfasts are usually some-ones home that they decide to share with others.
It does not sit easy to contemplate replacing all our beautiful old doors with institutional like fire doors. We have a long list of things to address once we receive the recommendations of the Fire department in writing.
Till then I will try and think of other things.

More ducks

Last night we got the three new ducks in to the hut. Our original pair have refused to be put to bed for some months now. Charging round in the dark one night attempting to get them IN I fell in the duck pond... it had to be the day I had been out and was in best gear.
Some time after the new three were safely tucked up I noticed the two renegades were bashing beaks on the hut door, trying to get in! So - we let them in. Bit of a squash but this morning all is forgiven and I have two duck eggs for my lunch.
Already the new ones are much cleaner and I can see the flock hoovering up slugs and snails out in the courtyard.

New Arrivals

Our three 'new' ducks. These three were amongst a few hundred that were heading for the pet food factory. At the end of their economical egg laying life (two years) they will continue to lay eggs, (possibly not every day) and live up to 15 years. Every day, they will however, clear up slugs and snails and give us endless enjoyment. As you can see they are very dirty. They have had drinking water, but not sufficient for them to put their heads in which ducks need to be able to preen. We were a bit worried that when they went into the pond they would sink as their feathers, without the oils they preen into their feathers, would not be waterproof. But there have been no drownings! One of our original ducks, shows how clean you can be!

Doo cotes

Dove Cotes - these are at Inverquhomery Farm, just up the road from Greenbrae.

The farm is mostly arable. Fields are huge, and have barley, wheat and oil seed rape on a rotation basis. Last year Greenbrae was surrounded by fields of bright yellow oil seed rape. Hiding the view from the bedrooms when it grew tall. This year we have the barley which does not spoil the view, and is beautiful rippling in the breeze.

Along the road from us some of the fields, not in view, will have beef cows and sheep. At the other side of the village the fields will have milk cows.

Yesterday I began our contribution to the local 'agriculture' and planted loads of vegetable seeds, flower seeds and herbs. From now on in I have to tend the greenhouse, keep the seeds watered. Not a particularly hazardous pursuit unless you trip over a seed tray and plough a furrow with your nose. Today I am trying to work out which bit of me is not bruised.

River Ugie

Lots of rain and wind yesterday and today. We have no guests booked in till Wednesday, but that could change.
Once I have sorted out the room our guests had last night I shall be staying in the warm and begin on recovering the old chair.
The river runs through Longside, our village, and after heavy rain will make our golf course even more of a challenge.
Parts of the river can be seen from Greenbrae, fortunately it is lower than we are and in the valley.

Upgrading

Ensuite bathroom all finished. The guests of this week departed this morning and so today's tasks are to change 6 beds, make two into a king size double, clean and set up for the next lot.

We drove to Turriff yesterday, about an hour away, to Deveron Lodge 4 star guest house, for our meeting of the Best Of Banffshire and Buchan Bed and Breakfasts. I am the secretary. Apart from two near misses with huge agricultural machinery, it was a very pleasant journey there and back. Even more pleasant were the home bakes at the end of the meeting!

We are to have a Fire Officer speak to us about the new Fire regulations and I have to organise one of our familiarisation trips. These are for us to better inform our visitors of the delights around. So in May we will be visiting a nearby whisky distillery. Its not all ironing and vacuuming, though I actually do not like whisky. Dont tell the natives.

Greenbrae greenhouse.

Still empty. Watch this space really has a meaning!

All our three guest bedrooms have occupants. Not bad for February. But 6.30a.m. breakfasts are a killer! Fortunately I am not the breakfast chef, thanks to my husband, but only the waitress. For those of you who remember Acorn Antiques I am the Mrs Overall of this establishment, though I dispensed with using a tray after depositing someones breakfast on the floor. I now stagger in carrying plates and have become adept at opening and closing the dining room door with my foot.

Now its on to making beds, cleaning the rooms, and setting up the room trays with refreshments, cleaning the dining room, sitting room, library, hallways, corridors, catching up with paperwork, loading the washing machine, and re-pasting the smile so it lasts till bed-time. It should last as I do not have to prepare an evening meal for guests, not tonight anyway.

I hope everyone realises why the greenhouse is still empty!

Ancestor Hunting-Lonmay

Quite a number of our guests, particularly Australian and Canadian come here to search for their ancestors. Scotland has excellent sources for doing this and records of births, marriages and deaths going back quite a long way.
Most of their families are under the sod so a lot of hunting for grave stones. Although we had one family who stayed with us and one of their members suffered a heart attack. On the way to the hospital they discovered the paramedic was a distant cousin! The person survived and did not join the ancestors.
Another family had discovered their ancestor had lived here at Greenbrae and were clutching the ashes of their great uncle. I was relieved they were to scatter them in the river rather than here at Greenbrae as our hens are free range.......

Red Squirrel

My daughter took this picture yesterday. She and her Dad didn't find much snow.

This morning I changed all the beds. Each of our three rooms are now changed to twin bedded ,as requested by our guests arriving tomorrow. We have a wonderful attachment which straps the beds together and creates King Size double beds, so we can be very flexible. This afternoon I shall finish the bathroom wallpapering and then set up the room. Also ironing and hanging the new curtains. I am trying to find some space in my day to plant the seeds and now summer bulbs that came through the post.

Pitfour Fisheries.

We have just about everything round here! Fishing, Golf, Riding, Walking, Cycling, Wildlife, Whale and Dolphin watching.... whatever your interest it is all close by.

Today after cooking and serving up breakfast my partner and our daughter are away out to find some snow. Here at Greenbrae we have blue skies, a slight breeze. On the mountains there is snow - best of both worlds.

I am hoping to finish the papering of the ensuite as we have a full house this week. I had my day of retail therapy now its back up the ladder.

Buchanhaven

Near Peterhead.

Busy work day today preparing two rooms for guests.

As well as the normal cleaning and setting up I had curtains to iron. I think this is the first pair of curtains I have ever bought, always having made curtains myself. But during a visit to Dunelm, in Aberdeen, to purchase material to re-cover the new/old chair I bought from a friend, I saw these curtains and realised I could not make them as cheaply. They have silk in them and I bought a pair each for two of the guest rooms. Pictures later when the rooms arent occupied!

We have two couples in tonight. One couple having an 'escape', could be called a sanity break?! They only live half an hour away from us. This is their second visit. The other couple - one half of is Rod Stewart - and he is performing at the local football club. (No, of course it isnt the real one.)

Hairy Coos.

An image many people will link to Scotland. The Highland Cow.

Here at Greenbrae we are surrounded by farm land. Vast fields of growing wheat,barley, oats, and now oil seed rape.

All around are sheep and cows. The Aberdeen Angus which is black is famed for its meat. There are herds of milk cows, mainly Friesian, often with their calves.

The sheep are already having lambs.

Across the valley from Greenbrae the poly tunnels are going up from which we will enjoy luscious strawberries and raspberries.

On the business front bookings are coming in. Funny old business running a b&b - you cannot forecast on income, demand, etc. However, if you get the ladders out, strip off some wallpaper you can get your bottom dollar someone will want to book that room!!

Standing Stones

These are in White Cow Woods not far from Greenbrae.

"Grey recumbent tombs of the dead in desert places,

Standing stones on the vacant wine-red moor,

Hills of sheep, and the howes of the silent vanished races,

And winds, austere and pure."

Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894 from Songs of Travel.

There are many sites near to us where you can see stone circles and standing stones.

We had guests staying with us who had the ashes of their husband/brother. The ashes were in small bottles and they were scattering them where he had loved to visit when alive. One of these bottles was scattered here. As the sister told me, "We are covering all the options!"

Rattray Head -Dunlin

The picture was taken two days ago. Note the beautiful golden sands. Although Rattray is better known for its dune formation (picture 1) and the lighthouse. Also our friends have a b&b there and hostel. Rattray Head Bed and Breakfast.

The weather today is yet again glorious sunshine, there has been mist in the valley following the overnight frost. Masses of daffodills now shooting up many with buds on. From now on we should not have to buy flowers for the breakfast table.

Not much time to stand and stare as I am about to wallpaper the ensuite. Another task off the list.

Pennan

Unlike Crovie cars can access the houses and sea front. Pennan also has a pub/hotel/restaurant although it is curently seeking a new owner. Pennan was made famous from the film 'Local Hero' and the telephone box used by one of the stars is now a listed building!
Pennan suffered badly during this winter's heavy rain fall and parts of the cliff behind the houses slid down and swamped some houses. All is cleared up now and the survey of the cliffs shows there is no more danger.
Today the weather is much like in this picture, with blue skies and no wind. Temperature is 6 degrees so not Summer yet.
I am continuing painting in the ensuite and we are to brave the diy shop for wallpaper and no doubt more arguments.

Geese

The dark 'trail' in the sky are skeins of geese. These fly over Greenbrae in the morning going to their feeding grounds and as in this picture return late afternoon to where they roost. The geese come every year to the Loch of Strathbeg, an RSPB bird reserve. Thousands and thousands of them. Our guests often go out early to watch them leave the loch, a magnificent sight. Farmers local to Strathbeg receive funding to leave their fields available to the geese and food is also put out for them. This is to encourage the geese to not go where the farmers dont want them!

The other thing to mention is that as they fly over us they call to each other. The first sound of this calling in the autumn, heralding their arrival, is still magical to us.

Ensuite

All done. Next job is room one ensuite, life in a bed and breakfast never stops on the up grading front. The list of things to do grows longer and longer . It does not take long to write a list but it takes much longer to cross something off!
Yesterday was a beautiful warm and sunny day. Unbelievable for February. Everywhere you look are masses of snowdrops. We have them along the sides of our drive and in the spinney behind the house. The farm across the road has 'carpets' of them. We drove to Fraserburgh and there were more carpets of snowdrops along the road and into the woodlands.
A friend of ours was having a clearing out sale, and I bought a lovely old chair. This has gone onto the list for a re-cover!

Ducks

Jemima and Puddle, our two ducks, having a bath. Ducks do not lay as hens do. More seasonal. So at the moment they are being ornamental and I am missing my duck eggs.
Today we have guests arriving so my day will be cleaning and setting up their room. They do not know it but they will be trying out the transformed bathroom.
I also have to ensure all the 'public' areas are presentable. And this is a bi-i-g house. I feel whacked before I start, just thinking about it.

Slains Castle.

Not far from the Bullers of Buchan is Slains Castle. Bram Stoker stayed in the nearby village of Cruden Bay and despite the claims of Whitby, it was this castle which inspired the story of Dracula.

The sea photo is illustrating what you see from the castle. It being built with a sea view !

Today the clouds are scudding across the sky here at Greenbrae, but it is dry and 8 degrees out there so not a bad day. I may have time later to begin to sort the greenhouse out for seed planting of this year's vegetables.

Bullers of Buchan

The Bullers are a fantastic cliff formation created by the North Sea. Easy to access to view as there is a car park just off the road. Then a footpath which takes you past a small group of houses to the cliff path.

In the summer months Puffins nest and all year round there are birds to see. There are also wild flowers growing along the path.

Greenbrae Bedroom

This is the bedroom wherein the ensuite is undergoing a transformation. Nearly there. New taps, new shower screen and new wallpaper.

Yesterday there was great excitement and some worry. In the field alongside the house we saw two magnificent huge foxes. We have never seen foxes here, there is little cover for them, and apart from an abundance of mice which our cats try to keep at bay, not much for a fox to eat. Other than our poultry.....

Fortunately one ran off Southwards and the other Northwards towards the river. Although a beautiful sight of such beautiful animals I hope its the last sight .

Crovie

Pronounced - Crivvie - picturesque fishing village. The residents use wheelbarrows to ferry their shopping to the houses as there is no vehicular access. Yes, that is the sea, a few metres from the houses.

All is quiet on the bed and breakfast front. We have a couple in at the weekend, visiting relatives. We get quite a lot of bookings of this sort. Weddings, funerals, Birthday celebrations, just visiting. Many of these guests return again and again.

The other type of guests we have at this time of the year are people working around and about. Some of them keep on coming back which is a compliment in itself. These guests range from roofers to advocates (barrister) - all are welcome!

Greenbrae

Obviously in the summer! And from a great height.

To the left of the house as you look at the picture are the hens, ducks and vegetables. To the right the trees are on either side of the drive.

The original farmhouse has been extended to the side, providing us with the sun room and a library. To the rear are the guest bedrooms, laundry room, and our quarters.

The crops in the fields when this picture was taken are barley, an essential ingredient for the whisky!

Hens

Here are our six hens that provide the eggs for breakfast, having theirs.

The snow has gone much to their relief. Watching them try to walk without putting a foot into the snow is hilarious. If they didnt have feathers you would see them shivering. The hens have a run and are enclosed for the morning. Idea being they lay their eggs in the nest boxes in their hut so we do not have to hunt high and low for their produce. Doesn't always work, favourite other places are in a herb 'sink' and under the fennel. They are let loose around lunch time and roam the garden and sometimes next door and keep the slugs and snails at bay. As night falls they wend their way back to their hut where they perch for the night, and are then locked up again.

February snow

The promised snow finally arrived overnight. Yesterday was taken up by three trips to the diy centre and arguing over which wallpaper would give the ensuite the wow factor. We got lots of samples and all were discarded, leaving us with a fairly tame one. Hope the guests approve.

My colleagues in the bed and breakfast world are all paniccing over the new Fire regulations. These now apply to any establishment where the public go. We have visions of lots of expenditure on replacing doors for fire doors, state of the art fire alarm systems, etc. But I am sure common sense will prevail. Our inspection is due this month and the list of things that will be checked do not look scary at all. Watch this space.

Castles

This one is Ravenscraig, not far away. It is, as you can see ,a ruin. But we also have Castles around which are not ruined and all are worth a visit. Many have a resident ghost or two or more.

On the house front we are off to buy some wallpaper for the guest bathrooms. It would be nice to just sit and watch the clouds scudding across the sky and listen to the wind howling outside. But later today I will be up a ladder.