Another season drawing to a close
already! Where does the time go? It seems like only days since
we were serving wild garlic soup and rhubarb ice cream and now here
we are making jams and pickles ready for 2010.
Once again we’ve been
very busy. Geoffrey has been enlarging the borders yet again – one
day they will meet in the middle. We have lots of new plants and
some of the old ones are really coming into their
own this year. Earlier in the year we were smitten with the rhododendron
virus that had already affected the castle – only the best places,
dontchaknow? – but, fingers crossed, we are managing to keep it
under control.
In July we had all the excitement of Christmas when
'Red' Magazine
came to Kilmichael for a fashion shoot for their Christmas issue
(due out in November). Half of the island appeared to get involved
and we were treated
to the sight of a beautiful spanish model promenading through the
gardens dressed in several thousand pounds worth of leading fashion.Who
knows,
maybe Alexander Mcqueen will be designing our staff outfits for
2010!
Chickenopolis is still bursting at the seams. We had
to put in a gate because Antony’s turkeys were taking altogether too
keen an interest in passing dogs, including Giuseppe, who really isn’t
that keen on poultry that moves. Visitors to Chickenopolis now
have to watch out for The Pasha, a palm turkey, who loves to nip one’s
leg as a ‘gentle’ reminder
that he needs feeding. We lost a few of the older peafowl, but
one of the peahens surprised us by appearing with a white chick,
which we are hoping
will survive to astound next year.
The flower garden in summer
In addition to the Scottish Country
House Hotel of the Year Award (see previous
newsletter!) we have
learned that Kilmichael is once again to be an AA Red Star
Hotel and will be an Inspector’s Choice for 2010. VisitScotland
has told us that we are to receive their coveted Gold
Award and
our self catering
cottages were inspected by VisitScotland and declared to be firmly
in the five star category. A big thank you to all our staff, and
in particular Helen who, despite becoming a grandmother this year,
continues to welcome
guests with a warm smile and a tray of tea!.
Pan among the bluebells
Guiseppe biting the sea!
Next year will be a
special one for us in that it will mark twenty years that we have
been welcoming guests to Kilmichael. We do hope that many readers
of this
newsletter will be amongst them.
The tradesmen's emtrance!!
Rush hour!
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