ONCE IN A BLUE MOON!

Hogmanay was fantastic. Cold, dry, clear and a partial eclipse of a 'blue' moon (pictured) all added to the atmosphere. The midnight bonfire and fireworks were great. The Brass Monkeys (as ever) were fab and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves despite the sub zero temperatures. We have not had a day above freezing for weeks!

Very happy to report that New Year's Day dawned sunny, bright and very, very cold and I at least did not have a hangover! Just as well as last year I missed our BBQ at the point and with such glorious weather I did not want to do the same again.
We have now drained down most of the lodges as there are not too many folk venturing north for a break with the conditions so severe and travel so difficult across the country. One or two burst pipes already but fortunately to lodges that were due for new kitchens and carpets this winter. It may be very pretty with the snow and frost but it is certainly challenging to try and keep the water flowing. I hope we have a thaw soon!

Alfie enjoying his first white Christmas

Alfie, our Great Dane puppy enjoyed the snow - he tryed to catch snow flakes as they fell on the patio! The weather has been great over Christmas - sunny days bringing the frost to life and making the snow covered hills glow pink. It has been very, very cold. Minus 7 during the day and probably minus 10 at night. The ski resorts are all open and we may head up to the hills tomorrow. We spent a lazy Boxing Day recovering from too much food and drink on Christmas Day - just the one walk around the field for the dogs and then back to the fire. It was a lovely day and even better as we went out for lunch so no washing up!

Still some late vacancies for Hogmanay - and we intend to bring in 2010 with gusto. I for one will be glad to see the back of it as it has not been the best year for me health wise. Hopefully next year will be far better - it starts well with my 50th birthday bash at The Barn. I'm looking forward to it already.

AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS

The Christmas spirit must be getting to Jim as he rarely (if ever) gives anything away and today he has agreed that I can give customers a holiday from credit/debit card transaction supplements!

There have been such problems recently with cheques going astray in the post (a regular occurence during the Festive season) that we really want to encourage more of our customers to book and pay via the secure server. It seems only fair that we should make that cost free for guests - you can even look upon it as a saving as you don't have to post us a cheque. Of course, we can still take payment in the traditional way (including postal orders) but if you are reading this blog you are already online so presumably already familiar with online booking and payment.

We do have a couple of cancellations for Hogmanay week so if you have not yet booked there are a few spaces. The Oban Hogmanay Street Party may have been cancelled but at the Barn our celebrations are going ahead - and it's all free for our guests. Live music, midnight bonfire, fireworks - our usual Heath Robinson bad weather extension for the kids and pets etc and our usual excellent house party atmosphere.

We hope to see you over the Festive Season - if we don't have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Hogmanay Menu

Just had a look at Andrew's Festive menus and both Christmas and Hogmanay look very tasty! I think we might just book ourselves a table for Christmas to save on all the bother or cooking a turkey. Hogmanay is usually a 'family hold back' situation as guests come first and tables are in big demand. We will probably do what we usually do and have dinner at home first and then go up to the Barn when the music and dancing starts. Our midnight bonfire this year will be spectacular as it is huge - I don't know where all these pallets have appeared from but they should certainly burn even if we get rain. Fingers crossed as ever for some good clear cold weather. Some vacancies left for both Christmas week and Hogmanay and this year for the first time we are accepting short breaks (4 and 5 night stays).

WATER WATER EVERYWHERE!

Ironically, when the heavans have been more than generous with the supply of free water in the form of rain here are Cologin we have been battling with the construction of a new water treatment plant and all the groundworks that go with laying new water pipes from our collection well in the hills (fed by a natural spring) and the main tanks feeding the park, the Barn and all our houses. In fact, the loch at the top of our hill - Loch Gleanabhearaigh - forms the water resorvoir for Oban. So in a way we have the same water supply as the town centre - we just don't have a mains connection!

Our water has often been praised by guests as it is incredibly soft and as spring water it has a beautiful flavour. However, it can occassionaly take on a hint of colour from the peaty earth through which the spring emerges. The new filtrations system should sort this out and take the quality of our water to a standard that meets the latest EC regulation! Of course if we just bottled it at source we could sell it as Cologin Spring Water and it wouldn't need to meet any minimum standard! Such is the incomprehensible nature of the red tape that surrounds the EC. 

First Frosts of 2010 at Cologin

The Hash House Harriers filled the site to bursting last weekend and after they left on Monday morning Cologin appeared very quiet and tranquil! Personally, I love this time of the year. The Barn is on winter hours (Thursday pm to Monday pm) and mid week all I could see when out walking our (now very large) Grate Dane puppy were stars in the sky. It's been clear and cold at night with the first morning frosts appearing. Weekends still attract guests who come at this time of the year to relax and recharge their batteries. They can certainly find plenty of scenic spots to do that.

HASHERS DESCEND ON COLOGIN

Edinburgh Hash House Harriers are here in force once again for their annual Oban weekend of fun and frolics - and a little bit of running! The group is 100 strong this year with a couple of overspill lodges down at Lagnakeil as well as taking over every chalet and lodge at Cologin. The byre has been cleared for a pre-dinner party (the group is too big for the Barn to feed in one go so all odd numbered chalets go first whilst the even numbered kick back in the byre and they they swop over). The band is booked for the post dinner bash and I will have to bring the horses in as this close to firework night there is bound to be fireworks!