Millport Breaks

29/09/2024

Absolutely honoured and delighted to have won Best Flat Window this year , for my Fern Andy entry.
I'd like to thank: Miss Millport Breaks who came up with the original idea, and for her sterling efforts up the ladder yesterday!
My big son Jamie for his encouragement and artistic critique as I applied papier mache to the cave. Amazon for the sheer amount of paper packing that a simple box of cat food seems to require...
My knitting group for their encouragement, and kind words as it became clear that one of Andy's feet was coming out much larger than the other...🤔.
All the judges, who gave up time to walk the streets in the dark, peering at window displays...
Team efforts are the best!

29/09/2024

September weekend is a really special time. Originally it marked the end of the tourist season for Millport, though now of course many visitors appreciate the many delights that autumn and winter offer here.
It also coincides with the late great Mr Millport Break's birthday, and as a small child, he firmly believed that the fireworks display was in honour of this significant event.
Miss Millport Breaks and I arrived yesterday and after putting together the window display which celebrated the story of Fern Andy, we repaired to the pub to meet friends. Fern Andy lived in a cave in the early part of the twentieth century, and died in the 1930s, age unknown. He had supplies dropped off at the old Fintry Bay Lemonade Bar.
He lived in the cave all summer, only taking a room for rent in the town in the coldest months . He is credited with painting the rock near his cave , Indian Rock, and sold baskets and woven items for his living.
Miss Millport was a great companion, and helped me no end with my window display, being a good bit taller and able to get up the step ladder without groaning and wobbling about. ( This is not the case with my good self).
There were some great window displays in other shops and houses too, which we enjoyed!
Then of course the fireworks which were exceptional.
We didn't have time to check out the sandcastle building competition, but some of the photos I've seen showed entries of an extremely high standard.
All credit to the organisers of this special event, the time and effort put into making the whole weekend such an enjoyable time must be considerable. Accomodation tends to book up very quickly, but the addition of some late ferries means you can still come for the day.

22/09/2024

I was so happy to host one of my daughter's good friends this weekend.
She came with her husband and two sons, and stayed in Rose Cottage.
She told me that she wanted to show the boys Millport, just as my daughter introduced her to the island so many years ago.
And there's something so lovely about the different generations enjoying just the same pursuits - cycling round the island, going to the cafes and bars, and the amusement arcade!
It was a big hit with them all.
The boys also enjoyed the Brio train track which was my daughter's favourite so many years ago....some things are indestructible and that train track is one of them!

14/09/2024

Another Saturday clean in Rose Cottage, and this time no clothing related disasters 🤗.
The bus and ferry were very busy with two large groups of people. One group was a loud and jolly bunch of golfers. ( What's the collective noun for golfers? A gaggle? A gas?)
The others were all in top hats and tails or kilt attire, and looked extremely smart .
I wondered briefly if they might be connected with the golfers, but was reliably informed they were on the island for a wedding at the secret beach .
Unfortunately I don't think the sun is going to shine. It's bloomin' chilly and windy, so I hope they hold onto their hats. 🫤

10/09/2024

Just a bit of impromptu singing in the Tavern tonight 😄

08/09/2024

I have a heartfelt apology to make this morning.
What happened was this : I arrived yesterday to do the cleaning for Rose Cottage. It was very very warm, which is beautiful if you're having an ice cream from the Ritz, or paddling in Kames Bay. Less so if you're cleaning.
I splashed lots of bleachy cleaner over the bathroom and left it to soak in while I enjoyed a coffee and roll at the Garrison. When I came back, I carefully took my trousers and tee shirt off in order to get right in aboot it, with my microfibre cloths. Then I realised I'd forgotten my old joggy bottoms which I use for cleaning....
Well, no matter, I thought, I'll just clean in my un**es. Nobody will see.
The door to the cottage was open, to let a nice cool breeze in and I did my cleaning with a bit of grunting and groaning as I washed, dried and polished the shower, sink and toilet, then backed out of the room on my hands and knees to do the floor.
It was at this point I realised the postman had silently put a letter on the door mat, which has a direct eyeline to the bathroom door.
So, Mr Postman. I apologise if you were traumatised by the possible sight of my backside clad in giant knickers retreating out of the bathroom, huffing and puffing as I went.
That is all I have to say on this matter, and I hope the therapy goes well.
.In other news, there's still lots of diggers and half finished walls/ seating around, hopefully flood defences work is coming to a close?

05/09/2024

I spent yesterday and today making bramble jelly.
Yesterday was picking the attractive , glossy fruits from the bramble bushes close to my house.
Several people with dogs stopped to chat. We discussed the best places to collect the brambles, while the dogs sniffed hopefully at my pockets and stood patiently in the afternoon sunshine. One chap gallantly used his walking stick to pull some branches down to allow me to harvest.
Overnight, the brambles,and a few raspberries from my garden,were warmed gently and put in my jeely bag to drip into a bowl.
This evening the resultant juice was boiled with sugar until a blob deposited on a cold plate wrinkled under a gentle finger pull.
Then quickly! Before it begins to set! It was poured into my washed and sterilised tiny jam jars , collected faithfully by my friend Sue.
When our children were nippers, collecting the brambles would be a family outing. Someone would usually get stung by nettles, or they'd fall into the bramble bush with howls of terror, and Mr Millport Breaks would have to wade in to rescue them.
After the children were too big to want to come, we would collect them in Millport, on a sunny afternoon.
Now that it's a solitary task, I'm grateful for gentlemen with walking sticks to help me get the best, fattest, juiciest fruits which always seem to be just tantalisingly out of my reach.

04/09/2024

Beside the Bay, is really, REALLY Beside the bay you know.
I'm pretty sure that you could climb out of the window and be in the sea, in the time it takes to boil the kettle for a cuppa.
Sleeping two as a couple and welcoming one wee
dug, it's just the cosiest little space . I'm excited to see the fencing removed, and the new slip for boats to get down, and the lovely seating in the flood defences walls all finished.
And if you are too, why not book a couple of nights?
I have availability from Wednesday 9th until Thursday 17th and then Monday 21st until Monday 28th .
Two nights : £150
Three nights : £210.
Get snuggly by the log burner!
Watch the waves roll in as you sit with a glass of wine and look out.
Walk across the beach listening the the seagulls whirl overhead .
Lie on the couch drowsing and making that noise you make just before you fall asleep ... Im not judging you! .The choice is yours.
07757216105
[email protected]
Licence number NA00221F

31/08/2024

My goodness it was warm today wasn't it?
The sun shone, the winds were extremely light ,and by the time I'd cleaned Beside the Bay for today's arrival, brought some towels from the laundry and put all the slightly unexpected delivery of logs away, I was a bit hot and sticky.
My mother always said ladies didn't sweat. I believe the saying went " horses sweat, gentlemen perspire,and ladies go all of a glow"
Well mother, I was glowing so much you could have seen it from outer space. 🥵
Then I washed the windows - mother had something to say about that too, I recall, concerning not doing it when the sun was on them as they'd go streaky.
My windows always go streaky wether the sun is on them or not, so I battered on. After all, the view from the window is rather lovely, so one wants to be able to admire it,I feel?
I did stop for my habitual roll and sausage, and coffee in the
Garrison cafe. It was quite delicious as ever.
Then time to catch the bus, and train home in time to feed my cats, who were not impressed by my suggestion that I should sit down with a cup of tea before opening their tins of food.
I fully intend to have a nice cold bottle of beer soon.
I dare say mother would have had something to say about this too, but you know what?
I'm not listening. 😄

24/08/2024

Scooter rally weekend in the sunshine!

20/08/2024

The big crane that's framed the skyline in Millport for what seems like an age, was finally transported from the island this morning at Kames Bay, by barge .Can't wait to see the end of the flood defences work, and this has been a big step in that direction!
Bye bye Cranky Crane!!
Thanks to Pam NicMhuirich for the photos .

17/08/2024

*** still available***Due to a requested change of dates for a guest, I now have 26th -30th of August available in Rose Cottage.
Sleeps max of three in one bedroom( double and single bed) and has it's very own private garden , so is ideal for dogs. Four nights special price of £260, three nights £240.
Rose Cottage is just the bee's knees and the cat's pyjamas. It's quiet, tucked away location makes it particularly restful.
I've included a photo of the cludgie as I got a slap on the wrist last time for not including one, though I don't tend to book a place on the look of the cludgie, but hey ho! Maybe you do!!
Who knows- the sun night even shine, though that seems unlikely. 😄
Two minutes from the Garrison cafe, or Newton Sands, or indeed the Newton Bar. Just in case you wanted to know, the public bar is also dog friendly.
Get booking! Please WhatsApp or email as I'm about to start cooking my dinner. 🙂

07757216105
[email protected]

13/08/2024

Cumbrae is fast becoming a hot spot for seeing the Northern Lights- thanks to the Newton Bar for this fantastic set of photos. ♥️

10/08/2024

Thanks to my lovely guest last week ,who left a thank you card saying what a lovely time they'd had in Beside the Bay. She also left a little bag of home made chocolate , which I'm having with my cup of tea outside in my Falkirk garden.
It's going to go down a treat!

10/08/2024

24/07/2024

The wind has fairly picked up this afternoon! I went over the road and took a little video.
I love to stand and watch the waves roll in . Even when the sky and sea are grey, there's just something magical about it.

23/07/2024

Unexpected sunny days are just the best.
It's been absolutely glorious on Cumbrae today.
I painted the shed door, taking advantage of the warm dry weather and I've just had my tea and walked across the road to the beach.
There were still some weans paddling and exclaiming in great excitement that they'd found a crab.Parents gathered up deck chairs and cooler boxes and deflated the dinghy . There were some dogs, and there was me ,dodging the slightly deeper rivulets of water. There were some seagulls gazing at me, hoping I'd got some chips. ( I didn't).

20/07/2024

Oh dear! Another cancellation has just come in.
September availability in Rose Cottage now, from Tuesday 3rd- Saturday 7th September, and I also have a chunk from Tuesday 17th- Tuesday 24th now, due to another cancellation!!
No availability September weekend or any dates from no till September 3rd I'm afraid.
Rose Cottage sleeps three,( all beds in the same room, a double and single) and due to it's pretty wee private garden, fully fenced, it's also ideal for a dog or two.
I'm hoping the weather will be lovely....surely we will get some of those cool, sunny sparkly sea days, where it's just delightful to stroll along the new prom? Surely it can't still be overcast and clammy?
Anyway. Whatever the weather delivers up, you'll have a great time I'm sure( just bring a rain jacket. Maybe a fleece. Possibly some shorts .....)
Three nights in Rose Cottage £240.
Please WhatsApp to ask about booking.
07757216105.
Licence number: NA00186F

17/07/2024

Daily Record's town of the week, and of course the best place in the world! https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/scotland-now/gallery/quirky-scottish-seaside-town-named-33256529?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3l4vR7NEiB-7QdQquwxTsEsy8oJLexJ5dI9YMvqDqsK_00ecX0sGkILYQ_aem_yp8Uvb0pQzPPSuW-r7zlmg

The Daily Record has selected the picturesque little town of Millport on the North Ayrshire island of Great Cumbrae for the latest edition of our Town of the Week series..

16/07/2024

Sadly a guest has had to cancel her September booking in Beside the Bay.
So it's now available for a minimum of two nights , from Sunday 8th until Sunday 15th . Sorry no availability for any dates before that, or September weekend.
Just the cosiest little spot ,with it's wood burner, and view out to Kames Bay. I welcome a dog too, accompanied by an owner obviously 😄and it's the ideal place to recharge your batteries and slob on the couch with a beer and Netflix, or walk your blues away, or get round to the pub for the Karaoke - whatever you feel like doing, that's ok with me!
Please message for prices ,which start at £160 for two nights mid week.
http://millportbreaks.promotemyplace.com

16/07/2024

Wow! I wonder what Croc Rock made of this happening on his back? https://www.facebook.com/share/r/d2czN9GQuAip2CtV/

07/07/2024

I had a fabulous day yesterday. Miss Millport and her delightful wife arrived in Millport about lunch time, and within the hour we were scudding across the bay towards Wee Cumbrae, courtesy of Colin Wood.
The boat is a little RIB type, as there's no facilities for a boat to land at the island- it's just a jetty. Once we were tied up safely and had been greeted warmly by the caretaker on the island, we set off up the steep climb to the top of the isle, which affords superb views down towards the little Keep, which wasn't accessible during our visit due to the tide. The seagulls screamed crossly above us, to protect their young as we walked. Then we began the descent back to the house, gardens and the old boat house.
It was a long held wish to visit the island- indeed Chris and I had booked a trip to visit the summer he had his accident and passed on. So it was a really special moment to finally arrive.
Highly recommended, if you get the chance. I believe there are now several operators providing boat trips and it's fantastic to see the paths cleared and the island open to visitors.
Do have a look and follow their page!
Wee Cumbrae Island
We finished the day with a visit to The Ritz Cafe Millport , for marshmallow ice and tea, and a bit of reminiscing about holidays when Miss Millport and her brothers were nippers.

06/07/2024

It was a lovely sunny morning at six am, but unfortunately it's clouded over a good bit now.
I washed the windows at Beside the Bay where I'm staying, and went for a little daunder across to the beach. The huge mound of earth has been moved. I'm a bit surprised by this as originally there was to be some ramping up of earth , but maybe it will be spread back across this month? The new steps/ seating at Kames Bay looks great and is nearly finished I think. There was a very large crane, and some chaps in hard hats tootling about.
I walked down to the water's edge and pondered the great mysteries of life, death, and all in between, and then my stomach rumbled and reminded me I hadn't had a very large breakfast at 6am.
One requires a sort of second breakfast I find , when one is such an early riser. 🙄
So I shall attach photos and go in search of sustenance.