Millport Breaks

10/11/2024

All good things must come to an end.
And so it is with my ownership of little Rose Cottage, which will be going on the market early next year.
From our first viewing in early 2014, when Mr Millport Breaks pronounced it " dank and unappealing" and suggested it should be renamed Mushroom Cottage due to the fungal growth in every corner, to purchasing it in July of the same year, 😄 it sort of grew on us.
A bit like mushrooms actually....
We spent the winter getting it stripped, tanked and insulated. We pulled the ivy from the gutters and repaired some very dodgy stonework.
Finally it was ready to welcome visitors in April 2015, and they, like us, have been charmed by it's quiet location, little garden and the fun of feeding the many birds.
But now ...I need to simplify life. You're only really a caretaker for an old building like Rose Cottage. Now it's time to pass the reins onto someone else. And I hope that the new owners, whoever they are, enjoy looking after it as much as we did.

09/11/2024

I'm down for a little overnight stay tonight. Despite worrying in a wholly disproportionate manner about the cats well being while I'm away( do you think they miss me? Wonder where I am? Will Twigz be ok without his midnight snack?) I cannot think where in the world I would rather be right now.
I've been for a nice slow ramble about the island, and despite the grey weather and dead flat sea without a breath of wind, there's always beauty to be observed.

03/11/2024

Never been more proud....😄
Sue Dyer posted my certificate up after she and her lovely husband Dave collected it for me.
Dave won a prize in the photography section , (well done that man, )and so they collected both certificates together.
I am already planning an even more extravagant display for next year, but I'm not sure I'll ever top Fern Andy. 😉

23/10/2024

A quick trip today to do a wee clean at Rose Cottage, and of course drop into the Garrison for lunch. ( Roll and bacon and Americano and hot oat milk. Yummmmm)
Loch Fyne ferry was covering for Loch Shira, as apparently Loch Shira is getting it's cludgie fixed.
It's a bit of a mammoth journey by public transport just for the day and be back in time to feed the cats before they fling themselves out of the window in starvation.....
But there's a lot of enjoyment to step back and look at the cottage , cosy and clean and ready for guests.
Still December availability, though not Christmas or New Year.

19/10/2024

Thanks to Susan for stopping and asking if Miss Millport and I would like a photo together today.
You can see where she gets her good looks from .
Yes, her dad.

19/10/2024

Miss Millport and I loaded up her little car this morning with clean bedding and some hamper supplies, and set off for Millport in the sunshine.
The Garrison is always our first stop. ( Well, the loo is our first stop technically , but you don't need to know that, do you?)
Today we decided on a sausage and egg roll along with coffee, and this ensued in a spirited discussion as to how to eat this without half the egg running down your wrists.
Miss Millport favours busting the egg yolk and then smearing the over the roll.
I've always just bit into it and hoped for the best.
Her way is better.
What's your favourite Garrison food?

18/10/2024

Well deserved in my book!
Nowhere finer to buy your whoopie cushions and other essentials....

"🎉 We are absolutely delighted to announce that Mapes of Millport has been voted Independent Toy Specialists of the Year! 🏆 Since 1946, Mapes of Millport has proudly served the community, bringing joy to generations with our wide range of toys and bike hire services. This award is a true honour and a reflection of the wonderful support from our amazing customers. Thank you for being part of our journey and for making this possible. Here's to many more years of fun and adventure! 🚲🎈 "

14/10/2024

I've come down to the island for a very short visit to do a couple of little jobs, and I'm staying in Beside the Bay.
Almost all the fencing has gone ! You can walk along now from Kames Bay and admire the lovely curving profile of the new flood defences, and I'm particularly happy that there's a bench almost right across the road!
I took my afternoon tea and chocolate biscuits out and sat in the sunshine on this bench- I'm pretty sure Mackley put it there just for me. You get the most glorious view across Kames Bay beach, which I admired as I drank and ate.
After a few minutes I began to wish I'd just brought the packet of biscuits with me, but it was a moment's walk back to the apartment. The whole area looks great, it really does.
The grass will grow back of course, and I'm over the moon that I haven't lost any of my sea view from the window!
I'm renaming the bench " Boyle Bench".
Wow betide anyone that parks their buttocks on it except me!
I think it's got a distinguished ring to it: " Boyle Bench" don't you?

01/10/2024

*** now booked, thanks***
Due to a sad cancellation, I now have Beside the Bay available for a stay over 5th November.
We've had all the fireworks last weekend, so you can be reasonably confident that your dog won't have to put up with any unexpected bangs and pops, and of course you can just come by yourself and enjoy a chilled weekend!
The apartment sleeps two as a couple, and I welcome one dog.
The log burner makes this apartment so cosy and toasty. It's got it's sea view back again now that the flood defences work is almost complete ( fencing is still there at time of writing , but the giant hump of earth has gone).
Licence number NA 00221F.
Special price of £120 for two nights, £160 for three.
http://millportbreaks.promotemyplace.com

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