Jordan and The Girls performing the Scottish Lilt

Andy

Andy worked very hard in all departments, during the Summer, he was great to work with and we miss him. He is now in his final year at Edinburgh University taking his degree in economy as he is going to put the banking world to rights, thank goodness, when he is a fully fledged economist.

Graeme & Jordan The Piper, on Tartan Tuesday

SWRI Pancake Stall

Tartan Tuesday Highland Nights

Tartan Tuesdays
Taditional Highland Night,
"The Best Nicht oot in the Glen"
at the new Theatre at Aviemore.

3 course Highland Dinner & Show £25.50 per person.

Dine early on a Tuesday, from 6pm during July and August only, to enjoy "Tartan Tuesday".

With Jim Mackay's Dance Band
Claire Bryce Dancers

Jordan The Piper ~ A local Rising Star
& Hosted by Champion Accordionist & Well known Entertainer
Graeme MacKay

Hungry and noisy ducks eating their barley

Ducks and birds in the garden and on the pond

Just another day in the garden, Paul cleaning ther duck pond.

Bill on the lawnmower cutting the lawn in the garden, one sunny Sunday.

Some Images of the new attractions at The Highland Wildlife Park

Camels arrived July 09
June 09.Snow Monkeys

This is where I am before getting the Hotel ready for the day and unlocking doors etc. The ducks need feeding, the rabbits take no notice of the ducks and ducklings running like mad to the back door as soon as they notice me in the kitchen. If I should call them, well, there is such a stampede. They can't get enough of the bread. Bill sometimes has to make loaves especially for the ducks, if there is no left over toast from the Restaurant. We also buy barley from a local farm, and bird seed which is the ducks favourite, their sweeties, and although they are wild ducks I can get them to eat from my hand.

A rare treat, Bill has escaped from the kitchen. The hanging baskets Bill makes always look so beautiful, huge balls of colour. He used to enjoy growing all the plants from seed, but for speed this year we bought plugs, which are easier and quicker to use.

Myra and Paul disposing of old tumble drier

We made the old tumble drier last years past its "sell by date!" It groaned its last at 10.30pm and we hadn't finished tumbling the mornings laundry. We were doomed! But, amazingly the plumber was here the next morning at 8.30 to install the new drier. The manufacturers, when they are not making driers make spare parts for the Nassa Space Programme and weapons for the millitary. It's an amazing drier, so we are just hoping it doesn't go off with a bang and launch into space!

Ducklings and birds singing in the garden June 09

Paddock June 09

Paddock's bedroom has also been decorated now, with dado rails and underfloor heating in the bathroom.
It's not an easy room to photo, I'll try a video next time.

Ruthven's Bedroom

Today the decorators will finish in Ruthven. Already it looks brilliant. We decided to add dado rails this time and they look as if they have always been there. A photo, or video of the room, will follow
just as soon as we've put the furniture back in the room, but as usual Bill is in the kitchen, creating.
In the next week or so Paddock and Minister will also be decorated and we'll also have dado rails in those two rooms as well, as they add some character to the "ol' place".

Bill's World Behind The Scenes Part 3. Preparing Smoked Salmon & Crab Roulade

Steve & Karen kindly allowed the use of their holiday snaps to add onto our blog and newsletter.
We featured a Barn Owl, Golden Eagle at lunch, a Coal Tit, a beautiful Snow Bunting and a Robin.
If you have any snaps which you would like featured please email them to us.

A Bird Photography Holiday in Kingussie

Behind The Scenes. Part 2. Myra Painting

Bill's 1st Video of His World

Each month we'll have a slot Behind The Scenes.
This month it's Bill's introduction to His World.

Well, the snow has all gone from our grounds and driveway, so approaching the Hotel is easy again. Minus 17 was rather cold, but The Winter Wonderland didn't last very long. Guests coming back after their day out told me that they "Had been driving through a beautiful Christmas card".

With the snow gone off the courses, golf is available again Kingussie's challenging 18-hole hillside golf course, offers spectacular views of the National Park. which contains a quarter of Scotland’s native woodlands and is refuge to many rare species of flora and fauna. Highland courses are the real hidden gems of Scottish Golf, challenging and set amongst some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, to suit every budget and every ability.

Or, invigerating walks through glorious countryside, visit the ruins of Ruthven Barracks - a pleasant country walk from the village

So….break free from city life and take to the byways, vast moorland, hills, and Highland glens. Breathe in the pure highland air, which brightens the eye and lightens the step. Total freedom to relax, unwind and accept the slower pace of the Highlands.

Well February's weather certainly made an impression. Deep snow, beautiful blue skies and bright sunshine. The snow ploughs works day and night, as usual, to keep the road open and it hasn't too disruptive for us.

At the time of writing, the good snowfall recently has resulted in excellent conditions for snow sports at CairnGorm Mountain for the half term holidays. Skiing is possible from top to bottom all 12 lifts are operating and all 39 runs are skiable
There is a ski racing event on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th Feb on the M1 race piste. This is an open competition. The race run will be closed for the duration of the competition but will reopen to the public when the races are finished.
Check out www.cairngormmountain.org for the most up to date snow sport conditions and weather.

Bill has re-introduced the Highland Venison Casserole due to popular demand, and has been working merrily away changing and adding new desserts and a beautiful smoked salmon and crab meat starter which we came across at Christmas whilst in Spain.

We have also added several affordable menu items to help with the current economic crisis, i.e. some main courses on the a'la carte menu for less than £10. Scampi, home made beef burgers, spaghetti dishes and even sausage and mash all reasonably priced comfort food.

Break free and stay overnight as our super saver offers are actually two for the price of one at the moment, even less if you can stay mid week. More details on our "Offers Page"

The first couple of weeks of 2009

What a start to the New Year. We had spent Christmas setting up the apartment in Marbella ready for Guests' use. We actually stayed in it for the first time, and it was so peaceful and warm! We had a lunch party on our patio with old friends from Kingussie who live just outside Malaga perched precariously on top of a mountain, a real life "Driving Over Lemons".
Sadly Bills' Mother passed away just before we came back.
So the first two weeks were sad, despite my brother, his wife and grandchild, from Australia, coming to visit us for the first time at the Hotel. I told him that we had been waiting for 23 years for them to visit us!
The credit crunch has hit the Highlands with avengance, but we are doing our best to fight it by offering very very special rates. So, if you feel like getting away at the moment please give us a ring it will be nice to hear from previous Guests again and we have some really good special offers on at the moment.

Welcome to the Columba House Hotel Blog

This is the place to be if you want to share memories of a trip or visit us at Columba House Hotel, or if you want to stay in touch with news from the hotel. We will update this regularly with news, offers and pictures.

Please comment and let us know what you think...

Myra & Bill

Columba House Hotel & Garden Restaurant

Welcome to the Romantic Highlands

Welcome to our first ever Newsletter which features a range of offers and articles which we hope you will find of interest.
We will let you know of forthcoming events going on our area of Cairngorms National Park.
After shopping in Inverness, we drove North and came across this traffic jam. Joy!
We hope to share life in the Highlands with previous Guests, and new Guests , a place where you can keep up to date with what is happening here and share your experiences by commenting on the blog.We had snow on and off during Janurary and took a couple of videos in the garden crunching on the fresh crisp snow.
We