A winter wonderland?

The last time that I was on Bute, I will admit to feeling a bit chilly. And it was November, which is still considered to be autumn, not winter. In search of comfort, thermals and big, padded coats were my friends. Although I lived in England in my early 20s, I had forgotten what it was like to feel really cold.

As Christmas looms and winter is now the season in Scotland, I have found myself wondering if I will ever spend the festive season in my flat in years to come. I love the idea, so maybe one day! Curling up next to the fire with a glass of red (or maybe whisky?) does have a certain appeal.

Trish has kept me up to date with all of the wintry delights on offer on the island at this time of year. And sometimes it looks highly appealing, and other times terrifyingly cold! The view from the flat is vastly different when it is rainy, windy and wet. There is a reason that grass is so very green!

Here is a little taste of the weather at present. If you listen carefully, you can hear the wind too. Very grateful that we have installed new windows, that's for sure!

And here is a recent weather forecast - moderate snow or ice warning...

Outside of the flat, it is still beautiful, but has taken on a decidedly more moody and wintry feel.

As I watch from afar, I keep on reminding myself that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. If I am going to spend time there in winter, my wardrobe may need some adjusting...

But Christmas in the northern hemisphere is a different experience - and it is quite magical. Apparently there are a lot of Christmas markets on Bute, including those at the very famous Mount Stuart. Trish sent me these snaps and I have to admit to feeling quite envious. I would love to go there!

And I think the decorations in the windows at The Green Interiors are pretty spectactular too. Certainly worthy of an award! They look gorgeous - tasteful but very festive. Nice job Trish!

But regardless of the weather outside, work on my flat continues. The coving has now been installed and the pipe work for the kitchen is complete - ready for the new kitchen to be installed. And very happily, the boiler has been relocated to the kitchen (which is the right place), freeing up a significant amount of space in the bathroom.

You can also see Shaun (with beanie on!), looking very pleased with himself. Note how the plaster has nicely dried out and is ready for painting. You can also see the new coving!

Finally, you might remember that lovely Jet, the plasterer's dog, passed away recently. He spent quite a bit of time in the flat with Dave and Ritchie, as that plastering job was a tricky one. It is so nice to know that Bosie, Trish and Shaun's dog, has come to visit the flat now too. Bosie is a pretty cool dog and certainly kept an eye on me when I was feeling ill during my last visit. So, I am pleased to see that he seems to approve of our renovations. I like that bay window too, Bosie!