The painter, the plumber and the apprentice

This week we uncovered another hidden treasure in the flat. This time it was behind the wall paper, which is being carefully removed from the remaining walls. To our delight, we found a message from those who have been there before.

Behind the wallpaper was a message from a renovation team from 1957. On 15 October 1957, A Purvey (the painter), Alex Duncan (the plumber) and M McLean (the apprentice) left their names on the wall.

My supremely creative friend Trish took one look at this and knew that we would need to follow suit with our renovations. So, during my next visit (which is only a couple of weeks away now), Trish, Shaun and I will sign our own names and messages onto the wall before the plasterboard goes on. I will need some time to think of a suitably witty message for whoever decides to renovate the flat in the future.

Trish also suggested that I should write a letter and pop it below the floorboards. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I have declared that this will need to be a love letter to my flat. A way to thank my flat but to also wish the future new owners good fortune.

In many ways, this wee flat and Rothesay have already given me so much. I was a bit broken when I turned up in Rothesay in June, and this adventure has already provided me with so much to be grateful for. And although it is early days, I suspect that Rothesay will become an important part of not only my life, but that of my family's once more. I hope so anyway.

So, I am going to write my love letter to my flat, pop it into a special envelope and maybe enclose a photo of Trish, Shaun and I. Then maybe in another 65 years another trio can transform the Kyles of Bute flat once more!