Visit the NEW Corridor Gallery

Christine's fabled "back passage" (we have had so much fun with that) has now been reborn as the "corridor gallery".  Now, open plan, warm and inviting the former "back passage" has been converted into a well lit corridor gallery featuring work by local artists, with special focus on images of this beautiful area.  Currently featured is work by photographer Phil McMenemy who has his own gallery at Lauriston.  His work captures the look and feel of Dumfries & Galloway in beautiful detail.
Also featured is local potter Hannah McAndrew  Her traditional slipware pottery is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
The work of both artists can be viewed and purchased at leisure during your stay here at Fludha  

New Guest Lounge at Fludha

In previous years we have taken the ground floor bedroom out of commission to use as a lounge during the festive season.  But, this year we have completed the stable conversion, so we have been able to release an additional ground floor room to be used as a permanent lounge for guest use.  So whether its for pre-dinner drinks, relaxing with a coffee after your evening meal or just having a quiet afternoon in when its raining we now have a beautiful comfortable lounge for you to use.  For your additional interest and enjoyment we will also be displaying works by local artist which will be for sale

Snow at Fludha Dec 2010

Snow finally arrived here last night after a fortnight of frost.  It really is a winter wonder land.  Notice how the banks of the river have remained green, just goes to show how warm the gulf stream is here!!  Actual outside temperature is around -4 C

Staff xmas Party 2010

Well in order to show our appreciation to our staff, who have all brought a little extra something to our offering here at Fludha and without whom we could not have continued this year we thought a Christmas Party where we serve them for a change would be a good idea - a great night was had by all.  Thank you!!

From left to right Ashley, Carolyn, The Hostess with the most-est - Christine, Glynn and last but not least Ruth

Yours truly in front of the camera for a change, surrounded !!!

Our Happy band of troupers showing off their new Fludha shirts!!

Don't worry, we did not make them wear the shirts for the party!!

Taking stock

On the first of October we celebrated 30 years of married life together, and also the news that Christine is now in remission!!!.  To celebrate these milestones we decided to treat ourselves.  3 nights away at Thorseby Hall in Nottingham (a 4 star spa hotel run by Warner Leisure).  No denying the building was beautiful, nay stunning, and the spa was brilliant and the entertainment was enjoyable, the "luxury ensuite" however was far from luxurious as it sported a std shower with no where to put your toiletries, but worse the room service was very poor.  After the 1st night our bed was not made, we got fed up of sending dirty cups back (and we were not the only ones), we had drinks served containing cream that was off and we really did not appreciate being served by waiters and waitresses wearing jeans and with their shirts hanging out, yes I know it might be fashionable but please, not when your supposed to be working. So we felt let down, never mind.
Second stop was Monk Fryston Hall in Nth Yorkshire, despite the fact we were the only people in the bar we had a very pleasant evening, however the morning was spoilt because the shower stopped working half way through taking a shower and would not start again.  Breakfast would have been perfect if it had not been for the waitress taking plates away as soon as any one person finished (am I being picky).

Our final stop was at Langley Castle in Northumberland.  This was a splendid treat, finally we had found somewhere where the luxury ensuite really was luxurious and the room was nothing short of a "fit for a king" description.  But again the  service let them down.  In the evening we asked a waiter what time breakfast was served and he had no idea, during breakfast we asked for more toast and were treated to an oafish and reluctant grunt.

I do not want to sound like I am blowing my own trumpet but what our little trip made us realise and appreciate is that despite Fludha's much more modest architecture we do offer really excellent service even compared to the above hotels which charge considerably more.

New photo

Well Christines hair is now looking lovely, its beautiful and curly and it's almost snow white.  Call me biased if you like but I think it's stunning.

Lucky Shot

Back in the days of 35mm cameras I used to think I was a pretty good photographer, what with my mastery of the depth of field and consummate knowledge of the ASA and DIN functions!!  But nowadays with digital cameras you can hardly take a bad shot.  However once in a while I still manage to take a "good" one.  The picture below was taken only a hundred yards away from our drive entrance and the tide was a spring tide.

If you double click the image you get a better idea

Our view is a constant source of pleasure, to be honest its not always as pretty as the pic above! The river is Tidal and has a 30ft plus difference between high and low tide. This means that when the tide is out (twice a day) it looks like little more than a muddy stream. But variety is the spice of life right?
Heres another shot taken just a couple of days ago from our front door. I admit I used the zoom lens but the shot was special because the river was so blue. Ten minutes after I took this shot it was back to its steely grey colour so you have to be quick to get that "Lucky Shot"

Updated Photo's

It has just been pointed out to me that the photo of Chris and I on the "about us" page of the web site is out of date.  Here's one taken Febuary this year

Unfortunately shortly after this photo was taken Chris lost her hair due to the chemo,  It is growing back now and is beautifully white - when its long enough to photo I will put a new one on the web site.

Posh car park

The second car from the left is a 2 day old Aston Martin Rapide as featured on top gear - the rest are just audi quatro's, porches, bmw's and jaguars my Volvo (in background) was by far the cheapest car in the car park!

A Short Resume

It's been a while since my last post, lots of things happening this last few months. By far the most important is that my wife Christine has been very ill. I would just like to take this opportunity to thank the very many friends, family neighbours and guests who have supported us through this time. While she is not entirely out of the woods yet she has managed to stay very positive and we are looking forward to a long future together.

Furthermore I would like to thank our staff without whom we would not have been able to stay open and who have all contributed significantly to Fludha's continued success this year

Oh, and by the way I think her new hair style is brilliant!!

FLUDHA

Panorama of View from Fludha

Best Pic - Camaflaged dogs!

I took a lot of pictures while we had snow but I think this is my best one.  I even got this published on the BBC

Drinking up time at Fludha

It's amazing how B/W pics can make a glass look empty!  Thanks to my Bro for this picture

Snowy Sunsets

This cold weather makes for brilliant photo opportunities, I spent about an hour trudging around the house the other day taking photo's as the sun went down, hope you like them

Sledging at Fludha

Well at 55 I thought I had seen the last of my sledging days, BUT your never to old to have fun so today I seconded the re-cycle bin lid as a make do sledge and had a couple of hours fun shouting "jerronimo" and laughing till my sides ached - passers by applauded but despite being invited, no one joined me.  Never mind, after turning the drive into an ice path, I decided to go for the "giant slalom" and started sliding down our embankment I almost made it to the drive, sadly no one saw me but here a a couple of pics of me on the trainng slope!

Valentines Day is coming

Valentine Weekend Offer's

Saturday night(13th)

Candlelit Dinner, Bed & Breakfast with chocolates and champagne,last breakfast extended to 10am and extended checkout until 12 noon

£90 pp

Or

Make a weekend of it
(12th & 13th) and save £20

2 Nights Candlelit Dinner, Bed & Breakfast,(chocolates and champagne on Saturday) breakfast extended till 10 am on Sunday, plus extended check out until 12 noon

£160 pp

Supplement of £20 per night for Fludha Suite

All the above only available by booking direct on 01557 331443

 For more detaails visit our website

Christmas Pictures

Fludha's decorated oak staircase  And Santa ofcourse

Magical center piece Christmas Candle  And Christmas Tree

A Christmas Romance?                                                    


A few "traditional" type pics.
                                                      The heavy frost coated everything making it into a magical wonderland. 

 

It's at this time of the year when the days are at their shortest that we get the most spectacular sunsets.




The house looked like something out of Charles Dickens with all the outdoor lights (these seem to multiply every year).