My slaves (actually super helpers, actually super sons) are changing with the times. William will graduate this year and needs to be free to move on. Arthur is in school and can only help at weekends throughout the height of the tourist season. As it was only with their vital contributions that we were able to make the Creel operate in the way and to the standard we liked, the time has come for the establishment to change hands. The Creel is therefore as of yesterday on the market at a remarkably reasonable price. It is being sold by Lows Law Property and Finance in Kirkwall – click here for details . They are the particularly nice estate agents in Kirkwall thanks to whom I breezed through the purchase of the Creel myself a number of years ago. I wonder what will happen next to the Creel. Personally, I think it would make a wonderful large family home. This is because the Blue Lobster Bar, currently furnished as such, has the capability, by simply changing the furniture, of becoming an absolutely wonderful day room, with its view over St Margaret's Bay. Then the large dining room could be re-organised to become a large and cosy sitting room near the front with the back half continuing to serve as the family dining room. And imagine having a house where every bedroom has its own en-suite! (And in Orkney too, one of the best places to live in the UK – see this, for example.) On the other hand, of course, the Creel as it is stands is completely ready to continue as a wonderfully located bed & breakfast under enterprising new owners. Or, given the fact the house has a proper professional kitchen, it could even go back to being a restaurant with rooms, as it once was. So, now we wait to see what the future holds. And while we wait, I pause to remember all the wonderful guests we had from all over the world – NZ, Australia, USA, Canada, many from Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, even a Hungarian family, and others (not to mention England and Scotland!). The vast majority of all these guests were a delight to have staying with us and made for very enjoyable times. My sons and I are all very glad we did this B&B thing and hold very warm feelings for all of our guests. (Pssst... Except for one English business lady – no names, no pack drill – who was our one and only experience of the guest from hell. But that's another story...) What I wouldn't give to live on this waterfront: St Margaret's Hope - The Waterfront (actually, I do and still will live here as I will be staying for my 'second retirement' in the house next door to the Creel.) One of the great things about the Creel which I will miss, is the view from the day room, one of the best places I know to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet of the Hope with an ever changing view to enjoy at any time of the year. A spring dawn A summer view A winter view A stormy view A misty view and finally A crazy view
(we get plenty of those too!)
4 Comments
Lisa Carvalho e Silva
21/1/2020 05:26:03 pm
David, now that comes as a surprise!! Such a lovely place, but understand that with the boys growing up and starting their own paths you want to move on also. You forgot to mention that you had visitors from Portugal :-))
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David
21/1/2020 09:40:29 pm
Thank you Lisa. It was a lovely thing to have been doing.
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Karen
23/1/2020 06:54:38 pm
It was wonderful staying with you, David. We hope to say hello again the next time we're in Orkney. Much luck in your 'second retirement'!
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David
27/1/2020 08:44:23 am
Hi Karen! Nice to hear from you and I do apologise for not being open for another visit by one of our favourite guests. Do please drop by, however. You know where to find us!
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AuthorI like to take photos and am fond of clichés - so I'll say I find them to be worth a thousand words. Archives
November 2020
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