Onwards and upwards at Arvon’s Scottish writing house

Well, it has been sometime since we have shared our news of which there is plenty. In fact, so much, that time and space will not allow the full telling. We had a wee period of the doldrums when it became clear that we were not going to achieve our goal of raising £500,000 to build a new accommodation block. However, the Moniack Mhor team is never long defeated by such minor inconveniences and so we continue to plough onwards and upwards.

There may come a time in the future when a new accommodation block is built but for now we are strengthening our already considerable strengths. We’ve made the house cosier inside with new squadgy sofas, candelabra and muted shades of paint; we’ve spruced up the outside, changed all the menus, and now have haggis, neeps and tatties on the Friday night!

We’ve got new computers which are sleek and black and flat-screened and, amazingly, their acquisition means we have more room in the cottage, which in turn is allowing us to put in a little kitchen area and two en-suite shower-rooms! It’s actually all quite miraculous!

The students who come here in the summer months continue to be over-awed by our spectacular scenery, stunning sunsets and shaggy sheep. Lyndy and I continue to battle the elements to get to our place of work and spiritual home whilst Cynthia, languishes at home writing a novel courtesy of a Scottish Arts Council bursary. She will return in the spring, hopefully thrice-published.

From Andrea Muir – adieu!