The St Fillans Bit
by Isobel Howell
On Monday 5th September we welcomed a new furry addition to the Howell family, an event that has been some eleven years in the making (we never like to rush into anything). Like so many other people that have moved into the area, it has been a life changing experience living in St Fillans. As my job means that I’m able to work from home, and having so many great walks and beautiful scenery on our doorstep, a puppy seemed like the next grown up thing to do (or the closest to having a toddler we’ll ever get). Barley, a working border collie, is three months old and came from a sheep farm in Glen Quaich. I’m ashamed to admit that I’m the sort of person who would rather drive the half mile to the local shop than walk (well, it’s quicker, and it’s always raining) so this is one huge life changing event for me. When I tell people we’ve got a border collie, they nearly always look aghast and exclaim, “Oh, they need an awful lot of exercise!” Now I’m not against exercise if there’s a purpose to it, such as walking to a pub for a nice meal or walking and taking photographs of scenery (to distract me from the fact that I’m actually walking) but walking every day because you have to sounds like punishment to me. So, last month I bid farewell to the morning lie-ins with a cup of tea, banished thoughts of impulsive evenings away, put away anything nice that might look as though it could be classed as puppy fodder and braced talk about their feelings with others who myself for lots of exercise, carpet cleaning can empathise, and they gain support and the other necessities that go hand in from knowing they are not alone in a hand with responsible dog ownership. time of great sadness and uncertainty. The upside of it so far is that she’s only On a personal note, I’d just like to got little legs (at the moment), hasn’t been add that these groups can provide fully vaccinated and so can’t go very far. much support, as well as a valuable In all honesty, I do actually enjoy walking social opportunity, for anybody going when I’ve got a companion at my side through the life challenging events that and having a dog allows you an excuse to bereavement can bring - I’d encourage stop and chat with people you wouldn’t anybody to go along. normally – I am surprised by how much attention a cute puppy can evoke. A walk Now for Mary’s update from The Four without a dog just seems like tonic water Seasons Hotel: without gin. And so here’s to all dog owners everywhere and to Barley who’s Their Autumn menus are going down a going to take me on some wonderful treat, apparently, especially their Dunira adventures – once we get out of the car! venison, Perthshire lamb Wellington and Ayrshire pork, cooked 3 ways. Mary Liz Cunningham (a cat owner) would like wishes to remind everyone that they are to share news about a new bereavement still open every day for lunch and evening group that has been set up in Comrie: meals – even though some visitors to A new self-help bereavement group is now running every Monday in the Comrie Church Annexe, in a drop-in format from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. The aim is simply to allow people who are coping with the loss of a loved one, whether recent or from some time ago, to meet with each other and talk about their feelings with others who are going through the same difficult adjustment to a life missing a much loved relative or friend. Elders from Dundurn Church are on hand to support the group in its initial phase, but the plan is that as time goes on, group members will themselves determine their future development. Anyone coming to the Church Annexe on Monday afternoons, even if only for a short time, can be assured of a welcoming atmosphere and a relaxed chat over tea or coffee, with people free to talk or listen as they prefer. Many bereaved people have found it helpful to
Barley
the area have been told they are closed midweek and only called in because the lights were on! From November the hotel is open for long weekends only (Thursday nights to Sunday nights inclusive). On 25th November the hotel is hosting a wine tasting dinner (which, by the way, I went to last year and it was excellent) – the hotel is almost fully booked and there are only a few tables left for this. A five course meal with wine to match each course is £62 per person. If anybody is contemplating Christmas Day lunch there we are advised to book well in advance as, Mary points out, this fills up quickly and they have already started taking bookings. Their new Autumn menu has just been implemented, and we are encouraged to call in for dinner and Sunday lunch to taste the best of Fall (or Autumn as they Continued overleaf say in these parts).
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