New Discoveries

We arrived here at the Dowans already aware that it had an extensive history. The details of that history  were somewhat unnecessary before we arrived however as so many other items on our 'list' appeared to be of greater significance. Yet, with each passing guest and their seemingly unending tales about the varying stages that this magnificent building has traversed, there has been a growing desire each day to discover more and more. Each of us has reached this sense of fascination at various stages of our time here and as a consequence of differing events although the end result remains the same: an eagerness to become Tony Robinson-esque historians. (Steph has already developed an East Coast enthusiasm in her accent, Neil Oliver eat your heart out).

Sean, torch in hand, began his hesitant (remember the ghosts) interest in the history of the Dowans when he discovered two 'hidden' rooms in the eaves of the 'servant' wing (aptly named as that is where Sean, Lauren and Steph currently reside) a few days ago when we were discussing refurbishment of room 16 which was started by the previous owner and which we will finish as one of our first renovations. For all who know Sean and his intense passion when discovering a new 'toy', it will be easy to imagine his sudden interest in bankrupting the already small refurbishment 'kitty' with ideas of new passageways, steel enforced beams and mezzanine en-suite bathrooms for the superior rooms that exist below. Michael, with pound signs flashing in his eyes, swiftly stopped Sean's imagination in its flow before we were extending the building onto a new site.

Lauren and Marie, in purchasing the recently released 'Old Aberlour' book (written and notated by Fraser Dyer) which provides a history of the area at its bi-centennial with added pictures of varying events and locals throughout its ages, were disappointed that there was not more information on the Dowans itself. However, by way of some local informants, it was revealed that landed gentry were once regular guests at the Dowans and this has certainly proved to be the start of a determined interest to get them back..."Do you think that we could get Wills and Kate to come up??" was Lauren's exclamation. Not so much. But with Marie's newfound friendship with some of the local dignitaries, you should never say never.

Local dignitaries, however, are not the only interest of Steph who has taken up an additional role as font of village knowledge. Some may say that this is a role that is actively pursued but Steph would like to claim, for the record, that it is through no fault of her own that local guests that have come to visit have been open with providing her with as much information as she can absorb over the course of lunch, dinner or a dram. 

Although these village affairs may certainly be of interest, it is also with eagerness that Steph is awaiting some contact from Aberdeen University about the specific affairs of the Dowans hotel and its life before as Princess Margaret Nurseries and Army Officer's mess during World War 2. Hopefully, this and some further conversations with those locals who are aware of its history will bring the opportunity of collating this information into a detailed memoir.

Watch this space.

1 week down-Finding our feet!

Almost a whole week down and the Dowans is still standing! Although, considering I have been doing some of the accounting work, it is honestly a wonder (even to me) that we haven't already gone under! Mathematics is definitely still not my strong point and I think if Rhona, our go-to lady of the hour, hears me shout from the general area of the front desk/office one more time then she might clobber me with one of the many stag heads that adorn the walls!

The list of things that we had to do was already as long as all of our arms combined but, now that we are here and have actively started to work on that list, it seems to be getting longer by the second. Additionally, our well thought out ideas for the enhancement of the business and the interior design of the building are more prominent in our minds as we look around and see the potential for this stunning baronial mansion. Subsequently, I think that Sean's planned stay of 6 months (or until he finally gets his coveted piloting job) might get drastically reduced if he is told of one more area that he needs to go and clear out of odd bits and ends! The one skip that we hired might therefore need to be increased to two!

The clearing out of piles of what mum has definitively declared to be 'rubbish' might not be the only thing that reduces Sean's time with us as we were informed by a guest at the beginning of the week (who was unaware that this building was once the nursery section of the local orphanage) that he was awoken one night by what he could only describe as the sounds of children laughing and playing. Together with the howling wind, the standard creaking floorboards of such an old house and Sean's already active imagination, any viewing of the Shining or any more talk of ghosts (or Poltergeists as Lauren has insisted they might be!) would certainly send him over the edge and off back to Glasgow!
Although, considering that he is being royally treated by Alison, our breakfast Chef, who has taken a particular shining to Sean's endless (cough) charms, his rush out of the door might not be quite so quick.

Apparently Sean is not the only one to be affected by living in such a large house as mum had dad up at a ridiculous hour this morning to source the 'noise' that woke her up from her sleep! In a 17 bedroom house, this is no easy feat!

Beyond early morning investigations, mum is thoroughly enjoying having the access to an industrial kitchen (particularly the combi oven which might make our Christmas lunch an easier cooking task!) and the chance to discuss some of her plans for the menus with our Chef, Murray (coincidentally named!). Watch this space for some of the dishes that they both come up with!

Dad, on the other side of the food creation process i.e. the eating, is also enjoying the fact that he is no longer the self-proclaimed family dishwasher although Lauren and I might have to rein in his apparent determination that we not only serve guests but also him and that his dishes will magically walk themselves to the dishwasher!

Altogether, it has been a whirlwind week full of eager learning; discovering new aspects of this new role and life that I don't think any of us had fully anticipated before our arrival in this beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands. We have thoroughly enjoyed every second and, although we sometimes have to pinch ourselves in order to convince ourselves that this is 'ours', I'm throughly convinced that this is only the beginning of what is going to be an exciting journey. Over the next few weeks, we are all looking forward to meeting more of the lovely and welcoming locals that have already graced us with their presence and hopefully we can convince them that our hospitality will extend beyond that first dram!

As we wait on the arrival of our first extended family member guest, our Gran, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope that Santa brings you all that you wished for!

22.10.12 Our exciting new start.

Shock? Delayed responses? Guarded excitement?

It has been ten months since we all started our love affair with the Dowans hotel in Aberlour, Scotland and although our hope centred on our acquisition of the business and the beautiful building that houses it, we had somewhat given it up after the long and often tumultuously emotional journey that had led us to the date, the 22nd of October 2012. Our reaction when we opened up the email that heralded the beginning of our future in the picturesque village of Aberlour, located in the highlands of Scotland, was therefore befitting of this long journey.

After some time, the shock has turned to eager anticipation, delayed responses have transformed into renewed discussions of our plans and our hopes for the business, and our guarded excitement has been replaced with outbursts of joyful and often unending prose that we impose on anyone that will stand long enough to listen!

We, the Murray family, are at the beginning of a journey that will undoubtedly be tough at times requiring the most focused of work that we have ever encountered as a family but it is with measured anticipation of the potential for a successful business that we begin this journey together.

18th of December. Here we go.

And here it begins.