Over the winter we happily spent time at Robren while the snow stacked up.  Billy busy with the odd jobs about the house - you know - the list of 'wee things' to sort that seems to multiply.

I spent a lot of time painting - portrait painting - in our sunny wee dining room.  But perhaps familiarity bred contempt in this case.  By the time the Spring came I was loving the colour on colour in the paintings and hating the cream walls that surrounded me. 

So we set off to B&Q for some colour therapy of the matt emulsion kind.  A deep heather hue was selected but that was certainly not our biggest debate.  You see we had a wee idea for one of the walls. To fill it with photos, big and small, of famous Scots. 

We ran through the lists.  There were actors, authors, inventors, scientists and singers but sadly for me there was a real dearth of famous Scottish women.  I asked at work. Online. Amongst my friends. And thoroughly depressed everyone as although the list got bigger, it was still tiny compared to the guys.

Still the frustration was nothing compared to trying to fit all the photos on the wall - lining them up, making sure that the gaps were consistent.  Though the walls were purple, the air was blue.

Next time we visit the cottage, we'll finish it off. New curtains and more thoughts for the other two walls. But our other addition to the room is a wee homage to my telly man-of-the-moment, Professor Brian Cox (isn't he lovely!).  A rather significant telescope to watch the stunning array of stars in the wonderful Glenfnning night sky.

So - by all accounts - by sitting down to dinner in the newly refurbished dining room you really will be dining with the stars.