"Well, here we are, our one year anniversary in Aviemore. This time last year we had just completed the 10 hour drive from London and were frantically trying to find our winter clothes, unpack and acclimatise to the cold, having just spent five weeks in South East Asia. The year has flown by and it has been a blast.

When we arrived last year we had big ambitions for the business, and if anything they are now even bigger! It is very easy to focus on all the things we haven’t yet had time to do here and forget quite how much we have achieved. I guess an anniversary is a good time for some reflection.

The work stuff

We now have two cabins completely refurbished and another one on the way. All units now have flat screen TVs, and many have iPod players, new carpets, curtains, sofas and bed linen. Outdoors we have created new picnic areas and the gardens have on the whole been manicured and replanted. New bathrooms are set to be installed over the next few weeks in several cabins and our house is almost redecorated. Mostly done by our fair hands. Phew! Not a bad start, now what’s next on the list...

The fun stuff

Our time in Aviemore started with an early dump of snow and skiing in November, then my first attempt at cooking a Turkey, and swiftly in a blur of mulled wine came along our New Year party and some hunting on Highland ponies. Then lots more skiing, attempts at learning cross country skiing and snow boarding, and of course Burns night celebrations. We can’t forget to mention the arrival of Bennett into our lives early in the New Year. Next came some early sun, BBQ’s, cycling, beaching, quad biking, shooting, sailing and even some zip lines. And of course there were also plenty of summer festivities to get us through those long summer days.

With both mine and Simon's 30^th out of the way and our wedding to plan for, there has been plenty of cause for celebration. However the most important birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks – Bennett turns one and with that apparently has reached some level of maturity!

Snowy season is coming...

The buzz about town is now the build-up to what everyone is saying will be another bumper ski season. If last year is anything to go by, we hope to be on the mountain in a matter of weeks.

We are currently very busy clearing fallen leaves, and collecting and chopping wood for the winter (well, that's Simon's job really). It is a completely different lifestyle up here; although we are not exactly in the middle of nowhere, the demands of life in the Highlands makes you a little more self-sufficient. The climate means we have to be ready for all it throws at us, especially if it reaches -27 degrees like it did last year. As horrid as that sounds, there is something quite special about wrapping up in loads (and loads) of layers and heading out in to the mountains. I’m actually looking forward to winter this year – I really have changed!

Bye for now."

Tanja, Simon (and Bennett)