Sandside House

The house is now completely refurbished.  Although there is still potential to renovate the old post office, and a store-room at the end of the new extension could also be converted into an additional room.  However for now I am happy with the house as it is.

My favourite space is in the conservatory at the rear of the house.  This has looks out onto the Hoy Sound across to Stromness and Orphir.  I use the conseravatory as my main sitting room from end-March through to October.  However for the winter I migrate to the cosier space of the sitting-room in the main house.

I have yet to attempt work on the main garden, so for now it gets used as an emergency nursery during lambing time.  But I have made a start on a couple of borders, planting fast growing willows and rosa rugosa which do well in Orkney and will hopefully provide shelter for smaller border plants and bulbs.

Some recent views of the house

Click here for Phase Two of the renovations

Click here to have a look at Phase One of the renovations

Graemsay December 2001 - Moving In!

Two and a half years after first seeing Sandside, I moved into the house.

Friday 14th December 2001 and my furniture trundled up to the house from the ferry on the back of Arthur's tractors, accompanied by myself, Fitzi-cat - and the bathroom fittings!  Fortunately the bathroom was connected before the builders left for the night!  

Despite what had been very mild weather for December, the day of the move saw near gale force winds and driving rain, so no pictures of this momentous occasion!  

However, with Christmas and New Year came snow and Sandside looked magnificent resplendent in white with the warm glow of lights shining from the windows.  Finally Sandside was a home once more.