What a week in Politics ! Scotland finds itself stuck in the middle of a national referendum that saw the majority of the UK vote to leave the European Union. Not in mind that we don't want to be friends with our European neighbours, holiday in Europe and trade with Europe but because the whole political machine had become unaccountable, federal and created too many jobs for the boys.
So Boris led the charge and has now retreated from the battlefield having stabbed Cameron in the back he too has been knifed by Gove, who the party faithful have now rounded on to ensure he doesn't succeed in his bit to be leader. Meanwhile at Labour HQ 46 shadow and junior shadow cabinet members resign hoping to trigger a coup to replace Corbyn but as I type he is hanging on in there showing no sign of resigning.
It's all been quite baffling and we do feel a little detached from it all here in bonnie Galloway. The tide comes in and out twice a day, the cows graze in the fields, the hotel is open and busy with visitors from all over the world, we're busy planning our next menu change - probably mid July and we've appointed Jake Hopkins to the position of Head Chef and George Constatin to the position of Sous Chef, both following a 3 month trial since Paul Somerville left us to head to pastures new down south near Lyndhurst.
So has Brexit impacted on us ?... Not as yet
Will Scotland remain in Europe ? .... Highly unlikely
Should we still come to Scotland on holiday ?..... Absolutely
We're open and it's business as usual.... why not take a break from all the daily doom mongering in the newspapers and on the news, come and visit the beautiful harbour town of Kirkcudbright.
Where does time go ? Here's another Easter, another frantic rush, another flash in the pan - all hands to the pumps for this crazy madness and then - ah... peace and quiet - back to the Dumfries and Galloway we know. You see it's as much a culture shock to the locals living and working here as it is to the holiday home owners, holiday makers, first timers that head up to this beautiful corner of Scotland. If only we could phase Easter holidays by regions. Easter is the first main holiday of the new year and I have seen the cars loaded up with bikes, boats, golf clubs - you name it you can do it up here and that's what my thoughts today are all about. How lucky we are to live here. Here in Dumfries and Galloway, a timeless utopia ( if you ignore the pot holes in the road and the council cut backs that affects rural bus routes etc ) - no I mean just to look at the views - and I've selected a few from my camera roll that I have taken out and about over the last year or so, either on the bike, boat or Kayak.
It might be stretching to say that Dumfries and Galloway never sleeps – but it’s not too far from the truth.
We’ve even got a major international festival in the depths of winter.
Darkest January is brightened up by nine days of comedy, theatre and much more when the annual Big Burns Supper Festival kicks off each year.
Robert Burns lived at Ellisland Farm, on the outskirts of Dumfries, and wrote some of his finest works there – as well enthusiastically frequenting and making mischief at local haunts which still bustle today such as The Globe Inn on the High Street.
And these days the town pays tribute to its most famous son with the Big Burns Supper festival and a huge street carnival, which attracts tens of thousands of people.
The event was launched by Doonhamer – for all non-locals, that’s a person from Dumfries – Graham Main, who travelled the globe as a theatre producer before returning home to set up the biggest Burns Night celebration in the world.
This year’s carnival is expected to be the most impressive yet, with 4,500 lantern-bearers parading through the streets along with hundreds of lavishly costumed performers, bands and floats.
Colin Hattersley
Big Burns Supper street carnival
There will also be a spectacular firework display, lighting up the town and its beautiful riverside.
The carnival is on Sunday January, 24 and starts at 5pm at the town’s Burns Statue and will wind down Buccleuch Street before turning along the Whitesands.
Graham and the rest of his team are dedicated to making Burns Night a joyous public celebration of life, music, song and Scottish culture – the things Rabbie himself held dear.
It will also double as the festival’s own fifth birthday party.
With big name acts set to appear in 2016 including tartan legends the Bay City Rollers, Black Grape and comedian Jason Byrne, and the return of Edinburgh Festival award winning cabaret show, Le Haggis, there will be plenty to celebrate.
Colin Hattersley
Big Burns Supper award winner Justine Squire in cabaret show Le Haggis
When the winter months draw to a close and daffodils begin to dot the landscape, the Wild Spring Festival kicks off and runs throughout April, providing a choice of around 100 events including red deer tours, badger watching and a whole host of family activities.
Jim Rae
Eskrigg Nature Reserve near Lockerbie is popular or a Spring walk and famed for its red squirrel population and this cutey was captured on camera by Jim Rae
If arts and crafts are your forte, then Dumfries and Galloway is the place to be in May.
The region is well recognised as a haven for artists and makers and we lead the country with one of the biggest exhibitions of Scottish talent in the shape of the annual Spring Fling Festival.
Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, Scotland’s premier arts and crafts festival takes place in the late May Bank Holiday weekend.
Colin Hattersley
Mosaic artist Kate Anderson, pictured at her studio in Tongland near Kirkcudbright during last year's Spring Fling
Every year between 90 - 100 professional artists and makers throw open the doors to their studios for three days, offering visitors the chance to get behind the scenes and buy direct.
The Knockengorroch World Ceilidh Festival also takes place in May, in the hills of Galloway.
Launched in 1998, the event aims to bring first class world music acts to a beautiful and undiscovered upland corner of Scotland.
This year’s line-up is yet to be revealed but, as always, will feature an eclectic mix of music from all continents, showcasing Celtic and World music in both traditional and contemporary fields.
Douglas Robertson
Dancing at the main stage of the Knockengorroch World Ceilidh
Our other major May event is Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, the longest running event in the region, stretching back to 1979.
It holds more than 60 events at 30 venues and offers a lively and varied programme at venues ranging from the Easterbrook Hall in Dumfries to Scotland’s smallest working theatre, the Swallow, near Wigtown.
Everything from classical concerts to youth theatre is on the menu.
The summer is packed with a plethora of festivals special to each and every community across the region, ranging from the colourful and historic Riding of the Marches ceremonies at Dumfries and Sanquhar – involving cavalcades of horsemen and women – and agricultural shows, to more modern-day celebrations packed with family events, such as Douglas Day at Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie Daze.
Bob Geddes
Dumfries Riding of the Marches
For some music fans, June is all about the Eden Festival, when a wonderfully vibrant and colourful explosion of music, culture and madcap entertainment descends on the Rae Hills just outside Moffat.
Eden is a boutique festival which lets people feel like they are in another world for the weekend and truly needs to be seen to be believed.
It hosts nine different stages including a kids arena, circus tent, drive in cinema, comedy, cabaret and workshops; as well as a feast of performers, artworks, games, and even some morning work outs hosted by the legendary Mr Motivator.
Dumfries and Galloway Standard
The Eden Festival
It takes place on June 9 – 12 and is not to be missed.
The Wickerman Festival rocks the region in July and is perhaps the most well known of the myriad events in Dumfries and Galloway each year.
Dubbed “Scotland’s alternative music festival” it has boasted the same big name acts as TinthePark – The Scissor Sisters, Primal Scream and funk legend Nile Rogers have all headlined – but with a more laid back vibe and family friendly atmosphere.
The Wickerman Festival at Dundrennan is a family affair
Wickerman, which has been running since 2001, takes place at East Kirkcarswell near Dundrennan – just an hour’s hop from the M74 – and attracts up to 20,000 revellers each year.
One of its most spectacular features, about from the abundance of locally produced food stalls and wide range of entertainment, is the burning of the 40 foot Wickerman and fireworks display on site on the final night.
The burning of the Wickerman is a highlight of the weekend
The Wickerman Festival takes place on July 22 and 23.
August brings the region’s newest music festival, the rapidly expanding Electric Fields Festival, which takes place in the idyllic setting of the grounds of Drumlanrig Castle, near Thornhill, in August.
Now in its third year and back for 2016 as a two day extravaganza, organisers of the small but perfectly formed festival remain dedicated to promoting the talent of some of the best unsigned talent the country has to offer, as well as featuring big name acts.
With some exciting lineup news on the way for this summer, festival fans would be wise to check out this gem before it becomes even bigger.
August is a busy month at Drumlanrig, with one of Scotland’s biggest and most popular events taking place at the historical grounds on August 20 and 21: Galloway Country Fair.
The winner of ‘Best Traditional Event’ at the Scottish Events Awards 2015, the annual two-day event is a true celebration of rural life and a great family day out where you can pursue an array of quality trade stalls, sample local produce and watch breath-taking displays at the entertainment area.
Come September, you’d be forgiven for thinking things might start to wind down in the region, but this is the month when the who’s who of the jazz world arrive.
Organised by Jazz Scotland, the event brings some of the world’s best musicians to Lockerbie, and audiences flock to a number of venues throughout the town.
Lockerbie Jazz festival takes place on September 22 – 25.
Another world famous event kicks off at the end of September and runs until October 2: Wigtown Book Festival.
Founded in 1999, the 10-day literary showcase features more than 200 events and activities of all ages, including music, theatre and visual arts.
Last year organisers welcomed guest speakers including Frank Gardner, Val McDermid and Phil Jupitus and previous highlights have included Joanna Lumley, Jeremy Bowen and Fay Weldon.
Joanna Lumley launched a fundraising drive for the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust at last year's Wigtown Book Festival
