Jenna was late coming home from school today, she had stopped off at the local community centre to give blood.  Today was her first time, and she was just so desperate to do it, to help so many.  Well done Jen, hopefully that is you on a long road of giving regularly and helping to save lives.

It gives me great pleasure to announce (some of you perhaps have heard already) that Calums Cabin purchased what has to be known as “Calums Cabin Cottage”, at the beginning of November.  Calums Cabin Cottage will be to the same high standard that Calums Cabin is, and will allow families to come and make as many memories as possible.

Last year, as a committee we were very aware that we were turning away so many families, and one of our long term aims had always been to try and find Calums Cabin No 2.  Well this happened a little sooner than expected, but with the help of Radio Clyde’s Cash for Kids, and The Sir Hugh Fraser Foundation , it became a reality.  The cottage is being whipped up to shape as I write this, and of course, same as the cabin and the shop, it will have some John Amabile magic worked on it, which will bring it up to luxery standard.

We as a committee are really really excited about our next step forward, and what a difference it will make, 104 families will be able to holiday on Bute in comparion to the 52 that we have been able to help in the last 3 years come February.  I can’t believe that come next month, that will be the cabin open 3 years, where does the time go, but what I can tell you is by reading all the memory books, all the children and families that have visited, have taken something special away with them from their time there, and the same will be said of Calums Cabin Cottage.  It is located nearer the town, but has views over Rothesay Bay, and looks onto woodland, so still has the peace and tranquility that we always said that whether it be Calums Cabin or Calums Cabin Cottage, should have.

Hopefully within the next few weeks, we will be able to publish pictures of the cottage, and bookings are being taken already.

So if you are thinking of contacting us, looking for availability you have double the chance this year, thanks to so many individuals and the two trusts that I have mentioned.  Thank you.      

I hope you all had a happy Christmas and made a lot of happy memories, and that you have a heathly and happy 2012.

Calums Cabin family at Christmas had Santa visiting and the New Year family had to deal with the storms that have been battering Scotland as a whole.  Both sets of families thoroughly enjoyed just being away over the festive season and thank you to everyone who helped make their Christmas and New Year experiences special.

We have another couple of families staying and then plan to close for a couple weeks, to replace,revamp and restore for everyone coming in the months that are coming up.  Bookings are now coming in thick and fast and if anyone reading this is thinking about booking, please get in contact as soon as you can, and I will do my best to allocate you the week of your choice.

Thank you to everyone who purchased Calums Cabin Christmas cards during the festive season, and those of you who donated inleiu of sending cards, and everyone who donated instead of gifts to friends and family, it is really all appreciated, thank you so much.  It makes such a difference to all the children and their families.

The charity shop is opened again after being closed for Christmas and New Year, if anyone reading this has any unwanted items, please remember Calums Cabin charity shop in Tower Street.  Also if anyone is looking for anything, the same principle applied, try our wee shop first, it is truely amazing what gets handed in, give us a try.

Finally, Duncan, Jenna and I would like to thank each and everyone for all that they have done for Calums Cabin during 2011, the difference that you have all made to children who are suffering from cancer and their families cannot be described, thank you all.

Jenna got a phone call last Thursday morning at 7.30 am to advise her that she had been selected as one of the 2012 Olympic Torch Bearers.  She was speechless and struggled to talk, this was quite hard since she was being recorded on the local radio station,  What an honour, to be one of the 8000 individuals who will touch the torch along the way, when it visits so many places in the UK.  It is likely that Jenna will be part of the route when it is in Glasgow but this has still to be confirmed.

We are all extremely proud of Jenna and everything that she has achieved and how well she has coped, Calum is looking down I am sure and saying well done wee Sis.

I will keep you all up to date with the dates when we know them, because it would be lovely if as many families who have stayed at Calums Cabin come along on the day to cheer Jenna on, and be part again of the Calums Cabin family.

Thank you all.

For anyone who has stayed at Calums Cabin or who has been to visit, you will remember that we have some very large beanbags in the games room and upstairs, and everyone always admires them and all children visiting just love them.  Well if anyone is looking for an extra special christmas present, they have 50% of them just now at www.elephantbeanbags.co.uk .  You can get them in the size we have at the cabin or a smaller size and come in a variety of colours.  The sale is on until the middle of December and well worth a look.  We have had ours for 3 years come February, and they have been used every week and still look as good as new.  Enjoy

Sorry, I haven’t updated in a few weeks, it has just been really busy here.  The bookings are coming in thick and fast now for next year, and we are just ready to start to put the Christmas Decorations up in the cabin, I can’t quite believe that December is next week and in a couple of months, Calums Cabin will have been open and up and running for 3 years.

The summer house is nearly complete, it is all wind and water tight, the paving went in this week and the flooring has been laid, it is only the furniture, lighting and painting outside (need some dry weather) that still needs to be done.  It is an amazing additional to the garden, and one I am sure will be well used by the families.  Thanks go to everyone who has worked on the project and to The Wooden Spoon, who  very kindly funded the project.

November is always a hard month for us all, last week was Calum and Jenna’s 17th birthday, hard to believe that that is them that age already, Jenna had her first drive at 7am in the morning and then drove to the cemetry just after 8am, Calum will be so proud of her and she is sure that he is learning to drive also, and just hopes he takes care!

Thank you to everyone for their kind wishes and support and for all the gifts to Calums Cabin inlieu of presents to Calum.  Jenna organised a coffee morning at the school last Friday, the day of their birthday for Calums Cabin, it was really well supported, with donations of baking and raffle prizes, as well as all those who attended and purchased, nearly £400 was raised, thank you all so much.

Finally, please remember if you still have Christmas Cards or Calanders to purchase, or Christmas Presents, have a wee look in the shop, since there are new items coming in daily.

Thank you all again.

From tomorrow we are starting to book for 2012, we have our waiting list from this year to offer places to first and then everyone who applies will be allocated the first, second or third week of their choice depending on availability.  2011, has been an amazing year at Calums Cabin, we haven’t had one free week, where there has been a cancellation we have managed to fill it from our waiting list, and this has meant that as many families as possible have been able to have a holiday at Calums Cabin and make extra special memories.  We are hoping that next year we will be able to help as many families, if not more, at their time of need.  Thank you all.

Last week saw the summer house being built and it is only the electrics, outside work, and internal work that still has to be completed.  Thank you to everyone who helped and thank you to the families who have been staying at the cabin and dealing with any disruption.

Today saw the build of the summer house start, ok I know it is winter but we have been waiting for ages for this to happen, it is being built by Ayrshire Log Cabins and has been designed by Brian Stewart our Patron, and equipped inside by John Amabile our other patron.  Hopefully by the end of the week the summer house will be up and then we can get the electrics in and start the interior.  Thank you so much to the Wooden Spoon Charity for sponsoring the summer house, it will make such a difference to the children and families staying at the cabin, to be able to be outside but inside at the same time.  Hopefully once it is finished I shall be able to show you some pics!!

Albeit the weather wasn’t what we had hoped for, the atmosphere and determination made up for it.  It was a truely inspirational day.  It was the juniors who started at 11am, there were about 70 young people, all trying to win a trophy and medals.  It came down to penalty shoot outs which are always hard, and sad for the ones who don’t win.

Then in the afternoon it was the seniors, or should I say the over 18’s, well the rain really came down and all the teams got really soaked, but again no one complained and all took it in their strides.

Calum would have really loved today and I am sure was watching and was really proud that so many people turned up on such an awful day, thank you all.

Today was only possible due to a lot of people putting in hard work, thanks go to Rothesay Joint Campus for the use of the pitches, Rothesay Police for all their organising and support, Alex Donald for all the fruit supplied, West of Scotland Water for all the water, the Help Project for all their organising and finally a special thankyou to  Roddy Leitch for all his expertese today and for sponsoring all the medals and trophies. The medals and trophies were absolutely stunning and a real fitting tribute to Calum,  thank you.

The only thing we might change next year is the month!!!!

Thank you all