I had never visited Galashiels before and had no idea what to expect from the hotel. One stepped straight into the past. It was so lovely to see old-fashioned curtain materials, stone water-bottles in the bathroom, ducks on the walls in the breakfast room, tiny kilner jars for the marmalade, ancient bread bin, jelly-beans on my dressing-table, deep-pile carpets and a wonderfully comfortable bed. And the china on the breakfast table was delightful, each cup and saucer different. And I was totally taken in by the books in your main foyer, all of which were French and completely fake. Clever idea !!
Breakfast offered a brilliant variety of foods, well-cooked and appetizing.
Outside one marvelled at the enormous conifers. Dotted around were all kinds of unexpected things, like the washing mangle, old-fashioned bicycles, your van with the pictures on it, the outside office which was full of character, as was the pavement with its arches round the back of the house.
All in all you have made a huge effort to bring back the past, all of which I remember. But the quality of service was high standard and I felt really well fed after my short visit. It was also nice that our host managed to remember my Christian name at all times and made a point of talking to me.