FEATURES

Stanhope Hope Intelligencer

By Joe Duffin
Border Bothies Association

Nights open and overnights
From October 2003 to September 2004 – the BBA year - the bothy was open for 41 nights and had 263 overnights. This was just over double the numbers for the previous year, making it the best year since 90/91, and the numbers are still rising. From October to mid January the bothy has been open for 16 nights and we've clocked up 95 overnights. Last year in the same period the equivalent numbers were 5 and 31.

This cheery picture just reflects what is happening over the whole BBA. Last year was our busiest for twenty years. The Association have had 24,231 overnights since the start forty years ago. Not bad for a wee organisation!

Work done and work still to do
Grass cutting and painting took up a lot of time last year at Stanhope Hope, but we are starting to see the benefit. The place is looking fairly smart, and the daffodils will be up soon. This year the grand plan is to give the place a bit of tender loving care indoors. Last week I was there with an old friend who speaks his mind, and my complacency got knocked about a bit.

We are applying for a grant to do "improvements" in three bothies this summer. Our chances of getting one are probably a bit better than 50/50. If we get it we will replace the existing range in the Big Room at Stanhope with a multi-fuel stove. Some folk will regret losing the open fire, but there you go. If it doesn't work blame me.

Thanks to VentureScotland and other visitors we have a big pile of firewood at the woodshed - here comes the commercial – but we need help to saw and split it up. It is surprising what a couple of guys, or gals, can achieve if they attack the firewood pile while their tea is being made. Also; it is a well known fact that if you cut up firewood it heats you twice. It helps a helluva lot if you delay the G&T and get the sawhorse out.

Wood and coal
Although we are well off for firewood at present, this is only temporary. We have inherited piles of fencing material but there is not a lot of it left, and our glen isn't rich in fallen timber. So continue to take in coal.

Money
The Association does not have deep pockets. Funds at year end were £1,917. Enough to maintain our five bothies – if nothing drastic happens – but not enough to make substantial repairs or improvements. The hopeful Stanhope Stove will cost £1,500, and two replacement windows for Fingland just over £2,000. By the time we add in a couple of much needed windows at Auchope the total bill will be over £5K. We hope to get a grant for £5K, but we'll have to prime the pump from our funds, and with our own labour.

Most of Association income is from overnight "donations", which averages out at about £1.30 a head. The Stanhope average was £1.39. If we could raise that a bit, we sure could make use of the money.

Like everything else in life though, it is complicated. We do not ask for a donation from one organisation because it is a wee charity which does great work on a shoestring. On the other hand they do a lot of work at Stanhope on the sly, and never tell me about it. Another thing; more families are using Stanhope. Yipee!! That is bound to bring the average down, but it is worth it.

Yep, life's complicated. But ain't it grand, especially if you are up the glen sitting round the new stove? Book today. You know it makes sense. And spread the word.