The Cottage Life Show or...

...an afternoon...an hour and half...with Colin & Justin...how lucky am I and it was April 6th, 2013 -Tartan Day. How appropriate that I spend it with them after wining two tickets on their Facebook page...I think they planned it that way lol!!
 

Is that real tartan? Can't be McAllister
Are you sure you are entitled to that...uh clan tartan?

...  DH and I headed down to the show yesterday with our complimentary tickets to be picked up at the "Will Call" booth. The staff were organized and  knowledgeable and picking up the tickets was a breeze.  I have done this many times before and it has not been as smooth a process...good start!! 

Freebies are good- although I would have paid big money for these

I usually go to Design/ Home Shows on Trade Day and it is can be quite busy but not overcrowded...lots of room, very pleasant experience.  At the The Cottage Life show on Saturday it was like Sauciehall Street on a Saturday afternoon...couldn't swing a cat...let alone get your camera out of your pocket. However Colin & Justin did not disappoint.  They were on stage at the exact minute published and they were absolutely hilarious.  Now DH does escort me on some of these trips and he is gracious enough to sit quietly and look like he may be interested (he must be somewhat as he comes back with explanations, what was said sometimes word for word etc) however each time I turned to look at him he was smiling ear to ear...his kinda show eh? Did I say they didn't disappoint. And he could not have been more complimentary on the boys performance and how quick witted they were...their entertaining skills were hailed to sheer excellence...well maybe not so much, he is conservative in his compliments like the true Scot he is. But he did rave a wee bit and said how he enjoyed the show...rare thing...makes it easy for me to show my excitement about the whole thing sillily ( not sure that is a word) and review the highlights over a nice dinner out later.
 

And here they are in the land of...cottages

The audience were treated to a presentation, power point style, of the cottage Colin & Justin bought in December 2012. A log cabin design with beautiful views over the loch  lake and amazing indoor spaces. Large area with wrap around screened in sunroom/ Muskoka room with lots of space for a nice seating and eating area and although it was functional (not sure what as) right now their ideas for the future are more in keeping with a luxurious multi functional space with lots of light and making the best of the outdoor views with mature trees. Future changes for the bedroom included tartan drapery and blankets, who knew. In the main seating area that looked out onto the deck the first thing I thought of was to replace the two windows in the sitting area with "panoramic doors" for an unobstruced view of the loch lake and to bring the outdoors in...maybe a bug screen inbetween...in any event that is what they talked about / planned too...how good am I lol!! My services are cheap boys and can also be bartered for cottage time!!
  

Design discussion in the most humourful way...

Now I have heard many a designer give a talk, interview, design demonstration and I have really enjoyed the exchange of information or/and the demonstration ...but to have been entertained like this at the same time was like taking in a show ( well it was a show but you know what I mean). That could be because I get it...the jokes, little innuendos, and just understanding everything they say ( being Scottish myself) but these two have personalities bigger than ...well bigger than ...you know big personalities, really big personalities and if they were not designers they would probably still be on stage as comedians.


I think Justin is trying to figure out who I really am - someone less famous lol!!

Just outside the main stage area the Model Cottage had been set up and we toured through it.  Not terribly big but I could see our little family out there on the edge of a lake in this cozy space and of course enjoying the outdoors in the warmer weather. We really enjoyed the show and most of all Colin & Justin's performance, that is what it was, a performance and hard work but they pulled it off effortlessly probably because they know their stuff.

Maybe next year I will win a cottage ...any cottage, a bunkie...time at a cottage...maybe rent a cottage...Colin & Justin bought this cottage with another couple. Friends that could be trusted to take on their share of the responsibilities and I thought that was an excellent way of "owning" in cottage land.  It would have to be someone you trusted implicitly but it could be done at half the cost of buying the cottage and half the expenses.  People are not at their cottage 24/7 so scheduling time for all and then separate quiet time for each couple should be relatively easy. I thought this was an excellent idea...now who could I share a bunkie with...oh well!

It is a beautiful life in cottage country if you can afford it!