3 CHICKENS CONFRONT EXISTENCE (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine) This is a tale that needed to be told. With no shocking revelations or over the top drama, the real life truth of chickens is played out before our eyes. In a confined space, emphasising the narrative, this expertly crafted and acted performance piece had the audience captivated as it evoked a multitude of emotions from laughter to despair, from beginning to end. Helen, Bronsman and Reginald are the delightful chickens each with their own unique attributes and personalities. They make their way through the days with only each other for company using a range of techniques, fantasies and mathematical formulas to escape the reality of their existence. Annoying and encouraging each other in equal measure. Awaiting their turn to be broiled, they philosophise of greater meaning, soliloquy their personal experiences and fixate on new found tedious routines. With music, irony, humour, effects and just the right amount of chicken jokes these intelligent creatures are finding a way to get through. They come together with an admirable spirit and get you on their side. 3 Chickens Confront Existence has everything! Our trio of chickens have turned a bleak reality into a piece of art. It is engaging and gripping with unexpected twists and turns. It is somewhat difficult not to think of as extremely human. This particular plight has been captured in the most heart-warming of ways concluding in the most brilliant of shows!

It was an unusually bright sunny day for wandering around a graveyard. But no amount of light was going to make deciphering the writing on some of these ancient stones any easier. Luckily a previous local authority of some thirty years ago had decided it important enough to attach a layout plaque to the gate with small, embossed shapes on now blackened copper. Amidst a cluster of tiny rectangles I read the words - Tam o’ Shanter. I was in Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire. A village that had done its best in recent years to transform itself into a ‘destination’. Pushing all of its attractions to one Main Road, a popular Inn, whisky shop, garden centre and cookery school have all done their bit to make visitors consider stopping rather than driving straight through. But the history of this piece of land is something else. Within this old kirkyard alone was the grave of Scipio Kennedy, a freed slave who returned to his master and the assumed baptismal font of Robert the Bruce, weathered, old and unprotected. But I had come in search of Burns. I had arrived in Kirkoswald armed with the knowledge that Robert Burns had his eyes opened here. He studied here, got interested in debating, first visited a tavern, witnessed smuggled contraband and drunken orgies and first found love a real distraction in the most innocent of ways. The obvious first stop was Souter Johnnie’s Cottage. Souter Johnnie (real name John Davidson) was one of the real life characters from arguably Burns’ most famous poem, Tam o’ Shanter. He built this cottage and lived in it up until his death. It sits however, aptly in the shade - appearing like a poor relation to the more manicured Burns Cottage in nearby Alloway, with authentic slate signage next to a pinned free entry sign for the seasonal months it is open. In the hands of National Trust Scotland, it still nods to Davidson’s shoe making skills alongside a small art gallery and gift shop. The building itself, which wasn’t open on this day, is a rare lime washed single storey thatched cottage that I clumsily attempt to photograph from across the street between the passing cars. A local lady eyes me suspiciously on her walk. ‘It’s seen better days’ she says without raising her head. I found myself torn over whether it was a little sad or charming. Probably both. I stopped for food at the eponomously named Souters Inn selecting the ‘locally caught haggis’ from the menu to keep me in the moment as I gazed upon paintings of our poet and his cronies hanging on stone bricked walls. I saved the kirkyard until last. This is where the real life characters from Tam o’ Shanter lie alongside Burns old school teacher and grandparents. Finding them is half the fun. I take my time to read what I can and linger a while. Somehow the mood here is surprisingly light-hearted with an air of optimism. Perhaps it’s the sunshine. Perhaps it’s the legacy.

Written on behalf of South Ayrshire Ambition Programme. Many people dream of turning a personal passion into a successful business. In the case of Amy and Laura from Ayr’s Kitty Cat Café, they made it happen! The idea seemed obvious. Having loved visiting other cat cafes in the UK and beyond and both being cat lovers with children of the same age, the two senior NHS workers began that ‘what if …’ moment that grew and grew. The deciding factor was meeting Business Gateway Advisor and fellow cat lover Lorna who was equally enthusiastic about their idea, leaving the pair motivated to take the next steps. Kitty Cat Café received a range of support through South Ayrshire Council’s Ambition To Start programme. This included expert finance support to create a business plan and forecasts, expert marketing support and an Ambition start up grant of £1,000. In addition they were given support from two South Ayrshire Council environmental health officers, one specialising in the food service side of the café and another who advised in the process of applying for an animal activity licence. The café opened within a matter of months after securing premises in South Harbour Street and the hard work began of renovating the interior to suit. Eighteen cats have found a happy new home there either having been rescued, through rehoming or having been gifted to the café. Locally sourced coffee and cake is on the menu and customers book a slot to visit with many booking double slots and travelling regularly from further afield. The café itself is warm and welcoming, beautifully decorated with a cat theme and even has a range of cat themed gifts carefully curated to offer pocket money value. Kitty Cat Café is going from strength to strength. They have captured the attention of the press and the public with their quirky TikTok videos and in this case, the personalities of Amy and Laura behind the brand really shine through. You might be wondering how on earth as NHS workers with young families they find the time? Amy explains “At the point we decided to go for it we knew the initial months would be super busy but we have been blown away by the public support and interest. Our meeting with Business Gateway Advisor Lorna was the turning point for us. We knew we had to make our idea real before somebody else did and we left that day inspired to start our journey. We feel lucky that lots of people who have supported us have been cat people and have genuinely believed in us each step of the way.” Heading towards their six month opening anniversary Amy and Laura are looking to an ambitious future with the community at the heart of their business. With a partnership already developed with The Ayrshire Hospice and some themed evenings on the cards such as quizzes and yoga, the Kitty Cat Café’s purrfect adventures have only just begun! This case study was written on behalf of https://www.ambitionprogramme.co.uk/

Written on behalf of South Ayrshire Ambition Programme. Robert Burns fans all over the world might immediately associate Lochlea Farm with being the home of our globally renowned poet. But these days the same land that Burns farmed has also become home to the Lochlea whisky brand, a star in its own right. Ten years since the first 50 acres of barley was grown, Lochlea now boasts a team of fifteen, supplying almost 400 UK stockists and 25 export markets with the Lochlea core brand as well as seasonal limited editions. With focussed plans going forward, Lochlea made their first approach for funding assistance and contacted the Ambition programme at South Ayrshire Council. This initial contact led to a package of expert support including 3 days productivity support, 3 days digital support and 5 days expert help to produce a feasibility study. The support included expert analysis of current processes and a visit to a larger Glasgow based distillery as a learning journey. Alison Fagan, Finance Director explains a bit more about how this support has been highly beneficial – “Our team at Lochlea are all exceptionally busy with the day to day business of running the distillery and so having this extra support from the Ambition programme has been most welcome. It has enabled us to home in on three main areas of development for us. We have been very impressed with the outcomes and level of detail supplied so far and really appreciate the positive and supportive relationship we have with our Business Advisor. It feels as though we now have an open dialogue going forward which is ideal.” The future of Lochlea seems exciting and ambitious. The team have been deep diving into customer preferences which has led to some new whisky skews launching later this year. Longer term the team have focussed goals so watch this space for developments! Sustainability remains at the heart of the business - take a look at lochleadistillery.com for an impressive read on extremely well thought out sustainability processes. Working closely with the land is a priority for the team at Lochlea and this truly means that the sky is the limit! This case study was written on behalf of https://www.ambitionprogramme.co.uk/

Written on behalf of South Ayrshire Ambition Programme. Tucked away in the Redbrae area of Maybole, a team of over thirty Interpak workers have been making presentation packaging fit for a king! Half a million beautifully presented boxes made their way to the King’s Warrant Holding medallist for award to Service personnel to commemorate King Charles's coronation. This was under the King’s express wishes that the boxes be environmentally fit for purpose and made in the UK. Fulfilling this commitment without fault is just one of the many accolades under the Interpak roof, a company where FSC accreditation is the latest to appear on the wall. Interpak has been a staple part of Maybole’s industrious landscape for over fifty years. American founders, the Kilmartin family, were considering Southern Ireland or the West of Scotland for their business extension plans in 1967 and Maybole won the day. Now under the impressive leadership of CEO Alan Garry, Interpak continues to manufacture bespoke packaging products for jewellery, coins and metal products, is a supplier to The Royal Mint and exports to over 25 countries in the EU and beyond. Alan had previous experience of support from Business Gateway and made contact again at the right time for Interpak. With the company moving toward more cardboard and paper products and some significant investment planned, this initial contact led to a generation of lots of ideas honed down to some specific opportunities via South Ayrshire Council’s Ambition programme. Interpak went on to receive support under South Ayrshire Council’s Ambition To Grow programme offering training with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS). Training topics included lean awareness, process flow map, workplace organisation and visual management. In addition, Interpak received an Ambition Productivity Grant allowing the team to order a single pass digital printer. Not only will the printer print direct to packaging, replacing a manual time consuming process, but it also replaces the non-recyclable foil process with that of full colour soluble inks, making each piece of packaging recyclable and therefore better for the environment. Alan was keen to point out that communication with his Business Advisor Lorna had been ‘phenomenal’ and that the support had been a catalyst for improvement. “The support we received through the South Ayrshire Ambition programme has initiated a speedier investment to our Maybole production facility from our US head office. Furthermore, the highly beneficial lean training we received would just not have been possible without Ambition. This will make a real difference to the way we work” Continuing upon the progress achieved so far the Interpak ambition now is for the company to transition further towards an efficient environmentally friendly UK based product and we wish them all the very best! This case study was written on behalf of https://www.ambitionprogramme.co.uk/

A tale of twin beaches, sweeping coastlines, beach yoga, amazing seafood and finding favourites ... Unless a new contender comes along, I officially have a new favourite Scottish island. The Isle of Gigha for me had the perfect combination of everything you could want from this type of wellness break. A dramatic coast swept entrance, an abundance of fresh air, wow beaches, fresh delicious food and lots and lots of wide open space to breathe … Here’s my top ten tips for visiting – 1. Don’t Go To Maybole This may sound ridiculous but somehow for the first time in my life I got on the wrong train at Ayr and immediately realised when the train started edging in the direction of Stranraer. Hopped off at Maybole. A bus back in and an outdoor breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled egg at Café 51 while waiting for the next train made it all worthwhile. 2. Throw Those Curtains Wide Once in Glasgow take the Campbeltown bus to Tayinloan. It takes about 4 hours but it is 4hrs of amazing views so settle in, take drinks & snacks and prepare for some serious window watching. You will make your way past Balloch, Luss, Tarbet, Arrochar, Inverary, Lochgair and more before reaching a quaint little Tayinloan post office where you hop off and walk no more than about ten minutes to the ferry port. 3. Beware The Driver Our Glasgow bus driver issued a stark warning that if anyone was drinking alcohol on the bus, he would most definitely be evicting them where they could ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ at the roadside! Despite some guilty looks all round and nervous clinking of bottle sounds being hidden we had a very well behaved team! 4. Make A Grand Entrance The ferry from Tayinloan to Gigha only takes 20 minutes so you barely have time to feel the sun in your hair (on a good day) and the wind on your face before it sweeps into the island. Head up top and enjoy every moment of the weather, the sound of the waves, the view of the picturesque bay and the tranquillity around because these are the moments worth living for. 5. Go To Maybole! It turned out that this unscheduled plan was a winner. By the time I got there my companion, who was meeting me there via a different island hopping route on motorbike, had already set up the tent. Job done! Leaving me to explore the brand new Gigha Campsite with lovely new facilities including a secret communal campfire spot. The campsite is a hop skip and jump from the ferry and is also directly opposite the hire shop for bikes, e-bikes and SUP and kayak equipment. Everything is so nearby in Gigha! 6. Tin Tin Chin Chin All that was left to do on the first night was to sit back overlooking the bay and eat our quality camping stove dinner of boiled potatoes, tinned corned beef and beans! Served with wine! Sometimes you just have to appreciate the basics. Food, whatever it is, is so much more of an adventure when you eat it outdoors. (Alert – Early prediction that amazingly there didn’t seem to be midges was a tad premature, but it still wasn’t my worst midge encounter). 7. Own The Land Our tailored adventure consisted of exploring the nice empty roads by motorbike, yoga on the shoreline, wading (couldn’t quite brace myself any deeper for a swim) in the freezing cold sea, drinks at the Gigha Hotel and a very quick peek at Achamore Gardens. The island isn’t huge so meeting the same people at every location is a possibility. As is a random herd of cows suddenly appearing. But crowds of people on Gigha are definitely not your problem. Other activities we didn’t sample were the recognised walking & cycle trails, the 9 hole golf course, the gift shop (was closed) or The Dark Sky Theatre. Pick n Mix your own adventure! 8. A Tale of Two Beaches At the North end of Gigha on the West Coast is Eilean Garbh – Twin Beaches. Wow your way down a grassy field as you catch some glimpses of Bagh Rubha Ruaidh and Bagh Na Doirlinne. These beaches boast clear turquoise water and fine white sand that photos cannot do enough justice. You’ll also be able to view Jura in the distance. Yes, it’s Scotland. Yes, the sea is cold but yes, yes, yes, the beaches are simply stunning! Try tearing yourself away. 9. Book The Boathouse As someone who often likes to wing it, on this occasion I’m glad I booked ahead. The Boathouse Restaurant is very popular and we watched many having to be turned away. I had booked an outdoors table very close to the beach and the food and setting were perfect. The Nook is also a seafood take away option located next to the little shop. It wasn’t open when we were there but look out for when it throws open its wall hatch for freshly caught goodies! 10. Courie in At just seven miles long, everything was within reach in Gigha. You definitely don’t need a car but you can easily see the whole island by bike, foot or kayak. We stayed only two nights but an extra couple would have been nice to chill for longer, walk more, bike or SUP. The new campsite was excellent but if you don’t want to camp there are B&B’s or choose from a self-catering croft, stable, barn, byre, yurt or beach view cottage. Gigha is an open-air chilled adventure waiting to happen. A good old slice of island life that for me will be hard to beat!

A tale of tiny wellness worship, wandering cows, burning embers, an orchestra of torrential rain … If you are someone like me who enjoys finding a tiny house where you don’t want to pay for any more space than you need, but don’t want to sacrifice the view, the atmosphere and the odd touch of luxury then there is a special little haven tucked away in the heart of Ayrshire. Until I stayed here, Minishant to me was a place you travelled through to get to somewhere else, a stop on the school bus route. But actually look further and it is a charming little village with a restaurant, local shop, countryside walks and an old Church tucked away upon entry. Two lodges – Kyle and Carrick - are part of The Old Church and Lodges development at Minishant. I immediately chose Kyle as my favourite and opted to spend some time here when I needed to be close to home but also needed a retreat to work, rest and play. The Old Church itself has been converted into an exclusive venue for weddings and other gatherings. It has bedrooms, entertainment and snug areas, a catering kitchen and perhaps most impressively a beautiful outdoor decking area. Even a secret treehouse to be found! But my stay was a solo one and The Kyle Lodge was exactly what I was looking for. After heading down a short decked and fairy lit private path, I turned a corner to reach my destination. You cannot see the other lodge from here and they cannot see you. Perfect. The inside is really well designed with a large super comfy bed taking up most of the room, a small sofa facing outwards and a deep bath for soaking up the atmosphere. I chose to couple bath time with the record player transporting me out of the norm with crackly classic tunes. The kitchen area is compact enough that it doesn’t impose at all on the space but with enough equipment to cook. A separate wc and shower are separated by a sliding door. The entire frontage of the lodge is glass allowing for vista daydreams from the comfort of bed. At night the room is cosy and private with the curtains closed. There is an easy self check in. But the top reason for me choosing this place was the outdoor space. You have your own cute little decked balcony area covered by a rooftop and camouflaged by nature. On it is a mini picnic table and craftily stored deckchair. Firewood and a wood burning stove complete the dream. This was Grizzly Adams life but with a serious upgrade! Open countryside is the view and every now and again a herd of cows wander past curiously looking upwards. I used every piece of wood to make the most of the fire. There was a lot of torrential rain during my time here, creating an orchestra on the rooftop as you courie in and embrace all of the elements at once. Minishant - the rainforest - was incredibly calming. This could definitely be a romantic weekend, a solo retreat or even a family trip if you don’t mind togetherness. It’s adjacent to the A77 but tucked far enough away to not be bothered by traffic. There is a regular bus service running through and within reach of most of the larger tourist attractions in the area so ideal as a quirky base from which to explore. But mostly this little church lodge felt like it was nowhere near anything, like you were floating in your own little world of thoughts. Embracing solitude but yet somehow feeling very safe on your own. The nature and weather created all the drama and noise you could need. After that - stillness, cosiness and quiet combined in a haven of whatever you seek …