Welcome to House on the Hill

This morning, I stood at the window with my tea and watched the sun rise over Goat Fell. Skye was already in her favourite spot by the door, waiting patiently for breakfast. Lewis sprawled across half the kitchen floor (as he does), and Whisky was somewhere in the garden, probably investigating something that absolutely didn't need investigating.

This is life on the hill.

Why This Blog?

I've been thinking about starting this for a while now. Not because I think my life is particularly extraordinary—quite the opposite, really. But there's something about the rhythm of countryside living, the daily moments with the dogs, the slow progress on the workshop build, that feels worth sharing.

Maybe you're here because you love dogs. Or because you're curious about shipping container workshops. Perhaps you stumbled across this while planning a trip to Ayrshire. Whatever brought you here, welcome.

What You'll Find Here

This blog is going to be a mix of everything that makes up life on this hilltop:

The Pack

Stories about Skye, Lewis, and Whisky. Skye's 10 now, blind and diabetic, and she's taught me more about patience and presence than anything else in my life. Lewis is her gentle giant son—6 stone of fluffy white dog who thinks he's still a puppy. And Whisky, our 2-year-old retriever-poodle cross, keeps us all on our toes.

The Workshop

I'm about 40% through converting a shipping container into a proper workshop. It's been a journey of learning, problem-solving, and discovering that nothing in a Scottish winter happens quickly. I'll be documenting the rest of the build here.

Ayrshire Life

The countryside walks, the wildlife we spot, the changing seasons, the views of Arran. This place is beautiful, and I want to share it.

The Kitchen and Garden

I'm vegetarian, I love cooking simple food, and I'm slowly figuring out how to grow some of what I eat. Expect recipes and garden updates.

Everything Else

Music, books, the occasional story from my days as a skydiver, thoughts on simple living. This is a personal blog, so it'll wander where life takes it.

What This Blog Won't Be

It won't be perfect. The photos won't always be Instagram-worthy. The writing will sometimes ramble. I'm a truck driver, not a professional blogger. But it'll be honest, and hopefully, that's worth something.

Going Forward

My plan is to post twice a week. Tuesdays and Fridays seem manageable. Some posts will be long stories, others might just be a photo and a few thoughts. We'll see how it goes.

If you'd like to follow along, there's a newsletter signup at the bottom of the page. I'll send a weekly roundup of new posts—nothing more, no spam.

Thanks for being here at the beginning. Let's see where this goes.

From the hill, Brian 🐾