Margaret's Cottage B & B

16/10/2026

Well, all this lovely interest in my upcoming Party Food Workshops has got me thinking… dangerous, I know! 😂
I'm already dreaming up a few ideas for the New Year!
Now, the very last thing I want to do is teach anyone how to suck eggs… or whisk them, for that matter! 😂
But here's a wee thought…
Would anyone fancy learning how to make a beautiful, traditional Victoria sponge? 🍓🍰
Believe it or not, there was a time when I couldn't make a decent Victoria sponge to save my life!
But over the years I've picked up lots of little hints, tips and tricks that help me turn out a beautiful sponge every single time.
Nothing complicated, nothing fancy… just good old-fashioned home baking.
So I'm simply putting out a wee feeler!
Would a Victoria Sponge Workshop at Margaret's Cottage be something you'd enjoy?
Let me know what you think! ❤️

15/10/2026

Anyone own a HP printer, and want two Black 301 new cartridges?
Free to a good home.
I stupidly bought the wrong one.
Twice !

Text 07808 160015.

Ciara

14/10/2026

14/10/2026

FOUR LOVELY LADIES, A FLOUR-DUSTED KITCHEN AND A WHOLE LOT OF SCONES! ❤️

Well, would you look at that!
My very first Simply Scones workshop at Margaret's Cottage is DONE, DUSTED and, I'm delighted to report, a rather lovely success!
AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! ❤️

Now, I'll let you into a wee secret...
I was nervous!
Not quite shaking-in-my-boots, considering-running-away-to-sea nervous, but there were definitely a few butterflies fluttering about.
Four lovely ladies joined me, and, between you and me, I was rather relieved there were only four.
Because, ladies, whether you realised it or not...
YOU WERE MY GUINEA PIGS! 😂

But one lovely lady arrived at the door and immediately reassured me, "There's no need to be nervous, Ciara."
And she was absolutely right!

We began beside a roaring fire, with the wild, windswept Irish Sea putting on a dramatic performance outside, while inside we enjoyed freshly baked Digger biscuits, lemon drizzle cake and plenty of piping-hot tea, coffee and, of course, CHIT-CHAT!

Eventually, we decided we'd better actually make some scones.
After all, that was technically why everyone had come! 😂
Into the kitchen we went.
Aprons on. Hands washed. Mixing bowls at the ready.

First, I demonstrated my scone-making method, sharing a few little tricks I've learned over the years.
Then it was the ladies' turn!
There was mixing, measuring, flouring and folding, with me hovering over shoulders like a slightly overenthusiastic mother hen...
"Just a wee bit more flour."
"Another splash of milk."
"That's it, lovely!"
"Now don't over-handle it".

And fifteen minutes later, out came trays of glorious, golden, beautifully risen scones!
While their creations cooled, we sat down to enjoy my freshly baked scones with butter, jam and cream.
More tea. More laughter. More lovely conversation.
And honestly, that was one of the nicest parts of the whole experience. ❤️

At the end, each lady packed her homemade scones into a box to take home, along with four different scone recipes and, hopefully, the confidence to make them all again.

And that's exactly what I wanted these workshops to be about.
Good old-fashioned home baking, shared skills, wonderful company and a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours together.

So, to my four lovely guinea pigs, THANK YOU! You made my first workshop a really special experience. ❤️
Our next Simply Scones workshop on Saturday 24th October is FULLY BOOKED!
But don't forget...
🎄 SATURDAY 21st NOVEMBER – CHRISTMAS PARTY FOOD WORKSHOP! 🎄
Fabulous festive finger food, scrumptious savoury nibbles and tempting little treats. More details to follow, but do get in touch if you'd like to join us!

Anyway, I'd better get a wiggle on.
The kitchen needs putting back together, the mixing bowls need washing, and there's flour in places where flour has absolutely no business being!
Would I do it all again?
IN A HEARTBEAT! ❤️

Have a lovely day, you bunch of smashers.
X

14/10/2026

DIGGERS, DELIGHTS AND A DUBIOUS DEFINITION OF BREAKFAST! 😂

Oh, would you just LOOK at these little golden beauties! ❤️
Buttery, beautifully bronzed, gloriously golden, slightly chewy, deliciously crunchy and quite frankly… DANGEROUSLY moreish!

These, you bunch of smashers, are my DIGGER BISCUITS!
I believe Mary Berry calls them Anzac biscuits, and they're an Australian favourite. But here at Margaret's Cottage, they're simply known as Diggers.

They're made with oats, butter, sugar, golden syrup and coconut. Five fabulous ingredients that come together to create a little disc of deliciousness.

Now, here's where I need your help with a small matter of nutritional interpretation…
THEY CONTAIN OATS.
Oats are healthy, right?
Oats are what people eat for breakfast.
Therefore, surely, by a perfectly reasonable process of culinary deduction, these biscuits qualify as BREAKFAST?
Yes?
No?
Anyone? 😂

Admittedly, there's a rather generous quantity of butter, sugar and golden syrup involved in their construction....but I really don't think we should allow minor technicalities to interfere with an otherwise excellent argument.

Anyway, I've been up bright and early this morning, baking a few batches of these buttery beauties in preparation for today's very first Simply Scones workshop here at Margaret's Cottage.

My lovely ladies will be arriving later this morning, and before we get stuck into the serious business of scone making, there'll be some homemade lemon drizzle cake and a few Diggers to enjoy.

Because you can't possibly expect people to bake on an empty stomach!

Now, the truth is, I absolutely ADORE homemade biscuits.
There's just one teeny, weeny, tiny problem.
I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO SELF-CONTROL AROUND THEM. 🙄

I love making them.
I love baking them.
I love the wonderful smell of butter and sugar wafting through the kitchen.
And unfortunately..., I also love, love, love EATING them.

One biscuit becomes two.
Two becomes three.
And before you know it, I'm standing beside an empty cooling rack wondering who on earth has eaten all the biscuits.

A complete mystery.
Every single time. 😂

And 🙄 this is why I don't make diggers terribly often. It's really a matter of self-preservation.
And while we're discussing my slightly questionable behaviour, can we talk about the photographs?

You'll notice that I take a large round pastry cutter and gently circle each biscuit while it's still warm, just to tidy up those slightly untidy edges.

Because although I love a rustic, homemade biscuit, I do like them to be beautifully round.
Neat little circles.
Lovely uniform shapes.
All sitting sweetly and sensibly on their cooling rack.
NEAT FREAK? ME?
Oh, don't be ridiculous! 🤣

This from the woman who was ironing APRON STRINGS yesterday!
Clearly, the excitement of these cookery workshops is doing something very strange to me.
Anyway, I'd better get a wiggle on. There are six lovely ladies coming to bake scones, a kitchen to prepare, and a plate of Diggers that really ought to remain untouched until they arrive.
Wish me luck… particularly with that last bit!

Oh, and later today I'll tell you about my Christmas Party Food Workshop.
Best get a wiggle on.
But perhaps...., a bit of "quality control" with my coffee? Just one more....
X

13/10/2026

Well, would you look at what I've been reduced to… IRONING APRONS!! 😂

It's a beautiful sunny Tuesday morning here at Margaret's Cottage. It's somewhere between 10 and 11-ish, breakfast is finished, the guesties have all departed, the washing machines are doing their thing, the kitchen is tidy and all is well with the world.
Except…
I'M IRONING. 🙄

Now, anyone who knows me will know that ironing is not exactly my favourite pastime. In fact, I consider it an activity best avoided wherever humanly possible.

Tea towels? Absolutely not.
Aprons? Don't be ridiculous.
Kelsey's clothes? Not a hope.
My own clothes? Only under extreme circumstances. 😂

The only things that regularly see an iron in this house are the beautiful bed linens for our guests and my much-loved antique white damask tablecloths and napkins.
Everything else is very much on a need-to-iron basis… and the need rarely arises!

BUT TOMORROW IS A BIG DAY! ❤️
Tomorrow I'm hosting my very first Simply Scones workshop here at Margaret's Cottage, and I'm ridiculously excited… with just a wee sprinkling of nerves thrown in for good measure!

Six lovely ladies are coming along to spend a couple of hours in my kitchen, learning how to make delicious homemade scones, enjoying some lovely food, plenty of tea and coffee and, I suspect, a healthy helping of gossip!

I've been gathering up all my lovely new mixing bowls, knives, cutters and other cookery bits and pieces, and I genuinely can't wait to get everything out and put it to good use.
And apparently, in my excitement, I've completely lost the run of myself.
Because I'm ironing the APRON STRINGS!!

Yes, the long bits that tie around your back.
The bits that nobody sees.
The bits that will be tied in knots within approximately 30 seconds of putting the apron on.
WHAT ON EARTH HAS COME OVER ME?! 🤣

Anyway, we have six budding scone makers booked in for tomorrow, but there are still TWO places available if anyone fancies joining us.

🧁 Simply Scones at Margaret's Cottage Wednesday 14th October 11am – 1pm
Two lovely hours of baking, learning, laughing, eating and probably talking far too much!
No experience necessary, just bring yourself and a willingness to get a wee bit floury.

And I can personally guarantee that your apron will be beautifully ironed… including the bits nobody will ever see! 😂

Right, I'd better get a wiggle on. There's a mountain of ironing still to do, and apparently I've developed standards I never knew I had.
Honestly, the things we do for a wee scone! ❤️

Send me a DM please.
And do NOT send me any ironing!

08/10/2026

IS THERE ANYTHING NICER THAN A GOOD SAUSAGE?
Now, behave yourselves… I am talking about casserole. 🙄😂

As you know, autumn and I are not exactly the greatest of friends.
Dark mornings, dark evenings, drizzle, dampness and the sudden realisation that it’s only six-o-clock and I’m already considering putting my pyjamas on.
BUT…
I am beginning to accept that autumn does have a few compensations.

Last week it was deliciously acknowledged that autumn is officially PIE SEASON.
But autumn also means I can drag the slow cooker out of the cupboard and start filling Margaret’s Cottage with the wonderful smell of slow-cooked suppers, sumptuous stews and comforting casseroles.
And really… is there anything nicer than a good sausage casserole?

I’m very particular about my sausages.
I like a good-quality one.
Something substantial.
Full of flavour.
And I have to say, I do prefer one that doesn’t shrivel away to nothing once it gets hot.

Sorry. Where was I?
Ah yes. Dinner. 😂

I usually go for a lovely leek sausage or a good Cumberland one — browned beautifully first and then popped into the slow cooker with tomatoes, onions, beans, herbs, spices and all sorts of gorgeous goodness.
Then leave the whole lot alone for hours.
No poking.
No prodding.
No unnecessary interference.
Just let the sausage do its thing.
Good grief.
I really am talking about casserole. 🙄

And by suppertime you have these beautifully tender, succulent sausages sitting in a rich, thick, glossy sauce that has been slowly bubbling away all afternoon.
Warm. Comforting. Delicious.

The sort of supper that requires nothing more complicated than good company, a big bowl, perhaps some crusty bread and absolutely no intention whatsoever of counting the calories.

So perhaps autumn and I are slowly reaching an understanding.
It provides the miserable weather…
…and I provide the pies, puddings and comforting casseroles.
That seems fair.

So come on then, smashers…
What’s your favourite thing to throw into the slow cooker at this time of year?
And for heaven’s sake…
keep it clean. 😂

07/10/2026

🫖 SIMPLY SCONES… JUST TWO PLACES LEFT!
Well… you lovely bunch of smashers have been busy booking! ❤️

Our Saturday 24th October Simply Scones workshop is now FULL, but I still have TWO places remaining for Wednesday 14th October, 11am–1pm.

So, if you’ve always wanted to learn how to make beautiful, handmade, authentic Irish scones — golden on the outside and fabulously fluffy on the inside — come into my kitchen and I’ll teach you.

We’ll start our morning with coffee and a little something homemade at Margaret’s Cottage, overlooking the sea, before heading into my kitchen where we’ll mix, make and bake our own gorgeous scones.

Plenty of hands-on help, plenty of chitchat and probably a wee bit of gossip too. 😂

And best of all, you’ll go home with your freshly baked scones, my recipe and the confidence to make them all over again.

Wednesday 14th October | 11am–1pm | £55 per person
Just TWO places left — send me a message if you’d like one of them.

Come into my kitchen and I’ll teach you. ❤️