As you’ll know if you have been keeping pace with us over the last few months, we don’t hang around at Dunans Castle, and today I am glad to announce some improvements to the LairdofDunansCastle.com website.

First is that we have changed the registration system for new lairds and ladies. Why? Well, because we were having problems with the accounts and wanted to place the ability to register entirely in the hands of our new entitled. Instead of having a username and password allocated to you, you can choose your own. Once you register we ensure your details are correct and then approve the registration. Much better all around I think you will agree.

Second we have made registration of emails of the type yourname@lairdofdunanscastle.com and yourname@ladyofdunanscastle.com automatic. Simply login and click on ‘Email for Lairds’ or ‘Email for Ladies’ and follow the onscreen instructions.

Finally, we have rejigged the menu system on the website to ensure that only those who are logged in see the various members’-only pages.

And we haven’t finished yet.We still have to style the email element of the job, and there’s a further even more ambitious update in the pipeline.

Developed in response to ideas submitted by various Lairds and Ladies I have designed a presentation folder into which the deeds of entitlement and papers are inserted for the Slate, Stone and Marble packages (River packages can pay a surcharge for this presentation folder). As you may have gathered, graphic design is one of my professional skills, and it has been a delight to turn my attention to producing something of lasting value for ScottishLaird.

The picture we use here and as preview for the new products is of the cover.

Well, given that we are using a state-of-the-art blogging system, and that we keep our website updated on a regular basis, it seemed natural to tweet as well. The micro-blogging service is an excellent way of updating friends as well as colleagues. You can find Charles’ tweet at Twitter.com/DixonSpain and news of Argyll, the location of ScottishLaird’s scheme, at Twitter.com/ForArgyll.

Additionally, Charles’ tweets carry news from the Dunans Charitable Trust and summaries of the latest over at LairdofDunansCastle.com.

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Our mission is to make our titles the perfect gift, which means we always go the extra mile. With laird- and ladyships bought for the 14th February 2008 we offer a special “Lover’s” Seal which will adorn the envelope in which your lairdship documents arrive.

Not only that, if you would like to send your gift anonymously, which is often the case, we will include a Valentine’s card (free of charge*) which will bear the following handwritten inscription:

“This Valentine’s gift has been sent to you on behalf of your secret admirer. Will you be their Valentine?”

Of course you can change the message, and if you like, we can leave the card unsigned. Let us know by email and we’ll be happy to oblige. We will also try to ensure that your gift will arrive shortly before or on 14th February**.

Remember if you live outside the UK, it will be best to get your order in before the end of January.

*The ‘Free of Charge’ refers to the Valentine’s card only, not the title! And we’re afraid we can’t give you the design of the card yet, except to say we’re sure it is going to be romantic!

** Of course we cannot guarantee delivery time or date as we are subject to the vagaries of the international postal system, but we promise to do our utmost to get the delivery right!

At Dunans we have looked for ways for people to become involved with the project, and while locally this has not been a problem, we have been anxious to engage with a wider audience. We have thought about it a great deal: how to offer something which is fun, engaging, represents good value and gives Dunans a higher profile than perhaps it does now. Lairdships have been sold via the internet for a while now, and in our view take themselves too seriously.

Yes, we want our customers to feel they own a little piece of Scotland (even if it is only one foot square), and yes, we’d like them to use their Lairdly title, but more importantly, we’d like the people who buy this product to take an active interest in a project into which we have been putting heart and soul for the last four years. And this is why we have added value to our offerings: there’s a lairds’ website, with the opportunity to have a lairdofdunanscastle.com email, there are discussion forums and the Laird’s blog, you can have native broadleaf trees planted in your honour, and you can visit any time – we’ll welcome you with open arms. There are even fishing rights which you can take advantage of.

So go on: this Christmas have a little Lairdly fun and buy one of our great products!

BASL is finally up and running. Expect rapid developments over the next week or so. If you would like to contact us please don’t hesitate to do so …