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.

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

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

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UK & Channel Islands
Order on or before 11am on 20th December, no special delivery. Fedex not available.

Europe
Order on or before 11am on 11th December, no special delivery. Fedex Available.

Australia and New Zealand
Order before 11 am, 5th December normal postage, and before 11th December special delivery (£60*). Fedex Available.

America and Canada
Order before 11th December normal postage, and before 16th December special delivery (£60*). Fedex Available.

Other Destinations
Please contact us for last postage date.

Fedex
We can also arrange Fedex deliveries which will cost between £70 and £120 with last post dates significantly closer to Christmas. Please order and then contact us for delivery fee quote.

Electric Deeds
Available on any order after last post date for an extra £25, and available until midday Christmas Eve GMT.

* Add Christmas Postage

• Dunans Castle in the Snow (approx. A4) from £9.20 + p&p
  
  This is a poster of our first greeting card. To purchase framed or unframed, click here
• Dunans Castle in the Spring (approx. A4) from £9.20 + p&p
  
  This is a poster of the image which graces the Dunans Charitable Trust flyer. To purchase framed or unframed, click here

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• The Dunans Castle Greeting Card
• Our First Six Months

This first period has been one of consolidation and partnership. The purchase of so many titles has enabled work to move on with a couple of projects in the grounds which were faltering. Paths down into the ravine, funded by the Scottish Forestry, have with the help of our lairds and ladies, been consolidated and by the end of the autumn will have been extended and improved greatly.

We have also been able to set up an extensive tree-planting operation above and beyond that which is directly funded by each laird, and we hope by the end of the year to have planted significant replacement trees for ones that have been felled or have died off.

Most excitingly we are now able to go ahead with a feasibility pilot on a method for clearing the castle proper. Using wood won on site, and know-how developed through the renovation of Dunans House, we plan to create a mini-project of Grant’s Cottage. This area of around 5m by 3m and three stories high will be the prototype for an innovative low-impact clearing method in which we construct a series of heavy-duty wooden structures within the existing stone structure. These structures will provide safe areas to clear from, platforms to work on, and eventually give us access to the wall tops, enabling very necessary wall-capping. The idea is that when complete these boxes will make the entirety of the castle a safe place to work in and on without the concomitant spend on scaffolding hire or purchase which often goes with the massive building renovation schemes.

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!

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!

As a matter of course when we receive an order we send out an email informing you of the receipt of your order and asking whether you have any instructions as to messages you might want displayed on the exterior of the packaging, for example, “Please open on Christmas Day”.