Small change for Mount Stuart

Johnny Bute, the Marquess of Bute, has announced plans to restructure his fortune and concentrate on Mount Stuart, the family home.

Former Formula One, and other disciplines, racing driver Johnny Dumfries has confirmed that he will sell Dumfries House, and its contents.

Surrounded by 2,000 acres, the house itself is expected to realise some £7 million, and was designed and built by renowned Scottish architects John, Robert and James Adam between 1754 and 1759 for William, the 5th Earl of Dumfries.

The collection of furniture being sold from the house includes many outstanding pieces by the famous designer Chippendale (who was a friend of the Adam brothers). A George II bookcase alone is expected to sell for between £2 million and £4 million. In total, it is estimated that the contents will realise around £13 million. That would make it the largest furniture sale in British history.

Thank goodness for some real news!

For a moment I thought I was going to have to break the rules and fill some space by having a go at the ping-pong blame, cause, effect, and pot calling kettle black world of the ferries, with CalMac, BFUG, the holiday and coach operators, and the new harbour builders all pointing fingers at one another for some reason or other.

God forbid any of them ever sit down around a table one day and actually try and work together.

No, of course not, that would be too likely to produce some sort of benefit for the passengers, rather than egos.