Draft storyAt the castle
A room and a welcome
Think about what a guest needs, and use the good things you already have.
A draft: the words and pictures are waiting for an educator’s review.
Who’s in it
CecilyDecides what the guest room needs.Meet Cecily
HugoHelps put the mended chair in place.Meet Hugo
MayAsks where the clean towels will go.Meet May
MairiAsks about the guests before planning breakfast.Meet MairiThe story
A bed and a view
Cecily showed May a guest room at the castle.
The bed was made. Through the window, the sea shone blue.
“A lovely view,” said May.
“And a comfortable bed,” said Cecily. “But the room doesn’t feel ready yet.”
She looked at the empty space beside the window.
Somewhere to sit
After May left, Cecily walked round the room, holding a piece of fabric.
What would she want after a long journey?
Somewhere to sit without perching on the bed.
She thought of the old chair Hugo and Stan had mended.
“Beside the window,” she said. “A place to rest and read.”
Useful questions
May returned with Mairi, who brought her clipboard.
“Where will the clean towels go?” asked May.
“In the cupboard we’re restoring,” said Cecily. “Within easy reach.”
Mairi opened her notes.
“And before I plan the breakfast baking, how many guests are coming? What do they like and need?”
“We’ll check the bookings and ask,” said Cecily.
The room list and the breakfast plan were beginning to make sense.
Old things in useful places
Hugo helped put the checked chair beside the window. Cecily found a place for the restored cupboard.
They arranged the furniture with space to move around the bed.
Cecily added a clean throw she already had.
“We haven’t filled every corner,” said Hugo.
“Guests need room too,” said Cecily.
Ready for a welcome
When May and Mairi came back, Cecily showed them round.
The chair had a useful place. The cupboard held the clean linen.
“Ready for someone to arrive,” said May.
Cecily smiled. She had chosen what the room needed, with help from people who knew about welcoming others.
The familiar old things belonged here.
People behind the room
Later, Cecily laid thank-you cards on a table.
She named May’s practical questions and Mairi’s help with breakfast planning. There were cards for Hugo and Stan too, for their work on the furniture.
“Who’s first to enjoy the new room?” asked May.
Cecily glanced towards the guest rooms.
“The old chair,” she said. “Hugo left the best view for the chair.”
Talk about the story
- Why did Cecily think the room needed more?
- Why was the window a useful place for the old chair?
- What did May and Mairi help her think about?
- Why did Cecily name the help on the cards?
Try one useful place
With a grown-up, choose an everyday thing you already have at home. Talk or draw where it does a useful job. Would another place work better? You don’t need to buy anything, move furniture or handle anything broken. Then thank someone for one particular piece of help.
For grown-ups
The story encourages thinking about a need before buying new things, and asking others for useful advice. Grown-ups decide whether furniture is suitable, and arrange any repairs or moving. Reuse doesn’t replace a proper check. Breakfast planning starts with how many guests are coming and what they need; the story gives no food instructions. A room looking welcoming isn’t the same as a full check of guest accommodation.
Draft: the revised story of 21 October 2026. The words and pictures are not yet reviewed by an educator, and the story has not yet been read aloud with children.
The real-life bit
Before buying something new, see whether something you already have, or something second-hand, could do the job. A restored old piece can make a room feel special. Gullbrae is made up. Your council’s own rules are the ones to follow.