Just discovered this thread when trying to find a copy of the autobiography of my old landlord Tom Mitchell. I lived at Harvieston from 1979 to 1984, not in the main house but in the little lean to down by the walled garden, which was known as The Pottery. It was a pretty but ramshackle house that leaked like crazy and was freezing in the winter, though it had a woodburning stove that sweetened things a bit. One night during the winter of 1982-83 I recorded an outside night temperature of -20C. We had to make sure we kept the garden gate shut, otherwise Tom's cattle were liable to come in and browse in our herb garden. The last time I looked by, a few years ago now, the Pottery had undergone an expensive renovation, no doubt has central heating these days! My then partner and I were friendly with Pete Quigley at the neighbouring farm, and bought our milk from him straight from the cow. Tom himself enjoyed cultivating an air of mystery. He liked to see himself as the pater familias of a vaguely alternative community, and there was certainly an ever-changing cast of fascinating characters living at Harvieston. He was capable of getting quite shirty when from time to time any of them didn't see eye to eye with him. As well as the tree house, Tom built a sauna in the grounds, which I quite often made use of. He had an endearing habit of planting trees in his arboretum and adorning them with plaques dedicated to his various tenants. Ours was a weeping ash, no idea if it's still there. It would be some size 35 years later if it is. I'm no longer with my partner of that time, but I did meet my present partner and mother of our now grown up children there, so it remains a pretty special place. Much credit to Tom for having the imagination to set it up.
