A research trip to to see a real live but an' ben complete with all its historical details dating back to, ooh about nineteen oatcake, brought me to Inverallochy and Maggie's Hoosie. Maggie was a fisher wife who disliked change, and lived in this two-room house with no electricity or running water, until 1950.

It's not unlike the Broons' but an' ben, but luckily for Maw, her kitchen is a bit more up to date than this one (but not much). I reckon she still has a range-type cooker and a butler-style sink in the kitchen, and probably a Welsh dresser, full of plates - and Paw's collection of pipes.

It will be a challenge making all this in newspaper, but I already have a big kitchen table under way, not to mention a stool, an armchair and some of the home comforts you might expect to see on the mantelpiece of the but an' ben.