There are good chores and bad chores. Washing-up: good. Cleaning fridge: bad. Watering plants: good. Vacuuming stairs: bad. But doing the laundry is a game of two halves. Few things are as pleasing as shoving clothes into the machine. The pile was there and now it’s gone: minutes of work, massive reward. But taking the wet clothes out? That is a bad chore. The worst if, like me, you have no external washing line, only rickety clothes horses that fall over at the first draught and take up valuable space. Plus there’s the three-day drying time if it’s winter.

I’ve been thinking a lot about washing machines recently because mine, God rest its soul, has died. This means I’ve been spending a lot of time in the launderette. Waiting, waiting, and asking meaningful questions such as: what does “rinse hold” mean? And why are there three compartments: fabric softener, washing powder and… what?

I also have time to dream of this five-bed on the Scottish west coast. Overlooking the Craobh Haven marina, its faux turrets give it a chateau feel, not to mention the on-site cookery school and outdoor hot tub. But the real stars are the five en-suite bathrooms (perfect for clothes horses), the decking area for outdoor drying and spacious laundry room. Imagine how many washing machines you could get in there! That really is a “load” of fun.