tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15733305070436898382024-03-05T10:33:28.599+00:00From A Little White Devon CottageTake one patient husband, four daft Maine Coon cats and a mature English Literature Graduate, cram into a (mostly) 18th Century cottage in need of much love, add a once-pretty but seriously neglected garden and marinate in quantities of Devon rain...
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-61425972696894394442018-08-26T14:32:00.000+01:002018-08-26T14:32:16.936+01:00So what's new...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Following that marathon Christmas post (Christmas in August????), I thought I should post something slightly more up-to-date.<br /><br />We had the most awful weather in March this year - snow for the first time here since 2010 and it was bitterly cold in the cottage, despite the central heating and the wood burner. Most of the cold was coming from the porch, a 1960s concrete block addition to the original cob section of the cottage. Totally uninsulated, prone to damp and mould, and to add to its woes, we had to put a cat flap into it to allow the cats to access their run and the litter trays (there was no other place that we could install one). We were also reluctant to cut a cat flap into the original inner door, so that had to be left open a cat's width, to allow them back in!<br /><br />After consultation with a builder friend, we realised that the only answer to the damp problem was to insulate the walls of the porch so we ordered Celotex sheets, wooden battening, tongue and groove panelling and a huge tin of black bituminous paint.<br /><br />I cleaned the walls down with bleach, followed by copious quantities of sugar soap and once the whole lot was dry, I repainted the white ceiling before Kevin set to with the black paint. The porch suddenly took on a sinister aspect - the Black Hole of Chilsworthy - and the smell was breathtaking (not in a good way, either).<br />
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<br /><br />Once that was dry, Kevin put up the battens into which the 50mm thick Celotex was fitted and then he clad the whole lot with tongue and groove, which we then painted with an off-white.<br />
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The floor of the porch had been laid with the same pavers that had been used for the drive, so we painted it with grey floor paint to make it easier to keep clean, then laid jute matting in front of the door.<br /><br />The final touches were the terracotta owls, brought from our old house, an oil painting of a country cottage (painted by my talented great-uncle years ago) and the terracotta sign above the inner door, which reads <i>Parva Domus, Magna Quies</i> (Little House, Great Peace). The coat hooks were replaced and we stood back to admire our handiwork.<br />
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The porch felt cool during the recent very hot weather, so we hope that the reverse will prove to be true once the cold weather hits.<br /><br />Next task is to insulate the fireplace in the sitting room - but that means moving the wood burner to remove what we believe is a gravestone screwed to the wall behind it (!)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-68449641288967951122018-08-26T13:40:00.000+01:002018-08-26T13:40:34.761+01:00A Very Late Christmas Post!<br />
I really did mean to post about my National Trust volunteer role ages ago, but well, Life has a tendency to derail the best of intentions. However, last week I found the photographs that I took at Christmas at Lanhydrock House where I volunteered in the kitchens and the dining room and thought it would be lovely to post them before we get into the Christmas season there once more!<br /><br />I began volunteering in October 2017 and had three weeks in the house before it closed for a month to prepare for Christmas. At the end of November, we had an orientation meeting so that we could see where we would be working and what we would be doing. We also picked up the costumes that the Trust was providing - a white high-necked blouse, long black walking skirt (slightly longer in back than in front) and a V-shaped belt.<br /><br />Visiting children were able to dress up in Victorian costumes; in the Inner Hall, these were formal dresses, with jackets for the boys while in the kitchen, there were white pinafores and mob caps or chef's toques and striped aprons.<br /><br />The dining room was laid out for Christmas 1887 when Mary Vere Agar-Robartes - the eldest daughter of Viscount Clifden and his wife Mary - was eight years old and permitted to dine with her parents and their guests for the first time. There was an extensive menu, starting with a consomme with tiny savoury choux buns, followed by salmon cutlets with Hollandaise Sauce, turkey stuffed with oysters and roast beef with all the usual vegetables, then Christmas Pudding, Twelfth Cake, cheese, gingerbread, nuts and fruit.<br />
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In the kitchen, the huge table was laid out with jellies and Christmas Puddings made in elaborate castellated moulds, mince pies, gingerbread, raised pies and beautifully iced Twelfth Cakes (a yeast-raised, fruited cake - a little like panettone with icing). All of this food was real, made by the restaurant catering team.</div>
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At one end of the table, we had oranges and cloves, ready for the visiting children to make pomanders.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOafLl7Q5VIZPTHoWKKAhHGqWVC2FRuZeuHAyUuGJbZdIDM9Gk6c_2lyVkQCIRKM2-z2Q8IEkoiW-OwXYm4yYeyDLcZlIc8ea1GH1lh4pBlyLRqWwwMxNhjJ43STz9X2Tqnb3HgplPsWk/s1600/Christmas+Jelly+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOafLl7Q5VIZPTHoWKKAhHGqWVC2FRuZeuHAyUuGJbZdIDM9Gk6c_2lyVkQCIRKM2-z2Q8IEkoiW-OwXYm4yYeyDLcZlIc8ea1GH1lh4pBlyLRqWwwMxNhjJ43STz9X2Tqnb3HgplPsWk/s320/Christmas+Jelly+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The jellies were replaced every couple of days.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHb0tqKTVuG8LrM6jkDg58kfzL_Fmdw0djHC-E-VDVLDC2Ox8fWWgBAHTDe9qvQhN-YbCN5AXwIK3Es2EM9CH5O8ftpgaRIrD1cQwNTDHFW3bpjRaPD0gIkSOimomqlWx56cwUjiKyq4/s1600/Twelfth+Cake+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHb0tqKTVuG8LrM6jkDg58kfzL_Fmdw0djHC-E-VDVLDC2Ox8fWWgBAHTDe9qvQhN-YbCN5AXwIK3Es2EM9CH5O8ftpgaRIrD1cQwNTDHFW3bpjRaPD0gIkSOimomqlWx56cwUjiKyq4/s320/Twelfth+Cake+2.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautifully iced Twelfth Cake with a raised pie in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oranges, cloves and spices for pomanders</td></tr>
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In the bakery, there were hampers destined for the estate tenants, with bread, beer, Christmas Pudding, tea, pickles and preserves and in the meat larder, beautifully-crafted facsimile oysters, salmon, a turkey and a joint of beef.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXvwbTDN1qDEkanpkIXM0cXrONVxFxRWa7BKEXcuZQDJdqdueB4yfhI219yV2X-1bwHI41f7Zn-KDSf6HGAmrramvPitr-oOaCOeiEhtmKRslHMVe8zl8QxsYI5Py-zDld4cvRIjWGZY/s1600/Tenants%2527+Christmas+Boxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="313" data-original-width="448" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXvwbTDN1qDEkanpkIXM0cXrONVxFxRWa7BKEXcuZQDJdqdueB4yfhI219yV2X-1bwHI41f7Zn-KDSf6HGAmrramvPitr-oOaCOeiEhtmKRslHMVe8zl8QxsYI5Py-zDld4cvRIjWGZY/s320/Tenants%2527+Christmas+Boxes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Puddings and preserves, ready for the Tenants' Hampers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Onn05fxHRviNqz5k9VbwUNvjKwFiT_GFw1RHmssa5eObOfJiHIup3GcrXYD5kwAh_j_Bn-N6LSI2uqEu6AuACQEsODsqrtm5LZjLgFDsMgHzQmwTiabj4T7cJ5fWLbsSsILZW5UHCk/s1600/Salmon+%2526+Hollandaise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="323" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Onn05fxHRviNqz5k9VbwUNvjKwFiT_GFw1RHmssa5eObOfJiHIup3GcrXYD5kwAh_j_Bn-N6LSI2uqEu6AuACQEsODsqrtm5LZjLgFDsMgHzQmwTiabj4T7cJ5fWLbsSsILZW5UHCk/s320/Salmon+%2526+Hollandaise.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salmon Cutlets - brilliant facsimiles!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdoS47DEGrrrcUW3fpYnxLEjJYGdRiU19PL7A50xP2yO5ygRAi8mlMsVk3ofIsvghvqHkJzPJj5IO00PoL_dA3AmDYa1mJ6Yoh5uwpbj_8-2nO4Wifkafch7C5MygRW9scH2t1PJyAoo/s1600/Roast+Beef+%2526+Horseradish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="448" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHdoS47DEGrrrcUW3fpYnxLEjJYGdRiU19PL7A50xP2yO5ygRAi8mlMsVk3ofIsvghvqHkJzPJj5IO00PoL_dA3AmDYa1mJ6Yoh5uwpbj_8-2nO4Wifkafch7C5MygRW9scH2t1PJyAoo/s320/Roast+Beef+%2526+Horseradish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roast Beef with Horseradish Sauce</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBLwyWIxpYNb0Qa9bFFwTuogiBBQbKgTZrK3cRupgTsvI9Pq7j2OpK_5hmG5mHx7ey51bJl1J__4ZT4q6QH06LM53U1AlJphIABlG-yxpwUcZhapn8MZLS8FWTAygKZ1vWLV4GpKFEL4/s1600/Oysters+for+Stuffing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBLwyWIxpYNb0Qa9bFFwTuogiBBQbKgTZrK3cRupgTsvI9Pq7j2OpK_5hmG5mHx7ey51bJl1J__4ZT4q6QH06LM53U1AlJphIABlG-yxpwUcZhapn8MZLS8FWTAygKZ1vWLV4GpKFEL4/s320/Oysters+for+Stuffing.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oysters and the stuffing recipe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0YS-0ITVRKi9KRLQrsuHgUs4wXpX94ESNlz-y8Lhsp4Bk8VI2A4Avjk7-lki4uhrQuGHuCjyYmVlFbBTIU-euLw6FNqG2XtMnnzgskpGfDpaUb0gE2p1h0HzpYZDzZiP3N1Ru0jDozw/s1600/Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="406" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0YS-0ITVRKi9KRLQrsuHgUs4wXpX94ESNlz-y8Lhsp4Bk8VI2A4Avjk7-lki4uhrQuGHuCjyYmVlFbBTIU-euLw6FNqG2XtMnnzgskpGfDpaUb0gE2p1h0HzpYZDzZiP3N1Ru0jDozw/s320/Turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turkey and all the usual accompaniments.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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In the dairy, we demonstrated how butter balls were made and encouraged the children to have a go.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKzewu3yy3NMg8twSeU-Zv4xiPK8dPA2-ZnAGUuLLm-CTa7AnrW9OHbI68IEKQuGTpNoaZ6PEDsBUuq1E1_HI9Q6VoTgfi-rn9UNAj0zFO2VY_0yEaMX-HPtoceqQIWcU8u0ML4YNDYg/s1600/Butter+in+the+Dairy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="336" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKzewu3yy3NMg8twSeU-Zv4xiPK8dPA2-ZnAGUuLLm-CTa7AnrW9OHbI68IEKQuGTpNoaZ6PEDsBUuq1E1_HI9Q6VoTgfi-rn9UNAj0zFO2VY_0yEaMX-HPtoceqQIWcU8u0ML4YNDYg/s320/Butter+in+the+Dairy.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddles for the Butter Balls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1raoLoWA3iBXsrH1JRUt3Gfh8NFcCcFXQfVwThP5EQXauO0vdB2o1IIyxB-czQWniMjhzDFCkuld9SRrYyvoFYR8PAeO8vp0AnL6G-yK8in3hfJ9nYIDxcwQTCPU8fbguIVEbOGWgeo/s1600/colour+me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1raoLoWA3iBXsrH1JRUt3Gfh8NFcCcFXQfVwThP5EQXauO0vdB2o1IIyxB-czQWniMjhzDFCkuld9SRrYyvoFYR8PAeO8vp0AnL6G-yK8in3hfJ9nYIDxcwQTCPU8fbguIVEbOGWgeo/s320/colour+me.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is me, on Kitchen Duty!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Father Christmas visited just before Christmas, dressed in his traditional GREEN robes, and sat with his sack of gifts in the Morning Room where there was another huge Christmas Tree.</span><span style="text-align: start;"> The house closed at 4.30pm on January 1st and then the massive business of cleaning, conservation work and general refurbishment began, ready for the re-opening in March.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Phew - a long post with loads of photographs! It feels odd to be blogging about last Christmas but now that I'm back in the swing of it, I promise not to leave it so long. </span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-3829334189855916412018-06-05T10:12:00.001+01:002018-06-05T10:12:34.909+01:00My Graduation DayShould have posted this ages ago but life kind of got in the way!<br />
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On October 13th 2017, I marched proudly on to the stage at the Riviera Centre, Torquay to accept my First Class Honours degree in English Literature. After 5 years, one brief deferral and a house move, I had the degree that I had coveted for years.<br />
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I had the official photo taken,<br />
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but I still think the ones that my lovely husband took are far nicer!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAIelR1zp0L_EIr4KryWHrLvEkKURFOtLO6fN3FwbT7TpWBY9oVjqx9baVvbXJ_UxiaL_CQSmBvTnqUrnmxhLL0U_Vlmw9A3fblgeF243NDhqVmlkMA2BJ0vqMtNCNZt5dVXxsEL3spk/s1600/3+The+Proud+Graduate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAIelR1zp0L_EIr4KryWHrLvEkKURFOtLO6fN3FwbT7TpWBY9oVjqx9baVvbXJ_UxiaL_CQSmBvTnqUrnmxhLL0U_Vlmw9A3fblgeF243NDhqVmlkMA2BJ0vqMtNCNZt5dVXxsEL3spk/s320/3+The+Proud+Graduate.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">It was great to celebrate afterwards too - my friend and fellow English literature graduate, <br />Anne and I found the sparkling wine and made the most of it!</span><br />
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But... I couldn't have done it without the lovely man in this photograph - he listened to EVERY assignment (often more than once), encouraged me, created a quiet study space for me, cleaned and tidied the house when I was desperately trying to meet an assignment deadline and put up with my bear-with-a-sore-head moments while waiting for results. Love you, Kevin x<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-51389481802009919032017-08-12T14:56:00.000+01:002017-08-12T14:56:55.820+01:00What I found in the Slug Pubs.<br />
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Well...slugs, naturally! Lots of them and so disgusting did they look, that I couldn't bear to photograph them. I did wonder whether the birds would appreciate Slugs Marinated in Bitter, and might look later at the slab where I laid out their bloated corpses to see if there were any takers (not to mention watching out for inebriated birds attempting to take off across the field).<br />
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So, I topped up the Slug Pubs and then helped Kevin to move the mini Stonehenge from its location under the twin conifers that will be coming down in short order and put them on top of the landscaping fabric to help hold it down. We also moved the potting table and various pots and buckets across to that side of the garden to give us a clear run at our soon-to-be raised bed area.<br />
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We are waiting for the spares kit to arrive so that Kevin can service the Mantis rotavator, and we've decided on a white picket fence with an arch to divide the plot - something like this, although the pickets are likely to have rounded heads and be a bit taller (I'd love these pointed ones, though, if we could find them):<br />
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The pond will be just the other side of the fence, which gives us the opportunity to put in some taller planting - at the moment, there is nothing other than Creeping Jenny (masses of the stuff) and some saxifrages with the odd perennial geranium trying its best. The pond marginals are pretty much non-existent otherwise and the edge of the pond is mostly hidden by wild strawberry plants. Once the conifers are removed, we'll be able to move the pretty flowering cherry that Kevin bought me years ago as an anniversary present - it is beginning to resent being in the (very large) pot now and will do better once it can stretch its roots out.<br /><br />However, the weather forecast for next week is not promising (rain, much like the last couple of years) so we'll turn our attention to the master bedroom, which really does need redecorating. We have the paint, just need to get cracking!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-18391863353102911712017-08-11T17:58:00.000+01:002017-08-11T17:58:05.796+01:00A Little More Progress...and our three-year anniversary!We've now cleared the area where the shed will (eventually) be relocated, and yesterday we went over to Homeleigh Garden Centre to get the weed suppressing fabric.<br /><br />I love Homeleigh - not only is it a pleasant drive there, but they have a beautiful selection of plants and I'd been lusting after a hydrangea to put in a particular spot by the clematis-covered archway. So after we'd located what we <i>actually</i> came to buy, I trotted off to the plant centre - and I swear that I was just looking, honest!<br /><br />
What I found was this beauty - Hydrangea Macrophylla 'Kardinal' - which, along with one of Kevin's favourite lupins, found its way into our trolley.<br />
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When we got home, Kevin set to work to build stretchers for the fabric, while I planted my two new beauties and filled old yogurt pots with Very Cheap Beer - I've lost lupins in the past to slugs (and they seem to grow 'em big down here in Devon!) - so I wasn't taking any chances. I also put sharp gravel and stones, gleaned from the area where the raised beds will go, around the base of the lupin and hydrangea. I'll add some more lupins when the piggy bank is a bit more flush.<br />
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Kevin completed laying the fabric and then we moved some of the rocks that we found as we cleared the other side of the garden and placed them on top.<br /><br />
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<br />I checked the slug pub this morning; despite the rain last night, which may have diluted the beer a bit, there are several victims in the yogurt pots - ah well, at least they died happy. 😂<br /><br />As for us, on Monday we will be celebrating three years of living here in Devon - and the weather seems set to be the same as it was on the day that we moved in - RAIN! Still, if this year is anything like the previous ones, September should be a lovely month, and at least we never have to water the lawn!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-79351285421422383912017-08-06T16:16:00.000+01:002017-09-13T16:19:54.164+01:00And the results are out...Actually, they were out on 19th July but I've been a bit tied up - ridding the cottage of a moth invasion, for one thing and digging the garden for another but...<br />
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I have received the results of my final module and my overall Degree Classification and I will be graduating at the Riviera International Centre, Torquay on October 13th with a First Class Honours degree in English Literature. My gown has been ordered and Kevin's guest ticket booked and paid for and I shopped my wardrobe and found a dress that I can finally fit into (black stretch velvet - suitably <i>sub </i><i>fusc</i>) - yay!<br />
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It has taken me a while to get my head around the fact that I have a 1st, and also that I have finished my degree and I'm feeling slightly bereft...I would give a great deal to be starting my MA with The Open University in October but I simply can't afford it - even the OU's own loan scheme would cost me over £400 a month and I'm too old (by one year 😢 ) to qualify for a Post Graduate loan. I have the book list saved to my Amazon Wish List - maybe I could just read them anyway. Mind you, if I get the tutoring work that I'm hoping for, I'll be reading a lot of A Level texts, which will keep me busy!<br />
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The moth invasion has been a total pain - they have munched the carpet under the sofa and even had a go at my poor teddy bears, so Kevin and I scoured the internet for a product that would kill moths, eggs and larvae, without killing us or the cats. The stuff that we bought seems to work but you seriously don't want to breathe it in! When we treat our bedroom, it'll have to be done early in the morning and we'll need to leave the windows wide open to air the room - we aren't too happy about using it under the bed and are still looking for a 'kinder' product to use.<br />
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As for the garden, we have planned out the first of the raised beds, priced up the dividing fence (we're going for a picket fence which should look really pretty), the beds and the soil to fill them and today I dug out countless Spanish Bluebell bulbs from the bed where we will be installing the shed (when we move it - which is not quite yet). The weather has been pretty wet - a day without rain has been the exception rather than the norm this month, but at least it means that the weeds come up fairly easily! Tomorrow we'll trot over to Highhampton to look at (and get a firm quote for) the picket fence and maybe get hold of some weed control fabric so all my hard work today won't be for nothing 😄Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-41008954911886571182017-06-25T16:15:00.000+01:002017-06-25T16:15:50.035+01:00The end of an era...Well, the end of me being a 'mature student' anyway. My final assignment (3000 words on ideals of masculinity from Shakespeare to Austen) went in at the end of May and I've been recovering ever since 😂!<br />The results are meant to be out by mid-July but every year so far, they've been out just before my birthday, so I'm thinking 6th/7th July. Am I doing a countdown? You betcha!<br /><br />I can't quite believe that I'm finished - that there won't be a box from the Open University in September with a new set of module books, that I won't have any more tutorials (live or online) to attend, no more Tutor Marked Assignments to agonise over, no more heart-stopping moments when the email flashes up to tell me that my marked assignment is ready for collection. Oh, to win the Lottery and be able to afford to do a Masters in English Literature. Or Children's Literature.<br />
<br />Still, I have my Graduation Ceremony to look forward to - we have squirreled away the money<br />
for months and now have enough for my gown hire, Kevin's ticket, the official photos and a nice celebration dinner.<br /><br />Now I need to get some work - there must be someone out there who would LOVE to pay me for tutoring their GCSE or A Level offspring! <br /><br />In the meantime, I have a whole garden to reclaim from weeds/Spanish Bluebells (so many Spanish Bluebells) and a vegetable plot to plan out. I have a conservatory full of fabric and wool to turn into something lovely (quite what I have not yet decided) and there are books - oh so many books - that I have put to one side because there were set texts that had to be read instead.<br /><br />Then there is my involvement with our Village Hall which I have been unable to fully commit to until now, not to mention helping to plan the Christmas Concert and maybe doing some singing with a friend at local Care Homes.<br /><br />Oh, and the five bar gates need refinishing, the guttering needs painting, the kitchen/dining room, bathroom, main bedroom and the stairs and landing all need redecorating.<br /><br />Somehow I don't think I'll be bored 😄Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-89871809574298497232017-03-04T17:11:00.000+00:002017-03-04T17:11:11.380+00:00Spring at the Little White (and slightly green) Devon CottageSlightly green, because there is a fine mist of green all over my car, the cottage walls, the Land Rover...courtesy of a wet winter. Still, Spring is clearly here, as witnessed by the snowdrops and daffodils popping up all over!<br />
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These were poking their noses out on 5th January this year - and there are far more snowdrops this year than last, they have clearly multiplied around the copper beech!<br /><br /><br />
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And they are so pretty close up!<br />
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It may have been a wet winter, but it has also been pretty mild for the most part and my herb barrow has survived surprisingly well.<br />
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These are the miniature daffodils that I brought in pots from Camberley. They have also multiplied well, and keeping them in pots means that when they have finished flowering, I can move them to the lower garden so that the leaves can die down naturally without making the top end of the garden look too untidy!<br />
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The miniature cherry that Kevin bought me from Wisley as an anniversary gift is coming into flower, but I think that this must be the last year that I keep it in a container. When we clear TDC (the damned conifer) out of the way down by the pond, I'll plant the cherry out there.<br />
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Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai'</div>
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The cats have been pretty disgusted with the rain over the past few days - this is Bearz, in his 'do not disturb' mode, next to the log burner.<br />
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Hobbes - aka 'Cheesed off of Chilsworthy', until </div>
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Only to have his fireside spot stolen by Rosie!</div>
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Meanwhile, Paddy has amused himself with a well-catnipped mouse - these things are seriously scary when you come across one in the half-light!<br />
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I'm SUPPOSED to be writing an essay on the 2012 RSC production of Julius Caesar, set in Africa...you can clearly see how well THAT is going #procrastinationcentral 😄<br />
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Ah well...back to work!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-13496446658023437292016-09-18T12:27:00.000+01:002016-09-18T12:41:50.195+01:00Running the gauntlet...<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or, how not to get wiped out when cutting the beech hedge by drivers who seem to think that 30mph is a suggestion, rather than a mandatory maximum!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday, Kevin and I decided that we needed to give the beech hedge its annual haircut. This hedge forms our boundary with the village road; there is a pavement, but it is very narrow and is even narrower when the beech has had a full summer's growth, not to mention the invasive ash seedlings that pop up here and there, or the brambles that stick out to attack the unwary.<br /><br />So, armed with the electric hedge trimmer, long handled pruners, a rake, yard broom and snow shovel (the latter makes a great 'dustpan'), we pushed the green wheelie bin out so that it was just over the curb and began the assault.<br /><br />Almost immediately, three cars came past, going up through the village on our side of the road, and they were definitely not doing 30. Nooo - I reckon that they were doing at least 40mph and the drivers seemed surprised that there were actually <i>people</i> on the pavement. The bend before the cottage makes it difficult to see whether there are people or parked cars but still people gun past us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The village road is narrow, and there is a point just before our cottage where two vehicles can only just get past each other - the clash of wing mirrors is one of the sounds that we didn't really expect to hear in a quiet Devon hamlet, but it happens a lot. It has happened to us, when despite pulling the Landrover over so that the passenger side was almost in the hedge, an SUV clipped and broke our driver's side mirror (electric, colour-coded and expensive to replace - thanks so much, that driver!).<br /><br />Anyway, we became adept at hopping back into the beech hedge at the sound of any approaching vehicle but the point is that we shouldn't HAVE to do this. We were on the pavement, not in the road and yet we still felt incredibly vulnerable.<br /><br />At the beginning of September, we had a water meter fitted; for two days, there was a Transit van outside the cottage, with plastic barriers to protect the workers. The difference in the speed of passing traffic was incredible - most went past really slowly, others at a modest 25-30mph. A couple had to noisily apply their brakes (N.B. not all would-be racers are kids, I've spotted middle-aged drivers charging past us).<br /><br />There have been talks at the Parish Council meetings for months about a Community Speedcheck being set up - I'll be the first to volunteer! If the speeders are locals, they should know better - they know that livestock/tractors/cyclists are likely to be around any bend in the road. On a stretch that is de-restricted, just </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">outside the village, Kevin was toddling along at 30mph past my friend Helen's cottage; he was going slowly in case she was trying to get her car in or out. Instead of Helen, he had a doe leap across the road in front of him. If he'd been going any faster, he said, there would have been venison all over his bonnet.<br /><br />Why the need to rush through our pretty little village so quickly? Surely a brief spell of 30mph isn't going to make THAT much difference to your journey!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-84207300805316698192016-09-12T17:39:00.000+01:002016-09-12T17:39:17.296+01:00The Beginning of the End...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow - that's possibly a bit too dramatic! The website for my final Open University module has opened and all of my books have arrived...it is starting to look terrifyingly real now.<br />
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This is the module that will determine my degree classification - hence the nervous smile!<br />I'll be studying some wonderful texts:<br /><br />Three Shakespeare plays: <i>As You Like It, Hamlet</i> and <i>Julius Caesar</i><br />Thomas Kyd's <i>The Spanish Tragedy</i><br />Edmund Spencer's <i>The Faerie Queene</i><br />William Wycherley's <i>The Country Wife</i><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Molière</span>'s</span> <i>Tartuffe</i><br />
Jonathan Swift's <i>Gulliver's Travels</i><br />Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's <i>Turkish Embassy Letters</i><br />
<i>The Arabian Nights' Entertainments</i><br />
Rousseau's <i>Confessions</i><br />
Jane Austen's <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> and<i> Persuasion</i><br />
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and along with these individual works, there are sections on poetry by John Donne and his contemporaries and, later in the module, an exploration of the Romantic and Nationalist movements in poetry.<br /><br />I adore Shakespeare and Jane Austen, but have already found a great appreciation for the amazing Lady Mary - what a woman! If you get the chance, I urge you to read her<i> Letters </i>- she was possessed of a wicked turn of phrase and was obviously highly intelligent and independent!<br /><br />I am also required to undertake a fair amount of independent study - not that daunting, considering that when I studied the Children's Literature module, I did look at other novels that were contemporary with Alcott's <i>Little Women</i>, just to see how different her work was from that of her peers, and used the information in my assignments as well as in my final, externally marked work. I am also able to spend time doing this - there are <i>some</i> advantages in being unemployed, I suppose - I'm not sure how much independent study the OU expects from students who, for the most part, are also working full time.<br /><br />My study corner is prepared. I am working on all the projects around the house and garden that need to be done before the module officially begins in October. Hopefully, I'll be using this blog as a bit of light relief from university - after all, all work and no play, and so on...<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-9080704745972401352016-08-24T12:10:00.000+01:002016-08-24T12:10:48.238+01:00Progress in the Garden<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
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Not much, admittedly, but the herb wheelbarrow is doing well - the larger of the two parsley plants went in over a year ago (just goes to show that we didn't exactly have a harsh winter last year) and the rest of the plants are new, all but a rosemary cutting that I didn't expect to root at all; it was one of the bits cut to cook with the roasted root vegetables and didn't get used. I had put them all in a little vase of water in the kitchen, so they were decorative as well as useful and, blow me, when I came to change the water I found little roots growing. I left it a bit longer, then planted it out and it seems to be doing well!<br />
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We have cleaned up, varnished and painted an old and very decrepit Apple Press to use as a quirky planter and at a recent trip to Waitrose for their Essentials Chicken in Jelly cat food (the only one that our fussy lot will eat), we spotted a sedum that we thought would be perfect in it - Sedum 'Rose Carpet'<br />
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The grey-green of the leaves goes well with the Hammerite Smooth 'Wild Sage' paint that we used on the apple press and with the Garden Colours used on the bench and small table.</div>
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The pond is looking much better now that we have cleared a lot of the duckweed!<br />
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Though we haven't got all of it yet!</div>
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The 'Scrumptious' apples on our tree are colouring up nicely, though we have had an attack of Apple Scab and, of course, we can't use anything on the tree now as the anti-fungals have been withdrawn. It was a very wet winter and spring, which didn't help; we'll just have to make sure that all of the leaves are swept up in the autumn and hope for less rain next season.</div>
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The two hawthorn trees on the boundary are thick with berries - the birds are going to have a feast this year, there was far more blossom this spring and this is the result!</div>
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We have measured up for the fencing panels to divide the garden and Kevin started to chop up the last remaining Hebe in what will become the vegetable garden. </div>
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We also have to get rid of the two conifers, but I doubt we'll be able to get <i>those </i>in my little car to take them to the dump - we'll need someone with a trailer!</div>
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The Very Vigorous Evergreen Clematis had to be pruned to within an inch of its life as it had rendered the pergola on which it was draped somewhat unstable. It looks awful at the moment but the pergola has been mended and repainted and hopefully the clematis will stop sulking and return next year, all invigorated. I hope so, it has the most beautiful fragrance that fills the whole garden with perfume in the mornings.</div>
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We've also done a Feed and Weed on the lawn - it will never be a beautiful bowling green sward (it is far too uneven for that) but it looks a lot happier now and we'll reseed the odd patches in September. Considering how awful it looked the year after we moved in, what with all the to-ing and fro-ing, installation of the oil tank and so on, it has recovered remarkably well.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-23660957412734928742016-08-24T10:31:00.000+01:002016-08-24T10:47:53.282+01:00New from old.I have in my stash, some curtains that my husband tells me hung in his and his first wife's kitchen many years ago. The fabric is called 'Arden' and it was made in Britain by a firm called Textra.<br />
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I know that Janet is an accomplished knitter but I don't believe that she sews and Kevin can't remember who made them but at a guess, I would have said that they were made by his mother - Kathleen - who was an excellent seamstress. These curtains were lined and french seams were used to join the widths of the cream lining fabric, an impressive step that I will freely confess that I'm not sure I would have been bothered to take.<br />
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The colours are as bright as they were when the fabric was first printed - there was no fading to be seen when I let down the hems - and the weakest part of the whole construction was in the cotton used to stitch them, which broke easily.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjgxOY8f_uSmyyRm5_UqqfhdExEVYCoENJ2t6GFm0zAdTJSye7MIBCYWyDreDWgEcqE6wCOd2v9sd16dsSsQxHasFhv0S9kIn6zl1aY_YtgVVYFfBPLyEZqPwVKR-ocS1Q46wk6ebzRY/s1600/Arden+by+Textra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjgxOY8f_uSmyyRm5_UqqfhdExEVYCoENJ2t6GFm0zAdTJSye7MIBCYWyDreDWgEcqE6wCOd2v9sd16dsSsQxHasFhv0S9kIn6zl1aY_YtgVVYFfBPLyEZqPwVKR-ocS1Q46wk6ebzRY/s320/Arden+by+Textra.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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I have only unpicked one curtain and there is easily enough fabric for me to make the apron that I am planning; September sees the first of the Soup and Sweet Lunches at the Village Hall and I always help out there when possible. An apron is essential! I'm also a messy cook, but currently I only have one pinny, so I found a pattern for a substantial pinafore and when the bias binding arrives on Friday, I can get to work.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-97TmWX0XlqujgzMz1iKLgLhAq7BiBzZ3m9Ztp88AWFsm8d7u-ZZ-v2MKPtb-YimmHtBnxnRSiwoivuq5mZz0Zpmjv6EY8eLGyuNJbqO6ztM0OucRpQnR1gMTbBJ1RNOVKM1Fr1YL89E/s1600/Pattern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-97TmWX0XlqujgzMz1iKLgLhAq7BiBzZ3m9Ztp88AWFsm8d7u-ZZ-v2MKPtb-YimmHtBnxnRSiwoivuq5mZz0Zpmjv6EY8eLGyuNJbqO6ztM0OucRpQnR1gMTbBJ1RNOVKM1Fr1YL89E/s320/Pattern.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I love the fact that I can create something new from something old, and I love the fact that this fabric, though it is around forty years old, is still as strong, bright and useful as the day that Textra printed and sent the bolts out for sale.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-84164688252118272962016-08-23T13:56:00.002+01:002016-08-23T13:56:52.520+01:00Of Yurts, Tractor Rides and Wine-Tasting.Yesterday, Kevin and I drove to Goathurst in Somerset where his daughter Kate and our grandson Fin were spending a few days with her friend Jodie and her son, 'glamping' in a yurt. We hadn't seen Kate and Fin since last October, though we speak often and keep in touch through Facebook, so it was lovely to get together with them and to meet up with Jodie and Matt.<br />
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Once off the motorway, we had a pleasant drive through some pretty villages, finally arriving at the <a href="http://www.secret-valley.co.uk/" target="_blank">Secret Valley</a>, 400 acres of farmland, some of which is devoted to various 'glamping' accommodations (I rather fancy the <a href="http://www.secret-valley.co.uk/glamping-accommodation/shepherd-hut-holidays-in-somerset" target="_blank">Shepherd's Hut</a> - very romantic) and met up with Kate and Jodie (the boys were racing their radio-controlled cars in the Play Barn).<br />
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After lunch, we went on the tractor tour of the site, passing donkeys, alpacas and free-range chickens on the way. They grow Christmas Trees here and apparently hares like living in the plantations so I kept my eyes peeled but no hares came out to watch us rattle past, sadly.<br />
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At the top of a steep hill, we arrived at the Wine Tasting Hut, where we tried a White, a Rosé, two very nice Reds and a sparkling Pinot Noir, while the children on the tour played Quoits. Then we were off again to view the vineyard<br />
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and down to the stream to have a Duck Race - Kevin was appointed Chief Duck Pusher, with a long pole designed to persuade any reluctant rubber ducks off the shallows and into the clear, fast-running water. I was too busy watching my own, highly reluctant, duck to take photos though.<br />
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They have rare breed turkeys here - the Narragansett Turkeys which are apparently pretty close to the wild turkeys that the Pilgrim Fathers would have hunted for their Thanksgiving Suppers - according to Farmer John, who conducted the tour, they have a 'gamier' taste than commercial breed turkeys and there is less meat on them. I didn't manage to get a photo, but this is what the cock bird would look like!<br />
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They have also introduced South African Boer Goats for meat production - the little flock of does came hurtling down the hill to their pen at the sound of the Land Rover, bells jingling merrily. Boer Goats are friendly and docile - the buck wasn't with them, for obvious reasons, but he apparently gets to visit his harem next month!<br />
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When we got back to the drop-off point, we trotted into the communal kitchen, where Kate had all the makings for a cream tea, after which we went to look at their yurt.<br />
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The doorway is extremely low and you definitely have to stoop to get in, but it looked very cosy. Kate did say that she and Jodie found it very hot on Sunday night, but I think they were chillier on Monday night, given Kate's Facebook status!<br />
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The prices for the three nights look very reasonable, especially given the excellent facilities and standard of accommodation - it'd be great if the whole family could get together there, even if we weren't all in the yurts (don't think Kevin's or my back would be happy on a futon!).<br />
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We left them planning to light the firepit and toast marshmallows, and we got back home around 7pm - the Secret Valley is about one and three quarter hours from us. Have to say that I'd highly recommend it as a venue for couples AND families.<br />
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#SomersetsGreatEscape.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-91601385229479541902016-08-11T13:40:00.000+01:002016-08-25T10:22:08.346+01:00Yogurt-making Part 2 and a visit to Knightshayes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My second batch of yogurt used UHT skimmed milk, dried milk powder and some of my earlier batch of yogurt as a starter. I don't think it worked as well in the slow cooker, sadly, as it turned out to be rather runny and no amount of straining was going to change that. It did, however, taste more 'yogurty'!<br />
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Cost-wise, the UHT and skimmed milk powder is the better recipe, so I decided to look for a yogurt maker, thinking that perhaps the fact that the slow cooker was a bit hit-and-miss regarding temperature maintenance was the problem. An online buddy pointed me in the direction of the Easiyo maker and although Easiyo promotes the use of their own yogurt mixes, my friend uses hers to make UHT method yogurt successfully.<br />
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I found one online from Easiyo at a reduced price (because it had no box - WHY would I even want the box?) and it arrived on Tuesday, so before we went out to Knightshayes Court (more of which later), I started a batch of yogurt in my new toy!<br />
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Kevin and I became National Trust members last year and we do try to get to a Trust property as often as we can. I had been wanting to visit Knightshayes as a fellow Open University student works there - of course, we had picked her day off!<br />
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We left home around 10.15 and after a long but pretty drive cross-country, arrived at Knightshayes a little after mid-day. The house is spectacularly Gothic, the interiors by Crace are typical of the style (and reminded me much of Pugin's and William Morris's work). It was, however, the garden and more specifically, the kitchen garden that inspired me. I wish we had the space for a cutting garden as well as veggies - the flowers that are grown specifically for the house are breathtakingly lovely. The veggies looked gorgeous too - french and runner beans, heirloom peas, onions, spinach, pumpkins, courgettes and squash all in season and oh, the globe artichokes - past their best for eating but so beautiful for cutting for flower arrangements. We must certainly plant artichokes!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBnyoJujJrEou3dA9Uglthd_UG-UkxRgLRP5ZmvSB4PqgTiP29N6F7JRW3ztALbNJJBPPdz0r9dRwqd9DVxgz3JK6b0X7fu12GCk3o-8N3J4HbYtaAx7aKgkYPqijxPkvf9PygsFkMCI/s1600/b%2526w+Knightshayes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBnyoJujJrEou3dA9Uglthd_UG-UkxRgLRP5ZmvSB4PqgTiP29N6F7JRW3ztALbNJJBPPdz0r9dRwqd9DVxgz3JK6b0X7fu12GCk3o-8N3J4HbYtaAx7aKgkYPqijxPkvf9PygsFkMCI/s320/b%2526w+Knightshayes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Knightshayes<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvHzD_yx_ZPecY2F0k23wLXiRUj8zlR21pc4X2zxIuCSQBtjZ-9OKHcHEHWcYIBs7YFevJaPD4DpAJdZK5_kRXQOpinb006kfHlB8o6SGuwdsGicWIz4ckiam5jK6FJKd0-5CUBqDblo/s1600/flowergarden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvHzD_yx_ZPecY2F0k23wLXiRUj8zlR21pc4X2zxIuCSQBtjZ-9OKHcHEHWcYIBs7YFevJaPD4DpAJdZK5_kRXQOpinb006kfHlB8o6SGuwdsGicWIz4ckiam5jK6FJKd0-5CUBqDblo/s320/flowergarden.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cutting Borders in the Walled Kitchen Garden<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgH3uzVhz18VYgryfXrM6jgrEuBuP36v_u-ZrF_xHByUcTD43ZC_suR7EVNAkJp7Cazh4pHpx8Al1VCi-ec7Ms9IJnFpHkzqMd76ePlXLixhyphenhyphenLBrlGDbb3nlD9Zye4FHh8MiUrGEWssQ/s1600/arti1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgH3uzVhz18VYgryfXrM6jgrEuBuP36v_u-ZrF_xHByUcTD43ZC_suR7EVNAkJp7Cazh4pHpx8Al1VCi-ec7Ms9IJnFpHkzqMd76ePlXLixhyphenhyphenLBrlGDbb3nlD9Zye4FHh8MiUrGEWssQ/s320/arti1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Artichoke in flower.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRYpCbULRwbtS2dwTD-oNCKoGxvM7BtOvLakvmiCONVtLqBG2ZtBjbWn1nbbT8iBCDyJ6-mZ1cxL2SndTx0lVm6Bqh2M0q6QVtJfxy5xZbYzzzj-DN-xsCWTmef6S1OLBK36N9URxPe8/s1600/onions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRYpCbULRwbtS2dwTD-oNCKoGxvM7BtOvLakvmiCONVtLqBG2ZtBjbWn1nbbT8iBCDyJ6-mZ1cxL2SndTx0lVm6Bqh2M0q6QVtJfxy5xZbYzzzj-DN-xsCWTmef6S1OLBK36N9URxPe8/s320/onions.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onions - aren't these beauties?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8m8EUDO6z1CsUEuNb-6KtvGbDaYaeb8rFBURXaJUl5cFIRNnKPr_j-KKLoI-kVxL7UA9okUEJaCeV9aQkStMgM6yYmkqcTa1SKVRhiqlMmUA1m0pjrRpHNYldx_qqdaXgugCrFfKzcc/s1600/pumpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho8m8EUDO6z1CsUEuNb-6KtvGbDaYaeb8rFBURXaJUl5cFIRNnKPr_j-KKLoI-kVxL7UA9okUEJaCeV9aQkStMgM6yYmkqcTa1SKVRhiqlMmUA1m0pjrRpHNYldx_qqdaXgugCrFfKzcc/s320/pumpkin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumpkin - these take up so much room, though!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADO3w3UXdH9QNXfQHN8Ul2GLtieLNN8nUxVyKthzbBHBhcCxbuN79-I6OoMLF9VtI5_S5MkGjZsYa2H2B6elGmGDUiGKNonpp_ATDuSwc3x3YlijyMYt-RfeAYHzAD7Dy8I94K9HG8YU/s1600/vines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADO3w3UXdH9QNXfQHN8Ul2GLtieLNN8nUxVyKthzbBHBhcCxbuN79-I6OoMLF9VtI5_S5MkGjZsYa2H2B6elGmGDUiGKNonpp_ATDuSwc3x3YlijyMYt-RfeAYHzAD7Dy8I94K9HG8YU/s320/vines.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knightshayes even has a vineyard!</td></tr>
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This visit will be the first of many - the atmosphere in the house is warm and inviting and I could spend hours in those gardens.<br />
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Anyway, back to the yogurt...<br />
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We left it until 10pm (it had then had 12 hours) and had a quick taste - the texture was much better and it was nicely yogurty. It tasted a lot better on Wednesday morning, after it had been chilled in the fridge overnight. So, a success then - looks like I'll be making our yogurt from now on and it works out at £0.66p per litre, so a saving as well.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-26842278531287985862016-07-30T12:59:00.000+01:002016-08-11T13:41:59.337+01:00Making yogurt in a slow cooker.We get through an awful lot of fat-free greek yogurt in our house - I can scarf my way through a kilo of the stuff all by myself with fruit for breakfast and it is so useful in cooking too.<br />
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We prefer the thicker Total version but it is expensive, so when I spotted a recipe for 0% Greek Yogurt using a slow cooker, rather than the usual wide-mouth flask (which I don't have) or a yogurt-maker (which I don't really want to buy as I have no room in the Little White Devon Cottage's Tiny Kitchen), I decided to try it out,using a small pot of 0% Total Greek Yogurt as the starter.<br />
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Starting with two litres of skimmed milk, I poured this into the slow cooker, switched it on to the High setting, put the lid on and waited for the temperature of the milk to reach 180<sup>o</sup> F. Once the milk was at temperature (this took about two hours), I switched off the slow cooker and allowed the milk to reach 110<sup>o</sup> F. This is important, as the live bacteria in the starter will be killed around 120<sup>o</sup> F.<br />
The cooling took a little over two and a half hours and at this point, I made sure that the yogurt that I was using as a starter was out of the fridge, so that it would be at room temperature to add to the cooled milk.<br />
When the milk had cooled sufficiently, I added 120g of 0% Greek Yogurt to the milk and whisked it in. Then I took the ceramic slow cooker pot out and swaddled it in towels, to be left like this overnight.<br />
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This morning, the yogurt had set, with whey floating on the top, so I decided to strain it - this is messy and takes FOREVER. I scalded some butter muslin, lined my sieve with it and left a 500g pot-full of yogurt dripping through while I got on with other things. Eventually, the drips of whey stopped, so I transferred the yogurt back into a clean pot and started on the next batch. By the time that I have finished, I should have a reasonable quantity of yogurt - it may not be as thick as the greek original, but I'm quite proud of my efforts.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-37034793674887992032016-06-29T13:22:00.002+01:002016-07-30T13:05:30.342+01:00What happens when you redecorate...while your wife is writing her End of Module Assignment?<br />
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Well, it had to be done sometime and although I was dreading the disruption, I was able to escape to the conservatory and the sitting room does look much fresher now! With my University work finished for the summer break, I'm finally getting around to posting pictures.<br />
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When we moved in, it was enough just to get the boxes sorted out so that we could:<br />
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<li>Find things</li>
<li>Actually get into the rooms, instead of having to clamber over boxes</li>
<li>Locate the cats before bed-time, in case one had decided to stay in the outside run and then wail at 2 a.m. because they wanted to Come In and Couldn't.</li>
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So furniture was put in place and that was that! We left things for two years and then decided it was time for a rethink. The layout in the sitting room worked, but the room did feel a little cramped and in any case, it was in dire need of repainting.<br />
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So after much deliberation and several sample pots, we chose a paint colour (Dulux White Mist in a matt finish) and I took a break from studying to help Kevin pack up the contents of the dresser so that it could be moved away from the wall. We bought another wall-light to complement the one that we had fitted last year and Kevin got to work.</div>
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This is the result - the room looks much larger now that the dresser is on the wall facing the windows. </div>
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This means that Kevin finally gets to enjoy a spot by the wood burner!</div>
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The cats are happy because they now have two vantage points from which they can launch themselves on to the bookshelves (an unintended consequence and naturally not something that we had planned!) and they are also able to get closer to that wood burner when it is lit!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-82195572530009011982016-06-28T16:55:00.000+01:002016-06-28T16:55:56.504+01:00Here there be rocks...We have spent the last few days clearing the ground at the end of the garden, in preparation for moving the shed and building the raised beds for our vegetable garden project.<br />
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It seems that many years ago (and certainly before the last owners of our cottage), there was a sort-of rockery at the back of the pond, probably planted with a couple of little conifers. The conifers are no longer small, as you can see!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOzGB11Rpq4MneAhROfLa0RofGlzu_6eJzMCt4zZlQtqOgXeOBX5pTwJoLACTlyrMH-GIk4hIDV-14MlFvleo7RdCDMeBE-GUU8He8uffif8lrsNtY_GHONnzPsARC1_YRNNTzyFQoQE/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOzGB11Rpq4MneAhROfLa0RofGlzu_6eJzMCt4zZlQtqOgXeOBX5pTwJoLACTlyrMH-GIk4hIDV-14MlFvleo7RdCDMeBE-GUU8He8uffif8lrsNtY_GHONnzPsARC1_YRNNTzyFQoQE/s320/IMG_2216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we started to clear the area behind the conifers, we came across these fabulous slabs of stone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3c1MqzwuNV77Wf5z17271QvRn15PoAhyphenhyphenFW90fz-RKOg_4cI7Ps0UL35gJVrRs8HkBYgh38CYimIyE12I2KSGpCsOOprnclk_EtTDodFnsKPMilLHWko8jm0zfvHi8c6VaP2QLKAvCTEM/s1600/IMG_0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3c1MqzwuNV77Wf5z17271QvRn15PoAhyphenhyphenFW90fz-RKOg_4cI7Ps0UL35gJVrRs8HkBYgh38CYimIyE12I2KSGpCsOOprnclk_EtTDodFnsKPMilLHWko8jm0zfvHi8c6VaP2QLKAvCTEM/s320/IMG_0243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and there are far more hidden in the undergrowth! The plan is to clear this entire area and then construct at least four reasonable sized raised beds. The soil here is heavy clay, and I swear that every snail and slug in the South West has moved here - I have never seen so many! We may have to invest in nematodes, though I have read that a hefty garlic solution is also effective. It's either that, or lay in some cheap beer for them!<br />
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This is the area where the shed will go; the pine tree shades the ground here, so it makes sense to have the growing beds on the side of the garden that gets the most sun. We keep finding old slates here - can only assume that they were used to mark the edge of the lawn and probably came from our roof when it was re-done some years back.</div>
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Behind the conifers were two elderly hebes (see above); I took cuttings before we started to cut them down, so hopefully they will root and then I can grow them on. When we moved here, there were two massive hebes near the drive, but they had to go when we had the oil tank and boiler installed. Be nice to be able to put one or two back in the garden if I can.<br /><br />Once we have cleared the ground behind the conifers, we will put up a fence right across the garden to divide the areas, probably without a gate for ease of access, then use the stones to build a rock feature. Nothing gets wasted around here!<br /><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-71341830835313840982016-06-26T19:06:00.000+01:002016-06-26T19:06:35.618+01:00Patiently waiting...Rumour has it that the results for my latest module (EA300, Children's Literature) may be released earlier than 15th July. This happened last year and I got the results on my birthday (9th July) which this year also happens to be my 60th!<br /><br />I wish that I could say that I am quietly confident, but since this module could have quite an impact on my overall degree classification, the nerves have kicked in and I'm finding it hard to concentrate on the books for my final module (A334 - Shakespeare to Austen).<br /><br />The books are, on the whole, interesting; three Shakespeare plays (<i>As You Like It, Hamlet </i>and <i>Julius Caesar</i>), Spenser's <i>The Faery Queene</i>, Kyd's <i>The Spanish Tragedy, </i>Moliere's <i>Tartuffe, </i>Wycherley's <i>The Country Wife</i>, then we have <i>Arabian Night's Entertainment</i>, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's incomparable <i>Turkish Embassy Letters</i> (she's a hoot, loving that one!), Rousseau's <i>Confessions</i> (not looking forward to that so much), Swift's <i>Gulliver's Travels</i> and finally two Jane Austen novels - <i>Persuasion</i> and <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. Once I get the module books, there will be reading there as well (poetry, mostly).<br />
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The main downer is that my lovely tutor, Beth, who has mentored me through A230 and EA300, will not be tutoring A334. She has always given incredibly detailed feedback on all our work, with great pointers for improvement and I will really miss her!<br /><br />As for my 60th, we haven't got anything planned - if the weather is nice, we have a lot of beautiful places that we can visit; we are National Trust members and there are several lovely properties with inspiring gardens and we are also very close to <a href="https://www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor/about-rosemoor" target="_blank">RHS Rosemoor</a><br />
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In the meantime, our own garden could do with a bit of TLC - watch this space!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA4jGaE-KOW6Fcovb36QkHquP0bkC3Ufnuk600fE6wGY6Od33sd7kYap5b1dBbeyH3KLEpgub56TQtkheIOSDipDH30p_ltxSD6L1hARw4NCqz6CkX-R3nlCy0cDgX_r-vTVF3dtPz3I/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaA4jGaE-KOW6Fcovb36QkHquP0bkC3Ufnuk600fE6wGY6Od33sd7kYap5b1dBbeyH3KLEpgub56TQtkheIOSDipDH30p_ltxSD6L1hARw4NCqz6CkX-R3nlCy0cDgX_r-vTVF3dtPz3I/s320/IMG_2219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pond needs a bit of work and that conifer has GOT to go!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNYkMQXkGf1d89wXvbSX3dEItWzgXFMAOlG-akrgZaD48CJBItZ9aVd9tbQRggMpmWRzFphgwiC0PJabudrlGrPjtdIy1iUApqEgxUi5cffWpMOdny-qq8Osh_HGG4WpQ8NkIGlxGaow/s1600/IMG_0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNYkMQXkGf1d89wXvbSX3dEItWzgXFMAOlG-akrgZaD48CJBItZ9aVd9tbQRggMpmWRzFphgwiC0PJabudrlGrPjtdIy1iUApqEgxUi5cffWpMOdny-qq8Osh_HGG4WpQ8NkIGlxGaow/s320/IMG_0214.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is our 'Family Apple Tree', carrying three varieties:Christmas Cox, Scrumptious and Bramley apples.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-8660587932033620722016-06-26T18:08:00.000+01:002016-06-26T18:10:16.813+01:00A job a day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This will be something of an update post, since I haven't written anything on my blog for almost nine months (!)<br />
I've decided to get back to writing again, inspired by some lovely blogs that I have been reading, so here goes:<br />
<br />
<b>July - September 2015</b><br />
<br />
While I was hammering away at Open University End of Module Assignments and exam revision, Kevin had been plugging away at a 'job a day' on the cottage.<br />
<br />
We had new work surfaces fitted in the kitchen by the lovely John Baker, while the new ceramic sink unit was installed by Steve Martin (the neatest plumber and heating engineer that I have ever come across!).<br />
Once this was done, Kevin re-tiled the kitchen and painted the units in 'Old English White' eggshell paint. He then used window film to create a frosted glass effect on the glazed cupboard doors and I am thrilled to bits!<br />
Being on a tight budget meant that ripping out the kitchen and starting over was never going to be an option, but when I see what we have been able to create, I couldn't be happier.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOhtwAYRCSyDjNcjhvJ9MCwg2ratj5U8IBiG3mXEuQOxj-6x6KIC5jGkr7s26HvOdv-nc3ZPPjrGk7pXmZURv8Btk7EWe-RgxpaQ2tpxsjcQeEA9F5_bMBs1mtERQ-Bv2ld-69j31pq4/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOhtwAYRCSyDjNcjhvJ9MCwg2ratj5U8IBiG3mXEuQOxj-6x6KIC5jGkr7s26HvOdv-nc3ZPPjrGk7pXmZURv8Btk7EWe-RgxpaQ2tpxsjcQeEA9F5_bMBs1mtERQ-Bv2ld-69j31pq4/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the start of it, after the work surfaces had been installed and before<br />
tiling over the old tiles (necessary, as we could never have got the old ones off the wall!).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXfaH1oWD73nBOvz-w53HjRe1NHUQsVAZF5QxQbKqijfnUBsIjcqxzVfwK7W3fHc-VZ2uDFcs1f7yPq2ZAHvX8m99NXZ3u0UAKMM3oQFXHS1sGfxXEhdwHldP2M4K2J6-s-x_TXEexkY/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXfaH1oWD73nBOvz-w53HjRe1NHUQsVAZF5QxQbKqijfnUBsIjcqxzVfwK7W3fHc-VZ2uDFcs1f7yPq2ZAHvX8m99NXZ3u0UAKMM3oQFXHS1sGfxXEhdwHldP2M4K2J6-s-x_TXEexkY/s320/IMG_0036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of the new tiles, and before Kevin painted the units<br />
and put the frosted film on the glazed doors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrS_Oy-5eFkZ2TqmJ9paqqZOZlDF4L02_ySg0kCAwOraDeLzIEUDcNeVGrHNzBENmpOK40wdA0OEQFcvA4X30obnM7KryHPLe0LA00LUrTNozVsPLc5O0Kq9DV6tb1LhtO6l_CgIPfgE/s1600/IMG_0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMrS_Oy-5eFkZ2TqmJ9paqqZOZlDF4L02_ySg0kCAwOraDeLzIEUDcNeVGrHNzBENmpOK40wdA0OEQFcvA4X30obnM7KryHPLe0LA00LUrTNozVsPLc5O0Kq9DV6tb1LhtO6l_CgIPfgE/s320/IMG_0227.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished! Cabinets painted and frosted film on the doors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovRqTCdPb06Z85WQJf4QPMe6kptHDeituYRa70LWScqJm5ASVlNSEwEPPv7mrJ3WwQzq68AJj0bGXj5tSVaiOPnW5OAhyphenhyphenWINHYpuGFOi_CFJXbtM6f4y8_C3d6ICVYFYNaFbmlpD8IIo/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovRqTCdPb06Z85WQJf4QPMe6kptHDeituYRa70LWScqJm5ASVlNSEwEPPv7mrJ3WwQzq68AJj0bGXj5tSVaiOPnW5OAhyphenhyphenWINHYpuGFOi_CFJXbtM6f4y8_C3d6ICVYFYNaFbmlpD8IIo/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely new sink - I'd lusted after a butler's sink but<br />
there really wasn't room.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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Another change was to rip out the truly-tiny shower cubicle and build a dividing wall to create a much smaller combined downstairs loo and laundry room with a neat sliding door.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NfAt53_k6ydSNuNmfp9gdasaUIAw94ud7DBuDIfpVAi1lhAzlyi6DMzmLPiaU3bv0K8IQeDKKKpeGq5qO2qO0sjXHbtq3Yxd_RGE6SU3z8BtWcyNSoBL4N4BrYYwGP-EqTqKeGU6Bc0/s1600/IMG_0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0NfAt53_k6ydSNuNmfp9gdasaUIAw94ud7DBuDIfpVAi1lhAzlyi6DMzmLPiaU3bv0K8IQeDKKKpeGq5qO2qO0sjXHbtq3Yxd_RGE6SU3z8BtWcyNSoBL4N4BrYYwGP-EqTqKeGU6Bc0/s320/IMG_0233.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Note the little hole instead of a handle!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSkw7mgPHeoiwqGenNQxrvoESWjeZ6YXmLMp5NrAvTREFOHlAKg0KwQjrXr56uLCIHP4rTfRoNH9DwMzCAqhjPu0GEfrjSepzqMkq-6LDvO9hhpH-YiGhx_R33xaGWxZM2Vr3vE71_ck/s1600/IMG_0234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpSkw7mgPHeoiwqGenNQxrvoESWjeZ6YXmLMp5NrAvTREFOHlAKg0KwQjrXr56uLCIHP4rTfRoNH9DwMzCAqhjPu0GEfrjSepzqMkq-6LDvO9hhpH-YiGhx_R33xaGWxZM2Vr3vE71_ck/s320/IMG_0234.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny utility room - just enough space for the washer-dryer, lavatory and washbasin.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXy6NPXasyxrJCm6-jDQdlhulVYrPATzipmXYNrCjrLPycmcWjeGEKABJoCQ1-9TFF4WIeL6CkhSU0GrppXmp37AakISlZHzl31YjWsFlACuvXy_u5jY3jd2m0cfG2rY607cpiwsZPvm0/s1600/IMG_0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXy6NPXasyxrJCm6-jDQdlhulVYrPATzipmXYNrCjrLPycmcWjeGEKABJoCQ1-9TFF4WIeL6CkhSU0GrppXmp37AakISlZHzl31YjWsFlACuvXy_u5jY3jd2m0cfG2rY607cpiwsZPvm0/s320/IMG_0235.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ironing board is a bit small for anything other<br />
than occasional use, but the cover is pretty .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgnwOc_o0wxJnbkP3tP7hClIgHvWNPk_UFWwUQaz0p3vp6WymGNm0ktth25yN5Tn1t1StfOIy2QAUXgvrVrj3FXIeskGnsUHeha3SgXwshkiNWpMOt4X3Gphz6WGZgGfjgNXA-2gztdQ/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgnwOc_o0wxJnbkP3tP7hClIgHvWNPk_UFWwUQaz0p3vp6WymGNm0ktth25yN5Tn1t1StfOIy2QAUXgvrVrj3FXIeskGnsUHeha3SgXwshkiNWpMOt4X3Gphz6WGZgGfjgNXA-2gztdQ/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replacing this surface and the basin, and <br />
re-tiling will be our next big project, along with the<br />
installation of a space-saver lavatory.</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
This enabled us to bring the fridge-freezer in from the garage and install it where the shower cubicle used to stand. One thing that we did discover was that the 18th Century cob outside wall extends into the 1960s addition, leading us to think that perhaps there was a lean-to of some kind that, over time, became absorbed into the main cottage (the rest of the two storey kitchen and bathroom extension is constructed of rendered concrete block).<br />
<br />
Other, harder decisions were also made, I finally recognised that I was unlikely ever to revive Green Witch Crafts - the kitchen here is too small to make the quantities of soap that I used to produce - and the oils and butters that I brought from Surrey were out of date, so I had a massive clear-out.<br />
I also had a (very painful) book cull - Oxfam will be thrilled, I'm sure, as everything went into the Book Bank in Bideford - but at least the books that are left are ones that I will read again and again.<br />
<br />
It had been too wet to do anything more - I needed to pull everything out and rearrange it and I couldn't do that when it was drizzling, but the weather eased up and I was finally able to make it into the sewing and writing studio that I had been dreaming of, ever since I first saw the cottage.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrk50mHU5_HeOzjeRfGopIm9cJQoaeK8fY_86pFVqWNo7Q9VpbF2I4aXx_M5qROhv5imFp1_Vrwhyphenhyphen3-GbePOn5oX2wQBlm7I3-FPipseCIxjgZQdzAN2uICp21KJe1v0TiAtPXHKYHoY/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIrk50mHU5_HeOzjeRfGopIm9cJQoaeK8fY_86pFVqWNo7Q9VpbF2I4aXx_M5qROhv5imFp1_Vrwhyphenhyphen3-GbePOn5oX2wQBlm7I3-FPipseCIxjgZQdzAN2uICp21KJe1v0TiAtPXHKYHoY/s320/IMG_0239.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's small but I managed to get all of my wool and fabric sash in!<br />
Now to write my best-seller, LOL!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-32686709654555856872015-09-05T19:04:00.000+01:002015-09-05T19:08:33.159+01:00September bumpstart!On the first day of September, my true love sent to me - well, perhaps not my true love, although 'Mother Nature's Goodies' does happen to be one of my favourite suppliers - Two Bottles of Liquid Castile, one bottle of Rosewater and the start of a new regime! I've been reading ebooks by Alison May (The Vintage Housekeeper, whose lovely blog can be found at brocantehome.net) and picking up ideas for making my life a little more 'pretty', while ensuring that Kevin doesn't feel like he is living in an antique shop (or a 'tart's boudoir', as he might well put it).<br />
<br />
I have also spent this summer pottering around - reading my set books, anxiously waiting for exam results, submitting three poems to a magazine competition. As far as the latter goes, I was unsuccessful, as it turns out - which is a shame as they were offering a £500 prize for work by a poet who had never been published before.<br />
<br />
As I have said before, I have chosen EA300 - Childrens' Literature for my penultimate module and this has meant a summer spent reading childrens' books - what could be better? I started with <i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</i> and then moved on to Philip Pullman's wonderful <i>Northern Lights. </i>I had read both of them before, but thought it as well to do so again. I then moved on to <i>Little Women</i> and <i>Good Wives,</i> followed by <i>Treasure Island </i>before reading something that I had never read before - <i>Swallows and Amazons</i>. I loved this book - wondered why I had never read it before.<br />
<br />
I then went back to following the order in which the books will be read once the module starts and read the <i>100 Best Poems for Children</i> and I re-read <i>Tom's Midnight Garden</i> before looking at the two picture books, <i>Voices in the Park</i> and <i>The Tale of Peter Rabbit. </i><br />
<br />
The next few books dealt with some difficult themes - <i>Coram Boy</i>, with its heartbreaking story of abandoned babies and an unscrupulous child collector, all woven together with the true story of Captain Coram and his Foundling Hospital. <i>Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry</i> which deals with racism and inequality in 1930s USA, Then <i>The Other Side of Truth </i>- the story of a Nigerian girl and her brother who, following their mother's murder, are sent by their activist journalist father to their uncle in the UK, what happens when they cannot find him and are caught up in the asylum system. Finally, there is Melvin Burgess' controversial <i>Junk, </i>which<i> </i>I still need to read. I also have the option of reading <i>Mortal Engines </i>as an alternative to <i>Coram Boy.</i><br />
<br />
The final book was <i>Buffalo Soldier</i> - this year's Carnegie Medal winner, usually selected as an option for the EMA. I found this to be an engaging read - the author (Tanya Landman) covered many of the questions that would come to mind when reading about a young girl posing as a boy - such as how she dealt with needing to use the latrine and how she coped with her periods.<br />
<br />
At the time of writing, I am still waiting for my module materials to arrive - we get the text for Barrie's play, <i>Peter Pan, </i>as well as two critical readers. The despatch date was supposed to be 4th September but it can be up to ten days from this.<br />
<br />
As a side note, one of my fellow A230 students graduated at Exeter Cathedral on Friday - <i><b>Congratulations, Steph Lott </b></i>- and seeing her in her gown brought home to me how close I now am to gaining my degree. Hopefully, that will be me in September 2017!<br />
<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-8955933245258390772015-07-14T19:00:00.003+01:002015-07-14T19:00:41.698+01:00Hellooo Summer!<b>And I have my results! What's more, they came through on my birthday.</b><br />
<br />
<b>A215 Creative Writing - Distinction</b><br />
<b>A230 Reading and Studying Literature - Pass2</b> <b>(in other words, a 2.1)</b><br />
<br />
To a great extent, I'm still coming down from the anxiety over the A230 exam - you know the sort of thing I mean...mentally re-writing each answer and knowing the bits that you cocked up.<br /><br />The worst part for someone as picky as me is the fact that I will never see the marked exam paper to understand <i>exactly</i> where I went wrong. Even though I have a pretty good idea.<br /><br />And I suppose that is the point.<br /><br />
As I move up to Level 3, beginning with Children's Literature in October, I know that I need to get Practical Criticism under my belt. I need to read the Critical Essays in the module books and decide what my stance is on them, especially with regard to the set books.<br />
<br />
Now, the set books are a GIFT for me - I love all of them!<br />
<br />
<i>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</i><br />
<i>Northern Lights</i><br />
<i>Little Women and Good Wives</i><br />
<i>Treasure Island</i><br />
<i>Swallows and Amazons</i><br />
<i>Peter Pan </i>(the play)<br /><i>Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry</i><br />
<i>The Other Side of Truth</i><br />
<i>Junk</i><br />
<i>Mortal Engines</i><br />
<i>Coram Boy</i><br />
<i>The Tale of Peter Rabbit</i><br />
<i>Voices in the Park</i><br />
<i>100 Best Poems for Children</i><br />
<i>Tom's Midnight Garden</i><br />
<br />
and finally, the Carnegie Medal Winner 2015 - <i>Buffalo Soldier</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
So, my summer reading is pure delight, which is just as well because my bit of Devon is wet and windy at the moment.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-60737031755058827972015-02-21T17:34:00.000+00:002015-02-21T17:34:21.248+00:00What you find when you are clearing out.........Since our move, I have been going through drawers and boxes that have not been touched in years and have found some "lost treasures" - my grandfather's Braille pocket watch, my great-grandfather's Naval Service Record (handwritten on vellum) and my other great-grandfather's certificate granting him the Freedom of the City of London. These are all precious family treasures, but the item that means the most to me is written by my father on three sheets of lined paper taken from, I think, a shorthand pad.<br />
<br />
I have transcribed it here:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Standing Orders</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">re: Pamela Brodie Duffield</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Born 9-7-56</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Issued by Pam Management Committee</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela must not be kissed by well-meaning friends or relations.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela must be treated as a human being and not be fussed or cuddled except by Parents.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela must not call her grandparents Nannie or Dan Dan - because it sounds <u>bloody awful!</u></span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela must be introduced to things by their proper names i.e. NOT puff puff, bow wow, gee gee etc. Any offender will be torn off a bloody great strip.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela must not be spoilt or left to mercy of doting grandparents.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela must be treated for smallpox etc etc as and when applicable.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No unauthorised person shall have care of Pamela without consent of either parent, i.e. this includes:-<br />bathing, pushing out</span><span style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><i> [I imagine this means in the pram] </i></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">carrying, nursing etc (even if it does upset Aunt Beat etc!!)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela will be expected to know her ABC by the age of 3½. (Failure to comply with this order will entail a severe reprimand)</span><i> <span style="color: red;">[in point of fact, I could read and write fluently by the time I was 4 years old]</span></i></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Subject to official confirmation, Pamela may be insured through her father's company (the Sun Life) for a sum as yet unknown, which shall be used if necessary to cover part or wholly her education at a place other than that laid down by the Local Education Authority. Should this not be necessary, the monies should be allowed to accumulate and be presented to her on her coming of age.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela shall not be unduly forced to religion but encouraged if she shows the desire.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela shall be dressed in a modern manner and put wise to clothing matters as and when necessary.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela shall be fed only by her parents and not between meals. Feeding by others shall be vetoed (i.e. no sly bits from fond relations and friends in kitchen). Pamela shall not be allowed to eat in the street and must sit at the table for all snacks etc.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pamela shall be instructed in the art of silent (mouth closed) eating - no slurp slop crunch slopp slopp eating i.e. no noises on or off!!!!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Bed times shall be severely maintained, no TV, horror comics or space films.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Any musical interests should be encouraged and followed up.</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Further Standing Orders will be issued from time to time by the Committee<br /><br />Signed: P H Duffield (Parent) Secretary<br /> G W M Duffield (Parent) President</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These orders shall be made public knowledge in due course.<br />Any infringement of the Orders will be dealt with severely by the President and Secretary; punishment to be decided by them jointly.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Signed G W M Duffield President</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> P H Duffield Secretary<br /><br /> Sole Members of the Pam Management Committee</span></span><br />
This was written by my beloved dad, a young first-time and very proud father who, with my mother, was living with his in-laws and a variety of aunts and uncles in a large house in Kingston. We lived there until I was a little over four years old and despite all of the well-meaning Standing Orders, I was a much loved, kissed and petted little girl.<br />
I was not forced to religion, although I did go to church with my grandparents and was a member of the church choir, along with my younger brother. My parents left any decisions regarding faith very much to me and although Dad died before I became Pagan, Mum knew and understood the path that I was taking.<br />
I was taught by my Dad's sister, my darling Aunt Judy, to read and write (much to the annoyance of my first Infant School teachers who, I think, found me precocious).<br />
I was encouraged to love and play music, I never did eat in the street and I certainly never called my grandparents anything other than Grandpa or Grandma, followed by their surnames when talking about them to other people.<br />
<br />
So these Standing Orders very much reflect the child-rearing ideas of their time, but are they really so outdated? My brother and sister-in-law are raising their daughter as they and I were raised and she is, with no bias on my part, a delight to be around. She has her moments, as do all children, but she knows where her boundaries lie and how far she can push before she has gone too far.<br />
<br />
Whether the Pam Management Committee's Standing Orders were all implemented or not, I had a very happy and stable childhood. I miss my Dad and Mum every day and just wish Dad had lived to meet my husband and to know that we have as happy a marriage as he and Mum had together.</div>
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</li>
</ol>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-73715754990888731902015-02-21T17:33:00.000+00:002015-02-21T17:41:14.607+00:00I've got those ol' TMA blues...The TMAs (Tutor Marked Assignments) are beginning to come thick and fast now - the consequence of studying two modules at the same time! Not that I had much choice once I deferred, but that's another story.<br />
<br />
I have just submitted one for A215 Creative Writing and have a 1500 word essay on Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson to submit by mid-day on Thursday 26th.<br />
<br />
So what, you may ask, am I doing here on my blog?<br />
<br />
Fair question.<br />
<br />
I am the Queen of Procrastination - I have to log on to the Open University website daily, to go over the Prose Skills Tutorials, but from there, it is a short hop to Facebook and the Open University groups, of which I am an enthusiastic member...and then I am lost. Posts about cats, things that my non-OU buddies are up to, more posts about cute Red Pandas, things that my OU buddies are up to... and then I look at the clock and OMG, an hour has passed and I haven't done a stroke of work towards the TMA.<br />
<br />
So I am here, trying to convince myself to switch off the Internet.<br />
<br />
Just for a couple of hours.<br />
<br />
Surely I can do without my emails, Facebook OU Groups and the more legitimate uses of the Internet for research purposes?<br />
<br />
It is now gone 17.15hrs and I won't get any more done on this TMA now, so I am setting down in writing exactly what will happen tomorrow.<br />
<br />
I will get up, shower, have breakfast, switch on my laptop and DISABLE THE INTERNET CONNECTION for three hours, during which, I will work on my TMA04.<br />
<br />
I will have an hour's lunchbreak and read my Kindle.<br />
<br />
Then I will do another three hours on this damned TMA and break the back of it.<br />
I want it gone before the deadline, so that I can get going on the next two TMAs - a piece of Life Writing and an essay on James Joyce and either the New York Poets or Metropolis. The Life Writing is to be submitted 13th April followed by another on 30th, but I should also be working on the EMA (Externally Marked Assignment), which is due on 28th May.<br />
<br />
The essay (TMA05) has to be in on 2nd April, followed by TMA06 on 14th May and then, while I'm trying to get the EMA done, I have to be revising for the A230 exam on 4th June.<br />
<br />
So you can see why the Internet has to be switched off. I have the entire summer after 4th June to 'play' (unless I screw up the exam and have to resit *sob*).<br />
<br />
In October, I will start the first of my Level 3 modules - Children's Literature and frankly, it will be a relief to be studying just one module.<br />
<br />
This will be my last blog entry for a while - unless I need to come on and wail about exams and EMAs. See you after June 4thAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-5919636598826173942014-10-09T13:46:00.000+01:002014-10-09T15:34:57.895+01:00We are finally here..........<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, we have actually been here six weeks, during which time we have:<br />
<br />
1. Built the cat enclosure and laid new turf to create a cat garden for them. Collected the cats from their holiday home in Dorset. Watched them gingerly walk across grass for the first time to stare in disbelief at the sheep in the field that borders our garden.<br />
<br />
2. Donated several items of furniture to the North Devon Hospice, as this cottage is way smaller than our old home in Camberley.<br />
<br />
3. Replaced the vile cooker and refrigerator, both of which had not been visited by the Cleaning Fairy for a very long time. Bought a combined washing machine and dryer because the cottage is too small to accommodate two separate appliances.<br />
<br />
4. Had the oil tank installed and filled and the oil-fired boiler commissioned, so that after several weeks using the electric shower to wash and Kevin's Swan Boiler for washing up, we had the luxury of turning on a tap, from which steaming hot water gushed (the pressure here is phenomenal). First long soak in the bath was absolute bliss (big bath with a lovely view over the fields and the garden). The central heating gets connected next week, but with an 8kw woodburner, we may not need all of the radiators switched on!<br />
<br />
5. Unpacked a number of boxes and visited the Anvil Corner Recycling Centre on numerous occasions with cardboard boxes and other detritus - some of which was left here by the previous owners.<br />
<br />
6. Hung curtains, altered curtains on the old Singer machine (because the Bernina is in a box in the Conservatory, under lots of other boxes that still need to be unpacked!) and ordered new cushions for the sofas which are third-hand to us and the cushions are somewhat "stale, flat and uncomfortable". to paraphrase Shakespeare.<br />
<br />
7. Started to get to know our neighbours! I have already been asked to join the Ladies Choir (first rehearsal for Christmas is next week in the Village Hall Bar) and another neighbour would LOVE me to join the local brass band - had to 'fess up that I haven't played the french horn in years, to which he blithely said 'Oh, you'll get your lip back in no time'. Have ducked out for the moment as studying two OU modules at once is likely to take up most of my time this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9XzYaZOnbdVNepTw8-cHXU85QZZf1HG6y2ZXfgJGwYWn6OJUBIoMgVUWNJVFTVeWSb_e-5Koz3-uPkbsgchFMnmgDCLLzG3tTjAnLkZA8kiFmskj_sv99dnuzjZNpOpesQe-jm42cHg/s1600/2014-04-15+12.04.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9XzYaZOnbdVNepTw8-cHXU85QZZf1HG6y2ZXfgJGwYWn6OJUBIoMgVUWNJVFTVeWSb_e-5Koz3-uPkbsgchFMnmgDCLLzG3tTjAnLkZA8kiFmskj_sv99dnuzjZNpOpesQe-jm42cHg/s1600/2014-04-15+12.04.57.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, we are sideways on to the road - this was<br />
taken when I first went to view the cottage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiTiAiovJLjSNTZoDM4S4KzrUQ4hcS7gWjCIljwRLPyVNkHxszxwCrapy97tFLc0KbxX4xbP0xbAdgeNwrt9xB_AJDle97uWwwlMB4TPzQNzHz5boAenB6HxeD6CHz5zI095uGwAvOKM/s1600/2014-04-15+12.05.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiTiAiovJLjSNTZoDM4S4KzrUQ4hcS7gWjCIljwRLPyVNkHxszxwCrapy97tFLc0KbxX4xbP0xbAdgeNwrt9xB_AJDle97uWwwlMB4TPzQNzHz5boAenB6HxeD6CHz5zI095uGwAvOKM/s1600/2014-04-15+12.05.03.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view of the cottage from the garden </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPisLIfIUyL9StIdkgf8spLeVz9jV3c9QDeuBkWd7BXktmh9Nr61BZGWhT3r1K_6o4zoAskL-dMV81AJuVBc7zQDrUruF15VSab6J1Q7MHvvN5_zgZfOvmBaWjvadmQh0KNxvi9HKfWjY/s1600/2014-09-23+19.47.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPisLIfIUyL9StIdkgf8spLeVz9jV3c9QDeuBkWd7BXktmh9Nr61BZGWhT3r1K_6o4zoAskL-dMV81AJuVBc7zQDrUruF15VSab6J1Q7MHvvN5_zgZfOvmBaWjvadmQh0KNxvi9HKfWjY/s1600/2014-09-23+19.47.46.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the sitting room - the woodburner was installed last year and<br />
our next job will be to build and stock the log store! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyaqS_cJv6Ol-UHwtRGBO2BDKakPNsWj6BZU4SDBgMkwU8NcnanO3ITrhmtd4S-bokRPBTE0c2Qao1fsllvL1gLVZ7K8ZwAA0goSqjjQH6vSZuzL7G7hhSi2vzqHRLLZA5wtgey3lKbE/s1600/2014-09-23+19.48.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyaqS_cJv6Ol-UHwtRGBO2BDKakPNsWj6BZU4SDBgMkwU8NcnanO3ITrhmtd4S-bokRPBTE0c2Qao1fsllvL1gLVZ7K8ZwAA0goSqjjQH6vSZuzL7G7hhSi2vzqHRLLZA5wtgey3lKbE/s1600/2014-09-23+19.48.38.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobbes has, as usual, claimed his place on the sofa!<br />
<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDmC-i-y1pJIaHx5_leeQeEq5_oxGoLyKrEZjRpF1X6XfaohkHRDOTMCYdwa1hev1w5c03KbVUj04hlOAk2z8kQhlamE5nNv1eM4nPJMQdAQTmQQa7eWnTh80M6SofWnalCPEBjJhyFo/s1600/2014-10-01+07.24.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDmC-i-y1pJIaHx5_leeQeEq5_oxGoLyKrEZjRpF1X6XfaohkHRDOTMCYdwa1hev1w5c03KbVUj04hlOAk2z8kQhlamE5nNv1eM4nPJMQdAQTmQQa7eWnTh80M6SofWnalCPEBjJhyFo/s1600/2014-10-01+07.24.23.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view from our bathroom, just after sunrise</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG0-SiQD30dgYUeRPh4n0mjPpXfRVujZPpiRFCkUxaKkZ_s5N9dmUB6f_eZPIxTJW6D3I5KMBGwW2F8YRM0cUro25zFLw0HK3EoFBRvLuxofKHhUiWdyE4FWzNGKr_aOrDiPKU3GB0vI/s1600/2014-10-01+07.27.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMG0-SiQD30dgYUeRPh4n0mjPpXfRVujZPpiRFCkUxaKkZ_s5N9dmUB6f_eZPIxTJW6D3I5KMBGwW2F8YRM0cUro25zFLw0HK3EoFBRvLuxofKHhUiWdyE4FWzNGKr_aOrDiPKU3GB0vI/s1600/2014-10-01+07.27.51.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our big blue Land Rover 'SallyB' - the farmer kindly allows us to park her here,<br />
while we wait for planning permission to widen our access.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAdBOClcWs7ASK2UGEuCmhgncekeYm1vo1B17hNBA9XBwOCImuOs3pwfm_KlZvl3yFYvnjDp2OcvChSzx7sKkjW-mCcuw89hBMzIAkQPWKhjEwnI2kgyrub26VUcgKnFX8YXuVko11NI/s1600/2014-10-01+07.34.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAdBOClcWs7ASK2UGEuCmhgncekeYm1vo1B17hNBA9XBwOCImuOs3pwfm_KlZvl3yFYvnjDp2OcvChSzx7sKkjW-mCcuw89hBMzIAkQPWKhjEwnI2kgyrub26VUcgKnFX8YXuVko11NI/s1600/2014-10-01+07.34.58.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from one of our bedroom windows.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyL8r2dH4I6aufPE4pb4ED_ZA36IPf65gRzvfzhl0HJQpToDtb__z6_YErmgjKUcEKWmQaFYcTlJNAI25oSXoDOUMGUVIu5vwFOXPKuCJwOv1D6LdTdpPYXERucKGc-mJj5SYhkpMtOE/s1600/2014-09-13+07.06.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyL8r2dH4I6aufPE4pb4ED_ZA36IPf65gRzvfzhl0HJQpToDtb__z6_YErmgjKUcEKWmQaFYcTlJNAI25oSXoDOUMGUVIu5vwFOXPKuCJwOv1D6LdTdpPYXERucKGc-mJj5SYhkpMtOE/s1600/2014-09-13+07.06.56.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paddy and Bearz in their purpose-built Cat Garden.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEfg2FCSxoHqCp-nL4fxUIUNAnOPUbnAB9teEkFKgdlWjzMcpwDQcWH8Vq1_Q2DyeTAgCJFouuiYOCTlhdOjwh0DC45X5yNJEJT_ycn3L_ok-VMkhskatmhJn2sONqmGGJV5EwhCY1aI/s1600/2014-04-15+12.04.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWEfg2FCSxoHqCp-nL4fxUIUNAnOPUbnAB9teEkFKgdlWjzMcpwDQcWH8Vq1_Q2DyeTAgCJFouuiYOCTlhdOjwh0DC45X5yNJEJT_ycn3L_ok-VMkhskatmhJn2sONqmGGJV5EwhCY1aI/s1600/2014-04-15+12.04.42.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the detached conservatory - once we have moved out <br />
all of the boxes, it will be my studio</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Qi_1eXFWa_SC5zG2jDS5FZyqH-t8CKMrpfZnpKzD0WiisDwlIovR6OiQozgfwAWp2hnexLYV279MQvDgPfTNK96UZZn5gyTvCKdHTXVD2E99DbxvX-KLOVulP3hhNt2Mxo8blW0h9s/s1600/2014-04-15+11.16.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Qi_1eXFWa_SC5zG2jDS5FZyqH-t8CKMrpfZnpKzD0WiisDwlIovR6OiQozgfwAWp2hnexLYV279MQvDgPfTNK96UZZn5gyTvCKdHTXVD2E99DbxvX-KLOVulP3hhNt2Mxo8blW0h9s/s1600/2014-04-15+11.16.34.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view down the garden to the wildlife pond, taken on our third visit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We are two miles from the market town of Holsworthy, half an hour from my cousin in Hatherleigh and fifteen minutes from the coast at Bude. Exeter is an hour and fifteen minute drive (I will have my tutorials there) and both Barnstaple and Bideford are about 45 minutes away.<br />
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We have been so fortunate with the weather for most of our time here so far; the late summer allowed us to get so much more done. Now it has changed, Autumn is truly here and we have had torrential rain, gale force winds, thunderstorms and hail. The wind really wuthers round the cottage but it has been here for the best part of two hundred and seventy five years, so it is only those new additions (the greenhouse and the conservatory) that might see some damage.<br />
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The cottage IS small, but it has made us think about what we truly need to have around us and how we are going to live our lives from now on. And frankly, there is nothing better than waking up and looking out over fields, or down the garden after years of living fifty feet from a road used by traffic twenty-four hours a day<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1573330507043689838.post-52246459217033127432014-07-30T13:19:00.002+01:002014-07-30T13:19:59.325+01:00Getting closer to the Big Move!We finally exchanged contracts on 21st July and have a completion date of 14th August!<br /><br />
This meant that we had just four weeks just to clear out the house and get ourselves ready.<br />
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Kevin has been here since 1988, I've been here since the end of 1992 and that's an awful lot of stuff to go through. We have a suitcase full of photographs - some of which are memorable like the photos of our grandchildren as babies, photos of me with my beloved mum, odd wedding photos that for some reason never made it into the wedding album. I can see us spending winter evenings going through every photo and deciding which to keep and which to throw.<br />
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There are enough glasses in boxes in the attic to stock a pub; there are two sets of china, now surplus to requirements. We are moving to a Really Small Cottage - it is highly unlikely that we could accommodate more than six of us in there at any one time, so we hardly need all that tableware.<br />
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The local charity shops have done REALLY well! We have been through all of our clothes and donated six big bags to Macmillan Cancer. The Pareto Rule certainly applies to us, we are definitely wearing 20% of our clothes 80% of the time so someone else may benefit from the things that we no longer wear (or in my case, which no longer fit, sadly). We have also cleared a lot of bric-a-brac - vases, pictures, ornaments that we no longer loved or cherished - again, this stuff was taken by the British Heart Foundation.<br />
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The attic is finally empty of all but the things that we are keeping,which have been stored to one side of the hatch. Everything else has slowly made its way downstairs and out, either to eBay or to the local Recycling Depot.<br />
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We have been through the sheds (garden and tool) and done a lot of "rationalisation" - much of which has gone into the big yellow skip-sized Hippobag. I have tidied up my workshop and store, carefully packed the essential oils and stock and disposed of the soon-to-be past due date base oils at the Recycling Centre.<br />
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The interesting thing is how liberating all this feels. We are starting a new life in Devon and it feels good to be taking only those things that we know to be useful or believe to be beautiful (good old William Morris - very wise words).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14966236867003654568noreply@blogger.com0