HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE

Laura and I made a jacuzzi cake this year for Pete, with cats floating in rings and flowers, tortoises, ladybirds, butterflies and dogs sitting at the base! I don't think he knows what to expect next really, but lovely cake, we didn't have a birthday do as such this year but took Pete to see an outdoor theatre group at Trelissick gardens, it was really good, we took a picnic and blankets etc, worth seeing. Back to work now , no rest for the wicked eh!

AT THE MO

Just organising things for the mill to start. We have ordered the wood for the base of the summer house, we had prices in for building it, but really cant afford it so, team Pete and Michelle are building it, we will be digging the rest of the base this weekend hopefully if it stops raining!...Actually when has that ever stopped us!!! Andy & Ant are booked in to move the stables beginning of Sept and Jamie is on stand by to disconnect the electrics first week in October so we don't kill ourselves when we take the internal block walls out!!Oh and Richard to disconnect the water supply, then its down to us to take all the furniture out and gut it, that's going to take quite some time, as we will be building the car port and garage at the same time oh and summerhouse...oh and working to pay for it!!!! We have a lot of things to source and organise its a big project and we are working on it on the computer every waking hour away from work. daylight will be a distant memory soon!... I thought I would just update things as I am sat here waiting for the ruddy gas man who never comes at the time he says, plus its raining and Shadow is trying to get in the office, but through the glass window so must dash eh!!!

HELP!

On a wobbly day, some days are ok and some just need to be forgotten, I had one of those days yesterday!!  maybe when I slow down a bit and it catches up with me, mmmm have to rethink my speed!! Pete reckons if we go any faster we will be done before we start!!! Now theres a thought!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITTENS

Our last lot of kittens of which we kept these two, squeaker and squiggly were 1 year old this week, it doesnt seem like yesterday that they were born and subsequently hanging from the new curtains and learning to bring in presents and basically take over the house. They even bring in friends to play!! Nope not a minute passes that I dont think about what life would be without them....dear of 'em!!!! Squeaker seems to sleep all day and muck about all night!! Happy Birthday girls!!!

PRE BIRTHDAY TREAT

Pete and I dont often have any time at all. But I thought I would surprise him with a day out for his birthday at the end of the week. I wanted to make the most of the day to have as much time as possible, so we were up anyway to see Steve off with the Cornwall squad at 5.30 so after he went and the animals were sorted we left for the day....7.20am to be precise!! bags on the bike and off we cycled to the train station...ahhh I know how to make his day relaxing don't I!!! I figure you only live once so make the most of it before someone thinks you aren't enjoying it enough it and whips it away!! SO caught the train to Exeter and picked up a cycle link to Teignmouth 18 miles there and 18 back. Lovely cycle, some bits were really hard but mostly all ok, I never know how I am going to be, just hope!!....We had a pic nic at double locks, past the stags and deer near powderham castle and then on to lunch in a seafood place in Teignmouth, its really pretty along there, I have never thought of visiting that area before, but will definitely go back some time. We looked at all the sculpture along the front, had another pic nic coffee and cake and cycled back to the train at 8.20pm which we found out when we got there had broken down so we were stranded in Exeter!!! All sorted eventually and got home, very tired!! Oh Steve won his match for Cornwall though!....The only thing about having any time at all away from here is that you have to work twice as hard and longer when you get back!!!

OH HOW COULD I FORGET!!!

Molly Dolly was a new arrival for the family, a cousin for Lucky, Gem and Shadow. Auntie Louise finally got a puppy, I wont go into the preamble we'll be here all day, but up shot is...yippee she got one!! She is really cute shih tzu, I don't know if I have spelt that right but hopefully I have!!!! So welcome Molly, even though you fell asleep after a manic half hour....out for the count in this picture.

HUNGRY!

We were lucky enough to have several families move in this year to bring up their children, I think they think its a great place to bring them up!....One family obviously had a bit more funds as they moved in with the jacuzzi!!!!! She reared 5 in the end, one didn't make it but the others did and weren't that keen to move out either! Fancy feeding this lot, they shouted for food every half hour or so!!!!! And I think 3 times a day is bad...and thats just Pete!!!(hes always hungry!)

NEW HOMES FOR CHICKENS!

We had awful trouble with something eating our chickens when they were allowed to roam anywhere. We always locked them in but the badgers and foxes were a pain. So we made a new house and bought a plot of land from the goats in the lunge ring and boy did they make us pay!! We were like a German timber frame company had it all done and dusted by the afternoon, chickens in making a cuppa!! After some initial argy bargy, they seem to get on well as neighbours, they even have a new mountain of granite boulders thanks to Mark and his digger!

CARNOUSTIE

Just trying to think of things that happened between now and last March...the sort of void which was a whirl wind really. Oh I know, Steve got through into the Scottish U16 competition with competitors from all over the world, he has a good practice round and then the heavens opened, it was a really bad flood and the first day had to be cancelled due to all the greens and roads being under water, we were confined to our lodge! The second day was ok they had managed to work on it all night to get the competition back on. We had a final day spare so thought it would be nice to try to get Steve in at Carnoustie championship course......And we did he played with some very well known American business men and played really well 5 birdies!! played to 2 handicap so he was chuffed....Great experience, got to grab it while you can. Thanks to Laura and Aaron who kindly looked after the house and animals whilst we were away.

HOOORRRAAAYYYY!!

The final piece of the jigsaw came through this week, We applied for a carport and garage with a 32 panel system of Pv's on it in the parking area where the cycle and boot store is now. And cant believe our luck with all the restrictions that come with living in lovely places....We were granted permission....how cool is that!!! So we will be starting the removal of the cycle boot store/stable in September with the plans to start the new build there in October, before we tackle the Mill, We have to get that area right first as we will be open for letting so that area is priority....how and where we live will have to just be what it will be ! mmm tent???

FOUND A RABBIT

We

We saved this little baby rabbit from certain death from the cats!....It was so cute, we released it into the garden area for safety, and rabbits dont normally bite but this one was hanging on Lauras finger, not sure she will rescue another on without gloves!!!Weird tho thought he would have been happy to be rescued!!!

SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

Steve has been having England training and played for South West England against the England Boys, he had a great day and played really well, great experience and one for the CV eh!

STARTING THE CLEARING

Mammoth task! We cut down the dodgy overhanging limbs of trees and left the others precariously perched and hope they will stay!! Geoff and I cleared all the brambles, all this area was taller than us in monster thorn bushes, now we just have to make it somehow into our secret garden, the first picture shows a ledge...a very small ledge but this with some ingenious engineering on Pete's part...now that's a frightening thought...100mm man on the case...sorry Pete couldn't let that one go...(for those who don't know what I am on about...Pete is very talented and clever...however he has a real gift of cutting things 100mm too short or too long...its usually too short when its very expensive and it costs a lot to put right...hence the nic name 100 mil man!!). Any way some how we need to construct a bridge 20m across crumbling edge to access the clearing that you can see Pete here working on. We dug 1/4 of a summerhouse base. I had hurt my back so wasn't as much use as I should have been but tried....It was like digging carpet the root systems were horrendous, but we have made a start, as soon as October comes we wont be able to work outside as we must remove the interior of the Mill about 3000 blocks I think...god knows how we will do that...Oh well we usually plod on...Don't think there is any chance of a day off for a year or two...no change there then....but we love it??!!!

NEW BALLAUSTRADING

We are trying to start some jobs before the closure of the Mill on October 2nd 2011. So we thought we could rebuild the balcony area, we cant lay the flag stone floor though until after October. We ripped out the balcony and rebuilt it in between guests leaving and arriving, we went into the Sunday but I dont think we wee in anyones way and I think it looks great, its difficult to see here, but the uprights are metal baroque style in between chunky wood newel posts and handrail. Its going to be a lovely balcony with planting viewed from the new kitchen area... Team Pete and Michelle strike again!!

OUR DUNLOP!!

Laura and I decided that it was such a waste to throw away wellies so we are making animals with them, its ok Pete as these dont cost in vets bills or feeding except Laura!!, although Dunlop is partial to a bit of battenburg cake!!!

MILL AT THE MO!

Well this is the Mill as it stands, we have a whole load of plans for this, I just hope we can pull it off, if we do it will be lovely. I think it may take quite some time!!! meanwhile our detached 1 bed cottages (Buttercup and Little Toms)will be continued to be let as this conversion does not really affect them, the only time we will close is over the winter this year to get the new office and car port built.  Exciting isn't it!! ...I think!!!

NEW BIT OF GARDEN FOR BUTTERCUP COTTAGE

We have added a little more garden to Buttercup Cottage garden area, Laura and I decided to do it one morning and bobs your uncle it was done by the afternoon!!!, although guests are free to sit on any of the grass this fenced off bit is safe from Shadow our dog who loves to give you a kiss when you least expect it.....not for the faint hearted!!!

CAR WASH??? STICK TO GOLF I THINK!!!

Steve decided in his wisdom to wash the truck, good of him I thought.....I didn't think we had any car shampoo and told him he would probably have to use fairy liquid.....So i was surprised when he said he had found some....He came up to the house after an hour or so, complaining that when he tried to wash off the soap it left a white residue and he couldn't shift it. So thinking not much of it....walked down to see what he was on about and then it dawned on me he had put Car shine in the bucket of water and rubbed it all over the car......but car shine is wax!!!!!! it looked a right state, i had nipped down there to look at the car from the bath so had my dressing gown on.....SO you can imagine the wonderful picture on me with a sponge in one hand and fairy liquid in the other trying to get the wax off the wet car, I was rubbing it frantically trying to remove the wax and Steve was rinsing off, I really hope none of our guests were watching this fiasco!!!! Stick to golf or get a pair of glasses and read the label!!!! Thought I would just add a picture of this sensible young man!!! Looking great in that Cornwall County Golf suit, I think that's more of the job for you eh!

A POSH DAY!

We dont often have the chance to dress up as we are usually up to our necks in the proverbial and dont have time to sleep or eat sometimes let alone go out.....what is that phrase 'going out'...does that mean the feed run ha ha.... Well my brother got married so we donned our glad rags, Laura and Steve looked great  especially in Nannys hat Steve!!!....Auntie Lou looked great too but havent a picture of her. So thought I would show you what we may have looked like before we took on Woodmill and now The Mill!!!

WELCOME BACK!

Well it has been a while since I signed in and there is so much to tell you. I cant remember all of it but the general gist is.... As you know due to me being poorly and doctors advice we had to hand over the cottages to a letting agent, what a nightmare, I could have booked more weeks from my bed without lifting a finger!! SO needless to say we knew pretty quickly we were on a one way trip to financial disaster! It was hard to take really as we had worked so hard and it was just due to my health that we had to make this decision, it took us a long time to come to terms that a company that said how wonderful they were nearly had us in ruins. So thinking on our feet, survival instinct kicks in....We produced a planning application that would allow us to gut the Mill building from 4 x 1 bed holiday cottages to full residential of one house. It was a huge gamble, Pete spent weeks formulating documents and supporting evidence of why they should consider this for us even though it was contrary to policy. It was really our last hope of staying here, if the approval didn't come through for us we would have to put the whole lot on the market and move before it was called in really. We had put our souls and hard blood sweat and tears into this and wasn't going to leave without a fight. Then after a tense few months we finally got permission at the end of May, just in time to let our long time regular guests Keith and Myrna and Jim and Caroline amongst others the news hot of the press. We had to go from thinking this was a disastrous situation to getting exciting about the new adventure to come. It was going to have to happen so the best thing we could do was to be excited about it. No good crying over spilt milk!... But now we are really looking forward to it. We will have half the land to manage and only two holiday cottages and another brand new office for Purl, so a lot more manageable for us, especially on my not so good days. The future looks great...hard work again but great!