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??!!!