OCTOBER 2006
This month has seen the arrival
(finally) of the hot tub for Xidong Cottage garden. It was supposed to
have been delivered in July, but due to shipping problems from the U.S., it
couldn't come until September. (Someone suggested that as it was a
'tub' - give them a paddle - it would probably be quicker!) Then the
ship had some sort of mechanical failure at Sea (capital letter!?); so again
there was a delay until it finally arrived in October! We had
been given some bad advice beforehand and didn't dig the hole big enough for
future maintenance, so the poor builders had to spend three extra days
digging out around it by hand. Soon the hole will be boarded and
decking installed, then it will be clean and easy to get in and out and when
lights have been rigged up, sitting in the hot tub in the evening with a
glass of wine will be quite delightful! For the Xidong guests, there
will be nice fluffy towelling robes to wrap up in afterwards, which makes
the thought of getting out easier I can assure you.
NOVEMBER 2006
November started with some
very cold weather and severe frosts, but not for long, because
then the rains arrived and the river has been a roaring torrent,
threatening to burst it's banks and the stream is now a proper
stream and not just an excuse for a ditch!
The fields are
also very wet underfoot and I have had to bring my horses
inside. I have made up a pen in the corner of the big barn
and the two brothers Alf and El Cyd share the space quite
happily. I have also brought my hens inside; during the
cold spell they were not in the least interested in getting up
in the morning and with two cockerels and eight hens, the hen
house was beginning to seem very small if they were not going to
leave it. So the hens are now in one of the old stables
attached to the house.
Work is continuing on Xidong
Cottage and the hot tub is now surrounded with a clean, useful
deck with enough room for a couple of chairs and a table in the
summer. The new floor inside is going down and I have
ordered a table and chairs, which is being made locally and
should be ready in January.
The sheep should all be
pregnant now and will be lambing in March. They will be
brought inside for lambing time so I can keep a close eye on
them, help any ewes which need help and separate mothers and
their new-born lambs so they don't get muddled up.
Even with the sheep, horses,
hay and straw and trailer, the big barn is still going to be
half empty! It is such a lovely building with an insulated
workshop, a potential office and loads of space, that I am
trying to find a tenant for it; I can't use all that area and it
seems a shame to waste it.
DECEMBER 2006
We have a newborn lamb!
It arrived 7th December rather unexpectedly. Both mother
and son are doing well and thanks to the mild weather it will
stay outside with the rest of the flock. Not only is it
unexpected, but it is all black, which is strange as the others
all have white wool.
THE SQUIRE FARM
and I are new to each other. The two cottages were renovated and
converted by the previous owner and all I am doing is redecorating or
redesigning them. We have been here since July '06 and are
gradually learning the process of managing holiday cottages and
encouraging visitors to come and stay! Xidong (pronounced
zheedong) Cottage is taking
longer than expected due to various delays, but I am hoping that when it is
finally finished sometime in the New Year, it will prove to be a
luxurious, romantic, unusual and delightful place to stay.
Oct 06
THE SQUIRE FARM
and I are new to each other. The two cottages were renovated and
converted by the previous owner and all I am doing is redecorating or
redesigning them. We have been here since July '06 and are
gradually learning the process of managing holiday cottages and
encouraging visitors to come and stay! Xidong (pronounced
zheedong) Cottage is taking
longer than expected due to various delays, but I am hoping that when it is
finally finished sometime in the New Year, it will prove to be a
luxurious, romantic, unusual and delightful place to stay.
Oct 06
