We’ve had a long, self-indulgent period where we were hardly ‘self’ building. The amazing Mike Roberts with his able Whiteway Carpenters has been the real project manager (not me!) – every so often saying – ‘Time to order your insulation’ or ‘Better get the plumber in now’. He will still be coming in to help us with the ‘design and build’ – where he teaches us how to build something, then leaves us to get on with it. But Monday marked the end of an era.
What have we been up to since January? Nine applications to the EU to let them know which plant enzymes I’m going to be using to coagulate my cheese. (yes, my truffle, porcini and morel cheeses could have been banned!). Thanks to a timely ‘heads up’ from the Specialist Cheesemakers Association.
And getting ready to milk Tara Wright’s Closewool sheep in a few months. Tara needed the vet after a dog attacked one of her ewes. The ewe ended up with a broken leg and Tara wanted to know for sure the leg was mending well.
Tara cares so much about her sheep, she put the second ewe in there so the wounded girl has company. Sheep are very sociable!
Hedge laying needs to be done before the 1st March:
I love watching skilled work – especially enjoyed when Chris Govier ensured that tree missed the telephone line!
Chris used to farm Easterdown.
So beautiful! And we can see to Haddon Hill now:
Nice visit from our amazing ex-landlady, Sarah. She has some great toys (she bought this when she sold her WW2 airplane. Of course! What else?):
Her vintage MG looks great next to Easterdown!
Love the seatbelt for Betley, her elegant carriage dog – named after an obscure Donizetti Opera:
Top down for her drive back to Spaxton:
And Sarah got us onto our balcony for the first time since the scaffolding came down.
Goodness, the months fly! A solar eclipse on the day of the Vernal Equinox. Mike and I couldn’t agree whether we could use our polarising lens from the telescope to view it. To settle the argument, Mike made an eclipse viewer out of a shoebox, with 15 minutes to spare!
Inspired us to get out the telescope, FINALLY! Shocking it has taken us this long. Dark skies here on Exmoor meant we had the best view of the stripes on Jupiter we’ve EVER seen.
Last big push from Whiteway Carpenters for now – the frames for the glass in our loft – this is the loft view:
This is from the first floor study. This is facing North and the balcony is to the South.
Mike wanted me to include this photo – it’s what we see each morning when we open our eyes. Yes, that is Dexter walking around in front of our bed:
And a big moment here: Mike Roberts opening the way to the main house front door. Kind of like cutting a ribbon – Before:
And After:
Mike Roberts worked with us and coached how to lay the damp proofing membrane and insulation on the ground floor. Getting ready for underfloor heating, boiler/cookers, etc coming mid April.
It’s down to us now.
