June 2008

The mostly glorious weather continues and we can hear our guest sitting on the terraces taking in the views.  The hot tubs are proving to be very popular in our big houses and it would be nice to provide the cottages with them.  Aluminium garden furniture has been ordered for the cottages so we will be able to dispense with the old benches and scatter them round the grounds for picnics.

Our inspection from the Tourist Board goes very well.  We get higher percentages than last year and the inspector is very complimentary about the cottages.  We get high enough grades in our largest two houses to get 5* but after much discussion we decide to stay with our 4* in order not to reduce our client base in the current economic climate.  When the economy picks up again we shall certainly ask for the high rating again.

The big freezer arrives for the frozen food for guests and we order lots of meals from the local cook.  As we have never done this before it is guess work to know what to choose and in what quantities.  However, I am sure we can find volunteers to eat the less popular ones.

We are trying to open up more of the grounds for guests and want to enable them to get into our 10-acre fields, particularly as they will be able to let their dogs run free here.  However we need to build a bridge as the fields are across a small but very deep ravine.  We have chopped down the mass of trees, which were in the way and a very ancient tree trunk serves us as a bridge while we work.  This is not good enough for guests and while work is in progress we have to warn them that it is slippery.

The ducks are doing well and the guests enjoy them.  They decided to move from the pond to the Old Farmhouse the other day as they had been fed here.  One of the dogs staying decided to chase them and now they seem to prefer the pond again.  The hencoop arrived yesterday and we spent a day following bizarre instructions and finally got it made.  Only two pieces of wood were left over!  It is however quite a palace and should be fox proof.  Today we will try and buy six healthy and beautiful birds.  Apparently everyone is starting to keep hens again and point of lay chickens are becoming very sought after so I doubt that we will be able to get the variety that we hoped.  It doesn’t really matter, as we should be able to get enough eggs to let guests have a few when they arrive.

Several guests have reported seeing baby owls in the trees and even an adult owl on the steps of one of the cottages.  The baby buzzards which we are sure have come from a nest in our grounds are learning to fly.  It is hard to see how they don’t crash as they are so ungainly and flap around, fortunately they don’t.  The vast numbers of rabbits must be keeping all the birds of prey very well fed.  In one area of the grounds some people have even seen glowworms, though these are definitely only for those liking late night walks.

We are getting quotes for solar panels for the swimming pool as with increasing oil costs the fuel bill is getting scary.  We don’t want to pass on the fuel costs to guests and this seems like an excellent way to reduce costs.  Now oil is so expensive the pay back time for these heating a pool, is not very long, so there is no doubt that we shall be getting them in a few weeks.  It will also be excellent to start to turn Coulscott more green.  We already recycle most things and guests are even asking if we can compost their waste, which we are very pleased to do.  We must research non-smelling containers to put in the kitchens for composting.  Also we have our own water supply which we treat in a very environmentally friendly way with UV light, so there are no unpleasant chemicals.  The water from this aquifer is so good that a neighbour sells the water in bottles to local business and it is very popular.

 

May 2008

What lovely weather, warm sunny days and evenings.  It is perfect for guests and tomato plants alike.  The new aluminium garden furniture for the Georgian House and the Old Farmhouse look really good and it is so nice to hear people sitting outside on the terraces enjoying the views and the weather.  We must get the same furniture for the cottages, as it has proved so successful.  The hot tubs, which have been put on the terraces, are very popular.  Thought must be given to seeing if there is any way a hot tub can be provided for Bantam, Aylesbury and Peacock Cottages.

The new photos arrive and they are amazing.  They clearly show all the improvements we have made over the last year and will enable potential guests to see what we are like now.  All the photos are put on our website and it is transformed.  Immediately the number of enquiries increases.  The combination of Premier Cottages and the new pictures is obviously good.

The last of the original beds have now been changed so every one is now new with good mattresses and memory foam.  So many visitors ask where we got the beds we could probably run a bed shop as a sideline.

The house martins have returned to their old nests and there are baby birds swooping through the valley.  The fox is getting more adventurous and gets chased off by our dog.  The huge number of rabbits must be encouraging it.  It is a constant battle between the rabbits and vegetables; so much so that a rabbit proof fence has to be built round one of the vegetable patches.   There are loads of tomatoes growing in the green house the weather is really making things grow.  At this rate there will be enough tomatoes for the whole of North Devon.

We have found an experienced local cook who will cook meals for guests from local produce.  We will either freeze them so people can help them selves, or by prior arrangement she will make a freshly cooked meal for special occasions.

As the good weather continues the grass grows madly.  Conveniently all three of our lawn mowers decide to break the same weekend, so we will have to learn to like long grass for a while.  Two Indian runner ducks have arrived for the pond.  As they are rescue ducks they have not seen a pond before and are loving it.  The poor things have not been well treated and hopefully their plumage will be back to normal by the end of the summer.

Modern thin TVs have been ordered for all 5 houses.  They will be here within a week and will be so much better than the very old and bulky ones. 

 

April 2008

The Easter holidays spill over into this month, which is nice as we have lots of visitors.  People are always pleasantly surprised by the weather here, which often seems much better than the forecast.  We seem to have a micro-climate as we are tucked into the side of Exmoor which gets  most of our rain.  This keeps us dryish and sunny and ensures that our spring never runs dry.

Now Easter is over it is a mad rush to try and get the outside of Peacock, Aylesbury and Bantam Cottages painted.  As we finish each one the difference is great.  They look so fresh and pretty we are pleased with our choice of colours.  The plants, which have survived outside all winter and are still flowering, look good against the paintwork.

The greenhouse has come and is huge.  It is an attractive wooden one and looks very good.  Within 24 hours of construction it was planted up, with all the seedlings.  They all look very small in the vast space.  Hopefully there will be no late frosts.

Snow is forecast for the UK and we don’t get any, not even on Exmoor, which is disappointing.  It must be a relief for guest though, not to have to drive through snow to get here.  We are getting sunny days but such cold nights.  There have been several consecutive nights when there have been heavy frosts but the greenhouse is doing its work and keeping the plants alive.

The primroses are fantastic again this year though have all come up in different places.  The wild garlic is all over the place and is excellent for eating.  It seems to like our streams and is apparently a sign of ancient woodlands.  The swallows arrive followed by the house martins.  It is good to see them and it will be nice if they return to last year’s nests on the Georgian House and the old barns.  The badgers have been very noisy for a couple of nights; it must be the mating season.

We are asking guests what alterations they would like to the facilities and not surprisingly a lot are saying they would like massages etc and the chance to buy home cooked food on site.  We will start planning how to do this.  Maybe by next year we can get the buildings altered to form some sort of spa.  As usual the planners may be difficult, as being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty change is not encouraged.

The photographer comes and we spend a very interesting two days getting the photos taken.  He has a very good eye for things and we take lots of notes for small improvements.  He didn’t want to take any out side pictures until the trees are in leaf so there was no need to rush with the outside painting.

 

March 2008

The three new bathrooms are finished in time for Easter.  The tiler now starts on the Old Farmhouse floor and lays several tons of slates.  This looks super when it is finished and just needs a few Persian rugs.  It will be so practical when we have visiting dogs and muddy wellies.  The hall in the Georgian House gets the same treatment with new slates, as the existing cream carpet is not a good idea.

Easter and this year’s odd school holidays start and everybody is confused.  All over the country schools are having different holidays.  Our Easter season seems to be spread over 5 weeks.  The weather after a glorious February is now average.  The swimming pool is a boon as it lets the children be busy and they seem to enjoy it.  A few intrepid individuals are using the trampoline between the showers.

Between guests we are trying to paint all the dark brown woodwork of Aylesbury, Peacock and Bantam Cottages into nice shades of green.  The first one gets done and then as it rains a bit every day when we have no visitors there is a long gap ‘til the next painting session.  The photographer may be coming soon and as much as possible must be finished.

Filling in the mountains of paperwork for Premier Cottages.  We will soon be on their website but only with our old photos.  It is going to be very interesting to see how we get on.  After many missed calls we get a date for the photographer, it is going to be touch and go to meet the copy deadlines for the advertising.

The base for the new greenhouse is built and it looks enormous.  We have to wait until the beginning of April for it to arrive.  It won’t be a moment too soon as the house is full of seedlings. We are keen to be able to give guests some of our produce in season.

 

February 2008

It has stopped raining and there is just blue sky.  With out door work you even get a suntan.  Half term is looming and the tilers are working evenings and weekends to finish the first phase of the new bathrooms.  Luckily they finish in time and we have a busy week of guests.  They have good weather, which is a bonus in February. 

The holiday is soon over and back comes the plumber ready for the next deadline of the early Easter holidays.  We are excited about the arrival of a huge four-poster bed for the Old Farmhouse.  It weighs a ton and we are so pleased that someone else is moving it.  Once in it looks brilliant.

Coulscott gets accepted by Premier Cottages, which is great news as they are a very up market group.

A big new hot tub arrives for the Georgian House, which goes on the terrace to make the most of the view.  As there are no guests we give it a test run and it gets the thumbs up.  A smaller hot tub is put outside the Old Farmhouse where the view can also be enjoyed.

The sunshine is lasting, spring surely can’t be here already.  There are lots of tiny lambs in the surrounding fields.  For such small creatures they have large bleats.  The daffodils are opening and the wild garlic is just coming through.  Must have a go at eating it as all the cookery writers are suggesting.

 

January 2008

A busy New Year has come and gone and winter has arrived but there is still no sign of snow yet. With the departure of our guests comes the arrival of our workmen with the priority being new bathrooms.  Mountains of marble tiles and slate flooring seem to arrive daily.  It is fortunate that they are resistant to rain as this is turning into a soggy month.

The days are starting to get longer and lift every one’s spirits.   The bulbs are starting to push through and a few brave snowdrops are open.  Hints of the spring to come we hope.  A few guests arrive for weekends, so the builders are sent away.  They soon return for there is a quickly coming deadline of the school half term. 

This has been a very wet month though all the rain will be ensuring that our spring, which has never dried in living memory, will continue.  The farmers are keen to get their cattle out into the fields but at this rate it will many weeks before there is enough grass.  Our lawns on the other hand are growing like mad and have already been cut once this month.