A New Beginning or Back to Square One

Hello from the Wild West!

Slowly, slowly we come back to surface. If anybody says we had a hard time, then this is the utter understatement but - and I say it almost daily to dear EG - WE DID IT!!!

Moving house is a big event, moving a farm with all its contents and animals is a huge task but moving country on top of that is a real challenge. It took us more than two weeks since the very house removal end of August, to rest our bodies and to start to settle and every day is like a new adventure.

Luckily, the house, our forever-home, is in a good state and nothing vital is missing. Of course, there is room for improvement and we will bit by bit fix all what we want for our comfort. Change, embellish, design, invent, modernise, make more practical and so on.

We have left a lot behind. And now we start again. Every box seems like a discovery, every room seems unknown but becomes known when the content of a box transforms it into 'ours'. I think the transformation is somewhat difficult because we bought the house with its furniture. Some items have been donated to the Red Cross, some items went to my new Welsh teacher, Keith, the man from the tip. Homebaked cake against Welsh language in its real pronouncing :-). Suddenly the travel to the tip is something I appreciate. My kind of barter business!

Here are some impressions of the last exciting days:

Loading vintage cars in Belgium 

instead of one truck... came two 😮. All the time management went pear-shaped

4 days of stress later... trucks could never reach the final destination. But all 5 cars made it at the end.

My first Village Fete! Produce competition

Flower competition

Cake competition

Dog competition

We bought raffle tickets and WON! First prize! Pub meal for two 💕

Finally the removal truck - much later than agreed, more stress!

But the removal truck was not big enough, despite detailed list of goods. More stress by quickly hiring a small truck

Having to say good-bye to my feathered friends because of transport ban due to sudden outbreak of bird flu was heartbraking. But they found a good new home.

Robby enjoying the last moments on the farm

Minnie does the same in between the removal boxes

Traveling for more than 12 hours. WE DID IT!!!

Next day - perfect wedding weather 👰

Quickly preserving the last harvest from the farm

Finding decent egg supply

                             WE DID IT!!!

Home is where the dog is 💙

I am now busy with the last move: horse is still on the paddock and will be loaded hopefully soon. Wish me luck.

Bitter Sweet Farewell

Our beloved farm, for nearly 18 years our home and shelter, is sold. Within the day it was on the market and the first visitors to view it, they fell in love with it and closed the deal at the asking price the same day. There are now a lot of loosers out there...

I cannot believe how things accelerate and in a speed that is scary. However, a young, very enthousiastic, very happy family is keen to move in as quick as possible and this holds now some challenges to EG--- moving all the cars and all the things we don't want to be without in our new home.

The most wonderful moments were spent in our little paradise and we will miss it dearly. But, thankfully we know where we will end up and are looking forward to start afresh in our Old Vicarage in Wild West Wales,

The hard work of the last weeks is accomplished and instead of having plenty of strangers and noisy visitors wandering around our place, it is done and dusted and everybody is happy. Ok, the young family is perhaps a bit more happy than EG and myself right now, but it all feels right. They will grow into the place, they love the pond, they love the old stones and they appreciate all the hard work which was done to realize the stunning result.

On one hand, I feel like burying an old friend and on the other hand I feel like handing over the flame to a next generation. A lovely young family with a dream, the appreciation of generations of hard work to keep the place alive and the desire to give their children the best possible start in the most natural environment. As they said in their own words, 'we are a very happy family and to complete our happiness, we needed a happy house with space'. They were searching for this place for the last two years. Heyho.

Let the Adventure Begin

Last Thursday, off for a second viewing. First across the channel, then on Friday across the bridge over the Severn, again :-).
Today our offer has been accepted. Chuffed. to. bits.

Going full circle: when I was 11 years old, I discovered Wales because of my penpal then. When I fell in love with EG, he took me to Wales with the words: "you are in my hands now". And whilst I will be turning 60, I got the privilege to move with the love of my life to the place I belong to. Lucky us.

NGS May Hanham Court Bristol

The last visit to my preferred island, just a week ago in fact, was not planned and rather in a rush. Wee granddaughter was ill with foot, hand and mouth disease - obviously widely spread over Europe right now - and needed a blitz-babysitting session. Managed to get the vet on Sunday for to be able to leave Monday, managed to get the neighbour on duty, luckily the horse was still outside day and night as we have not had any frost so far.
Since we had decided to discard the last (wonderful) house in the Snowdonia after a rather disappointing survey revealing a number of issues we did not want to go through again, our mind is free for what comes up next.

Sunset in Pembrokeshire

Whilst in Bristol, one of our estate agents sent a message about a house we had been interested in but which had been thought sold and which was now back on the market. We could get a viewing for last Sunday and, here we are, deep in thoughts, the both of us. Many things have to be considered, all in all, we are in love with it, however the location is unknown to both of us so far... Prembrokeshire. To be precise: in the middle of nowhere. As we could not find it and had to ask several people, it turns out that everybody we met was so friendly and helpful and we started to tick boxes :-). The box ticking continued all day and even further.
The house is a gem, in pristine condition, the gardens are big enough, the outbuilding can be used for a number of vintage cars, all in all very positive. The location....? 15 min. to town, so the same than here. My top wishlist issue, a private wind turbine, could be realised there.
Loads to consider, a lot to think of.

Meanwhile I want to post the pictures I took when we were in Bristol in May and happend to be spot-on for the NGS open garden scheme. So we visited Hanham Court, a manor house with restored gardens and just a stonethrow away from where the children live.

slots to defend it?

Hanham Court is now family owned and the people who live there are very friendly and enjoy to show their gardens to a wider public.

a very grand entrance to welcome the visitors

this seems to be the main door for the family to use

typical victorian downpipe

all the necessary artifacts 

 There are two long borders to be enjoyed and many of the perennials are also my preferred. Iris, geraniums, fennel, roses, alliums, poppies.

always pots next to seats

the fields are gently ondulated and new fruit trees have been planted

no box disease (yet?)

beautiful vista over the paddock

Cistus

Some of the elements were added later but the blend between 'new' and 'old' is done in a good way and the pool does not look odd

Peonies, cosmos, lupins and this simple mix does the treat

yew trees 

a tree house for the grandchildren

it was nice to sit there, very peaceful

Behind is the huge walnut tree which had branches laying on the floor, just starting to show leaves

a tree peonie pod

the majestic walnut tree

Quite a handsome estate, however several full time and part time gardeners are working there.

love the pebbles in front

There is even a stumpery like in Highgroove :-) which is very pleasant with the noise of water gently running over the stones

a ruin, as well ;-)

those were the old dog kennels

the greenhouse... rather small ;-)

After all that eye candy we had delicious carrot cake...

... right under these arcades, very practical if the weather had not stayed dry

I hope this stroll was enjoyable - it was a pleasant and happy day and I hope I will have the chance to enjoy more NGS days in future.