Exmoor for Adventure

The Adventurers Guide to Britain ITV1  27th December featured on some of Exmoor's spectacular scenery and adventure pass times -costal walking, bat watching, native ponies and a brilliant new adventure sport. Well worth watching:
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/video/?Filter=297366

Mike from the village has been comissioned to get a vegetable garden established from the very challenging undergrowth! So far Ivy off the walls, bonfires had and digging begins. However, we understand that we can only expect potatoes for our first year crop, but then he hopes to make us self sufficient in vegetables and flowers for the house.....better look for some delicious potato recipes

Christmas comes once again to Cross Lane House

Well folks, this has been rather remiss of me to leave such a long pause between blogs, however life took over! After six years with Forensic Pathways Max moved down to Cross Lane House to join Andrew in mid December, not sue if this is help of hinderance to him, only Andrew can answer that! Prior to Christmas is was very full on as we had been promised a kitchen with electricity in time for Christmas, and in good form we were kept on the precipice until late on the 23rd when it was the official flick the switch job and the appliances all groaned into motion chilling, cooking and freezing - bliss after four months of only a microwave and single ring hob, Andrew likened it to being a student again - what a memory he has!

We both worked incredibly hard for ten days prior to Christmas Eve to move the project forward and indeed this proved fruitful, as we reclaimed the house from builders, plumbers and electricians. Christmas Eve we rewarded ourselves a special lunch at Woods in Dulverton, a lovely meal alongside a roaring fire. On Friday we were invited to Hindon Organice Farm to a 'drinks do' and met some lovely local people and sampled Roger and Penny's delicious organic cusine from a big farmhouse table just groaned with the weight of the feast. Needless to say their sausages will be one of the stars of our Somerset breakfast at Cross Lane House. The weather has been particularly mild and we noticed Daffodils in bloom a couple of miles down the road. Christmas came to the old girl that is Cross Lane House with roaring log fires and lots of good cheer, she seemed to exhude her warmth and smile. Now we move on to the garden.....more to follow! Happy New Year to you all.

Things Start to Take Shape - The Drawing Room

Things a slowly beginning to come together:

Child Labour Returns

Grace and Ben assisted with the rennovation this weekend, Ben took a supervisory role!

Ivy is a Problem

Spent this weekend removing Ivy from the outside walls. It has taken a real hold with some trunks 
half-an-inch thick! The garden is most certainally work in progress....

The trees on the hill are just turning that golden shade of autumn, but the sun still shines!

Ground Force Team Arrive

This weekend the Ground Force team arrived (a.k.a Becky and Tony) to assist with the big weeding job of the courtyard. Build up over a long time, resembling more of a lawn. We proceeded to expose about a third of the lovely cobbles. Guess what is planned for next weekend....

The Old Place Just Got a Lift!

Carpets are being laid, under the watchful eye of Andrew! I am told that the transformation 'makes you wan't to cry'

The Old Girl Emerges From Her Surgery!

With the help of the National Trust Team from the Holnicote Estate Office we were able to hold the penultimate engagement day. Around seventy people from surrounding villages made the effort to attend and see the wonderful work that has been undertaken in moving the project along, a credit to the craftsmanship of the whole team. It was great to meet so many positive people and undertake our induction into life in West Somerset. Thanks to all for attending, next time perhaps we can offer you something hot!