To the “manor borne”……….

 
 
 
 

…….we had to hire a van. Where did all the stuff come from? Seventeen months ago we arrived at Mill Green Park with a suitcase each. 24 hours ago we left with our suitcases and a dozen or so boxes. Since arriving in our new place we have managed to put together at least 3 boxes of gear and deposited them at one of the local charity shops. Our “rubbish” did not fit into our new surroundings. Everything we need is here and is of the most elegant style and best quality. We are now 5* servants with 5* accommodation to match. However, the down side of that (as in the best of hotels) is, we are short of cupboards, we are having trouble controlling the temperature and in every room there is a security system with a flashing light. We went to bed last night, at 11.30pm and I said to Rod “we can’t possibly sleep with that, you’ll have to cover it up”!!! The consequence was, within a few minutes we had triggered the alarm system and of course the accompanying security firm! We have since learned that the light only flashes when there is a lot of movement in the room, once you settle into bed it all slows down (if you’re lucky and seriously restrict late night activity). However, we are very pleased to be here. It is what we said we would do. Although our employers are absent for most of the year, the estate is coming to the end of a 2 year refit and so there are lots of ‘state of the art’ systems to come to terms with, schedules and staffing to be implemented as well as networks to be established and routines to put into place. In the meantime we are off to Berlin to see Hattie for a few days before Christmas and then after spending Christmas with ‘whanau’ in London we’ll head for somewhere warm for a few days before returning to the Cotswolds at the beginning of the year……...have a very happy Christmas and all the very best for 2009………we hope to see you…..much love xxx

Another day in London…….

 
 
 
 

….our next job will see us 1 ½ hours from London instead of ½ hour. We are making the most of our proximity before we leave and yesterday headed up to London to check out the Christmas vibe. Maybe it’s us, maybe it’s the recession, maybe it’s a bit early in the month……but it just wasn’t going “off” like we remembered it last year. London was wearing it’s party clothes, and the while the shops were practically giving away their stock, having “pre” instead of “post” Christmas sales (maybe they’ll do both!), it was unseasonally quiet. We had to see someone in Chelsea, so as we wandered down Sloane St two things stood out for us. The first was the wonderful ‘cabbage trees’ growing on the roof of an apartment block – “yay! we thought…….a Kiwi rooftop garden…brilliant!”
The second thing was…. an unnamed park opposite the said apartment block, a locked unnamed park. This is for the sole use of residents around the area whom we can only assume purchase the rights to ‘hang out’ there. I bet the “Kiwi rooftop garden” people don’t!!!!
We decided to head for Leicester Square and popped out of the tube in Picadilly Circus. With the temperature plummeting to about -2º, there was photo shoot with brave young things trying to look zany and unfreezing….
We gave thanks for our gloves, scarves and warm jackets and headed off to a nice warm supper and show……London is great, one more commute next week before it becomes a mission……..ahhhh! the price one is prepared to pay to live in the Cotswolds………
Loads of love xxxxxxx

As the year draws to an end......

 
 
 

…….so does our time in Essex. We previously mentioned that our life here is changing and after a stressful few months, right out of the blue, we have secured our “dream job”. Before we left NZ we jokingly said that we were coming to look after some ‘rich dudes’ place in their absence.
We have been lucky enough to be gifted with realizing that dream. We leave here on the 18th to our next job which is situated in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds.
We are to be looking after a Manor House, set in luxurious gardens in a beautiful little English village. Our employers, Sir M & Lady K, the most gracious and charming of people, live overseas and only come to stay in their completely refurbished country home for about 6-8 weeks of each year. The rest of the year we are responsible for the security, maintenance and staff supervision of this beautiful, gracious 16th century Grade II listed manor and grounds, including a brand new swimming pool and tennis court. Our employers have homes in many other parts of the world and we may be required at various times to travel to and work in these.
We have learned a lot in our current job and it has certainly stood us in very good stead for our next one.
Our employers are very happy for us to have friends and family come to stay, with the proviso that when they are in residence, they have our full and undivided attention…we are happy with that, given that gives you the opportunity to visit and stay for the other 48 weeks of the year!!
In the meantime we are off somewhere exotic for a (we think!) well earned break before we start our new position…..Christmas cards will not be sent from our end, but we are thinking of you all and miss you especially at this time of the year.
Much love and seasons greetings…..xxxxx