"Wales........Wales..........

...........land of the mist and the sea"........ we sang this at school and for me it always brought up visions of schools of whales cavorting through the water. Well, we didn't see any whales, but the 'Land of our Fathers' is impressive and so close to England. It's an hour from where we are to be somewhere 'different' . Different language, different landscape, different architecture, less traffic and a different pace of life. Driving over the mountains we were surprised by a herd of shaggy wild Welsh ponies, they ambled across the road and looked as interested in us as we were in them. We had booked an apartment in Aberdovy or if you are a native Aberdyfi, a beautiful unspoilt seaport village with miles of sand dunes and beaches, in the midst of Snowdonia National Park.
Pippa the dog loved it and ran like a lunatic through the sand dunes, they are full of rabbit holes and so it was doggy heaven. We arrived back in the village and were sitting on the harbourside eating locally made icecream and we noticed large black nasty looking things in her coat...........fortunately she is well protected against fleas and such like, so they just brushed off. At dinner the proprietor of the restaurant asked if we'd had nice day and we told her what we'd done. She said they never took their dogs into the sand dunes because of the 'ticks'.....yukkkkk! The other thing to watch out for if you're paddling is 'weaver fish'...also nasty little blighters that lurk in the shallows and impale unsuspecting waders with their poisonous spines......we also saw washed up on the beach 'man- o -war' jelly fish the size of hubcaps!!!! We felt safe that it was a real 'winter break' and we weren't tempted to take to the water! So we enjoyed the beautiful peaceful scenery, loved walking in sunshine then blizzards and then sunshine again.....oblivious to the pontential dangers surrounding us. Interesting to note that Aberdyfi is home to the first Outward Bound school, the boats in the photo belong to the Outward Bound school...............we do wish you were here, much love xxxxxxxxxx

Life as a servant……….

……….continues and we have just had a visit of 5 intense days by our employer. The standard expected when they are in residence (as I have mentioned before) is equivalent to 5 star. They own a chain of international 5 star hotels and so expect nothing less in their houses (plural!). We have been here just over a year and the initial “awe” is slowly being replaced by a rather sceptical perception of “Disney Land” on steroids. This is very much ‘the country house’ and is very beautiful and we appreciate the experience, but my goodness we have to deliver!!!!!! My epicurean skills have developed considerably and I can now prepare 3 - three course meals a day with flair and flourish and, without having a nervous breakdown. It is a bit like event management, no-one sees behind the scenes!!!! Rod, with the help of our Nepalese gardener scrubs up well and presents silver service for each meal and then I have to deal with the associated linen afterwards while Rod polishes the aforementioned silver. This is around flower arranging, organizing staff, being at the beck and call of rich and famous guests. Meanwhile Rod is the general “goffa” for Sir M and keeping the not insignificant technology operational, no mean feat!
The BIG HOLE is now completely covered by The Big Top and sealed. Huge duct pipes pump warm air into the thing to keep it all at a temperature conducive to concrete work. The whole underground car park facility is to be completed by May and the meadow re-sown and looking untouched ………if we hadn’t experienced a similar scenario last year, with the completion of the house and garden, we wouldn’t have thought it possible. BUT money can do ANYTHING, and if you are not into delayed gratification then “instant” it is. The gymnasium has just been started and that also will be completed, fitted and functional by May!
Meanwhile we continue to walk the dog along beautiful country paths, marveling at the spring growth starting to burst out of the ground and masses of snowdrops are everywhere. We are planning some time away and so may return a little less cynical!!!
We always said this would be a 3-5 year adventure and can see now that this will be so… we are beginning to think about a life back home….come and visit while you can, we have never stopped missing you (and never will)……..xxxxxxxxxxxx

It’s still grey, still cold and there’s not a lot to write home about

……..but seeing as how we think about you heaps, this is a good way to keep in touch. We recently visited Slimbridge, which is a World Wild Life bird preservation wetlands - a bit of a ‘birders’ paradise. Let me make it clear from the outset – we are not getting weird and into ‘birding’ - whatever it is they do! But we do “ohh and ahrrrr” over the odd bird. I can see why a lot of Brits do get into ‘bird watching’ because it is lovely to see the migratory birds marking the seasons. Also Britain does have some wonderful garden variety birds – robin red breasts, colourful finches, nut hatches, willy wagtails, blackbirds, tomtits, warblers, wrens, a lot of birds of prey – just to name a few. Anyway back to Slimbridge. One of the surprising things was that they have flocks of flamingoes to assist with breeding programmes around the world. They are wonderful and it is possible to get really up close and personal.
Around the reserve are masses of hides, where the serious birders take their gear and watch and do whatever they do for hours, it’s very serious with a lot of note taking! The equipment required for this kind of watching is phenomenal (and probably expensive!). I have a good camera, with a couple of good lenses, but I must say one could suffer seriously from “lens envy” if you were into size – fortunately I’m of the opinion that “size doesn’t matter”
A friend loaned us a pair of very good binoculars and this morning we walked the Thames path and got a really good look at a ‘buzzard’ which up until now we have only seen in the distance. Buzzards are making their way back into Britain, I don’t know where from??????? We also got a sighting of a flock of rare sky divers!!!! Why you would jump out of plane in this (or any other) weather unless it was absolutely necessary one can’t imagine??? Meanwhile, although it’s still freezing cold, with a dusting of snow on the ground, the days are getting longer and we are beginning to plan some trips to look forward to………miss you all very much …..still……xxx

The Big Chill………

 
 
 
 

………..we always get really excited when it snows – and until now it’s been brief and beautiful. The snow before Christmas was great – but didn’t stay long enough for a really ‘white Christmas’………so imagine our delight when we got “severe weather warnings” and consequently have had 8 inches of snow on the ground for a week!!!
The reality is still beautiful, but there are a few down sides….’elf and safety’ being one….you can’t get into town unless the roads have been ‘gritted’ – once in town slippery pavements are a nightmare. Lots of schools are closed and many of the contractors at the manor haven’t been able to get here. Also it doesn’t take long for the unblemished pristine whiteness to have footprints ‘messing it up’!!!!
Pippa – the dog, loves the snow, but after a while gets really cold and uncomfortable. We bought her a jacket and now are considering dog shoes…….can you believe it????
We’ve talked about building a snow man, but with daytime temperatures at around minus 5 degrees, we don’t have the commitment!!!
Ironically the cover (so that work can continue in The BIG HOLE over winter) is progressing painfully slowly in the current weather conditions and we wonder if it will be completed in time to be dismantled in May…..apparently only one other structure of it’s size and kind have been built in the UK – the other, in London was built on flat ground (not over a large hole) and so cherry pickers were able to be used to construct it. Also the London structure, although temporary is rather more permanent than the one here!!!!!! Most mind boggling………meanwhile we are grateful for our time here and enjoy our environment and with the snow have a visual awareness that we share the estate with many, many critters and creatures, foxes, deer, rabbits, hares, pheasants, wild mink all party at night and leave their footprints before they quietly and stealthily disappear back to where they hide from the human world…..wish you were here xxx

Exploring our own back-yard……..

 
 
 
 

……….has been interesting. Once we stopped ‘sulking’ about having to ‘stay put’ we decided to make the most of it – as you do when you are a ‘grown up’!!!! Leading up to Christmas was a bit tough….there were a few things happening and as well the Blue Cross dog we had taken on, had to be returned as her ‘issues’ were too much for a “Manor” dog…she had come a long way but in the end it just wasn’t far enough, she was too unreliable and unpredictable in this situation. The upside is we acquired a lovely Lurcher from a family in Yorkshire, who after 6 years, reluctantly had to let her go. We are thoroughly enjoying having a dog who is trustworthy, well socialized with no ‘issues’ and a load of fun.
Our local town is Cirencester, a very beautiful Cotswold town dating back to Roman times. The Bathurst Estate is a very integral part of the town and owns most of it. Having a well socialized dog means we can now walk in a public place and we have discovered the Bathurst Estate Park, where the public and their children and dogs are invited to walk or ride horseback…..lovely long, wide paths to promenade or you can go exploring the woods and paddocks, it’s wonderful.
Christmas at the Manor was a very quiet affair, but we drank good champagne chilled in the ice of the fountain and indulged in a home movie festival.
Work continues on the temporary cover over the big hole. Various local ‘drinks parties’ we’ve been invited to over the holiday period have been an exercise in ‘question and answer’………work for everyone in the UK resumes tomorrow and we think of you enjoying the grand Kiwi summer holidays……we expect more snow next week………miss you xxxx

‘Tis the season of goodwill….except….

 
 
 
 

…it is also the season of the “shoot”. A friend of our employer pitched up earlier in the week with several brace of pheasant. A “brace” is a Mr & Mrs Pheasant…..”hang them for a few days before you pluck them, Sir M is looking forward to them next time he comes”…….We duly “hung” and promptly forgot about them, I had recall in the middle of the night and so this morning dealt to them….that was a bit of learning curve, also a bit messy! Shot wounds and all that – I don’t know how they do it! Anyway, these “braces” of birds are sitting in a miserable pile in the fridge - I think they are much nicer strutting around the fields…..anyway ‘life as a servant’ prevails and I think their messiness will have to be nicely disguised as a “game pie”!!!
We went to the Cheltenham Races last weekend, which is a bit of a fixture at this time of the year. You share picnic in the boot of the car with the dogs and then study the horses “form” as they are paraded around before they are taken out to race. They all look so lovely and very capable……however, the ones we bet on are still running.
Parts of England are snow bound at the moment, we are hoping for a “white Christmas”, but I think that is a bit of a dream, it’s freezing cold, but so far just a few teasing flakes. Lovely walking weather.
The hole in the ground is having a temporary cover put over it, the size of the “Super Top”, locals are freaking, not realizing that come May, the whole site will look like a meadow, it’s astonishing. We fantasize that it’s a stadium for a Rolling Stones New Year Concert! Christmas is a bit of a lonely affair this year as we are manor bound, we shall make the best of it….drink mulled wine to your health and wish you were here………

Life as a servant.............

 
 
 
 

……..get’s a bit surreal from time to time – well most of the time actually! When our employer was in residence over summer, he thought that we needed more parking space for guests etc and because he thought more cars parking would spoil the look of the place, decided that it should go underground…consequently we have a HUGE hole in the meadow and a building project of industrial proportions going on around us. When it is finished it will be invisible.
Last weekend two of our employer’s family came for a “country weekend” with their friends. We had been given a brief by the parents, who was coming, what rooms to prepare, what meals were being eaten ‘out’ and what sort of meals they would like when they were eating “in”….. ……..everything changed, of course….guest numbers went up and down and rooms that had been deemed suitable by the parents were discarded by the ‘young hosts’. Meals that the parents had thought were going to be eaten ‘out’ were of course eaten ‘in’ and meal numbers fluctuated between 8-10. A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner was requested for 8pm on the Saturday night…at 7.30pm I was asked to put it on hold for 30mins as another young friend was flying in by helicopter (as you do!)……..Two hours later said young guest arrived and the meal was served! (Rod and the resident young-uns having guided the heli into a paddock with their torches, in the dark and freezing cold).
Uber-rich kids are pretty much the same as kids everywhere except they have bigger toys and people to pick up after them……they were very polite and well mannered and hoovered up cookies at an alarming rate as well as large quantities of Daddy’s Moet!!
The photos are a bit random, because I’m having “issues” with storage – the HOLE, the Manor kitchen, a fav sunset and one that I took from my hairdresser’s window in Soho – “make my day”!!!!!
Christmas is looming and we are feeling a bit bereft….wish you were here xxxxxxxxxx