So lucky to live here

We went for a glorious walk yesterday. It was bitterly cold but the sky was blue and we were wrapped up warmly. In a stunning valley, a hill-and-a-half away from here, lies a derelict house and barn, apparently once inhabited by monks. So far off the beaten track, it can only be reached by tractor. Sadly it is unlikely ever to be renovated because it is several miles away from the nearest road, impossible to connect to the grid and the cost of getting any materials to the property would be prohibitive. (And we know – having done it ourselves!) We marveled at the mullion windows and the ice house and were saddened by the rotting beams and history that was fading before our eyes.

It must have been a hard life for those monks living in the middle of nowhere and a shame that no one else will be able to enjoy living in an area of such natural beauty.

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Happy 2012!

We welcomed in the New Year with a house full of friends and at midnight, we got a special treat! The visibility was extraordinary and we reckon we saw everyone’s firework displays in the North West. It’s hard to tell in the dark, but we think a couple of Cheshire’s leading hotels and stately homes hosted some truly spectacular displays. They may not have matched those over Big Ben, but they weren’t far off!

The weather over the last couple of days has been challenging, but we’re still standing. This morning we discovered that the barn’s outdoor wooden table had been picked up by the wind and then rolled half way down the hill side! At least it’s still toasty warm inside the barn.

We’ve already got quite a few bookings for 2012, so if you’re thinking of coming to stay, just give me a call. In the meantime, we would like to wish you a very happy and healthy 2012.

A pond in progress

Our fabulous gardener, Tony, came up with a brilliant idea to sort out an ugly, weed and rubble-filled patch of land to the right of our house. A pond! A few weeks ago a local man with a digger made a 5 foot hole, Tony put in the liner and to our amazement the pond started filling up all by itself. The following morning the pond was full from water that ran down the hillside. After a bit of impromptu dry-stone-walling by our super-hero builders (the same two who built Best View Barn) it’s looking pretty good. Planting won’t happen until the spring.

Roll Cloud over Cheshire

I’m not totally sure this is a roll cloud, but we certainly had some weather this evening! As I watched these clouds roll in over the Cheshire plain, then the fog descended over The Peak District and any hope of a sunset was obliterated. But it goes to show that there is beauty in the sky, even when it’s dull and dismal.

Studying for exams

It’s hard to revise for exams with so much distraction going on. This was the scene on the terrace of the barn last weekend.

Working on the Terrace

Hard at work

Photographing the Peak District

I have a new resolution – to take at least one photograph each week to show how our fabulous views change depending upon the weather and the light. At long last it has warmed up and we’re having a couple of gloriously warm days. This morning everywhere west of Congleton seemed to be in fog, whilst we were basking in sunshine.

Last week we had the most fabulous sunsets. Here’s what it looked like.

Sunset over Cheshire Plain - 18th May 2010

Morning fog over Cheshire

Music on the hill

When we’re surrounded by something most of the time, it’s easy to take it for granted. And so it’s the case with music. I hadn’t given it much thought before, but we’re able to offer guests the opportunity to play a range of instruments (violins, guitars, saxophone, piano, didgeridoo (yes really!), accordion – and the list goes on…) or even arrange a musical soiree for their enjoyment. With a daughter at a specialist music school we are spoiled by wonderful playing. But even before that, we’ve arranged recitals for friends – and friends of friends – to listen to the extraordinary piano playing of Libor Novacek. He’s planning on coming here again in October or November, so if you would like to experience sitting in our living room listening to one of today’s most wonderful young pianists, let me know!

English Language Courses

We’re about to launch tailor-made English Language courses. Having a resident linguist, it does make sense! Totally fluent in English, Dutch and German he spends hours each week on professional translating projects and he’s just about to do some further TEFL courses. On top of that he is extraordinarily patient. As he’s lived in most European countries at some point but has now been in England for over fifteen years (gulp!) he is extremely aware of those little cultural differences. It should be fun. So if you know of any Dutch or Germans who would like to learn English in a relaxed and luxurious environment, then please let them know!

And to help them, soon the website will be tri-lingual. Sadly this blog won’t be, since my German is non-existent and my Dutch extends to important phrases such as, ‘go and brush your teeth’ and ‘shut-up bald head’…..!

Fire on The Cloud

The disadvantages of having spectacular views is that we can watch unfolding dramas that take place far across the countryside. Last night we watched with dismay as an enormous fire took hold of the heather, bracken and trees on a local hill known as the Bosley Cloud. Fortunately we don’t think that anyone was hurt or any property damaged. The fire engines arrived from every direction, but I suppose there was little they could do. So sad to think it will be years, if ever, before all that wonderful wildlife regenerates.

And we certainly never thought we’d see vistas similar to the Icelandic volcano right here in Cheshire!

Free e-books

I’m busy writing some e-books, that hopefully will be of benefit to people visiting this gorgeous part of England. First up is ‘Where to eat, in and around Macclesfield’. Obviously the research for that was onerous indeed. We’ve had to visit all the restaurants, just to make sure they are worthy of inclusion! What a tough life…

Anyway, a sneak preview… The winner of the finest place to eat in the area goes to La Popote in Marton. If you go there, tell them that the snow plough wielding Dutch man on top of the hill recommended it!