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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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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.
