So here we are in rural North Devon just a stones throw from some stunning beaches nestled in the beautiful countryside surrounded by fields and livestock....we have to pinch ourselves quite often as we truly are living our dream, we made it happen. It's been a very emotional journey in many ways but we feel settled here and as we promised ourselves we are already living life to the full and enjoying every minute of every day.
We first looked at this cottage about year ago but walked away as it just needed so much work but it just kept tugging on our heart strings and in the end we went for it and it feels just perfect. Yes it needs a hell of a lot of TLC but once it's done I am sure we will sit back with a very, very large glass of wine and say it was well worth it..... and it's a project to keep our minds occupied.
One of the first jobs was to make the gateway wider as it was a little tight to say the least even for my van, let alone the motorhome which we needed to get onto the front lawn so we can live in it while the building work is being done. The large hedge was the first thing to go so armed with my chainsaw and pick axe it was a day of hard graft.....ironic really as while I was swinging the pick axe and digging the roots out I couldn't help thinking that it would have taken just one large scoop with the bucket of my digger and it would have been job done!!
To be honest it wasn't that bad but my arms did feel a bit achy the next day, as did Julie's as she dragged the bush to the bottom of the garden and had a huge bonfire....she's a fire bug when it comes to a good old bonfire.
Much better.....
Julie was like something possessed and cut this hedge back too..
Happy as larry !
We are replacing the single gate with 2 smaller gates but making it wider and then I will re-build the stone pillar once the builders have finished getting their lorries in.
Job done...
We noticed that one of the lovely old Devon stone walls was completely covered with ivy and had collapsed next to the lane so we cleared it all off and I re-built it.....
Not bad for my first attempt at dry stone walling....
We've already had a few visitors and had a day trip to Clovelly, it was very quaint with it's little old houses and steep cobbled street, can't believe the residents have to lug their shopping down to their houses on wooden sleighs (there's one propped up against the wall in the left of the picture)....ours would be loaded up with so much wine I am sure it would run away with us and end up in the harbour at the bottom!!
Andy, Paul & I had a few days out surfing and supping while Julie, Twiggy & Claire allegedly had a cuppa tea in Paul & Twiggy's motorhome.....I didn't know that tea came in a glass bottle with a cork!!
The weather has been quite pleasant although a bit nippy at times and it's starting to feel very spring like. The fields surrounding us are full of little lambs, it's funny watching them leaping about all over the place....mind you they are noisy little buggers and some mornings wake us up.....along with the cackling pheasants that seem to be living in the garden.
View from our bedroom windows
Soooo cute...
Although we have our planning permission we haven't got a builder on board as we are just waiting for final quotes and plans so while we are thrashing out the final details we have been busy clearing out the garden making way for the new patio etc. The old lady that lived here loved the garden and we have an array of beautiful plants and shrubs, she must have spent thousands so we carefully dug some of them up and have successfully transplanted them to other areas or into pots ready for re-planting at a later date.
We cut a large conifer tree down that was right next to the house and also some over hanging branches from another large tree, it has made such a difference having a good clear out and looks so much tidier already and allows more sunlight to get to the house.
Another excuse for a bonfire.....
The house has some lovely old original features but sadly they have been spoilt with modern wallpaper, layers of paint and hard board so we are stripping it back which we think will be amazing.
We went to our storage unit on the hunt for some tools and some summer clothes.....easier said than done searching for what we wanted but we got there in the end!!
So you might all think that we are living a life of leisure but we have a lot of work to do but of course we do have the benefit of downing tools whenever we like and taking a few hours out to enjoy the stunning beaches and the amazing countryside walks we have on our doorstep...
What a great view the cows have of Saunton Sands
We stumbled across this place on one of our walks....Saunton Court
An evening stroll along Saunton....we had the place to ourselves
So that just about sums up our new life so far and like we said we are loving every minute. Julie's mum & dad, Dave & Brenda are our next visitors in a few weeks and we can't wait to see them, hopefully they will see we've made some progress here at the house already even before the major work begins.
J&J
xx
