Neglected Blog and Other Things That Need Attention.

Its been a while since I posted and to be honest, the list of things that I mean to do each days just gets longer.... I have given myself a break from endless lists now and just plan to do one 'job' per day. Seems to be working so from now on its little and often. Staring my seventh week battling a cough I picked up whilst at a SAMM retreat in September...... but I am much more positive since I went so I guess its a trade off.

We finally have a cooker......It is so lovely and warm and makes the house feel like a home.....It also means that I no longer need to drive to Leadgate to use the cooker at the wonderful holiday farmhouse, High Aimshaugh (Fabulous holiday accommodation - perfect for families). Latterly I have been lucky enough to be able to use the one next door at the beautiful Robson's Cottage (Amazing little cottage -perfect for couples). Its nice to finally have ours though.

Fire Places and Racing Dogs

So here it is....

The top half has been filled in with stone and has since been removed. Can't believe anyone would just cover this up! The fire is approx early 18th century and the oak surround is a while later. It turned out that our next door neighbour has one almost identical that was dated by some official body a few years back.

I have already started stripping the surround down to the bare wood and it is looking beautiful The wood is such a rich colour. The plan is to clear the fire out and make it safe. We then need to repair the stone chimney breast and seal it. Once thats done, we can refit the surround. I'm so pleased that we found this and can't wait to see what it looks like when the work is complete!

Meanwhile......Saturday was the Alston Show. We ventured down to the field with the children and had a lovely time. The terrier racing was a delight to see and I have to admit that I didn't realise that there were so many different types of sheep!

Hidden treasures...

Settling in nicely and enjoying the beautiful weather that we have had for the last couple of days. Not sure it will last though... Anyhow, we have been busy. Or, more correctly, Mark has been busy. The orange coloured pine downstairs bathroom just had to go..

I'm sure it was a marvel to look at in the early seventies.....However, on removal of the pine we found..... the most amazing discovery.....a stone fire dating back to around the early 1700's, complete with an oak surround that dates a little later. There are also two cupboards to the right of the fire. I was so thrilled when we uncovered them. I can't believe that they were simply boxed in but then I am truly grateful that they hadn't just been ripped out... Will post up a photo of our hidden treasure next time. I wonder what else we will find in this amazing old house??

At last....

Well, it's August and....... we are finally here! Moved in just over a week ago and have managed to unpack most of the boxes. Well....almost!

The children have settled in really well and are spending most of their time down on the playing field. They have been to their new school for a play scheme and enjoyed themselves.

Happy to be showing Aunties E & H their new school!

It's time to start enjoying our new home now and getting to know our new town. It is so beautiful here, I never tire of looking at the amazing scenery. There is so much to do in the house but I think that is part of the fun. Taking our time and making plans.... Will post up some photos when I get chance, if I can remember where I put the camera once I unpacked it!!

Graduation Day.....

Am very proud of my niece Amy. In fact, I'm proud of all my nieces - Kirsty, Emma, Kim  &  Jacqui - just in case any of them ever read this! Last week was graduation day for Amy as she left Liverpool with a 2.1 BA Hons in History. The sky duly emptied as I arrived at Lime Street and didn't stop until long after I had left for home. There were flash floods in Liverpool - unbelievable. However, the weather failed to dampen a wonderful day.

We had a lovely meal afterwards in the Everyman Bistro. I had the Greek lamb stew which was delicious. Didn't have time for dessert though so will have to go back another time. Haven't been to the Everyman since I went to see Stephen Sharkey's  - The May Queen. Anyhow, the day soon ended and I found myself back on the train to Stafford.

So where are we? Well.... the plan was to move to Cumbria by August and we are still very much focused on that. Just waiting for the final bits of paperwork to slot onto place and then we are off. The house is half empty as some of our stuff is already in Alston. The rest is boxed up and ready to go. We are literally just waiting for a date and then we will be off. There is no panic though as we have let the house from October so we can hang on longer if we need to. Its exciting now as we are able to start to make plans about what we want to do with the house. Mark is even making hopeful sounding mutterings about an AGA but we will wait and see. Am looking for a reconditioned one but even they are expensive so will have to wait. Perhaps by my next post we will have moved.....who knows?

Beware of the Sheep

Sat with a mug of tea last night and made a plan for the week ahead and a plan of what needs to be moved out of each room. We are trying to break the move into two sizeable chunks instead of one great overwhelming move and have been lucky enough to be able to arrange a lock up to store all the things that we have already packed. We are planning a quick trip to Alston on Wednesday to drop stuff off and will stay over night. There is a little holiday let that we thought looked nice that just happens to be next door to our new house! It is just for two which is perfect!

We are planning on catching up with some friends for coffee and having another quick look at Orchard House to do some measurements etc. I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to sort things out just with Mark and without having to entertain the children whilst we do it!

Mark has designed some 'New Address" cards based on a design by icon-art. I have a card they created that someone sent me with a sheep on and it really made me smile.

This is the original and below is Marks version:

I love this! I think I will get it printed in black & white though.

This is a photo of one of the Harrison sheep from Alston that Mark took a couple of years ago. No doubt the poor creature has since been despatched and roasted but I have fond memories of that particular holiday and I am really pleased withe new address cards. Now I just have to get them printed in time for our 'Open House' in a couple of weeks time.

So much to do, so little time...

Things have been a bit hectic of late. We have bumbled along achieving nothing except a nice weekend camping on Shell Island and then for the last two weeks or so, things have started moving! We still haven't managed to sell the house but the long awaited planning permission is through with a couple of issues to be dealt with. Fingers crossed, the sale of the land will go through in the next couple of weeks and we can then complete on the Alston house! I am soooo excited. We have decided to try and let the house for 12 months and see if it will be easier to sell once the land has been divided and the new house built. 

We have been busy sorting and packing. Its amazing how much stuff we have accumulated over the last 10 years. We have freecycled and charity shopped so many items but I feel like we still need to cut back on what we are taking.

This is a picture of the new house! The 'Sold' sign has gone up and I am assured that the roses are growing nicely in the front. I can't believe that we just have around 5 more weeks until we move. Until then, there is an endless arrangement of 21st & 40th birthday parties as well as a visit from some friends of ours from Chicago and of course, an Open House  day to be able to say goodbye to all our lovely friends!