We’ve been in for three months now, and what an expensive three months it has been. We (or at least, I) knew that this house would cost more – I had already worked it out before we moved because it is me who pays the bills. The rent is more also, but we get so much more with this house in terms of peace, peace, peace, peace, space, peace, and a bit of peace. It’s truly lovely here, but this winter is not being financially kind to us, and it’s only just started. Ho hum, onwards we trot. I am hoping that next summer I can build up credit on the electricity account to see us through next winter.
Anyhoo. Financially misery aside (when am I not financially
miserable?), we love being here. It really is utterly gorgeous. So quiet, so
relaxing, so peaceful, so calming. Coming down the track at the end of the day
and rounding the corner before it opens up into the glade with the houses
nestled against the cliff on one side, and garden and fields on the other. Utterly
blissful.
We went and explored Newport as David wanted to see it. We saw it in around an hour – we would’ve been quicker but we stopped for a toasted teacake and a hot choca with all the trimmings (me obv). A very historical place but it was too cold to stop and read all the blue plaques.
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| He had toasted teacake and I had scone with jam & cream, and then we swapped half each |
The woodstore is now full thanks to a delivery of logs so that should keep us going for a while. Pretty good, considering I can’t afford to run the cooker anymore. We have had a log burner stew and it is a novelty that I intend to continue, so perhaps our gifted le creuset pot will get a lot of use this season. Might as well use the heat from the fire to do some cooking.
Talking of the cooker, it died at the weekend and we had no oven for four days. Turns out there was a wobbly loose wire in the socket but I phoned the emergency line and they couldn’t help. I borrowed the electric hotplate from work but it was not a fun few days. Which is why I need to get used to log burner cooking, in case we have a power cut. We treated ourselves to a carb-fest in the form of a 'Spoons curry with rice, naan, poppadoms, & chips.
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| Log burner stew! On a cooling rack because we don't have a trivet. |
The skies when they are clear are full of stars. I suppose the sky is always full of stars, we just can’t usually see ‘em due to smog.
We have invested in a new vacuum and it has instantly increased our quality of life.
Saw an ex (v dead) pygmy shrew in the cave. Pheasants are regular visitors into the garden and we have lots of blackbirds and tits. And buzzards. The cave is getting called lots of things such as "the garage", "the shed", "the outsidey bit", and "the cupboard".
So yes. Life here is good. Very good. Except the electricity
bill is crippling us (me).
Still haven’t eaten any peaches.
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| Her Maj the Floof does not live with us, but she would like it very much. |
