I have been taking stock recently and I think we are turning one of many corners along our road to transformation which is where this blog started a few weeks ago. A bit like David Cameron realising that the hard yards start now (again) I think for Carol and me, we have reached a point where the newness is starting to fade and the steady state transformation is starting to cut in.
Don’t get me wrong, this is absolutely no bad thing: on the contrary it is a good feeling that more of what we see each day makes sense to us and while any new experience still generates the rabbit in the headline response, we are starting to understand a bit more about the life we have chosen.
Our cottage rental business (we rent out the two cottages above) is going well and the summer months are pretty full through to the end of August: each new set of guests are treated to the full flow of hospitality and the feedback seems to indicate that they are pleased with us and the cottages – great news and even better, we don’t seem to need to rush around now quite as quickly as we did when the first guests arrived only a couple of months ago. Again, don’t get me wrong, turnover day is hard work but I think the difference is we have an embryonic confidence in ourselves and that is good. Best of all, we have met some really great guests and had some good chats and laughs with them.
Two couples who arrived today are very keen bird watchers and so I hope to impress them with my Twitcher blog from 7 May and I hope to learn a few things from them during the week.
While farming is still, in general, a mystery, we at least understand that spring lambing is finished and while the offspring graze all day and grow rapidly, they no longer hold the mesmerising fascination we felt as we watched them being ‘pulled’ in the sheds right next to our cottages.
For their part they no longer run to their mothers bleating loudly when we drive past: instead they might look up, or not, and carry on grazing. And even my fascination with the whole concept of artificial insemination of heifers seems like yesterday’s news: yes it happens and I understand how, why and when. I even have a copy of the Directory, from which the desired offspring type can be chosen after considering everything from chest width, to rump angle to udder height etc etc. It is sitting next to my Trail magazine on the coffee table as light, casual reading for any visitor. After all, it’s just the way of life: it’s no big deal!
Again, the message seems to be we are all just getting on with our lives.
But there are also some new events occurring: one in particular puts me to shame but I will crack it soon: wild flowers are erupting on every roadside, cliff path and open hill. Blue, white, pink and yellow, all set against a backdrop of lush green grass and/or the still vibrant orange of gorse in full, prickly, splendour. A reliable source told me just today that in three weeks’ time the show will be much more spectacular: a perfect combination of just enough rain, plenty of sun and balmy temperatures have set the scene for a wonderful early summer. I WILL learn all the names and I will take the photographs for you.
Now this month has also seen the arrival of a very special pair of bundles – Louise and her eleven month old son Hamish – or ‘Sir Ham’ as he has been referred to since he was born. They are here until the end of the month and the other day we took them to Porthgain on the coast and to Dinas Head. Both are spectacular walks and if you are visiting Pembrokeshire at any time, they must be on your ‘to do’ list. Porthgain has an incredible industrial history all crammed into 100 years – slate and granite quarrying, brick and concrete slab making and a beautiful port which is out of all proportion to the size of the village – this is definitely a blog on its own at some future point.
I’ve not met Hamish before, although Carol spent 6 weeks in Australia with him soon after he was born. He has a really calm temperament – I’m genuinely impressed – and he and I have already started route planning for a bigger expeditions in the future! Below left reminds me of the dwarf and the ugly giant on whose shoulders he sat in the Mad Max film – do you remember him saying: ’Who runs Barter Town?’ and ‘Embargo on!!’ at which point he would turn off the power. Below right shows Sir Ham and I are deciding where to go next after conquering Dinas Head by lunchtime! We will miss them both hugely when the return to Aus at the end of May.
I suppose the other notable change this month has been the fitting of the hot tub and its glass surround (below). Shame it developed a leak but I think that is now fixed! It’s really great to sit in it at night when Carol is home from work and just star gaze. Just what you need after another day in paradise.
As for getting into the routine – well I think we can take the strain!