Classic Christmas Rituals

There is nothing better than going to pick your own Christmas Tree.  It’s even better to pick your own tree from where it is growing and have it cut down before your very eyes.  I have vague recollections of me doing this once before when I was a child –...

Decisions, decisions – the growers delight

Few things in life give greater pleasure to a basset than a pile of mud.  A place to put their pudgy paws and indulge in a spot of sniffing or digging.  The softer the mud the better it is but as mud goes they’ll pretty much take anything. With the...

Sigh, you know it’s a good thing to do

Breaking up for the holidays is like letting out an enormous sigh.  That last effort before you can finally relax.  With the exception of some paperwork I am all done with work for this year.  Now the focus will switch to domestic matters – for that the sigh...

Lessons in building in the country

Just as I think I’m learning the lessons of building and living in the country something comes along and makes me realise I’m such an amateur.  Despite my best efforts to think ahead and have a plan for every eventuality something always happens. ...

How building projects get more interesting

There is nothing more satisfying seeing a building project come to fruition.  Especially when its not me doing the building.  The kitchen garden construction has really taken shape although for a moment I think that the plans must have been misread.  I was...