Our Beautiful Beach Hut is Now Sold!

It is situated right on the seafront overlooking Bideford Bay in North Devon.

It is freehold and has electricity connected.

A wonderful investment!

Please check it out - http://beach-hut-for-sale-devon.blogspot.co.uk/

SOLD!

We are offering our stylish 2 bedroomed flat at a bargain price for a quick private sale.

It is situated on the top floor of a former Victorian hotel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Priced at only £139,000 it would make a fantastic secure holiday home where you can monitor the tides or surf conditions from the window!

View from sitting room

View from bedroom

Sunset yesterday. Lundy Island is on the horizon.

For more photos please check out

http://www.sea-view-for-sale.blogspot.co.uk/

Knightshayes Court & Clovelly

Yesterday we met up with the family and visited Knightshayes Court, near Tiverton, courtesy of the National Trust.

It is a beautiful gothic mansion, set in the heart of the rolling mid Devon countryside.

After touring the house we went outside to explore the wonderful gardens.

David in the bluebell wood!

There were some amazing willow sculptures hidden amongst the lush foliage in the grounds.

This one was a dragon.

Here we have a friendly troll, lurking behind a tree!

This wonderful lifesize horse was my favourite!

Last weekend we went to Clovelly, a unique fishing village on the North Devon coast.

This is the view from the top of the hill.

The cobbled high street tumbles its way steeply down, past whitewashed cottages festooned with flowers, to the tiny working port below.

It is famous for its donkeys, which traditionally carry goods up the hill while sledges bring them down.

Finally a couple of pictures of Casper, who is getting into practise for playing with his newly born brother.

See pictures of him on http://www.bellaskittens.blogspot.com/

Spring has Sprung!

 This week the weather has been beautiful.
After the ministry I had the opportunity to take a few photos.
This is the village of Stoke, near Hartland.

Descending down the steep lane to Hartland Quay

It is an atmospheric place with its amazing rock formations.


The view from the beach.

We then visited Docton Mill, near Hartland.

It has a working water wheel.

The gardens are beautiful...

...with lots of Spring flowers...

...and fast flowing streams...

...spanned by little bridges. 

On the way home we noticed how the trees are twisted into grotesque shapes by the prevailing winds. 

In memory of our wonderful Jessie, who is no longer around to enjoy the lovely Devon countryside.
31.07.1998 - 24.12.2011

Click on the link below for a photobook of the highlights of her life.
http://www.albelli.co.uk/view-online-photo-book/ec05539a-8b88-40a1-ab10-888c027ce921

A November to Remember!

Usually cold, damp, grey and miserable, November is not my favourite month. This year, however, we have been so busy that it has flown by and we haven’t even noticed the weather!

Suzie had a trade stand for her high visibility dog products (see http://www.glo-balls.com/)
 at the “Discover Dogs” show at Earls Court on the 12 and 13 November. Preparation and packing everything up kept us busy at the beginning of the month. This is the stand just before the show opened ...

... and this is a few minutes later!

The show itself was excellent and although it was quite exhausting it was well worth doing.

On the Monday after the show I had a quick visit to The National Gallery and then went on to Ramsgate to spend some time with my two sisters, Marilyn and Christine. (This is Marilyn beside the "Great Wall of Ramsgate").

The following day we visited our long lost half brother, Chuck – the first time we have all been together for over 50 years. He is writing a book about his worldwide animal training exploits. I can't wait to read it!

The rest of the week passed far too quickly. We had an enjoyable evening with Angie (my niece) and her husband Tim. We enjoyed drinking coffee overlooking the sea at Broadstairs and visited the new Turner Contemporary art Gallery in Margate where we admired Rodin’s famous sculpture “The Kiss.”

This is the three of us reflected in the mirror!

It was lovely for us all to visit our artistic cousin Jacqui who prepared a wonderful lunch for us. 

That evening I returned home to Devon.

On 26th November we were invited to attend the opening of the Heritage Photographic exhibition at the North Devon Museum.

Hundreds of photos were submitted so I was delighted to discover that 6 of mine had actually been included in the exhibition.

Even more amazing - I was awarded 1st prize in the “Towns andVillages” category (the central one with the black mount) and 2nd (the top left picture of Ben) and also highly commended in the “Characters” category. I now have a medal and more certificates to add to the collection!

We have a new family member at the moment - four month old Caspar, one of Bella's kittens.

See http://www.bellaskittens.blogspot.com/

He has completely taken over the house!

Our Anniversary!

Today was our 46th Anniversary - how many life sentences is that!!!

Becky & Jonathan & the boys very kindly arranged to meet us on Exmoor and treat us to dinner.

The weather was warm and sunny & Exmoor looked beautiful.

We enjoyed a lovely 3 course meal at the Hunters Inn.

After the meal we set off down to the beach.

It was a beautiful walk alongside the river.

The sides of the valley grew much steeper as we neared the river's mouth.

When we eventually reached the beach Becky produced a bottle of bubbly to celebrate....

while the boys were busy climbing the rocks.

Elliot silhuetted against the sky,

The time passed very quickly and soon it was time to head back up Heddon valley to where we had parked the cars. It was a wonderful day and the weather could not have been better. Certainly an anniversary to remember!