It all started with a need for some more smoked duck breast from the wonderful Severn and Wye Smokery, but it ended up with a car boot full of plums. Well, about 30 pounds of plums anyway. This morning the kitchen was like Plumsville, Arizona. Sal had to take the day off. All day we [...]
The low down on the New Harp is that it is in the hands of someone who is prepared to put some money into it and turn it into a foodie destination. We have heard that whoever it is has built a reputation elsewhere and is coming to Hoarwithy to repeat her success. When we [...]
Wow! Some pretty serious work is going on over the road. The framework for raised decking is under construction outside the back door of the New Harp Inn. The site manager from the contractors doing the work is staying with us for a couple of days. Must find out more. Meanwhile, we now have a [...]
Was it the inspiring sight of the old shed coming down? Or was it just the fact that we can see ourselves clearing and pruning forever unless we do something radical in the garden? Or perhaps just the fact that I saw a sign outside a house in Bridstow that said “Landscape and Design”. Whatever [...]
The day has come to make way for the new shed. So saying, our trusty turn-his-hand-to-anything handyman was called in, bribed with tea and cake, and let loose. A few hours later, the shed (and much of the honeysuckle that had been clinging on to it) had gone, destined for a new lease of life [...]
Something is happening over at the New Harp Inn. Or, more accurately, nothing is happening. Which is odd. On any given lunchtime, especially during fine weather, noises off are evident. But today, nothing. Just a few cars left in the car park after being abandoned by their inebriated owners last night. By this evening, all [...]
Crossing the patio this morning and looking up, I saw a sight I’ve never seen before – a buzzard being harassed by a grey heron. Crows, yes. That happens all the time. But a heron? That might well happen all the time too, but I’ve never seen it.
We had a couple from Belfast staying for the last two nights. At the same time, the cottage was occupied. Ordinarily, these two situations would exist in tandem but mutually exclusive, each invisible to the other, like parallel universes. However, this time there were more members of the cottage party than there were bed spaces [...]
About ten days ago, we took delivery of a new compost bin. Although this might easily be described as ‘too much information’, nonetheless it marks the start of a new era at Aspen House. Until now, we have been using a green conical depository (with a lid but no side hatch) which was already half [...]