Happy or what – look almost no hands!!

Lesley, buoyed up by her experience in Holland hired an English Narrow Boat to put Pugwash through his paces as Skipper and also to take Josh (13) her eldest son and a chum of his called Rob on a 4 day school exeat from St David’s School Llandudno.

We started at Ellesmere Marina and picked up a delightful standard and conventional 18m 4 berth Narrow Boat and toured to Llangollen on the canal built in the late 18oo’s and crossed the famous Llangollen Aqueduct build by Thomas Telford in 1878′ish with its 300ft+ free fall drop on on one side to the River Dee below….awesome!!

Once again we had a fantastic time – the weather was kind again and the G&T’s were just spot on….crew were great and Josh and Robs whilst not catching much on the fishing front nonetheless had a fun time throughout.

As you can see above Pugwash and Bosun’s Mate have matching big grins…..which just says it all in my book…….and we’re now further exploring the UK Narrow Boat spectrum with greater interim interest whilst children are still at school in order to maximise time afloat during school holidays and exeats…..France can therefore wait a while happily……as an old RM maxim decrees “Time spent in reconnaissance is time rarely wasted”!!

Bosun’s Mate Lesley Anderson on Idefix in Gorencham Harbour in Holland!!

Lesley and I flew Bristol – Antwerp and took a wonderfully efficient train journey through part of southern Holland to a busy commercial waterway on the River Mass where we took part in a gathering of some 15 mostly English owned Dutch Barges which had converged for the Dutch Barge Association Visitors Weekend. It’s been a ‘Pipe Dream’ of mine to tour the French Canals on just such a boat and this was an early stage recce to see whether we’d both enjoy life aboard in a confined area.

Well we had a ball…..not only did we thoroughly enjoy the entire W/E and confirm between us that the notion of spending time together on the water gently pottering in the slow lane of life aboard as both positive and would love to…..we also had the worlds smallest cabin to spend the 2 nights on board our host B&B vessel called Idefix to dispel the “confined area” myth with good humour and many a giggle between us!!

Lesley thoroughly enjoyed herself and was instantly at home afloat…..good weather and plenty of chilled white wine helped of course……but we were superbly well looked after and chugged up the river and crawled all over the other vessels over the course of the W/E guaging what size we might like to set our down stream sights on. 

There was a Jazz Festival that W/E in the main square and we arrived in the sunshine and immediately settled down to having fun with a glass or two…..together with a sprig of Daphne whose fragrance bought out the best in both of us!!

There being no mirrors in our cabin enabled us both to spruce up as best we could for the Main Event, namely a Do’s -n-Dont’s Seminar on Buying a Dutch Barge…..luckily we were just looking ‘cos there was so much information to handle all at once, and we were enjoying ourselves so much that much of it needs another visit a little further downstream in our research.

Conclusion – we both loved the concept……we both now share the Dream and will further the recce over the next few years ahead……yippee!!!

 Colin and Olive Hellier’s 3 daughters return together for the first time to their old redundant farm buildings and reminisce with childhood memories vividly recalling playing as youngsters (now Orchard Barn B&B) and together with some of their children quench their Easter Sunday thirst with a glass of Scrumpy Cider made from their Father’s apples. As you can see – laughter and empty glasses says it all and at 6% it has a magic effect on everybody………..!!

Having been looking for some time now I am pleased to announce a recent adjustment within the management team at Orchard Barn B&B………………..ici le sous-chef qui s’apelle Lesley, elle et trez belle et le petit dejunier dans la maison sont plus mejor then ever they were when I was cookin’!!!

Les deux Chefs aux bord de la mer en Cornwall pendre un petit kip at the top of the hill n’est pas!!

So when anyone phones to book in and Lesley answers the blower………..si vous pait, demande que “est that le Sous-Chef peutetre?”

Orchard Barn plum tree in full early blossom and new Cider Apple trees being planted (and guarded so his sheep can still graze) in Colin Helier’s orchard next door

Orchard Barn’s mill leet (or often known as a mill race) together with several wonderful forsythia shrubs in full blossom too

Orchard Barn in the sunshine…………and it’s lovely to know we’ve six months of the summer to look forward too!!

Lesley and I on one of our many walks up through the Steps Bridge daffodils alongside the Teign River

Love is in the air – that’s for sure!!

The Dunsford Players on a beer stop………….somewhere in France!!!

Charles Parry an old mucker and his brother in law Mike, Tommy-No-Noise another former Bootneck and his brother in law Chris, together with Rob from London and Phil the vet from Okehampton (don’t ever mention “Pull throughs” to him!!) all took to the slopes near Geneva and stayed at a wonderful apartment near Flaine…………Boys on Tour etc…!!

Charles and Ian in a hoolie with Mont Blanc behind us!!!

Chris and Charles with the wets for the Boys……….well the first ones anyway!!

Charles, Tommy-No-Noise (having just lost the Sweep and tears in his beer after the Calcutta Cup was once again back in the hands of the deserved and rightful owners) and yours truly the cheerful sweep winner never won so much in a single afternoon in my life!!!

It was a terrific few days and the 7 of us had a ball – our joint thanks go to Chris for organising the Pad through his chum Paul (VMT Paul) and to Tom for making the travel arrangements for all (cheers Tom – shame about the Rugby….Not!!!)

Teign Valley riverside Daffs in bloom overlooking the famous Dunsford Stepping Stones, all 14 giant granite steps being almost invisible under the recent flood water that is!!

‘Splash Club’ members – come and renew your membership here with ease !!

River Teign running reasonably high after recent rains…………and the Moles have had to move to higher ground too!!

Spring is ‘definately’ in the air at Orchard Barn….. and guests will be delighted to meet Lesley when they come and stay as she adds a new dimension to the happy atmosphere around the place!!

Winter comes to Orchard Barn and stays for a few days………….just like it did when we were kids so off we went with tin trays and wellies to slide down the local hills ’til dark!! The Villagers took to the slopes with a fine sense of ‘lets make the most of it whilst it lasts’ and many a laugh was to be heard across the Valley from boys and girls, Mums and Dads of all ages enjoying themselves in the Winter Wonderland!!

One of my B&B guests called Andrea from Croatia needed some help having got into an equipment muddle on the slopes up behind the Royal Oak pub!!! A swift Vin Chaud from the unbreakable ‘Pussers’ flask, a word or two of suitable encouragement, a gentle snow brush off and she was fine……………..and then proceeded to whizz down to the Teign Valley Road like a true professional in her usual ebullient fits of laughter and Euro-giggles which we all find so endearing!!

It’s all gone now……….Spring is starting to burst through………..but the memories will keep us going through ’til Easter and beyond. Who says Global Warming’s all bad news!!

The Famous Stepping Stones at Orchard Barn Dunsford crossing the River Teign

The spectacular view from Buzzard Point above Canonteign Falls looking towards Ashton and the Royal Oak Pub where they serve a truly wonderful pint of Jail Ale…………one of life’s riches I can assure you.

Recently I escorted a B&B guest on a lovely long 10 miler………we crossed the Teign using the Stepping Stones opposite the house and walked through woods and paths and a little on road as well until we got to the Canonteign Estate………….knowing my way through the undergrowth we eat our picnic at Buzzard Point overlooking the wonderful Teign Valley below and then headed for the Royal Oak Pub at Ashton where we were warmly welcomed for a well earned pint. Brilliant………..and then tea and toast at home on return………..not a bad days work I’d say. You should try it!!

Max Richards in the doorway of his magnificent barn adjoining his house at Mill Barn and overlooking the Famous Dunsford Stepping Stones awash with winter flood waters

My neighbours Max and Jacqui Richards and their 2 adorable children hosted a fine Christmas drinks party just before the cold weather and about 30 of us enjoyed a good seasonal ‘gossip’ standing in their barn christened as a party venue for the first time around their decorated tree, roaring chimenea throwing off loads of smoke and moral boosting heat occasionally, mince pies galore and more importantly terrific mulled wine and the best mulled cider I’d ever had, whilst children various ran about in the safe confines of their lovely garden.

It was a delightful way to spend 2 hours on a winters afternoon………thank you both.