It seems 4 is the magic number!

So I haven’t really done a proper blog since the middle of April. So here you are an update as to what has been happening since then.

Like many I have adhered to the RSPB advice and not fed the birds from feeders between 1 May and end of October but I am so looking forward to hanging them out again at the end of October. That doesn't mean we haven't had some interesting visitors. Whilst having my lunch at the end of August, and partly watching the gloomy news, I glanced out of the window and spotted an unusual bird clinging to the fence next to Sea View. It had the characteristics of a Woodpecker but it was brownish and the colours weren’t vivid - it certainly wasn’t the Great Spotted Woodpeckers that I regularly see. It stayed there for ages and I had the time to have a look on the Merlin app and discovered it was a juvenile Green Woodpecker! Never have I seen one before and I wondered if I would see it again and yes indeed I was so blessed it came back a few days later and it hung around for an hour or so feeding on insects in the cracks in the stone walling. I am really hoping he/she will make their home here.

Whilst on birds some of our lovely regular guests spotted Swifts this year which sadly I missed spotting but we have been having a lot more unusual rarer birds visit this year - or am I just becoming obsessed with my binoculars and the Merlin app?! Sighted or heard in the garden have been the Common Cuckoo, Firecrest, Common Grasshopper Warbler, Jay, Marsh Tit, Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Buzzard and Kestrel. So a real positive that in addition to the usual ones some of the less likely are also appearing. The last of the few Swallows seem to have now left on their migration, always a sign of the changing seasons. I always wonder how they decide leave early or late. The last few were around yesterday but none sighted today. What time of day they leave I have no idea but I am going to guess at first light this morning.

On the flower growing front a massive positive have been the Strawflowers which were a new addition this year, grown in the polytunnel, and I will definitely be increasing the amount grown next year as they were great to put in the barns for guests. They don’t drop their petals and leave an annoying mess! As they originate from Australia they coped so well with the heat and dry conditions we had. I am also in the process of drying a lot to make a wreath.  The Chrysanthemums don’t seem to have been too happy about being moved out of the polytunnel when it was relocated. They went crazy in the polytunnel just being neglected, so that’s a real shame as I relied on them for the Autumn vases.

So the negatives (it can’t all be birds and flowers!) over the Summer have been sadly losing Winston the cat in June after being hit by a car and our final Alpaca, Angus (the black one), also passed away.

Another negative has been trying to avoid being bitten by horseflies – pleased to say it was only one for the horseflies this year but it has resulted in me not enjoying the garden as much as I would have liked and having to cover up when outside. The weeding has also suffered as a result. Now they have gone, and the weather is cooler, I am now flat out with short stays again so I don’t have time to garden just cleaning and ironing!

Talking of short stays I just did a tally today and there have been 20 checkouts in the last 4 weeks! (4 night stays is definitely the magic number). So that is 20 cleans and 20 lots of linen to wash, dry and iron! It often surprises guests that I do the cleaning (I do have helpers – Mum (Felicity), Maddie and Kelly have been amazing), and that I wash all the linen and I do not send it to a laundry company. The main reason is cost but also since retiring as a Solicitor I do have the time to do it all. Quite simply I can’t see how short stay breaks are profitable if each time you end up with a laundry bill of around £120 - £160 per property on top of all the other overheads. It also means I can quality check all the linen when it is washed and ironed. Last year before the season started I invested in a Miele rotary iron and it has paid for itself over and over. I actually really love ironing now! No honestly I really really do! Plus I am now lucky enough to have a dedicated ironing room which makes life so much easier.

I seem to have had a lot of complements this year on the fluffy and fresh towels and I am often asked the secret. No secret, they are washed in Comfort Fresh ‘Blue Skies’ fabric conditioner. No I don’t get paid by Unilever to promote their product! We strive to be as environmentally friendly as possible (and in an obviously bid to reduce electricity consumption/cost) but tumble drying towels is unavoidable to ensure they are nice and fluffy. 

Like a lot of people we binge watch various series on streaming channels, watching one or two episodes every night. Now don’t ask me why but I can’t believe we never watched Poldark when it originally came out in 2015 (yes 10 years ago!) running until 2019 over 5 series. You would think given it was set in Cornwall we would have. It might be that it was a period drama and we never used to be drawn to them but recently we have watched a few and thoroughly enjoyed them. If you haven't watched it then it is well worth it as it shows Cornwall's scenic beauty very well. I guess that is why tourism was boosted by the Poldark effect with an estimated 14% of people visiting Cornwall being drawn by the show by 2019 when the final series aired on the BBC. I was reading that the boost in tourism has raised vital funds for conservation projects which continues to this day. For example, West Wheal Owles tin mine - better known as Wheal Leisure mine in Poldark - conservation work has helped to protect the endangered Cornish Choughs. Autumn is the perfect season to explore Poldark country with quieter footpaths, rugged coastlines and dramatic sea views.

So wishing you all well as we head into Autumn season.

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