Happy Christmas?

I hope you have all had a happy and peaceful Christmas. We had a great time but it was a bit of a roller coaster mainly thanks to the weather. Exmoor has looked so beautiful in the snow but it has caused a few difficulties. Tim and Bex had a tortuous 8 hour drive down from London on the 18th after spending 3 hours just trying to get out of London but they arrived safely as we went out to a party! We had arranged a large family gathering of 25 on the 19th but the roads where so dicey that we all decided to cancel it. It wasn’t all the food I had prepared or not seeing the family that made me fed up, but the 3 hours I had spent devising and wrapping the best ever Family Brown pass the parcel!

As no one could get out of the village and we had LOTS of food, we gave an impromptu lunch and invited a load of our neighbours. As a result we have discovered the art of getting luncheon guests to leave – just produce a pass the parcel and ask who would like to play and people suddenly have urgent tasks to see to at home! However it was a lovely afternoon and everyone enjoyed themselves.

Derek went down with flu on the Wednesday which meant I had to deal with the horses (with a little bit of help from Tim). After mucking out, loosing the battle of filling hay nets (which clearly have a life of their own) and struggling up with buckets of water on icy steps, Tim and I have both come to the conclusion that anyone who keeps horses must be mad!

We went down to pick Lucy up from Exeter on Christmas Eve and managed to see a lot of the family. Derek was still too ill to come so I had to drive – thank goodness for 4 wheel drive – it is not an experience I would like to repeat in a hurry. On Christmas Day Tim went down with flu so between the 2 men in the house – it was a little bit like a combination of Casulty and Holby City on a bad day. However despite all the signs, we are very happy to report that both are now recovering!

We are waiting in trepidation as Wagtail (one of the springer spaniels) is very pregnant and due any day/hour. I would like to be able to say what kind of puppies she will have but unfortunately we are unsure of who the father is so maintenance claims will be a problem! She is like a large barrel on legs as she waddles around but she still wants to go for a walk. The only problem she has is when she gets stuck trying to get under gates so now waits for me to open them for her. Updates and picture will follow.

The photos are of Dunkery from above Wheddon Cross, hoare frost at Dunkery Hill Gate, Wagtail and Tim and Bexs

We have met so many lovely and interesting people at The Dunkery Beacon and we would like to thank everyone who has stayed with us and to wish everyone a very happy, peaceful and healthy 2011.
Beccy and Derek

PS – Anyone want a puppy?

Winter Wonderland (again)!

Like everyone else, we are experiencing a pretty severe start to winter. It only seems like a couple of months ago that I was packing away the thermal vests and leggings from the last lot of snow and only 2 weeks ago that we had coffee sitting out on the veranda and admiring the autumn colours - now its suddenly become absolutely freezing! The plus side is that Exmoor looks so beautiful in the sun with the snow glistening on the hills and the light becomes even more spectacular.

We took the dogs up over Winsford Hill the other day and they went mad in the snow – just like children. They push themselves along on their tummies – through the bracken and down over tussocks as if they were sledging and enjoying having a very cold bath at the same time. We then drove down into Dulverton and had coffee while the dogs snoozed in the back of the truck.

We have just back from a lovely walk all through Selworthy Woods and up onto North Hill, around the top and then back – very bracing but fantastic walking. This weekend is Dunster by Candlelight where all the shops are open in the evening and there are street entertainers, stalls selling hot drinks and food, music playing and lots more. The weather will be perfect and the whole weekend certainly gets everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Which is more than I was feeling last Saturday I have to say. We went down to Exeter to see our daughter Lucy, Derek went to see his mum and I went shopping for a few bits. Bad Move! As I struggled against a rising tide of people, hot stuffy shops, little or no room to move or see and not even anywhere to get a drink unless I wanted to queue for ages, it all came flooding back as to the reasons why I always do most of my shopping on Exmoor. Lovely towns like Dulverton, Porlock and Dunster on the doorstep, wide selection of presents, individual shops ,time to look and chat and good places to eat and take a breather!