Last weekend the Exmoor Ironman competition was held at Wimbleball Reservoir. Starting at 7.00am, 1600 athletes took part in the event that consisted of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run. Although this is a half Ironman, it is considered to be one of the toughest.


We were full of bed and breakfast guests either competing or supporting. Michael had been ‘encouraged’ to take part by a friend at a party (I gather alcohol had a lot to answer for)! Anyway he completed and raised a lot of money for charity into the bargain but swore that he would NEVER do it again – so we expect to see Michael and Victoria again next year along with Neil who has already signed up. Unfortunately Neil’s bike chain broke 3/4 of the way around so he couldn’t finish the race. Desmond completed despite suffering from leg cramps and I am waiting for Kenji to let me know how he got on.

Once again Derek was too busy working to be able to take part – such a pity!

Bill and Denise came to stay again. They have been visiting Exmoor for 20 years and just love the peace and beauty of the area. We also have some guests from Germany staying who came walking at Selworthy 15 years ago. I mentioned that Exmoor will be as he remembered it and he has since agreed that the moor hasn’t altered and is so beautiful. Nowadays its wonderful that some things remain constant.

Last week I wrote about the goldfinches on the lawn. Derek sneaked into the conservatory to ‘pretend’ to be asleep ready to snap some photos. An hour later when I nudged him awake he was able to get these two.

A wildlife extravaganza!

Our friend Ron came up last week and we all went out for some great walks and watched any amount of wildlife. We were strolling in the valley following Nutscale Water towards Chetsford Water and saw a couple of herds of hinds really close by in the heather. A cuckoo was really shouting and we were able to watch it several times flying on ahead of us sometimes being chased by a small song bird. Further on there was a duck with her brood of beautiful ducklings bobbing along in the water – the first brood I have seen this year.

The population of birds has exploded up here. When we sit in the conservatory, sometimes a pair of beautifully coloured goldfinches come and start to feed on the grubs on the grass and they have now started to appear with their young. Ron saw a brood of bullfinches out in the lane and the house martins have started to re-build their nest on the house. The sparrows are continuing to do their dive bombing stunts in and out of the veranda as they bring food for their increasingly hungry family. Julie and Lori who are staying at Horner campsite have told us that when they take the puppies for a walk in the evening the swallows will dive in between them and the pups as they disturb all the insects.

Lucy has embraced her new independence of being able to drive with gusto! The proud owner of a little Peugeot 206, she is now able to take her friends out and about and go off by herself without having to ask to be taken everywhere. It has bought her such freedom (and I have got my car back)!

When Derek sold Bally he said that he wouldn’t bother getting another horse as one was enough…… well if he did it would have to be at least 12 years old, a middleweight who has seen it all. Within 2 months he is the owner of a 6year old throughbred ex-racehorse called Rupert (this could be something to do with Lucy’s influence however)! Never talk to me about women changing their minds more than men as it’s just not true! He is an absolute sweetie (Rupert I mean) who has settled in well and is already part of the family.

The landscape photo is taken from our neighbours’ field looking down through the Avill valley towards Timberscombe and the Channel

Soda's day out!

I am slowly getting used to this computer game. What I hadn't realised is that if you click on the photos they enlarge - thats my IT lesson for the day!

Julie and Helen have been to stay with us much to Soda’s delight! They took Soda for a day out down to Hawkridge and walked down to the river where there was much diving and swimming in the Barle river (Soda not Julie and Helen)! Picnic, a little sleep and a comfy lap to sit on all the way there and back – what a life! Needless to say when Ju and Helen were walking down the drive to their car to leave, Soda was trotting on with them assuming that another walk was on the cards!

Julie and Helen are very keen bird watchers. There is always a little bit of competition as to who can take the best photo between Ju and Derek. On this occasion Julie won hands down as her zoom was able to take this lovely photo of a wren feeding her chicks. She also took the stunning one of Soda in the river. Mind you as I pointed out to her, with such a perfect subject she couldn't possibly go wrong!

Last week it was mums birthday – she really is quite remarkable for 87! I took our neighbour Julie and met mum and sister at Hestercombe Gardens near Taunton. Hestercombe is situated on the southern slopes of the Quantock Hills with extensive views over the Vale of Taunton to the Blackdown Hills beyond. There are over fifty acres of lakes, temples, cascades, woodland walks and formal terraces. Hestercombe is a unique combination of three period gardens - the LANDSCAPE GARDEN was created in the 1750s by soldier and artist, Coplestone Warre Bampfylde, renowned as having "the finest taste for laying out ground of any man in England". Bampfylde's vision was complemented with the addition of a VICTIORIAN TERRACE and SHRUBBERY in the 1870s and followed by the creation of the beautiful EDWARDIAN GARDENS designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll between 1904 and 1908. It was a lovely day and Hestercombe is well worth a visit.

The Exmoor ponies looked too good to miss – I know we have loads of photos of them but they are all unique. The photo of haymaking was taken in Pauls field last week.

Make hay while the sun shines!

With the weather set to remain hot and sunny for the next few days, farmers have been busy cutting grass keep for hay and haylage (mix of hay and silage). The lack of rain has meant that some crops are fairly light but the quality should be very good for next winters feed.

Hearing the sound of the machines mowing the grass up brings back lots of childhood memories for me of helping (or hindering not sure which) my dad on the farm. Riding in the tractor cab with dad as he cut the fields of grass, turning it and then baling it. Perched on top of a trailer load of hay to the farmyard and then stacking it in the barn - health and safety would have a field day but no harm came to us. Mum bringing out flasks of tea and sandwiches for dad so he could keep on working late into the night. Things you take for granted and assumed that it will always be so when you are 10 years old. Life of course does move on and haymaking is far more mechanised but I am pretty sure that modern day farmers wouldn’t want to return to farming methods of 40 years ago!

We have had a very busy week with lots of bed and breakfast visitors all enjoying Exmoor in their own way. Some guests have been up and away early each morning to enjoy a full days walking while others have been bird watching. A couple staying with us wanted to hear a nightjar so Derek sent them up onto North Hill where they heard 2 if not 3 of these elusive birds last night. Others have been meandering exploring all the hidden delights of this special area – pretty thatched villages, clear beautiful streams and rivers, fantastic moorland views, plenty of red deer and of course the occasional cream tea – an ideal mix to relax and unwind with!

We were coming back late last night along the lanes, came around a corner and there was a stag trotting along in front of us. He was beautiful with his antlers in velvet. Although we see lots of deer, it’s always a thrill to see one so close. We went up to Cods End again this week where we saw a herd of hinds. As you can see they are loosing their winter coats and look very scruffy. Give it another couple of weeks and they will be looking sleek and beautifully red.

The views looking down the valley from Cods End towards Luckwell Bridge are very beautiful. The old ruined farmsteads just nestle in the little coombs and here the dogs love just to pootle especially when it’s warm. While Abby was taking a breather Derek caught her on camera – 16 years old and still very photogenic.