Courgette soup for the next 4 months...

Take pity on Rob.
The courgettes are romping away in the veg patch, and as I can't see any food going to waste; feeding the hens and dog, quiche fillings or compost for the orange and onion skins, poor chap he's in for courgette soup for lunch at least 3 times a week for the next few months.... Mind you it varies. Sometimes with lentils, sometimes with good meat stock and once in a while with a can of tomatoes thrown in -not often - have you seen the price of tinned tomatoes these days?
A spoonful of demerara sugar brings out the best in veg soup, and we all know about the wonders of soya sauce and good old Worcester sauce don't we ? It won't be long before the 10 tomato plants in my greenhouse produce surplus to our requirements, then his lunchtime will be fairly well tomato based too. Fortunately, when we have too many eggs, he gets lucky with buns and cakes.
This dry spell has the farmer out cutting grass all round us. This morning, poor chap in the growing heat he was loading up the giant bales onto a trailer. Made me feel hot just watching at a distance. We are very fortunate. The fields around us change daily and we have a fine view of the farming calendar as it unfolds.
My favourite time is when 2 brood mares stay in the field for their late pregnancies and remain there for the early weeks of the foals lives.
A mare will come to the fence for titbits of apple or carrot right up to the time of birth, and then once the new babies arrive they will not be brought to say hello for a few days until the Mums feel the time is right. then we feel very honoured to be allowed to slowly get near enough to extend a hand without them dashing off to safety. CLICK THE PIX TO SEE THEM FULL SIZE

Fishing on Dartmoor - super day out in the sunshine.

What a treat we had yesterday. Gary Pearson, one of our customers needed pictures for his website, so we went off for the day with him, fishing on the River Dart, just below Prince Hall Hotel. The weather couldn't have been better, despite the Met Office telling us there was a strong chance of rain.
Martin our new Techy chap came along as a beginner and a good time was had by one and all.
Gary is infinitely patient and hugely knowledgeable on all aspects of flyfishing. He knows Dartmoor like the back of his hand, and fishing permits purchased at the Post Office at Postbridge, picnics packed we were soon out on the Moor enjoying the great outdoors.
The 3 men got stuck into the merits of one fly over another, and techniques on casting so I was able to wander off with my camera capturing lots of yummy foxglove shots and the like. The sun was searing and I wished I didn't have to wear my wellies, but Gary warned us about the ticks that sheep areas close to rivers have and I was only too happy to keep every inch of skin below waistline well covered.
By early afternoon my feet were red hot and I was grateful to stand in the shallows to cool the black rubber down occasionally.
We spent almost the whole day out with Rob and Martin both catching 3 small brown trout each.
If you've never been flyfishing and need an introduction, then take a look at Gary's website www.comeflyfishing.co.uk We shall be updating it for him soon. Not only beginners, but seasoned anglers benefit from extra tuition now and again.

In the evening we rushed into Chagford to be in time for a charity quiz in the Jubilee Hall. Our friends Colin and Phill from the Old Forge tearooms made up a team of 4 with us.

Time to go out to take pics now so rushing this at the last...... I'm off to take a pic of a lady sheepshearer... More on that tomorrow no doubt.

See ya !

Very full day at the computer, trying hard to understand Dreamweaver. Wishing that Elizabeth lived just up the road instead of a 7 hour's drive away.
Maybe I'm too old. I feel 106. It really is time to stop now, as pals Mick and Rita from Leicestershire are due to arrive in the next 20 minutes to stay the night....
The weatherman said showers today, but it's not looking that way, which is a shame as Rob has treated the huge lawn with weedkiller and it needs watering in......
I'm off to peel vegetables.. to go with tonight's chicken.
BIG BROTHER Really enjoyed the nominations last night.... Who will go? Who can say?

Mick and Rita just arrived...dog going bonkers...
Cheers

Another food review to add to the list, this time ...

For anyone who is interested I have just uploaded my latest food review on http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/ It's about the Tavistock Inn at Poundsgate.....

I'm hoping to have an hour in the garden now, the tomatoes are desperate for repotting, and we were asked if we would be one of the open gardens for Drewsteignton on July 4th and 5th 2p.m. to 6p.m.
I said that I would sell ice creams. I'm planning to make that into choc ice lollies, so that if there are any left over, they can become emergency puddings for us..... (no flies on me chum !)

So, for anyone that knows our garden, you will know why we need to spend every possible moment we can out there.... Hopefully by the 4th, we shall have made it look 'something like'

If you do want to come along and say hello, I should be delighted to meet anyone who knows my Dartmoor website.

BIG BROTHER How could anyone not be interested in seeing these idiots nominate this evening? When are they going to see how unpleasant Marcus is ? Why were we not shown Carly's poem to Freddie on his birthday ? Difficult enough understanding what she says let alone a poem penned by her.

Last night I watched the programme about very young musical child prodigies being guided by composer Andrew Prior himself only 16 and another musical genius. Captivating stuff and a pleasure to listen to an educated collection of people talking about the thing that they hold most dear - their music..... what passion, what skill and commitment.

Then....

I watched Big Brother..... what a difference. A gang of disaffected people with only 3 of the 13 able to string a sentence together....

The contrast was striking.

Buns and Motorbikes

Just in the office for a couple of minutes... to upload this couple of pictures....
One of the visitors to my website last year wrote with an accommodation query, and looking at her website, I saw that she is a motor cyclist... called Betty. I got back to her asking if she knew the name of a biker on one of my shots that I took last year which which has a sheep on the road with a biker alongside.
She recently got back to me with another question as she will be bringing a group of fellow bikers to Dartmoor in the Summer and she was quizzing me as to where would be a good place for them all to breakfast.
This morning Betty and pals Ken, Keith, Neil called in for coffee and a bun when on their reccee (? spelling ?) of the Moor, making plans for the forthcoming outing.
I was invited to sit astride the bikes, and Betty has promised me a ride on the day of the big get together.
I've said I will borrow leathers in time for the jaunt. What I didn't tell Betty is that my daughter's leathers are about 3 sizes smaller than I am, so I shall have to lose a stone in order to squeeze into them.... so day 1 of the diet starts RIGHT HERE.
Drat. Just when I've got that tin of fruit buns to hand....
BIG BROTHER Eviction tonight. Of the 2 I would prefer to see the back of Cairon, but both condidates fall into the 'great unworthy class' don't they? I have a feeling that the Portugese boy might walk away with the dosh.

All for now Playmates -
as the great Arther Askey used to say. "Oh what a Glorious thing to be.... a healthy grown up busy busy bee....

food Review for No. 14 cafe in Ashburton.

My food reviews have suffered.

Too much work means that things that are not urgent get put to the bottom of the pile. It was ever thus.
BUT I managed to complete a review of No.14, a cafe in Ashburton earlier today, (see the food reviews link), and continued work on adding google maps to my B&B listings.
There are 2 more food reviews pending. Obviously the easy part of any food review is the going along to sample the food.
Making notes of menu prices is a bit of a bind. I always think that I will remember the prices in my head. How silly is that when I have a gin and tonic in hand ? Rob usually gives me the receipt to help jog the memory, but often as not "2 x veglas" doesn't always bring two vegetable lasagnas easily to mind, even less "2 mains" Fortunately the photos help. We do try to be a little discreet about taking pics whilst in any food outlet. We rarely get noticed by staff members, but occasionally fellow diners will notice and a couple of times I have been asked outright "Why are you taking pictures?" and I usually say that they are holiday memories.

BIG BROTHER No surprise whatsoever that Freddie is up for nomination again. I am delighted that Cairon is also up for the vote. What an arrogant specimen of youth he is ? Innit ?
Sleeps most of the day away. Not done a single stroke of work in the house. More than happy to let everyone else wait on him hand and foot, and when Sree actually touched Cairon's plate of food, just the plate, he refused to eat it and helped himself to a fresh bowlful. What ???
What planet is he on ? Me, me, me.

How long do you think it will take before EVERYONE realises just what a nasty piece of work Marcus really is.? Note the sneering smile on his face whenever anyone else is being attacked. He loves it. No way on earth will he be in at the final.

And Lisa won't last either. That would be a challenge to Gok wouldn't it ?

Cheerio Chicks

What a great weekend

Sorry to miss 3 dates out on the blog, but youngest Elizabeth came home on Thursday and we have spent a fairly heavy 3 days talking about the future of http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/ and with her input and the use of her office team in Norfolk at http://www.lingodesign.co.uk/ we should be heading for exciting things in the near future.

She met Martin, my new techy chap and they both think well of each other. Elizabeth thinks that Martin will become a great asset to our team when he has finished his Uni course and can help me make the website pages more proactive, adding such things as booking option, slide shows, videos and such, but first of all we have to upload the site in Dreamweaver, which should be done within the next fortnight.
It wasn't all work and no play. On Friday Rob, Elizabeth and I made our way over the Moor through a mixture of weathers to take lunch at the Tavistock Inn at Poundsgate - this at the suggestion of our florist delivery man Dave. I plan to write a food review about it asap, but will just say that we enjoyed our lunch and then took the girl to Spitchwick, a stunning beauty spot on the Moor where she recalls sunny Summer teenage days when she and her alcohol affected carefree pals would throw themselves off the sheer rock cliff into the freezing cold even on a hot day, deep water below. she tells me now that if I had seen then what she was getting up to, I would have grounded her for the Summer months...

Jennifer, Ben and Nancy came over for the day on Sunday, and the favourite asparagus quiche recipe came into it's own yet again. Nancy having problems teething and at the end of the afternoon she fell off to sleep in my arms outdoors, which is one of the very best rewards a Granny can experience. That this small person feels safe enough to totally relax in your arms and lie there looking so trusting, so utterly defenceless and beautiful. It's completely smashing. Elizabeth took the picture when I wasn't looking and for once it won't be deleted from my files.

BIG BROTHER What a perfect display of Marcus's true self. Having complained about not being able to sleep because of the raucous noise in the early hours, poor Dimwit walks out of the room huddled in a blanket..........

"Let's take his bed into the bathroom" suggests Marcus, and lo and behold immature Cairon immediately joins forces, the 2 of them giggling and full of imaginary bravado, in shifting the mattress into the bathroom. The bimbo girls offer no opinion, but sit in bed excitedly smiling as it all goes on. Only Angel and Rodrigo have any conscience/moral fibre and return the mattress back to the bed.

Dartmoor Accommodation future plans

Almost lunchtime and Elizabeth, Martin, Rob and I are all in the office making plans to go forward with http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/ The youngsters, E&M, are full of innovative ideas to add to the website, and I can't wait to get it all into place. - but it will take a few weeks as there is masses of content to be sorted.

The plan is that I shall have more time to get out and about with my camera, and visit accommodation providers more regularly, not that I want in any way to become an inspector figure.
This is what I wrote about inspectors earlier this year:- I don't hold with anyone paying an arm and a leg for some so called official to come along and criticise so that you can have the (paid for) benefit of being allowed to be on their official website. I once had a wet behind the ears young female tourist Inspector telling me that I needed a net curtain at our upstairs guest bathroom window. I pointed out that for anyone to see into the room, they would have to be standing on top of Kestor Rock, some 6 miles away and that guests drooled over the stunning downhill view of patchwork quilt fields. She wouldn't change her mind, and wrote down on her clipboard that it had to be done prior to me being awarded a 3 star rating. She also told me that one of our outside lights needed a shade on it !! That was the year that we decided that the money for inspections could be much better spent on making even more homemade cakes for our loyal band of visitors who couldn't have given a toss how many stars I had to my accommodation. They came year after year rating or no rating.
I want to be out and about taking pictures of people, events and what I think is great about Dartmoor.

BIG BROTHER I heartily enjoyed the nomination process on last night's show. Not at all surprised that Sophia is up for the public vote and the Freddie aka Halfwit nomination is understandable too. Listening to his conversation is akin to getting road directions from a drunk at midnight. But of the 2, I would prefer that Sophia waves goodbye on Friday.

Compost cooking result - poor

Egg all over face, the result of the compost cooking was only average. The meat was cooked, but only just, after being incarcerated for around 9 hours... Our guests kindly offered encouraging comments, but I might as well have just left it in the bottom of the aga, and known for sure that it would have been really yummy.
Not to worry, the rhubarb crumble made up some way towards the average main course.
the photo shows me taking the pan out of the compost when I was hoping for good things.....
If anything I think I should have let it all cook on the aga for longer before I committed it to the heap. I might give it another try - this time without a mention on the blog..

Our compost is really steamy at the moment, so I am surprised that it didn't do better.

Enough !

Elizabeth is flying home (here) today for a few nights. Jennifer collecting her from Exeter Airport.
To be able to fly from Norfolk in under an hour is far preferable to driving that awful journey across country for 6 or 7 hours. Money wise, for one person it is competitive. For two it immediately becomes an expensive exercise.
Much to talk about, as we are changing my websites over to Dreamweaver from Front Page.
Her having a much younger brain than me, I am hoping that she will sort me out big time.
She will be meeting Martin, our new techy guy, and no doubt they will talk website jargon.
It's just as well she comes home occasionally. Makes me do some serious housework. Her bed's made up, the room hoovered, and surfaces dusted. Beef mince is slowly cooking in the bottom oven in readiness for Cottage Pie a favourite for the girls. I shall be making another rhubarb crumble this affo. Just as well Rob happily eats whatever is presented to him.

BIG BROTHER I did watch the recorded BB late at night - that's how it gets me. The super egos are feeling comfortable. They have already found a weak link in Sree. Can't wait to hear the nominations. Wonder if they are coming today. If so, I won't be surprised to hear Angel's name a few times. The others might not have enough interest in anyone other than themselves to take time to like her. The girl with the pink Mohican haircut might be at risk too. Ooooh I can't wait.
I do miss the chance to hear the psychiatrist's opinions we used once to have. I have tried to find if they are on BBLB but no mention on their website. I have decided not to waste time watching BBLB this year. It's not the same since the departure of dear old Dermot O'Leary.

Nice and sunny here on Dartmoor today. The weatherman reckons that it is going to further improve by the weekend and then stay Summery for a while. GOOD - roll on.

Cooking by Compost

Just back in from the garden, where I have buried tonight's dinner deep in the compost.
Was chatting to my mate Chef (alias George) about the joys of hay boxes during the war and he had never heard of them !

When I was first married some 37 years ago soon, we didn't have any spare pennies and I can remember bringing a stew to the boil in my pressure cooker and leaving it for the day in my active heap.....
When George laughed and poured scorn on the idea, I offered to cook for them and have another go..........
So this morning, I chopped onions and carrots, added some lamb and seasoning, brought it all to the boil, and Rob has just helped me to inter the whole within a towel, wrapped in a plastic bag deep in the centre of our steamy compost. George and wife Linda are due around 7. I shall ask Rob to take a pic of me opening up 'the oven' and then take a pic of the results....
So WATCH THIS SPACE !!

BIG BROTHER carries on in predictable style. How completely loathsome the antics of the Cairon and Siavash once they were bona fide housemates. Their mutual adoration society is sickening.
On first sight Angel appeared to be someone I wouldn't spend time with, but how refreshing it was to hear her telling Siavash to stop swearing. It takes a brave person to object to any use of the 'F' word. I once asked a local lad not to use that language outside my shop on a sunny Sunday afternoon, and was rewarded with a mouthful of even worse.
Mind you the sight of her sucking a raw egg as the only sustenance she would accept was rather toe curling.

As usual there is so much to ponder on. Will the big egos, of which there are plenty survive the fellow housemates votes for long ? I for one hope not.
Just wait until some of the others realise the full extent of Freddie's (Halfwit's) wealth. That should make for interesting television.
-----

Back tomorrow with pix of the hay box experiment. HOPEFULLY !

Cheers Chaps

Monday morning - back at the computer face

Saturday saw me heading off in the rain to go and take pictures at the Dartmoor Tearooms, where the young staff of 4 pretty waitresses were getting a talk from a chap from 'All about Tea' into the whys and wherefores of the tea world. The tearoom have seeimingly hundreds of teas from all over the world - well Asia and Africa principally, and he told them all about the flavour strengths and such.
By the time I was due out of there with my camera bags the rain was continual, and as I turned my car around on the Exeter road, I was in time to see a Belgian driver with bike rack on the back reverse into a granite wall. Poor chap. In the deluge and steamed up motor, he seemed to have forgotten the extra length he was carrying with a result that the bike carrier dislodged itself against the unforgiving strength of granite.

We did of course watch the start of Big Brother. What a bunch of losers, as per......
Spot the normal person ? Hard one... maybe the girl who rapidly volunteered her eyebrows in exchange for entry into the house. But the surprise on her face, when she had undergone the shaving, - that she now had to have marker pen glasses and a tash, was worth the watching.

I sat up on my own and watched the departure of Beinasir. Rob is already fed up with the whole programme. He usually watches towards the end. Poor Beinazir, off on a defunct London bus without any luggage and Davina coundn't even remember her surname. That's her 5 minutes of fame done then.

On the other hand, the wonderful Apprentice lived up to it's promise didn't it ?
I had money on Lorraine, Rob on Mona, and our techy wizard Martin chose Yasmina -he walks off with the pot.
Didn't Yasmina look great in the aftershow..? Fabulous haircut and a worthy winner.
She was so charming at the end. Full of good manners, and so wanting to win. Not that Kate didn't also want to win, but we thought that Kate assumed she would do it.
Fair play to Sid James, sorry - Surralan - we think he chose the best.

Dull day this morning, but lots to get through. Hey I'm off

Day three of blogging and already missed an entry.............
Yesterday was spent at the computer trying hard to complete work on changing my websites from Front Page to Dreamweaver. (apologies to non webwise people here.)
I am beginning to doubt my own capabilities. after over 10 years of using Front Page, I could almost update the page standing on my head in the office swivel chair, and now I feel like a totally inadequate old person.
To confirm this last statement, I have just retrieved a piece of paper from under the desk and notice that I am wearing odd shoes. A flip flop on the left and a pump on the right. I arrived in the office with a correct matching pair, but spend the day kicking off the shoes now and again, and then fishing them back on in a distracted moment...... with just this result now and again...
The flower man will arrive in a minute with my this week's arrangement, a treat that I feel I deserve. £15 and the chap arrives with a fresh vase full of something different each week. He takes the old vase, I find a spot for the new..... Cheers me up all week. I will take a pic of this week's offering, and let you see later on today. Check out the footwear if you log on later !!!!

Daughter number 2 insists that I have a go at blogging.... so here it is my first attempt.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK MR. OR MRS ANYBODY, BECAUSE IF I DON'T HEAR BACK IT MIGHT BE A VERY SHORT LIVED EXERCISE. !!

This kind of e-mail that I received yesterday, makes my day ....

My name is Debbie D**, and I live on Whidbey Island (in Washington state) in the U.S. My husband, 11 year-old son and I will be coming to visit Dartmoor this summer, and I just wanted you to know how helpful your easy-to-navigate website has been. Everything is very well designed and organized, and the photos are great - so colorful and inviting! You've done a terrific job.************** just need a little further guidance, if you're willing.
And once again, you have a really lovely website. Debbie

Who wouldn't be cheerful reading that? And that's why I run www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk and have done for over 10 years now.

I was hoping to upload my very first video that I took today too, but Rob (husband) has more pressing engagements.... can you hear the mower ? Or maybe that's the dratted house sparrow that can be heard from 4.10 a.m. Chirp, chirp chirp, chirp chirp all day long...... Why didn't someone bestow him with a more melodious tune? No wonder he is on the endangered list. It's folks like me who give him short shrift and would rather consign the breadcrumbs to my darling ex-battery hens.

More tomorrow. Much to be done to www.theplaypark.co.uk brainwave of Miriam Guard Exeter, needs updating. Look today before 5 and then again later to see what work I manage to carry out today.

Jill Pendleton's Blog

....Elizabeth, daughter number 2 keeps nagging me to start blogging..... as if anyone wants to hear the ramblings of an almost 60 year old as she pontificates strongly about this that and the other, with a strong slant towards the Tourist Industry....



For anyone who doesn't know me I run the http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/ website. Why ?
That's a tough one to answer. But I love my website, and when I get complimentary e-mail such as this one yesterday....

My name is Debbie D**, and I live on Whidbey Island (in Washington state) in the U.S. My husband, 11 year-old son and I will be coming to visit Dartmoor this summer, and I just wanted you to know how helpful your easy-to-navigate website has been. Everything is very well designed and organized, and the photos are great - so colorful and inviting! You've done a terrific job.I also have a question for you - don't know if you handle enquiries like this - if not, just let me know. Anyway, we have two places we really like the look of for our stay, and both are available at the dates we want. ************************
*****would you mind giving me your impressions of these two places? I'd appreciate anything you think might be of interest.I'm not asking you to recommend one over the other - just need a little further guidance, if you're willing.
And once again, you have a really lovely website. Regards Debbie.

...then it gives me quite a buzz.


One thing I am struggling with at present, is that I have to build the website in Dreamweaver instead of Front Page (which having used it for over 10 years, I now know and love).

The home page should be in place by later tomorrow, when Martin, my new techy chap is with me.

I was hoping to show you a video of Rob (husband) taken today in a Dartmoor cafe at lunchtime. But that will have to wait for a day or two....