I was right about that Cormorant !

Oh yes.... I was right about that cormorant (see yesterday's blog) the bad weather is here in force today. Gusty winds and rain, rain, rain.
Time to catch up on writing up that outstanding food review of lunch at the Edgemoor hotel

and my recent visit to the Old Dairy at Yelverton.

See what you think !

Google analytics, hit rates and why I'm crowing....

A quick note to tell you that I have just checked out Dartmoor Accommodation's google analytics for the past 12 months and compared them to the previous 12 months and they are up by 48.63% which is pretty good going ....
Over 50 thousand visits from all over the world including such far flung places as Ecuador, Zambia, Afganistan (maybe soldiers planning romantic trips for their sweethearts I like to think) Venezuela, Surinam and Japan. Even 36 visits from South Korea !
So if you are someone reading this from one of these locations.... hello from me and thanks for looking ! We hope to see you here some day.Right now it's sunny, with a forecast of rain to come later on in the day.

I can believe this because I spotted a cormorant in our local river this morning when I was out with the dog, and they only come so far inland (about 20 miles) when the weather is rough at the coast. The weatherman tells of storm force winds in the north of the country, but here at the moment there is just the slightest of breezes.

Perfect growing weather for the multitude of fungus in the area.
Take a look through my website and consider coming here in 2012. You won't be disappointed.
Bye for now !

Solar power, useless yesterday, brilliant today.

My life has changed dramatically since the 28th of July when we had solar panels fitted to the roof.

Years ago I read or heard an article that told us to use all heavy appliances in the night whenever possible, so as my washing machine is far enough from our bedroom for us not to hear it, I have steadfastly done the laundry at bedtime wherever possible to help offset the demand on power stations - less power at peak periods means fewer calls for more power stations to be built being the thinking.
BUT this year on a baking hot few days in Summer all that changed for me. And I seem to spend a good part of my life, now that the shorter days are here checking out the monitor that shows the power status and bemoaning the fact that on dull days we make as little as 12 pence in a day. HOWEVER on sunny days like today when the sky is that lovely clear blue colour, and the green light glows on our fuses board, I switch the old washer on with impunity.
If anyone knows of how we could store the power produced on days like this without buying huge storage batteries, then let us know. We have discussed night storage radiators, but himself is not too keen.
Lucky for us, we had the system installed before the Government changed their minds about the tariffs paid to us solar panel owners. At the time it seemed like a good place to put our life savings, as there was little else to do with it. Time will tell if it has been a good investment or not. -----
Sad to say we didn't feature too much in the Kirstie Allsopp show about Chagford Show. There was a good shot of Rob installing the scarecrow, but my interview with Madam herself did not feature. Local opinion is that she must have been too peeved at coming second in class....
Not to worry, life's too short to worry about things that didn't happen.
The sun's still shining.... so I think I'll do a spot of free hoovering now!!
You'd be surprised at how it cheers one up once you know that you are not paying for the pleasure. Look out for clean carpets if you visit !

Suggest you don't watch tv tonight....

Tonight's the night.... you will recall that I told you Kirstie Allsopp was being filmed at Chagford Show last year and that my scarecrow came first beating hers into second place in the Horticultural tent ? Well tonight is the night that Chagford Show features on Channel4 at 8p.m.
But you know what these things are like don't you? You let all and sundry know that you are going to get shown large and when you have coerced 2 thousand people to take a look, you are only seen as a shady blur in the background.
We shall see.

Nigel Fortnam's website done and dusted. And receiving praise all round from his mates.
Most of whom are suggesting - rudely, that I have done an expert job of the photos !
I was surprised to learn that it costs less than I imagined to have him be the master of ceremonies at your event.

A cauli to brag about and posh rooms for staycations

Never two weeks the same ! Meet Nigel, toastmaster from Lyme Regis.
He saw the new website that I built for the Talbot Arms and gave me a ring to talk money.
So in no time, he came over for me to take some pics and find out all I need to know to build him a website too.
This shot is taken at a kind neighbour's house, and shortly after we went the the Mill End Hotel for him to meet Sue Davies and use the hotel dining room for more shots. Quite useful as they are about to offer wedding packages. Networking in essence.
Sue's not daft ... Would you like to see the latest rooms to receive a makeover in the hotel Jill?

Well done Sue. She is slowly making her way through the hotel and bringing the bedrooms well up to scratch. This one above overlooks the front garden. Sumptuous new carpets, a top class bathroom. Warm as toast and squeaky clean.

This one is at the rear of the hotel, and what it doesn't have in view from the window it more than makes up for in pzzazz. I think I shall be adding it to my honeymoon pages, as it has enormous mirrored doors on the wardrobes, which newleyweds might well enjoy ! that and it's great new bathroom (below)

This really is the time to take a 'Staycation' Dartmoor is looking superbly beautiful as I type.

We had Nancy to stay overnight on Tuesday, so we took her down to the River with Topsy and the colours are stunning at the moment. Autumn on Dartmoor is a delight.

Later on Wednesday we drove Nancy back and had some quality cuddles with Elsie who is now getting around at speed with a sideways arm crawl. Both girls are a total joy to us.
Rob took Nancy to the toilet at home, insisting that she must need a wee by now ....
I had to smile, as I heard her, three years old telling him "Normally Grandad, I go to the toilet on my own, but you can come with me if you really want to " !!!!!!!

Something else cheering me up at the moment is my fine results in the veg garden with some Romanesque cauliflowers. Take a look. Not bad eh ? Surely it's time for me to give all this up so that I can spend my time ordering seeds and enjoying picnics in my greenhouse ?
Click a photo to see them all in full