Many villages and community farms in the Cotswolds (or the Stroud end at least - not sure where you are) have apple juicing events, which might help with your impending glut... that or fire up a cider business as a side hustle?!
As Jeeves would say, “I shall follow your progress with considerable interest”: I am one year and half in the same endeavour, in a 400 year-old house in Tuscany, which I talk about in my newsletter. Which is still only in Italian because I am always cleaning, speaking with contractors or gardening, never coming round to debuting the English version 😅
Susanna we have the exact same Aga. I used ours for the first time last Autumn and it took me a while. The hardest thing is getting used to which oven for which thing. I’m afraid I’ve given up on using the boil plates though. You lose too much heat from the ovens. I now have a very handy plug in induction hob until we do the new kitchen.
Nightmare with the Box. I have managed to save two box balls from both blight and caterpillar, but it was a devil of a job. I can’t imagine trying to deal with entire hedges. In my old Surrey home, the big weatherboard one, I planted Box clouds. They are still there and going strong, some 49 different sized balls now all homogenised into a deep green cumulus.
Just want to commend you on what you have and are achieving, I am in awe. The house and garden will reward you for their proper care as they evidently already are. You have so many things on your plate including perhaps the most important, giving time and attention to family and friends. We are still finishing and tweaking things 12 years after moving into a much smaller stone built home that was in a similar state and of course now ongoing maintenance has to be factored in. But prioritising the fundamentals like the roof and sorting the causes of damp as you are doing is so important. As is trying to enjoy the journey and making time for fun as you seem to be doing. Congratulations on the great (albeit ongoing) work you are doing.
Jane Webster, The French Table on IG has a lovely chateau in Normandy. She has a small ‘contraption’ that she uses to clean all her windows and shows herself using it on IG reels. Maybe you could reach out to her to find out what it is as I don’t know.
Haha I love that, and it’s probably not too dissimilar, apart from the changes we’ve already made, not sure if dating partners would be quite so keen on that part 😂
What a wonderful and daunting time at the same time. I have used an AGA before and yes it’s takes time to master but here in Australia you can go into their showroom and they will show you how to use it. Maybe get in contact with them in the UK and see if they’ll do the same. Wilshing you all the best with the renovations.
Love your House❤️Can’t say that enough! I completely understand the move😊Wow, you have made SO much progress already Amazing. Can’t wait to see all the projects come to life.
Many villages and community farms in the Cotswolds (or the Stroud end at least - not sure where you are) have apple juicing events, which might help with your impending glut... that or fire up a cider business as a side hustle?!
As Jeeves would say, “I shall follow your progress with considerable interest”: I am one year and half in the same endeavour, in a 400 year-old house in Tuscany, which I talk about in my newsletter. Which is still only in Italian because I am always cleaning, speaking with contractors or gardening, never coming round to debuting the English version 😅
Susanna we have the exact same Aga. I used ours for the first time last Autumn and it took me a while. The hardest thing is getting used to which oven for which thing. I’m afraid I’ve given up on using the boil plates though. You lose too much heat from the ovens. I now have a very handy plug in induction hob until we do the new kitchen.
Nightmare with the Box. I have managed to save two box balls from both blight and caterpillar, but it was a devil of a job. I can’t imagine trying to deal with entire hedges. In my old Surrey home, the big weatherboard one, I planted Box clouds. They are still there and going strong, some 49 different sized balls now all homogenised into a deep green cumulus.
If I was doing it again I’d look at alternatives though. I wrote a post on it, which might help: https://jpclarkwrites.substack.com/p/the-beautiful-alternatives-to-boxwood
Anyway, glad you’re settling in well. Xxx
Oooh such fun to hear what you have been up to so far! Well done to all of you 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Just want to commend you on what you have and are achieving, I am in awe. The house and garden will reward you for their proper care as they evidently already are. You have so many things on your plate including perhaps the most important, giving time and attention to family and friends. We are still finishing and tweaking things 12 years after moving into a much smaller stone built home that was in a similar state and of course now ongoing maintenance has to be factored in. But prioritising the fundamentals like the roof and sorting the causes of damp as you are doing is so important. As is trying to enjoy the journey and making time for fun as you seem to be doing. Congratulations on the great (albeit ongoing) work you are doing.
Join the “I love my Aga” Facebook group so many fantastic tips and recipes for using an Aga and a wonderfully friendly group of people!
I'm there already, just don't have much time for fb atm 🤪
Jane Webster, The French Table on IG has a lovely chateau in Normandy. She has a small ‘contraption’ that she uses to clean all her windows and shows herself using it on IG reels. Maybe you could reach out to her to find out what it is as I don’t know.
Thanks for the tip! Happy Saturday xx
You're getting to know each other. You're dating! So much fun to watch. 😊
Haha I love that, and it’s probably not too dissimilar, apart from the changes we’ve already made, not sure if dating partners would be quite so keen on that part 😂
What a wonderful and daunting time at the same time. I have used an AGA before and yes it’s takes time to master but here in Australia you can go into their showroom and they will show you how to use it. Maybe get in contact with them in the UK and see if they’ll do the same. Wilshing you all the best with the renovations.
I’m sure they are and would be, maybe once life calms down a bit! And thank you so much for your lovely comment 😂
Wow! What a journey already, you have achieved so much in such a short space of time. Keep sharing your progress, it’s exciting! 🥳
Thank you so much! We are trying to get a few things sorted before winter, although in the current heatwave it's the most pleasant house to live in xx
Love your House❤️Can’t say that enough! I completely understand the move😊Wow, you have made SO much progress already Amazing. Can’t wait to see all the projects come to life.
Thank you so much Susan, that’s so lovely to hear! Let’s hope there will be some exciting finished projects to share at some point soon 😄