As we move into summer and have had our first barbecue, it is a good time to write about the year so far. Builders arrived in January to start work on the Applestore cottage. We had always wanted to have a bathroom next to the large twin room but never really worked out how. We did not want to lose the shape and space of the room by using a corner of it as a bathroom but were not sure how to extend in a satisfactory way. We worked with an architect and the planners on various ideas, always with the hope of having a ‘hut on legs’ or bird-hide type structure. The outlook is straight into trees so we wanted to encourage birds, create a green screening with trees and make a modern space that did not detract from the bedroom. After the usual dramas and problems we have ended up with a very satisfying space with a huge bath from which to watch the birds feeding in the trees outside. We have a beautiful modern shower cubicle as well as basin, toilet and heated towel rail. With the high ceiling we need remote controls for the roof window and the blinds also work like magic too. As the work moved to completion we realised it would make more sense to flip the two bedrooms so that the ‘master’ double room is now the huge beamed room with access to the large en suite being where the window had been between the old twin beds. The twin room is now in the original apple store with the low door and with bath and toilet en suite. Best pay a visit to the website via www.noellescottages.co.uk to see how it works now. One possible downside is that it perhaps limits the number of visitors to 4 as the sofa bed in the double room might not work for all. The old wet room is no longer a shower but has hanging space and a sink to wash off muddy boots or whatever. The quirky downstairs toilet remains of course. So now Applestore has granite kitchen work surfaces and the bathroom is state of the art.
The Coach House is largely unchanged except for decoration to most rooms.
The Barn has a huge fan in the ‘snug’ sitting room so that the double room does not overheat when the wood burning stove is on. We have fitted remote controlled blinds on the roof windows to reduce the greenhouse heating effect in summer and to reduce the bright morning light for those in the twin room.
Meanwhile outside we have been gradually altering the garden so that the paddock has lost its fences and looks larger despite planting a number of trees and buddleias for the butterflies. A large number of wild flower plugs went in last autumn but have yet to really show themselves. We will attempt a wildflower/meadow effect with paths cut through the long grass leading to the trampoline, bendy house and a shady hideaway. Sadly the path to the beehives is redundant as both colonies failed to make it though the long cold wet spring. In the woodland area more holes have been dug suggesting the residents are thriving. Several guests saw youngsters last year but none spotted this summer so far. All around our garden there have been changes. Paths dive round the back of borders, the grass is cunningly cut to allow long grass to add texture and wildflowers to modify the appearance. In a neglected corner we have created Noelle’s yoga garden with camomile and thyme lawn (it looks like mud and small weeds so far) and the soft fruit cage will provide home for the many flowers Noelle grows to put into the cottages.
Owls have been spotted in the barn owl box although it sounds like they are tawny owls. Woodpeckers visit occasionally and goldfinches flit around the garden in ever increasing numbers. Our son saw a large bird of prey take out a blackbird on the lawn one afternoon – his description did not allow identification. Somewhere between a golden eagle and a kestrel I guess!
Pickering and the locality changes very slowly, pubs rise and fall in popularity while the overall standard of eating goes ever upwards. Yorkshire seems to have benefitted from an overall increase in visitor numbers and Ryedale is becoming a more cycle and walking friendly destination. The recent world cup mountain bike event in Dalby was a huge success both for Dalby itself and for the crazy, round Pickering race. We hope it returns.
Noelle and I remain committed to ensuring our guest have an excellent holiday and hope you continue to support Noelle’s Cottages. If you can’t stay here yourselves then do tell a friend.
Best wishes and have a good summer,
Tim and Noelle
