It's been a while since I updated this blog but tonight is the night. We have been really busy; Steve has started part-time paid work and I have increased my hours, we have had lots of weekends away, and work on the smallholding has been rather neglected so we are now playing catch-up.
In September we went to a wonderful wedding on the Isles of Scilly. For us getting there was rather traumatic, not that anything awful actually happened but our imaginations went into overdrive with all the potential for disaster, let me explain; we had booked a flight from Land's End Airport to St Mary's Airport. We arrived at Land's End and it was just like a step back in time, Heathrow it isn't! it was lovely no queues, our names were on a list, no passports - check-in staff were expecting us, our luggage was weighed and so were we, as correct weight distribution on the small twin engined plane was crucial. We had our pre-flight briefing in a small room off the airport lounge and then wandered across the tarmac (10 yards or so) to the plane. Imagine our horror as we were show to our seats which we struggled into, to find that the back of the seat in front of us was pushed back into place and two enormous people wedged themselves into the seats in front of us. Too make it worse they were advised that in the event of an emergency not to open the door but to exit out of the window!! Fat Chance (excuse the pun) if they had tried that they would have just got stuck there was no way that they, and therefore us, would ever have got out by that route. In the words of that Scottish bloke from Dad's Army, Private Fraiser - we were DOOMED!
Steve and I just looked at each other, no need for ESP we knew what each other was thinking!! it was not good. The plane set off across the grass and took off for the 20 minute flight across the sea. Our eyes never left the intrument panel every change to the altimeter, air speed, etc was noted, any change to engine tone or turbulence caused our blood pressure to go off the scale. (As microlight pilots we were the worst kind of back seat drivers!) Land was soon in sight and since I am writing this tail, you have correctly guessed that the landing was uneventful. We also survived the return journey, you will be pleased to know that there were only three of us on the return flight, us and a very slim person, behind us! But we vowed never to go by that route again!
The weather was warm and sunny it was easy to imagine that we were on a far flung tropical island. The wedding was divided between two islands, the church service was on St Agnes and the reception was on St Mary's. Such an idyllic setting with the bride, groom and their guests travelling between the islands on the little boats that provide the only link between the Islands. Many congratulations to Sophie and Mark - enjoy a wonderful life together.
I have visited the Scillies many times and always enjoy my time wandering around the off-islands and the sense of community of the main island. Hopefully I will return again - but probably by helicopter, sea-sickness puts us off using the Scillonian!
Life on the Moor is good but a bit muddy! The summer has been wet with above average rainfall - from the 27 July to the 14 September we only had 4 days without rain although the temperatures generally held up ok. We have harvested and stored most of our crops, although we still have leeks, parsnips and various brassicas in the ground for the winter.
In the kitchen the Rayburn is alight for the winter and provides us with heat for cooking our numerous soups and stews, heat for the house and hot water. It is lovely to come home from work or in from the garden to a warm cosy cottage and a warm meal waiting.
The chickens are still laying most days and eggs continue to feature a lot in our diet, we still enjoy our eggs and are not tempted to have chicken!
As autumn moves onto winter we are planning our crops for next year spending hours pouring over the seed and plant catalogues.
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