January blues averted...

Why is January such a depressing month?! The weather has been gloomy, and we are all fed up with the country being in lockdown, so I guess this year more than ever we have the right to feel a bit pee'd off with everything.

Despite all this, this week we saw some glimmers of good things coming. We had some snow, a very pleasant change to rain, the sun has shone and best of all we had some really positive developments on the barns. That's the bit you really want to know about, so here goes ... It all begins with some ticks on that oh so long 'to-do' list:

• Slurry Tank emptied - tick!

• Planning permission granted - tick!

• Water connected - tick!

• Electricity connected - tick!

• Ponies enclosure fenced - tick!

• New rental house - tick!

All the above are huge milestones, especially that ongoing saga of the Good Ol' Slurry Tank. Who would have believed that it would be such a headache?! So many people have said 'oh yes, I know someone who'll take it off your hands' only to decide that it's too much hassle. Each month we have thought 'it'll be gone by next month', but no. Now, at last and cutting a long story very short, we are almost there! The worst bit is over. Getting it to a state where it didn't keep on filling up with water again has been a real challenge, so getting it 'gone' seems like a piece of cake now. Lets hope it's not a case of famous last words!! When it has gone you'll certainly hear about it, and I will post a picture of the new glorious view...

Getting services to site have been a big job too. The water had to be brought across the road, so we had to apply for a 3 months notice closure of the lane. This month our 3 months were up, and the water company came out to dig up the lane. Not sure the neighbours were very impressed at the 3 day road closure, but it's done! We have water. The electricity company arrived this morning to connect up our supply, which required a trench to be dug across next doors garden, but that's now done and hopefully being filled in as I write.

Our planning application for the changes we wanted to make has been approved, and went through quite smoothly. I have a great belief in communicating clearly with all parties locally who may have a worry, and I think it has paid off. Keeping in touch with neighbours and the local council prevents misunderstandings and people worrying unnecessarily about what the 'new neighbours' might be up to. I hope they can see we have honourable motives to create something that preserves and keeps the integrity of those beautiful Victorian barns as well as the countryside that surrounds them.

Rain hasn't totally stopped play, but has made the game a tad muddy. All the low ground, including some of the excavations inside the barns, filled with water. Our 'moat' that appeared in the trench at the front of the barn looked like it was in need of a coast guard! This week, Ken and his trusty digger sorted all that. Drainage ditches and channels opened the floodgates and we are nearly dry again. The benefit of being up-hill.

The sheep have gone back to Matt's down the hill ready for lambing, so he's done our fence in readiness for the ponies to move in as soon as I feel happy. Realising there are lots of holes in the hedges too, (those curious sheep seem to like pushing through small holes to make big holes) so the hedges may need a little more attention before the ponies will be safe.

And lastly, we have the keys to our new rental cottage. It's a real pain that we've had to move again, but hopefully the next move will be our final move into the finished barns!

[Don't forget to look at the updated gallery to keep an eye on what we're doing!]