Letter to H 24 June 2007

Dear H

I hope this letter finds you well and happy. If the weather in Jersey is anything like it is here you are sure to get a lovely rosy tan. Make sure you put sun protection on though ( nag nag)

Lots of news to tell this end.....I have moved. Yes the flat was only a temporary stop and never felt like home. The only bit I was sad to leave was the lovely painting you and i did in the kitchen. I still hope we can turn the picture into reality one day and we will find ourselves on our imaginary beach in some exotic land. Just imagine many moons from now someone will uncover your painting and be as happy rediscovering it They will wonder who (H initials and Ginitials) August 2005 were. My only other sadness is that you never saw the flat finished or what i did to make it nice if you had come to visit.

Anyway, i have left (county ) behind for good and moved to the south coast half way between Poole and Weymouth. This is great for ferries so if and when you come to visit it is only a short drive at this end. Also for me coming to visit you will be easier if you decide to change your mind about that.

I’m currently sitting in my new office which looks out on a lovely winding river which runs through the greenest most beautiful valley. In winter the valley floods to make the most wonderful place for ducks and geese and swans. There are a pair of swans on the river at the moment with six cygnets. Two always seem to be riding on the back of the Pen (mum) whilst the Cob (dad) patrols around hissing at me if I get too near. Which I do each evening as I walk down to the river and sit down on an old stone bench with a carving of a salmon on it. ( Your grandad would have loved it as he was such a keen fisherman) As I sit by the river with the sun setting the cows in the field normally come over for a sniff and to say hello as I think of my own little cygnet and how she might look now and how she has grown.

In the distance you can see the Purbeck hills and just beyond is the sea. I am now cycling each morning and or evening as the days are longer and getting fitter in the process. Each time I choose a new route and explore like we used to on the trainer bike when we played spies. There are a lot less cars so much safer and more tranquil.

Close by there are lots of things to do. There are stables for riding, a lovely castle to explore at Corfe and the beaches at Swanage.

Also there is Monkey World which I’m sure is like Jersey Zoo. Did you ever go on the special visit with the Vets I organised for you and have you enjoyed the club. I would love to hear how it went, whether you still love that stuff and still want to be a vet or not?

The wildlife is amazing here at the house. Yesterday I uncovered a badgers set which is like a big rabbit hole but haven’t seen its owners yet. In the garden (more about that in a minute) there are lots of rabbits and all the babies are out now. I have a blue tit nest by the front door. I have seen long tailed tits, goldfinches and bullfinches and now lots of swallows and sand martins are here for the summer. I don’t think I could have found a more peaceful and beautiful place to live. If you come to visit and I so hope you will I know you will fall in love with it too.

The house itself is a little unusual….its part of an old church which was converted into three houses called the Tower (my bit) the Nave (the middle bit) and the Chancel (the bit where the alter would have been) and we share the grounds which just like most churches have all the old gravestones standing up………spooky! Actually it is really lovely to be in a place with such history and my project is to spend however long it takes to do the inside up so it reflects the character and beauty it should have rather than the very cheap and shabby conversion done 10 years ago. (A long tailed tit is sitting in tree just outside the window looking at me typing …how cool is that.. the last time I saw these birds was when I was your age)

Any way Rapunsel you will have to grow your hair really long to climb down from the tower as it is very high up a spiral staircase. The bells are long gone but instead there is a lovely little room for reading or just big enough for a single bed if you wanted this to be your room. Not sure how to paint it yet! Down from the tower is the lounge and a bedroom and then on the ground floor is the kitchen, an office, a hall/dining room and two bedrooms. When you come and visit you can choose which room you want to be your room. I have put two single beds in one so you could have a friend stay for a sleep over if you wanted. If Geoff came he could stay next door.

The kitchen is the first task when I can afford it as I don’t have a cooker at the moment and whilst that is fine in the summer with lots of salad I miss my egg and bacon sandwiches. It all needs ripping out and starting again so this should keep me busy as I’ve not done a kitchen before.

The garden is very overgrown and needs lots of work. I was cutting the lower branches of a big old holly tree yesterday when I found the badger set which had been dug under a gravestone that was covered in holly and Ivy. I might be wrong and it could be a fox earth but with so many rabbits I don’t think so.

Next to the church is the old school house. You can just see the corner of it in this photo and the hills and river behind. It is just like my old school with only two classrooms side by side an infants and a juniors. It is now split into two houses so there are 5 houses in total. I’ve met all my neighbours who seem very nice which is good as we all share the garden.(graveyard) I think id like to be buried here when I die although it probably isn’t possible as its now no longer a church yard. You will be pleased to know I have not met any ghosts and in fact rather than being spooky or scary living in a church it actually feels really safe and special. I feel for the first time in a long time that I have made the right move and can understand better now why you and Mummy moved to Jersey. It is good to start again sometimes and put the past behind us.

Love and hugs as always little nut brown hare. I have nt seen one here yet but will let you know if I do. That will be a special day. There are lots of deer out when I cycle and they don’t seem to be at all afraid when you go past. Are you cycling now? I hope so. If not my neighbour has a tandem so I could borrow that if you come to stay.

Be safe, be good for mummy and enjoy this very special last term. I hope you are doing something nice for ½ term

All my love