The ten minute tourist!.

Quick update, ,... last week ended with the all important boiler having been installed by Tom the friendly neighbourhood plumber! and despite his attempts to hide from my camera I managed to snap an action shot of him busy at work...


Tuesday, and baking hot today ... not complaining of course and made my way down to the cottage again where it's all happening these days!  I thought Dean might appreciate a nice cold lolly on a day like today and I just wanted to see if I needed to get anything, or do anything that might be helpful towards the progress...

 The kitchen is starting to take shape and I just can't wait until I can empty my "cottage cupboard" at home and transport everything to fill up the drawers and cabinets down at Sheep Street.

My "cottage cupboard" !

In the meantime,  I am proud to announce the arrival of our first toilet ! .... and  I think this is likely to be the first room in the cottage to be completed.   I am already nursing an Aloe Vera plant at home, for the window sill :-)

Today, ....  Thursday -another glorious day weather wise - I had promised myself a nice walk around town to take some "blog" photos in the sunshine! there is so much going on inside the cottage at the moment, - I decided to concentrate on the town instead :-)

I popped into Crafty Cottage to see how things were going, - all sorts of things going on so I thought it was best to leave the experts to get on with it ! ... I wandered down sheep street and captured a few typical scenes ....

Pike Cottage, - 5 minutes walk from Crafty Cottage

The area of Westington, - once a separate hamlet on the outskirts of Chipping Campden, - but now very much a part of town.  In my opinion perhaps the most beautiful part with it's wonderful thatched cottages and trimmed gardens - the main route into Chipping Campden from the London direction off the A44, Westington leads into Sheep Street where you'll find Crafty Cottage!

 

Walking back towards town, - and back down Sheep Street, I had every intention of counting my footsteps from Simons Chip Shop to the Cottage door, - but alas forgot, - maybe next time!

To give you a rough idea it takes less than 5 minutes between Crafty Cottage and the local "Chippy" - which guests at the cottage will be encouraged to do on a regular basis as it saves me from having to clean the oven :-) !

In the style of Blue Peter,   Here's one we ate earlier ...!

Fish & Chips, Simons Style

Wow what a hot day!  walking back down towards the cottage, couldn't help but stop & take photos of the new green windows....

 

I love this colour on the woodwork, - same as at home ....  and the Cotswold Stone was somehow "glowing" in the sunshine.

As I was happily clicking away, my B&B guests spotted me on their saunter down Sheep Street, - Hi Susan and Ed !  I had been chatting to them this morning about the cottage, and it was a good opportunity to show them where and what it was all about :-) 

We wandered through the Old Silk Mill, and I left them on their way up to Harts Silversmiths on the top floor, - so looking forward to seeing them at home later to hear about their day....

Harts Silversmiths

Wandering back through town,  stopped off at Drinkwaters on the High Street to pick up some local strawberries for breakfast tomorrow ...

Yummy, - great place to get fresh local produce & tasty jams....

The town was buzzing, people coming and going ....

our precious post office !

  

The new "Willows" restaurant - nice place for lunch :-)

Very British, -very twee,  .... infact it was beginning to feel like I was in an episode of Midsummer Murders !! (without the victim hopefully).

"Frankie Doodle"  - a great place on the High Street to treat yourself !

The Lygon Arms,
great food, - and lovely hanging baskets :-) !

So, ..... to summarize,  things are happening down at Crafty Cottage,  - each time I call in, the place looks more and more like a real house which is SO rewarding !  ...  can't wait to get it rented out .......

Will, of course be keeping you posted !

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Things moving on! ............

Sorry it's been a while since my last post, - but things have been happening honest! ... although nothing particularly exciting enough, to post on-line!

Today the ball started rolling again - Dean has been on site finishing off the balustrades to the staircase, and Paul and I called in to the Cottage this evening to have a peek at what's been going on.  -  The stairs look great, - really pleased :-)  

 

.... it's starting to look like a real room !!

 

The stud wall for the ensuite has been made, and we are starting to look at sink and loo designs  (... sad? ... no exciting! :-)

Western Power also paid us a visit the other morning, and Hey Presto the little electricity box outside has disappeared, and we have a temporary box & sockets inside the cottage ....  

  

With the electricity box outside now gone,  this means we can get on with planning the garden area, and off road parking.  It has been quite handy to use the digger again to get a scratch footing sorted for the garden walls.  A new fence went up last week, ...... looking good !

Personally,  I can't wait to get my green fingers going on creating the outdoor space, and have already spent the last couple of sunny days (was that our summer?) putting together the willow tubs for the garden at Crafty Cottage.  ... only trouble is they look so nice in my garden at home I might have to keep them !!!   

oh no, - only joking :-(

 

So,   today's latest addition to works is the tiles are starting to go down on the floor of the lounge, - we have ordered a Cotswold Stone Fireplace from Wrights of Campden, local stonemasons - and it's a good job we had a strict budget because I defy anyone to walk around their showroom and not want one of their amazing fire surrounds!

  Wrights of Campden

It's fascinating to see the huge chunks of Cotswold Stone "before"  -  and i'm really looking forward to them telling us the fireplace is ready, - it's going to look wonderful in the cottage.  We opted for a local "Guiting" stone, and have our log burner ready and waiting !

Thanks to ebay we have also acquired another item of furniture!  after a few glasses of wine, and on a complete whim I bid on a wardrobe which just looked perfect for the cottage!  The next morning I woke to a message telling me I was the successful bidder, - and the consequently had to drag Paul off to Bath in the pouring rain on Thursday night to collect my £26 pound wardrobe !!  .... bargain :-) 

I love the detail on the panels either side of the wardrobe door, - and the fact it has a mirror on the door as wall space will be valuable @ CC.  

.. I think that brings us up to date with progress, - will be spending tonight deciding on the kitchen units and get them ordered asap.  ....  I'm becoming more and more involved with things myself now, - and loving every minute :-)

-S-

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