White water rafting and Elephant ride

As it's going to take us a while to get back to normal in the cottage we thought you might want to see Nibbles. Our son, Mark met him a few days ago in Thailand.
Mark's blog Sparky Brand has video of Mark on his travels.

White water rafting isn't me, elephant treks could be.

I will warn you before you click, if you don't like loud music... turn the volume down.

In the mean time, we are drying out and hopefully will be back soon.

Still here....

You might have thought that just because we have paws, we haven't noticed what has been going on ......


Trust me, we always have at least one eye open...


Just because we might seem to be putting our feet up and taking it easy..


Really warm and snug.....


One eye is always watching. Even though it might not be able to see as clearly as it used to.....


You know what I mean ?


Snug and warm... tomorrow is always another day!

The Boys Biggest Book

I'll admit it, guilty.
I wasn't supposed to be reading "stuff" from the under stairs cupboard.


My cupboard (Tardis) was supposed to be emptied ready for the floor to be removed.


Although how can you help but flick through books of another era.


I had forgotten these were hiding in the cupboard. They should be upstairs, there are some things I haven't the heart to throw away... just call me squirrel....


You must remember dressing paper dollies.


Making the cotton reel kid.
This might have been my book, but I never had the pleasure of making one either.


Or your own Zoo.
I probably made a Zoo.


Life in the cottage is going to be different until we dry out completely
At least I won't have to feel guilty about not washing the floor.



Another plus, Spring is back.


Along with cold weather that has returned with a vengeance in our part of Devon.

Making, and creating has been put on hold for a while. At least until the cottage can be put back together. Everyday that passes means that we are one day nearer to doing just that.

Mark is still on his travels in Thailand, we keep up with his walkabout via Sparky Brand, better than watching the floor dry believe me .

A Simples life

It would be a good thought that life is as simple.


Sitting in the cottage window reading all day, life probably is.


We have started work in our kitchen.
I never knew there was so much "stuff".
It took a whole day to clear as much out as we could.
At times like this, it's always great to have a cheery little guy around with power tools.


Not much point in showing you the amount of damage the water has done.
There are so many people around the world that know water can travel along way.


Tools all ready.


The most important things near to hand. Kettle and cookies.


Sad to say there was a slight accident this morning as the floor was being lifted.
Amie Soto Blossom's teddy cookie jar.



Poor old ted is now headless, not something that could be repaired..


Have to make do with the Frank and Mew's catty one Ames.
At least until we are all sorted out again.

Beans or Stewpot ?

This little dog is called Beans. The latest little guy to join the family. Sorry about the clarity of pics but Skype and my downsizing skills don't mix well. This little fellow (no, ignore the big guy that is Steve my son beside him) is in Cambodia.....


Brought for £4. He was ill and heading for the stew pot... I kid you not !

The reason why I would look like a pied piper if I ever went there. Rescued by my son.
Well done Steve................................
Steven did tell me how much visits to the vet have since cost him. HE IS ALSO NOW JABBED..~(Beans, not Steve), and bless his paws, is the proud owner of a collar and lead. No.... Beans not Steve.....


This is chops, ah, you all know little Chops....
Two new pups in the family now...
Both working dogs, looking after my kids... Ah, bless, give those young paws a medal.


Beans..... you are going to be a labour of love.


Keeping my kid company....


You even have that certain look that reminds me of Ames when her teeth get stuck on her chops.. ( you figure that one out).............
So, water forgotten.
I am slightly behind with emails... forgive me !

Anyone want to help me catch ducks and goldfish... or rescue a dog...... ?

Or dogs... I wish... I could go into a whole way of life in Cambodia here, but I won't....

I would however like to mention my friend Melanie...
Melanie and one of her very best friends... I would like to think, our bridge is the rainbow bridge..... this post is for Angel, Melanie and her family.

Young Chops, who makes me smile instantly.
Little Beans, who has a way to go before he goes home......

You can't help every one who needs help. One is better than none....
Who wants to help me, catch ducks and fish .............. you know I joke, but the cottage is going to be busy . REALLY BUSY.... over the next few weeks... Time out.. See you all soon...

Just like to add. HI MARK... Mark has gone walk about in Thailand... I know he will click here at some point and look for Amie... She is fine, asleep and snoring, dreaming of a day on the beach, playing with young pups ........ see you all later.....................

Knights in shining armour

Here are our knights in shining armour, who arrived in a white van this morning.

We are leak less.... no more water rushing around under our kitchen floor. No more hissing of escaping water. They estimated water was escaping at 3 liters per minute.

Thanks guys, for spending a whole day here at the cottage, thanks a million for not digging up the cottage floor.


After a bit of deduction with the help of a very high tec deduction kit.
Gone are the days of using two divining rods.
Although they still use of a spade.


This is where the new pipe needed to come through to.
The hole they dug was luckily outside of the cottage and not inside.
If things hadn't gone so well, it would have meant a hole right where I'm now sitting.

Now you see it.


Now you don't.


Needless to say all of this was closely watched by Amie nosy beak, through the glass door.


Amie had a treat for being so good today. She might have had more than was good for her.
When your an old lady, so what.


However there is a limit.


After all the excitement, only one thing to do.


Share the birthday rug until the big clear up really starts in the kitchen.......

The flooring is ruined, it could have been a whole lot worse.
Just as well we didn't buy a couple of ducks and a shoal of goldfish to go with the kitchen ambiance after all.

Watered down kitchen highlights

I want to remember my kitchen as it used to look, just after we last decorated it.


Doesn't look quite the same today.
Mr leaky pipe fixer can't come until the 10th March to repair it.
Although it has been measured and photographed ready for the big day.
Hopefully number one option will work. By passing new pipes from outside through a hole and capping the leak. Number two option is to dig up the floor and drill.


All the things that have happened in the world lately and yesterday in New Zealand, a leaking under groundwater pipe in the cottage is minuscule.
Huge to us, but not life threatening. Just wet and disrupted. Soggibottom really is living up to her name. It's going to take a while, but eventually everything will go back to normal.

Other lives and other people aren't so lucky. Where ever you are in the world, be safe.