LOOKING BACK

When we bought our modest old chert stone farmhouse thirty years ago, little did we realize what a little gem we'd acquired. Our main reason for buying had been because the accommodation was divided so the farmer could have holiday lets in the other half. This was ideal for us with the kids still young because it provided a granny annex for my retired  parents who wanted to be near us.At this time I was still working in London and commuting on days off to see the family.
 Two years later I joined them. Then when the kids grew older and we needed more bedrooms, mom and dad were happy to buy a new custom built managed retirement apartment and we knocked the place back into one house again so we had the five bedrooms. The previous farmer owner had thoughtfully dug out an eighty feet by thirty five feet hole 8 feet deep and lined it with heavy duty rubber silage sheet to provide an enormous swimming pool with pumps and filter.We had great fun in this and even sailed our own raft round it. In the end it proved very expensive to keep clean and the water took a long time to warm up.It all depended on the weather.

So after the kids had all fled the nest, except one who keeps coming back, we turned it into a sunken garden with pond and waterfall.
Today while admiring the new spring growth and the great views over to Windwhistle Hill, Pilsden Pen, Lambert's castle and Lewesden it occurred to me what a perfect place this was. Near the centre of the village, with it's shop, school, greens, church, pub and village hall and a regular bus service over the Blackdowns to Taunton or South to chard, it is convenient to say the least. We've always had open country at the back because the village boundary runs along the back hedge and the neighbour's house on one side is ten feet lower and on the other there are no overlooking windows. Opposite is the Methodist chapel so privacy is complete, apart from God that is.
This village is surrounded by footpaths and the walking is fantastic with a choice of dozens of circular routes but there are not enough bridleways for all the horse riders now. Our garden at half an acre is just big enough for what we want but for those without much garden  there are now allotments available.Downstairs we have a big old ground floor extension right across the back of the house with a pitched, tiled roof which has a large room with a skylight in adjoining the kitchen we keep our freezers in and use for eating in  the summer and is a great area for wellie boots and wet clothes etc. When we had dogs and cats that was their place. The rest of this extension is a boiler room, bathroom, utility room and conservatory.
 We didn't know we had a large bricked up inglenook fireplace behind one  of the radiators until somebody tipped us the wink so I broke into this and that's now where the wood burner proudly sits.The old oil conversion Aga in the kitchen heats the water, takes the chill off the place and dries and irons the clothes.It must date back to the fifties but still works perfectly and I've had a special rig built to lift out the cast iron pot when it needs a service.
We have a large side entrance that holds about  five cars but no garage but the farmer very kindly left his twenty feet by twelve office/shed. Very handy. We've since added two more sheds, a poly tunnel and a greenhouse.
The place was a paradise for the kids when they were young and now it's turned into one for us also. There's so much going on in this community. Some weeks my wife is out every night.The list includes history group women's groups, youth club, horticulture, village events,  bowling, amateur dramatics, various keep fit classes, annual flower show etc Then there's church stuff, school stuff, pub quizzes and music. It goes on and on. I only hope we don't lose our pub. It's for sale.
I will only leave this place in a box. It seems I have spent my whole life leading up to this and this is what it was for.We're not rich compared to many. We don't have a posh cabin cruiser or yacht although I love boats and go for inshore trips along the south coast or up the estuaries at every opportunity. Though not now  a hundred percent fit, I get by with the help of powerful meds and I've never been more at peace with myself. I have my  piano, my computer, the garden, the glorious countryside and coast and family still all local.. Places like Exmoor, Dartmoor, The Mendips and Jurassic coast are all within a thirty mile drive. This for me is as good as it gets. We've been very lucky. I wonder what I've done to deserve it.