Monday 9 June 2014

Me On Monday

It's been an off grid kind of weekend here. We have one little spot in our world still unconnected to the internet, without even a television, and that's where we've been. Because it's unlikely to stay that way for very much longer. After some family discussion we have decided to accept an offer of a year long tenancy on our place by the shore.


They're moving in today, so it's been a rush-job weekend of cleaning polishing, gardening and sorting. Which is what I'm used to: I quite often blitz a house after someone leaves, clean it all, make it look good for the next person, but that's work (and, funny, because this isn't a blog about work, all of that never really appears - maybe it's time for a change?) This one feels more personal. This is, I suppose, our retirement project. We lend it out to family and friends and very occasionally accept a short term let (last summer we had some of the film crew working on a children's tv show in the castle in the village - kind of cool); but twelve months without it?


 It was a chopping down bushes, deciding what could stay, hoovering, linen cupboard sorting, dusting, book moving, bathroom sparkling, picnic lunch grabbing, knitting during tea breaks, weeding in the rain, window cleaning, furniture moving, crockery counting, saying goodbye to the view kind of weekend.

And I took a few pictures. How about you? What did you do? Everyone welcome to join in on a Monday!


25 comments:

Paula - Buenos Aires said...

Sounds like a Nora Roberts novel where the hunky writer rents a place by the shore and marvelous adventures happen. :) Letting my imagination roam on a misty, chilly Monday morning.

Cheri said...

If I had a place like that, not at all sure I could give it up for a year!

Julie Kirk said...

I can see how it would be a wrench to leave it behind and yet ... I suppose that as it's earning its keep for a little while, it's also one way of ensuring you get to hang on to it, for keeps. It must be lovely to know it'll be yours in the end.

My weekend was kind of a making paper-pockets - food shopping - Sherlock watching [again] - coat buying [didn't need one ... but when does that ever stop me?] one.

And if I'm honest, I'm struggling to get into Monday!

Ruth said...

Visions of Colin Firth in Love Actually ...

scrappyjacky said...

You do sound a little sad to be losing it for a year....though I'm sure the time will go quickly....and then it will be even more exciting to return to.

KraftyKaren said...

Oh gosh - a year without it - I am sure the time will fly by!!

Lea Lacoste said...

a home by the water, that's the dream! (but with wi-fi please!) I'm sure the year will go by super quickly (it always does) and finding it again will be even better!
I had a babysitting a 2 year old kind of weekend so i'm off to rest now, kids are exhausting ;)

Anonymous said...

The year will go by fast and just think of the excitement of going back there afterwards. That sweater(?) is looking great. All my years of knitting and I still haven't mastered fair isle.

Anonymous said...

Ooops, meant to say I joined in although mine definitely was not as busy.

Helen said...

A year flies by so quickly, and you'll come back to your lovely place! here in britanny, a super sunny weekend, a 60th 's birthday party, and a beach -monday, plus some ironing :( it has to be done right?

Mel said...

So true that work doesn't often feature on blogs. Until I took part in a week in the life I'd never taken a PIC at my school.

Jane said...

you always seem to be very busy!

Lou said...

a year will fly by..i'm sure! You have been a busy bee x

Karen said...

Somehow I missed that you had a special place near the water. I can see how that would be a difficult decision, but others are correct--I'm sure the year will fly by. It's a lot of work to get a place ready for someone else to inhabit.

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

What a lovely view. That must have been a difficult decision. How wonderful it will be to come back to after that year.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Oh gosh, that has to be bittersweet. I hope the tenant will want to leave at the end of one year! Lovely photos and I really like the one of you at the beginning of your post!

Lisa said...

I can only imagine what a pull that must have been. Hope you're not feeling too sad.

debs14 said...

I know you'll excuse me being late when I explain why! You know the feelings of having a son up in Edinburgh.
What a lovely view your property has - you will miss being able to pop down there whenever you want - but oh how you will love it when it is all yours again!

Barbara Eads said...

You know how quickly a year goes by!! This time next year, you'll be doing it all over again---but this time for your family to get back to it! It looks so peaceful and serene---a perfect place to knit and just be quiet!

Maria Ontiveros said...

It seems like we're on the cusp of a new phase in our life, too. With the boy settling into adulthood and Clara settling into high school. I know you're in a similar space. Perhaps the long term let is part of that. For me, it was a track team awards ceremony, packing up for carpet installation, driving up to Oregon weekend.
Rinda

Missus Wookie said...

As someone settling in to a long term let I'm grateful for those who do let their houses out! Currently we don't have a tv or internet here either but the only water is the duck ponds :)

Hope that year goes quickly for you and you enjoy that special place again.

Melissa said...

I'm a little behind on my blog reading this week - sounds like it was a good but a little sad weekend, but I bet y'all will enjoy the view even more after being away from it for a year & I'm sure letting it out is a good thing when you've got one in college! Hope you've had a great week & are geared up for a fantastic weekend!

Becky said...

Oh, I don't think that I could give that up for a year! A busy weekend for you - hope this one is more relaxing.

Sandra said...

I've had a week of family visiting, so I'm catching up :)

I can imagine it was a difficult decision but the year will go quickly x

Jo said...

Sounds like you've been very busy!

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