House and pet-sitting

So, if I’ve been quiet for a while it’s because of these furry menaces, demanding all of my attention!

The musical-half and I are currently house-sitting in a little rural village in The Limousin, France, for an expat couple who are back in the uk for a few weeks. We have chickens, sheep and dogs to keep alive! For three weeks!! I must say, it’s a lot more pressure than I expected, being responsible for other people’s tiny creatures. I’m managing about three hours of design work a day in-between walkies, feeding, cleaning and such.

This was an experiment in lifestyle for us, as Chester travels with his music, and I need Internet for my work, looking after people’s homes seemed perfect… And it kind of is really, I just need to work out how to get some more hours of work in in a day!

Well must dash… Time for walkies!

Blois, Blois, Blois

We are in Blois today (Incase you didn’t pick up on the hint in the title). It’s raining, freezing and although I’ve found a cafe with Wifi, there is no plug socket, so work is a bit tricky! Despite my Blois-sey attitude (get it!), it’s a very beautiful city, sitting on the banks of the Loire river, and if your mood is more amiable and excitable than mine is today I hear that the royal chateau is a fantastic place to visit … I wonder if they have a plug socket I can use?

The Charlie Hebdo slogan is very prominent in Blois

Going Gluten Free in Galloway

We were lucky enough to spend this New Years Eve in an Idyllic little village in South West Scotland, called Twynholm. Bordering the Galloway forest, we took the opportunity to unwind and enjoy a couple days hiking … and eating, the most amazing Gluten-Free grub I’ve ever had! I’ve eaten many a dubious GF meal in my time, and The Star Inn in Twynholm is the biggest breath of fresh air, so much so that the dinner-table conversation became centred around whether or not someone would eventually make a gluten-free version of master chef… ‘because this guy should totally go on it!’.

After stuffing ourselves silly, the walking was pretty good too. We headed up Craigairie Fell, the lowly county top of Wigtownshire, on a very blustery, rainy New Years Day… It was worth it, for total rule of the hill. We didn’t see a single person, and got to enjoy the views all to ourselves. Another great walk, (but a bit more strenuous) to try is ‘Merrick’, you’ll need to get up early in the winter to hit this one though, which after staying in The Star’s fantastic B&B accommodation we had no absolutely intention of doing!

Check out The Star hotel