After a long wet winter it has been wonderful to be able to eat meals outside in the garden, have the odd barbecue on the beach and best of all swim in the sea.

I’ve been enjoying breakfast on our front terrace most mornings, soaking up the view of my Verbena bonariensis (purple) and Crocosmia Lucifer (red) with the triffid looking Beschorneria in the background and the majestic agave in the centre growing bigger every year. What a treat to start the day!

Swimming in the sea is one of my greatest pleasures. It’s just 5 minutes in the car down to the beach at Long Rock which is best at high tide and as you swim you gaze across to St Michaels Mount.

Or 10 minutes in the car and you can be at the village of Perranuthnoe with the little beach of Perran Sands just below. I park in the village and walk down – less than 5 minutes and you’re in the water. To refresh there is a lovely little café at the top of the sloping slipway with tables outside and views of the sea through the Tamarisk.

Porthcurno is one of my favourite beaches – the sea is like champagne – well blue/green champagne maybe!

Or there is Sennen in the evenings, when you can easily park in the lower car park, light the portable bucket barbecue before plunging into the sea and after a few minutes swim the charcoal is ready to cook supper. And this is only 20 minutes from Boscrowan yet some days it could be the Carribean!

We are SO lucky to live here!

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It was when David commented upon the chain of events that occur every morning the moment that he opens the door and walks outside that I thought I might share them with you.

Jess and Meg hear him place his empty coffee cup down beside the aga and rush to the utility door. Wellies on and out the three go, Jess and Meg barking with excitement, David trying to quieten them but to no avail and fortunately we find that few of our holiday cottage guests even hear them and the few that do, enjoy hearing them as a country sound!

The horses hear the dogs and whinny and rush to their stable doors or field gate (depends on the time of year), awaiting their breakfast.

The chickens and ducks hear all these voices and a cacophany of sound erupts from the houses in the poultry enclosure. They burst out of their doors once opened, sometimes even with an egg pinging out in front of them too. The chickens rush for the food, the ducks race over for water. That done it’s time to feed the three cats Milly and Molly plus new member of the gang, Fluffy who have appeared from nowhere, all desperately hungry and last of all Jess and Meg who instigated this chain of events.

And always of course, should there be a guest on Ring and Thimble front patio there is an ever ready, eager audience always keen for a quick snack at any time!

Well after a long, long  wet winter – yes we had the same, suddenly change is afoot and buds and flowers are bursting forth. Spring is in the air, at last.

Exciting things – suddenly a Beschornia in the front garden has 5 massive flower buds, a Fucrea in a pot overwintering in the greenhouse has an intriguing flower bud which ultimately could tower above my head. David and I have been busy out in the vegetable and cutting garden – digging, rotavating and planting potatoes and garlic – onions next. It’s a lovely surprise for our guests to walk into their cottages at the start of their holiday to a trug of homegrown Boscrowan vegetables with a continuous supply throughout their stay if they wish – and for free! Ban the plastic wrapping of less fresh and tasty supermarket produce whilst you are staying at Boscrowan.

Sweet peas are flourishing in the greenhouse. I plan a succession this year – their colours and scent so sweet that I wish they could last all summer.

We want our guests to enjoy a slice of our country life whilst they stay at Boscrowan and even more we hope that they will find time to try growing things when they return home. You can sow some lettuce seed in a pot in the same time that you can send an e mail or a text – it doesn’t take long!!!!!