We really feel taken out tonight.

This is the style of ceiling in all the outbuilding in the court yard and we have often talked about dragging all this old and tinder dry fire hazard material out as we don’t need the insulation for the animals, we don’t keep any, and we also don’t need the wood worm which is in danger of making it’s way into our living areas.

You know the theory that if a butterfly flaps his wings on one side of the world it has an effect on something on the other side of the world?  Today we brought that theory to a reality. A few days ago we decided that we would convert HOSS’s room into a flat with an on-suite in my food store room, we thought it would be good if either of our Mums come to visit next year but it will also give us another opportunity to earn a few bob running a small, but bijoux B&B. We walked around our buildings trying to work out where we could re-house HOSS and a plan was formed. The recycling area in the out house would go to the old wood store and HOSS would go into the out house, perfect, but the ceiling in the old wood store is falling in and Mike bit the bullet and started to cut the supports and drag down all the hay and twigs that for many tens of years have formed the floor in the loft area and the ceiling below, albeit badly.

 Planning a project impacts on the next task and then the next and then the next. We find this happening so often, we discuss  a job that needs doing, and never get motivated to do it, then that butterfly starts to flutter about and we fall into that task without question. It took all day to drag one room’s worth of ceiling down and we transported five trailers full up into the field to add to our bonfire. During the day we came across one rat who unfortunately died on impact with Mikes hay fork and one hedgehog who made a very swift escape to find somewhere else to sleep the rest of the winter off. The dust was unbelievable but when the inside of the roof came into view we realised we were doing a beautiful thing getting these barns back to full height with all the beams on show.

What a heap!  and there is still the coal store and Mike’s work shop to have the same treatment but the workshop will need a totally different approach as Mike’s most treasured belongings, apart from me,  are in that room, in abundance.

At five o’clock we swept the last of the dust and moved the last of the hay and Mike spontaneously combusted the heap and we sat for two hours watching the most amazing natural phenomenon of fire developing into the most efficient rubbish heap disposal process going. If any of you have not sat and watched a bonfire develop then you should, it is fascinating. We pulled the garden bench up and opened a bottle of cider whilst tending and moving the embers to get the best burn possible.

 At six thirty we had the fire under enough control to leave it to smoulder and went in for dinner. It  occurred to me that we  take for granted these little moments of shear amazing relaxation and peace, sitting by your bonfire with a glass of home made cider in your hands listening to the rest of the world ending it’s day, it is price less. After dinner we went back  to check all was well and in the dark we sat watching the white hot embers bubbling away doing what comes naturally. Feeling the heat on our faces watching a very nearly full moon light up the sky I was tempted to stay there all evening but it had been a long day. Straw and twigs are easier to shift than gravel but it’s the hours spent in the fresh air that takes it out of you and we really feel taken out tonight.