Settling in

On the plus side the temperature remains relatively mild. Indoors I manage with only four layers of clothing. The roar of the wind, the thrashing trees and juddering window panes provides our soundtrack. A day spent clearing fallen leaves from drains and guttering appears misspent, as this morning they’ve returned with a vengeance. The office wall is a series of hastily scribbled lists: essential tasks that need to be accomplished in order of priority. Number one on today’s schedule is a return to the barn, to clean house and hand back the keys. Given the speed we left last week I suspect it will take most of the day. We have begun to meet the neighbours – a reassuringly friendly bunch. Horseback or quad bike appears the favoured mode of transport. I’m thinking of buying a moped. Normality was resumed yesterday with a traditional Sunday roast. Whilst the kitchen comes equipped with an array of German-manufactured wizardry, water has to be pumped from a spring that originates somewhere on the moor; and staying warm this winter requires my chopping lots of wood.