First and second storey completed; third still to go.

Although this may look like a couple of pallets crudely nailed together, in reality it’s a complex structure akin to a medieval Siege Tower.

A great time was had by all, on our Saga “River Cottage Experience” mini break. Unfortunately, I kept forgetting my camera, so was unable to take shots of the Monkton Wylde bread making day, or the final evening River Cottage banquet, cooked by HFW’s right hand man, who everyone was clearly in awe of, from ogling him on the TV.

My favourite moment was seeing the kids from the Waldorf nursery returning from their ‘outdoor activity’ morning as we baked the bread we had made in an outdoor oven. The teachers and children were singing a slow, flowing song, and they were walking in slow motion, too, crossing the fields towards us as if in a trance. It was like watching the Pied Piper.

Butchery instruction at River Cottage:

Mixing chorizo:

Cookery school:

My belly of pork:

Michelle’s belly of pork:

My eclair:

Lyme Regis:

The Cobb:

Gardens:

Tea in Thomas Hardy’s conservatory

You should get Jul to do you a mural.

Swinside stone circle

Castlerig stone circle

View of Blencathra – the middle ridge is the way up!

Aira Force

Glanamara balcony

Birthday supper

The menu – small portions of everything