Wednesday 5 June 2019

Airbnb feeling more established!


Good morning!

I am lazing on the couch - with a headache for some reason - I have about an hour and then our 7th guest will be leaving - and later today another guest will be turning up! We now have six 5* reviews - which is awesome.  It can take quite some time doing the turnaround - and we have had lots of occasions in the last couple of weeks where I have had just a few hours between guests and have to get it cleaned and beds changed etc.  Up to now everybody has left the place clean and tidy - but I still have to clean etc.

I'm so happy that the airbnb is working! and it gives me an income...well...it makes me feel better about not being employed!  and I feel like I am contributing to our finances as it was me that did all the work, to get it up and running - and it was a LOT of work! Considering that the living room used to be a ladies toilets! I also do all the cleaning, preparation etc.  Andy helps if the turnaround falls on a weekend...

On the main part of the house I have now fitted all the trim around the fireplace, and painted the bricks - and in the last couple of days started on painting the room - its a big job though - a big room - and everything needs painting or sanding etc.  However, there is no rush so I am happy to do it bit-by-bit.  I've been waiting for about a month now for Andy to order a bracket to put the TV on the wall....apparently he can't decide - so I think if I want it done, I shall have to order one myself!

Andy is working away a lot lately, 1-3 nights away each week.  I don't mind so much, but I do miss him and it worries me that he works so hard.

I'm going to be going into London next weekend - Lissa got us tickets to see Wicked.  To be honest its a little bit of a pain in the butt - London is a long way - and expensive - I think I will end up driving to Lissa's on the Friday - train in and out of London on the Saturday and back on the Sunday - a lot of travelling. Luckily we don't have guests that weekend but if we end up getting a booking I am going to have to depend on Andy to change beds and get it spotless etc.  I don't like to leave him to all that because its quite a bit of work - and he works all week.

I have been doing a lot of research about this house and its residents - I have now found that it was sold in 1806 by Peard Jillard - I found a mention that Farnham Haskell lived here with his son in law - they were reverends at the chapel opposite the house.  Farnham Haskell died in 1779 - so that means the house dates to before 1779 (if the info I read is correct as I have no way of checking it).  I also went to Somerset Heritage Centre to see if I could find more info.  I did find a set of ledgers from around 1870 - it was written by Mr Thomas Patton - it contained family expenditure.  I was hoping to find out how much servants were paid, or find info about work done on the house but it seemed to be more about what he was paying his children.  Saying that there was way too much to read - I could do with spending a few weeks reading it all but its not that easy when you can't bring them home! It was awesome though holding them in my hands - and seeing his hand writing after I have been studying him and his family for over 2 years now!

Anyway - I'll leave it there for now - see you soon!!!