Wednesday

Hi!

Thought I'd just catch up a bit while sitting here doing nothing! I'll come back to that.

So...errr where did I last sign off....the airbnb - had 9 people stay now and 8 of those have left a review - all 5*.  The one that didn't leave a review turned up smelling of weed, and then I could smell it coming from the annex part of the house!  He disappeared for ages to, and then 2 ppl left when he came alone...  This whole visit left me feeling really uneasy, but when he left - other than the smell everything was okay!  I left him a short review not mentioning the smell - and he didn't leave a review at all - lol - I'm guessing he was concerned...?

We have quite a lot of bookings now - and after our next guests - this weekend, we should have met all the requirements to be awarded 'super-host" status on airbnb!  I'd like that because I just think that it gives people (me included, in the past) confidence that the person knows what they are doing. 

I've had a few days off in the first time, in what seems like ages - but since 24th May - 20 days or something? with guests every 3-4 days.  Busy!  The last guest left Monday and our next one is Friday - so Monday I went a bit mad vacuuming and cleaning our side of the house, making beds and doing washing, as well as washing annex bedding/towels and ironing bedding and making the bed.  By the end of the day - it felt great - and knowing I had days to finish the annex.  That night - my foot was KILLING me (planter fasciitis) and it was really annoying realising that it has not improved at all.  So - I decided that the next 2-3 days I was really going to keep off my foot and be lazy!  Andy was insisting too - but really I didn't need much persuading!  I must admit I'm loving it! hahaha! getting up and getting coffee and moving to the couch! lol.  I have done bits n bobs, because my conscience doesn't allow me to contribute absolutely nothing to...something! So, got lots more washing/drying/putting away done yesterday and made bread in the bread machine - and today I have used an old staple gun I found and put a plastic material thing I bought, over the lid on a box used in the bathroom, and eaten yesterdays bread!  It is 1.17pm and I haven't even bothered to get dressed! I have a dressing gown on and PJ bottoms - and my hair is so greasy i'd be embarrassed for anybody to see me right now! If somebody comes to the door I think I will hide!  My foot, by the way is hurting much less!  I plan on being a little busier tomorrow - have sorted for shopping to be delivered at 10am - it should contain hair dye (which I WAS going to do today, but I refuse to leave the house to buy some).

Other things we have been doing....we went to a garden center at the weekend and spent some money for the first time in ages!  We bought, 2 big conifers to place between us and our neighbor - one window overlooks us - otherwise we are completely secluded!  We also bought a stone bench with squirrels as the legs, a big stone snail we have named Gail, and a stone cat that we have named Roger (as our two little cats are named after Freddie Mercury and Brain May....Roger Taylor), and we got a rose bush as roses are one of the few things that we don't have in the garden!

The bench...



Gail the Snail....cats like her!



And...just a really cute picture of Mercky and May....



So....

while I've been sat on the couch for hours - I've been looking up stuff...like log stores (so expensive!) and airbnb stuff....but mostly about the people that lived in this house - I am obsessed! I'm trying to find our who built this house, when and why - and, as I said in my last post - Peard Jillard seemed to own it early on - possibly built it - but I found that he sold it in 1806 - and he apparently died in 1800!!  I have been trying to decipher his last will and testament to see if he left it in his will....can't make out anything to do with this house...

So - its this weekend I am going to see Lissa - and we do have a booking for that weekend now - so I think Andy will be doing the meet and greet! lol.

Apparently Connor is doing well - doing well in his job and enjoying it - thats as much as I can get out of him - Adam is packing up the flat as they are about to exchange contracts...

Andy is working very hard - and away a lot! I worry about him...he seems happy and confident - but it is on his mind a lot, he needs some time for himself...

Okay - I'm going back to doing nothing

:-) :-) :-)

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!!!

Thursday

Hi!

Well we got another 5 star review from our last guests! I don't know what happened to the sheets - maybe they used massage oil - but I can't get the marks out - so its the first thing I need to replace! After just two guests its not good!

The guests were lovely and it seemed like they had a great time - they went off and did lots of things! :-)

Our third guests is due Saturday night - just the one night and for a party in Bishops Hull - I hope it doesn't get messy!

The cleaner was supposed to turn up today and hasn't - and she has not responded to my message!  I was a bit concerned about what I wanted her to do to be honest so I'm not too fussed  and I have physio at 12.30.

So - Tuesday was my one-week weight in - lost 4lb - happy with that! I have no idea if I'll lose again this week but I hope so - I'm sticking to the diet!  If only I could lose 2lb every week! that would be awesome! Even 1lb a week! Just hate it when you've been dieting all week and dont lose anything!

It probably helped that I didn't drink over the weekend - well....I had a couple of glasses of wine - but I kept within my 'points'.

This week I have bought some architrave for the fireplace to neaten up the wood panelling where we hacked it off to get to the fireplace in the living room - I have also bought a big piece of timber for a mantle beam - the wood is called zebrano (because the grain is quite stripey), it was £100....so soon the fireplace will be sorted and the room will be decorated and we are going to have a move around of the furniture....and it will be another room done!  The wood for the mantle is still in my car because it is too heavy for me to get it out on my own and Andy is away until tonight - so I'll be driving around with it until then!  Bit of a pain in the ass as my tires need air too....I'll do that on the way to physio  and on the way back I'll stop and get the bits I need for satay chicken tonight! Wow - I lead such an exciting life!!!

Bank holiday weekend

Hiiii

Its friday 6.30pm....start of the bank holiday weekend and I'm bored! Andy is not feeling too good and is asleep - and I am waiting for our second lot of guests to turn up - and I am so bored I'm having to resort to chatting to Lissa on Whatsapp.....

Just kidding!

The annex is all ready for our guests - they are going to be here for three nights.  They have treats and milk and bread and wine!

I've just cooked chicken in yogurt - its a curry - and I forgot to get naan bread but I'd probably not be allowed any anyway!  I managed to stick to weight watchers yesterday....and today - but tonight I am gonna want a drink - so might go over!  In fact I'll probably want a drink tomorrow and Sunday night too (being a bank holiday and all..)

I seem to have done nothing but shop and cook since I went on WW....but its nice that I have had the time instead of working constantly on the house.  I'm going to have to get back to it soon though...or not! We don't have anything urgent to do (for the first time in almost 2 years) although there is still LOADS to do.  I haven't decided what to do next although I think it may have to be our living room - which has a half finished fire place and needs painting.

So - not sure what Andy wants to do over the weekend - provided he is feeling well!  There is stuff going on in Paignton which Helen and Paul asked us about - but with guests here...we didn't feel right going.  We will eventually make it so people can let themselves in, but as its early days we want to make sure we are not needed, and get more confident that people have everything they need. 

Anyway - I haven't actually got anything interesting to say so I'm gonna go...and hope our guests turn up!

Diet...disaster

Morning!

So...yesterday I signed up for weight watchers - and last night I completely pigged out!!  I am blaming the fact that I had no healthy food in the house - I got suddenly hungry and once I'd eaten something I shouldn't I thought...sod it - I'll go and buy all the healthy stuff tomorrow!

So - today I need to spend sometime figuring out what to eat for lunches and dinner - as well as snacks and sweet things.  Then I am going to go out and buy IT ALL lol....

My mouth is still sore - its annoying because tomorrow it will be a week - and it was only a filling! Its not even the tooth that is hurting - its the gums all around it...

Yesterday I cemented the new manhole cover - to keep it in place and the water level was so high I am almost certain it is blocked....joy

So what are today's tasks?  I am going to put all the clean bedding on the bed in the annex, and make sure everywhere is clean ready for the weekend.  I am going to do food lists and shopping and probably some cooking. After that? maybe some cleaning - vac up all the dead ladybirds in the dressing room!!  Oh....I might sort out a few electrics - there is a plug socket sticking out of the fireplace in the games room - it used to be attached to the board that covered and closed off the fireplace - now there is just a long cable with a plug socket attached to the end.  AND I need to replace the sockets I asked Connor to fix - both new ones got broken in the process.

First things first....diet planning because despite the fact that I messed up big time last night - I still really wanna do this!

Just an average Tuesday...

Hi again,

So last time I blogged I was about to go to the dentist! I went...was sedated - and I'm very relieved to say that the sedation worked a treat! No memory of any treatment - just a filling was needed! However...that was 6 days ago and my mouth is so sore!! Been having salt water mouth washes today...

Friday evening Lissa arrived! We jumped straight into party mode - playing pool and having a laugh - for some reason I remained sober but Lissa and Andy were quite drunk!! I was glad I'd not drank too much Saturday morning - but those two were suffering a bit!

Me and Lissa then went off to the Spa - I'd left it too late to add a treatment in - so we just had access to the jacuzzi, steam room and sauna - which was actually perfect because we flitted from one to the other and had lots of opportunity to catch up!  This ended with a cream tea (or coffee) which was very nice!  Saturday evening we took it easy and chilled whilst watching a film - and Sunday we barely moved off the couch!

I'm hoping to book something else for me and Lissa - maybe close to her so I'll make the journey this time. 

Today I joined Weight Watchers online (for £1) so....lets see if for the first time in AGES I can manage to stick to a diet! I'm currently 12 stone!!! ouch!! That might not be too bad if I was 6'4" but unfortunately I am 5'3" - I really want to give it a good go - we are approaching summer and I have lots of nice clothes I cannot fit into - I don't have unrealistic goals - I'm aiming for 10 1/2 stone.  I need to get into the gym again - although I still cant run as I have planter fasciitis in my foot.  I am going into the gym soon - just a bit of exercise bike and I am going to start a 30 day yoga thingy Lissa suggested.

Lissa is very good to chat to about diet and exercise! She's the only person I know who gets as obsessed as me - although she is barely 8 stone! Maybe she is the person I should take advice off! lol.  I'm proud she does so well, because I think I was the person that got her into fitness and exercise in the first place - I just didn't keep it up!!

So - the airbnb - we got a BRILLIANT review from our first guest! She went to so much effort it looks like we paid her or wrote it ourselves! lol  We have had 6 bookings now...so it seems to be working!

Okay - I'm off to browse for a spa me and Lissa can go to and then I'll drag my lard-arse into the gym!
xx

stuff....airbnb...dentist

Hi,

So our first guest left early - but only because her husband was discharged from hospital early - she sent me a lovely message though; "I'm sorry to leave the annex. Its a brilliant place to stay and has made a difficult time much easier than it might have been.  Thanks so much for opening it up early for me"

That made me feel good!!  Its not just about making money - I want people to come and enjoy it! I want people to enjoy the house (like we do) and find it comfortable and enjoy all the little extras we put in!  We put in - toiletries, and face wipes, and wine and bread and milk - couple of eggs etc. We found when we were airbnb'ing the little extras - like salt and pepper, oil etc. go a long way to making life easier.

Was a little weird though - not having access to the part of the house I've spent so much time working on recently! and worrying - I was worried when our guest didn't come back till late (because her husband was in hospital), and worrying that everything is working, its warm enough etc. I expect that will lessen over time however....

I am trying to educate myself on twitter, instagram etc. to try and promote the airbnb - Andy has just tried to explain to me how some people use these things - I have a basic understanding and have used these platforms a few times - but I really want to get more involved and try and keep up with everything - so thats my task today until.....

Dentist later and I'm phobic - so have to have sedation otherwise I can't go through with it - I've tried and ended up sobbing in the dentist - with a very unsympathetic dentist too - so I walked out even though I was in agony!  Later I'm having a filling, possibly a root filling, possibly the tooth will come out.  Either way - not happy and just wanna get it over with! Once its over....

Lissa is visiting this weekend! She'll be here tomorrow night - then Saturday we have a spa thingy - so that will be awesome - give us time to chill and chat and catch up and just spend time with each other which I love because I managed to make a lovely person! I take all the credit for the amazing person she turned out to be lol....and Adam and Connor of course - but their not girls!

Okay - I'm to tweet lol