Laneways and slippy mud

The last few days have passed by in a flurry of green fields, bleating sheep, and cream teas. I've moved to the English countryside!

Over the weekend I bought myself a train ticket to Totnes (my first ever train journey!) and arranged to live on a gorgeous estate in a small village called Diptford.

In exchange for working around 35 hours per week at the Old Rectory (providing breakfast for B&B guests and tidying their rooms in the mornings, and greeting new guests when they arrive of an evening), I get to live in a beautiful big room with views over a rolling green valley, I have sole use of a bathroom as big as the room I left behind in London, my own kitchen, a sum of money for food and spending, and I get the use of a car whenever I need or want it! I will also be working in a farm shop that sells delicious local organic goodies (marmalades, breads, cheeses, yoghurts, icecreams...) roughly 20 miles from here, for a bit of extra dosh. Nice one!

Since I arrived on Tuesday I've been settling in and getting used to what needs to be done. Yesterday I had some free time though, so I pulled on my lilac gum boots and went rambling over the estate, discovering beautiful dappled paths, flowers, and views.

My rambling then led me into the town of Diptford, where I smiled at tiny laneways barely big enough for two cars to pass each other, and where I found a playground happily devoid of children... Huzzah! The slippery dip was mine!

Today we had three guests in for breakfast and I was pleased as punch to have Stella tell me, and her husband, that I set up my first breakfast beautifully - just as she likes it - and in half the time. Top stuff!

Later today, however, the VW Golf I had been given to drive around in decided it didn't like our partnership, and stopped right on a round-a-bout, ne'er to start again. Well... that's what it's looking like. 'Cam belt', says the mechanic over the phone... 'not worth replacing' apparently. Hopefully it's just the starter motor, but we won't know that until tomorrow. In the meantime, I plan on lazing in my room, drinking my glass of red wine, eating my home-made fudge from the Broadway Markets, and... that's about it! Breakfast for five tomorrow - wish me luck!