Since posting a very short time ago that we had availability for New Year, we are now full!

If you are thinking of coming to Cornwall for the New Year, but fear it is too late to book, do not worry! We still have limited availability, so give me a ring or email if you might be interested in coming down.

There is a guest house in Treknow

Where next year you really should go

The food is quite yummy

You'll leave with a tummy

Too large to be able to show

In the meantime, Happy Christmas and have a great New Year!

New Year

We still have some availability over the New Year period, do contact us if you are thinking of coming to Cornwall for the New Year.

Card Machine

I have today received a card machine for the guest house. This means that I will be able to take payment from cards, and for deposits over the phone. I will post more details shortly, as well as updating the website.

Road works

There are currently road works taking place near the 'Pixie House', which is just before you reach Trewarmett, near here. The diversion takes you through Tintagel. The roadworks are supposed to be removed for Christmas, but will return in January for several months. I will put fuller details on the website in due course, but do ask me about routes.

Christmas and New Year

We are now fully booked for the Christmas period, but we have availability for the New Year. The bed and breakfast rates are as normal (£32 pppn en-suite room, two nights or over, £25, room with private bathroom, pppn, two nights or over). OnWed. 31st December, we will be offering a special New Year's evening meal, four courses, £27.50 per person. Evening meals on other nights will be at the normal rate, £18.50 per person for a three course meal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKjmz5lBfUs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1_bpuRzgVA

If you are missing the rugged Cornish coast and the castle at Tintagel, have a look at the video clip! I did not make it, I hasten to add!

We are now fully booked for Christmas, but we have availability for the New Year if you might be considering a visit this way, hope to see you.

picture taken in Nov 2006


Christmas break 2008

Fancy being looked after and spoiled over the Christmas period? Get away from it all, relax, walk and have tea by the open fire at Michael House, followed by delicious festive meals! We are offering a four night break over Christmas again this year, as follows: Arrive on Tuesday 23rd December, in time for afternoon tea by the fire and a three course evening meal. On Christmas Eve, have a leisurely breakfast. Enjoy the day as you choose and afternoon tea will again be served by the fire, and a four course evening meal will follow. On Christmas Day, another leisurely breakfast will precede a five course Christmas dinner in the early afternoon. Supper will be buffet style. On Boxing Day, there will be a light lunch after another leisurely breakfast, afternoon tea (if you can manage it!) and a four course supper. Guests will depart on the Saturday morning. Four nights, partly full board, £300 per person for the en-suite rooms, and £275 for the room with private bathroom. A single supplement will apply. Bookings for earlier or later dates will be at the normal rate.

Comments from previous Christmas guests: ‘A wonderful way to spend Christmas’ ‘What a fabulous way to spend Christmas…a brie and cranberry soufflé to die for…thanks for all the cosseting and pampering – we really needed it’

I think this must be an old privy! with Michael House in the distance.

The coast path the other day

Availability

We have rooms available over this coming weekend and thereafter. If you are thinking of coming to Cornwall, the forecast is not bad at all for the next few days. Hope to see you.

Why, oh why, oh why?

Why isn't everyone in Cornwall? the weather is gorgeous, the place is quiet, it is perfect! Oh, and we have some availability!

Ok, so this photo wasnt taken just now, but there are still some flowers to enjoy

Three for two offer

As we slip into October, our autumn offers are available. We are offering our three nights for the price of two special again, so long as evening meals are taken on each night. the total cost for two people, for a double or twin en-suite room is £239, or £211 for the room with private bathroom. this is available until the end of November. We are fully booked this coming weekend, but have availability after that, so do consider contacting us if you are thinking of coming to Cornwall. It is a bit blustery today, but with clear visibility and some sunshine, and I think the forecast improves after the next few days, no promises though!

The picture is of Hole Beach, which is beyond the main part of Trebarwith Strand, with Penhallick Head in the background. On very low tides, you can walk round to it, otherwise there is a steep path down for the more adventurous.

Availability

Over the coming weeks we do have some availability. The weather is looking good, and Cornwall is quieter at this time of the year, with places still open, so you get the best of everything!
Hope to see you soon.

This week, I am mostly being an estate agent. A friend is looking to move and the following are the details of the house she is selling. I have been inside, it is lovely, beautifully restored. I have tried to include photos, but they will not load on here for some reason, so, do contact Debbie for the photos.

'Want to get out of the rat race? Change your lifestyle?

For sale:
Much loved, period (circa 1858) semi detached character cottage, (granite with slate roof) currently 2 cottages, a two bedroom cottage with a 1 bedroom self contained annex (income?) (granny flat?), could easily be reinstated to large three bedroom, 2 bathroom family house. Large garden with patio and pergola, surrounded by mature woodlands, camellias and rhododendrons. Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, five minutes walk from the Camel Trail, woodland walks and nature reserve. Renovated over past 10 years, new cream kitchen, new(ish) bathroom. Beams, bespoke wooden windows and lots of other features, including large granite fireplace with multifuel burner. Central heating (oil) and double glazed. Please view on Houseladder, property ID no 281263. Contact owner Debbie or Ross on 01208 850625 or debra.pike@tiscali.co.uk
asking price of £375000 or sensible offers considered.'

These swallows were sitting on the wires outside the kitchen window a few weeks ago, all begging for food. The one to the right is being fed by the parent on the wing. They are all flying low today, catching the insects brought out by the warmer weather and sadly, probably filling their tummies in readiness for their long flight to Africa. I always feel sad when they have gone, and start to look forward to their return next spring.





The summer flurry has calmed a little now and we have some availability over the coming weeks. We had beautiful weather today, very still and warm, with hazy sunshine.


You may have noticed that we have not increased our evening meal prices as the tariff suggests. We have kept them to £17.50, and will do so until the beginning of October, when we will make a small increase, to £18.50. But, we will also be offering our autumn breaks, three nights for the price of two, so long as evening meals are taken. This will total £239 for two people, for an-en-suite room, or £211 for the room with private bathroom. The offer will last until the end of November.

Fate of the fete

Well, it did rain a few minutes before the fete was due to begin, but turned out to be hardly anything, but the fate of the fete was sealed by the weather of the week before.

Next week, actually from Saturday 30th August, we have availability, as well as some rooms this week. I think the forecast is looking a bit better, so why not make your way west? Or east of course if you live in most parts of Cornwall, or the Isles of Scilly!

Village fete

Our Treknow village fete was to be this Saturday, 23rd August. But, it has been cancelled. This is because, although the forecast is better for the coming few days, the field where it was to be held has not been cut for silage, and is not dry enough to be cut. I know that on Saturday we will be cursing, as the first rays of sun for a while inevitably shine down. We have rescheduled it for 27th September, 2pm, so do come along if you are in the area.

Issues

I have an issue with the use of the word issue. It seems to increasingly be used where the word problem really belongs. Is it no longer acceptable to have problems? Are issues toned down, more acceptable fronts for problems? Are they more readily resolved?

Availability

I'm sure you didnt have a look at this blog to read about how badly I did in our village show! You were more likely to be looking for an update on availability over the coming weeks.

At present, it looks something as follows:

this week, from Sun 27th - full all week

From Sun 3rd August - room with private bathroom available all week, en-suite rooms available some of the week

from Sun 10th August - Full most of week, one en-suite room available for a couple of days, but weekend of 16/17th, two en-suite rooms available

From Mon 18th August, full most of week

One room available over Bank Holiday weekend, form Sat 23rd, but I will not be cooking on the Saturday as we have our local fete that day!

From 25th August - rooms available from here onwards at present

Sour Grapes

Well, I thought my photo was quite good, but that wasn't the view of the judge, so that was that! They have no taste. Nor about the painting, which I came third in, out of 4! I agreed that the first place was well deserved, no question, but, otherwise, I though mine was rather nice. Ho hum. But then, my tomatoes were 2nd, out of 3! And my runner bean was pipped to the post by a stonker, at least half a cm longer than mine! And now it's inedible, it has been hanging around awaiting it's big moment for so long. One year I'll win something. The trials and tribulations of village life.

This is the image I entered in the class 'trees' at the flower show, see below! I cropped it, and took out Sky, as it wasn't to be entitled 'dog and tree'. I love the twisted, gnarled trunk with something or other growing up it. It is probably quite old, but stunted by the wind and weather we get here from time to time!

The Village Flower Show

I love the village flower show! It is about the only thing I get time/excited about in the annual calendar for the garden club in Treknow. It is such fun to nurture the runner bean to get it as long as possible, to select the most uniform tomatoes, and to see how they compare with the other entries in the show. And, this year we had a painting section, so I had to do a picture of the local area for that, especially so as I had suggested paintings be included. I only finished it a few minutes before taking it to the hall. My sweet peas are definitely not winners, there was a longer runner bean there, and I didn't get a cake baked or a flower arrangement done, so, not many chances of prizes really!

It is such an occasion of bonhomie and friendly competition, with the same people winning year after year but it really doesn't matter.

I will do a post later about how I have got on, or delete this entry if it is all too disastrous - eg, if I haven't even come third in a class where there are only two entries!

weeds

The weather has turned lovely today, the contrast with yesterday when it was misty and drizzly is a bit of a shock! But, this allows me to go out a little more in the garden, and all i can see, everywhere it seems, is weeds! bindweed, nettles - well, at least they are habitat - and many i know not the names of. I plan to do some work on them, soon...

Until almost moving in here, I thought Treknow was pronounced Trek-now. It is actually pronounced Tre-no. Tre means homestead, farm, home. There are one or two other Tre-'s around!

This church has been done up beautifully and sensitively and is now lived in by our neighbours.

A plethora of soft fruit

We are luxuriating in an excellent season for soft fruit. We have an abundance of lovely raspberries, many find their way into the fruit salad each morning, others will be frozen and used in other ways. We have made several gooseberry desserts, there are many blackcurrants and the redcurrants and whitecurrants are doing well too. The strawberries are disappointing, but i think this may be because we have not given them the TLC they need. Although the soft fruits are in a fruit cage, there is a blackbird who is totally unfazed by this and has found a way in and easily gets out again.

We are starting to use the courgettes in the polytunnel, and the runner beans, peppers and tomatoes as well. The beetroot are slowly coming along, the broad beans and peas likewise. The cornflowers and calendula make for nice table decorations. This is panning out to be a better year by a long way for the garden than last year was.

When I visit a care home with Sky, as she is a Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog, there is one lady who, when it is raining, says ' we don't get seasons any more, we just get weather when we get it'.

This seems so true, and we are certainly getting plenty of weather at present. As I look out of the window, I can see blue sky and the wind has calmed right down, but I don't trust it to last that way for long.

This weekend we are full, but we do have some availability for next week if you are considering coming to Cornwall at any time. Hope to see you.

Doris and David

This is a picture of similar collared doves to Doris and David, who have taken up residency at Michael House. We love them, they snuggle together and groom each other, they have a gentle air about them, and they are not afraid when we are near to them. They issue a calming cooing sound. We hope to provide them with corn, and they seem to be eyeing us to see whether that might be our plan.

The weather at present is awful, and they must have taken cover somewhere, I have not seen them today, but, then, looking out of the window has not been my favourite occupation today, any more than sitting on telegraph wires is theirs!

At the risk of sounding like some awful advert, this is just to remind anyone reading this that they have two days left to book a stay at Michael House at the old prices! From Tuesday 1st July, the new, and only slightly increased tariff, will apply.

After some really windy and yucky weather, it seems to be settling a bit now, the wind has quietened down and the sun is peeping through and it is warming up.

The dogs are back outside having fun!

Picnics

When people take picnics out for the day, I love the thought of them opening all the little packages inside and finding little surprises and enjoying the contents on some sunkissed cliff top! It reminds me of my holidays in Cornwall as a chld when we had picnic lunches from our veggie guest house. OK, OK, so the clifftops are not always sunkissed, but they are always lovely...

A forest of echiums! View from the window of the room with private bathroom.

Availability

This is the last week of the 'three nights for the price of two' with evening meals offer until the autumn, and we have some availability. So, if you are thinking of coming to Cornwall this week, the weather forecast (apart from Weds. at the moment) is not too bad, give me a ring.

From the weekend, 28th June, I only have the room with private bathroom available until 6th July, then there is a bit more available.

This is also the last week to make bookings at the old prices for 2008, see the website for details.

Booking

Now is the time to book for the remainder of 2008, at the old prices. Our prices will increase slightly from July, see main site, but all bookings for 2008 made before July, will be honoured at the old prices. We will not be increasing our charge to collect people from the station etc., as we hope to encourage people who have chosen to arrive by train or other public transport means.

To walkers we offer free pick up and collection from eg. Boscastle, Port Isaac and Tintagel, so long as you are staying fro 2 nights or over.

Elderflowers

I want to pick all the elderflowers I see and make them into lovely elderflower cordial. This would be difficult this year, as it seems to be a bumper year for elderflowers. I have made one lot so far, and have another, double quantity nearing readiness for bottling. i will freeze some and the rest will be there for drinking by guestsd and us, immediately.

The recipe I use, taken from the internet, www.keirg.freeserve.co.uk/diary/fruit/elder.htm

is:

20 elderflower heads, wahsed thoroughly adn picked far from busy roads
1 lemon, sliced
2tsp citric acid
3 and a half lbs white sugar
2 and a half pints boiling water

Put all the dry ingredients in a clean pan. Pour boiling water over. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Cover with a cloth or lid. Stir twice daily for five days (if you don't, the lemon on top will go mouldy - I know, I did it!!). Strain and bottle in clean, sterile bottles.

Pop some in the freezer, in plastic bottles, don't fill to the brim, and the bottles in the fridge can be kept for around 2 weeks.

Apart from diluting with tap or mineral water, you could try diluting it with lemonade, and serve it with slices of lemon and sprigs of mint. Add gin and soda water, or vodka. Make diluted cordial into a sorbet. I have not tried any of these ideas!

Enjoy making this before the flowers decide to become elderberries, which may have already happened in some areas of the country.

The Other Blog

Do pay a visit to The Other Blog - http://nessienoracraftexplorer.blogspot.com. It is more personal, and intended to be about crafts, but rarely is! more re animals etc.

Tesco

Since reading about the Viva! turtle campaign in 'New Leaves' (no 87, July, August, September 2007)- the Movement for Compassionate Living's quarterly publication, I have not stepped inside a Tesco store. We did once buy Tesco petrol, but we did not think the AA would be very sympathetic with our reason for running out of petrol. I am approaching my first anniversary of non attendance at Tesco. The horrors of the treatment of the turtles, which are sold in the Far East Tesco shops and which cannot be slaughtered humanely, still upset me, but I think I would now be unlikely to return to Tesco even if I heard that they had stopped this barbaric practice, so much does Tesco not exist for me in my planning of where to buy what I need, and so uncomfortable am I in general with their market domination. On a recent visit to Bristol, we passed perhaps 40 Tesco trucks, and only a smattering of other supermarket lorries. We have adopted a hissing reflex when we pass a Tesco van or lorry, a lighthearted way of alleviating the tension the sight of them induces.

We recently had a wonderful walk, near Rough Tor, only about 20 minutes drive from home, on Bodmin Moor. We walked through the woods near the moor, as there is the opportunity for the troublesome Berri-Biskit to run free there, with no chance of sheep chasing. In the hour or so we were there, we walked through scrubby low woodland, much taller woods, as in the two pictures below (Berri-Biskit had no invitation to share the foxglove picture), and then an area where the trees had been cleared, which was absolutely magical, there was mist rolling across a reservoir in the distance, and the sun was shining in the early evening. We heard woodpeckers, a cuckoo, thrush and what I know know was a chiff-chaff, as well as numerous SBJ's. We saw what we later identified as a little owl. We wondered why a few dead trees had been left standing in the cleared area. The owl was at the top of one of them. We now reckon the trees had been left for this very purpose, as we read that these owls spend a long time in high places, just observing!

This is Daymer Bay, where we had a short walk recenlty. The sea seemed almost as turquoise as around St Ives and Sennen areas.

No prizes for knowing where this is! Trebarwith Strand for anyone reading this who has not been here - about 15 minutes walk from Michael House, and I still can't resist taking photos of it. It always looks different.

However many times I see bluebells in open countryside, it still surprises me, as I think of them as woodland plants. Does it mean there was once woodland her? This picture is taken from the steep cliff by Trebarwith Strand, looking inland with Michael House in the far distance.

If you are thinking of coming to Cornwall over the next few weeks, we do have availability, and we are again offering our 'three nights for the price of two with evening meals' offer.

Trebarwith Strand at low tide recently. This dog friendly beach is about 15 minutes walk distant from Michael House. The first section can get very busy when the low tide and good weather coincide, but there is always plenty of space further along the beach.

Availability


We do have some availability over the next few weeks, and the weather has improved out of all recognition recently.

If you are thinking of coming to Cornwall, don't forget our 'three nights for the price of two' offer, making a total cost of £225 for a double en-suite room, including evening meals, until the end of June.

We hope to see you soon.

New Prices



Unfortunately, it has become untenable to keep the prices at their current rate. I have not had a full review of prices since we arrived at Michael House, over four years ago. All bookings for 2008 made before the end of June will be honoured at the old prices. I will continue to offer spring and autumn offers on the 'three nights for the price of two with evening meals' basis.


Tariff, as from 01.07.08


Double or twin en-suite £34.00 per person per night, bed and breakfast
Double, or twin, en-suite
two nights or over £32.00 per person per night, b and b
Double, private bathroom £27.00 per person per night, b and b
Double, private bathroom
two nights or over £25.00 per person per night (note, no price increase!)
child, 10 or under half adult price
additional child or adult in
fold up bed half adult price
Tiny child, in own or our cot, £5.00

single supplement £10 per night

Meal, three course £20.00 per person
Meal any two courses £15.00 per person
Children, ten and under,
three course meal £12.00 per child
children, 10 and under,
2 course meal £10 per child
Picnic, all ages £7.00
corkage £5.00 per bottle

Dog £10 per visit per dog

Deposit £25 per room booked

10% reduction on five night stay or over, other offers do not apply. Applies to bed and breakfast only
15% reduction on five night stay or over, on production of Viva, Vegetarian Society, Animal Aid or Vegan Society card. Applies to B and B only.

Three nights for the price of two, with evening meals, £248, double en-suite room, or £220, room with private bathroom. This is a saving of £64 or£50. This offer applies from the beginning of April until the end of June, and from the beginning of October to the end of November, excluding Bank Holiday weekends. It applies to double or twin occupancy of rooms only. More than one of these offers can be taken in succession. It is only offered with the inclusion of evening meals.


Transport
40p a mile. Bodmin Parkway, £15 per trip, total. People walking the coast path and staying for two nights or over, will be taken to and collected from e.g. Boscastle, Tintagel and Port Isaac at no cost.


Christmas special

We offer a four night, partially full board Christmas break for £300 per person, or £275 for the room with private bathroom. Please ring or email to discuss this.

Thank you for reading this far!

I have put off doing this for a while, but it had to be done I'm afraid.

I am not generally one to blow my own trumpet, but...
Michael House has been named as the 'place of the month' on www.veggieplaces.co.uk, about which I am very pleased! There are three lovely reviews of Michael House on there, I feel all glowy about it! Thank you to those who wrote the reviews. I will write some when I go to other places listed in Veggieplaces, as I know how useful it is to get feedback.

Sunday 6th April - behind the far house, there is what looks to be a trail of smoke from the chimney. This is actually the tail end of the twister/tornado we saw. It does not look very impressive here, and it vanished very fast and moved to the left fast as well.

Monday 7th April - couldn't be much more different than yesterday, although it has snowed a little today as well.

Weather

I'm sure it is the same throughout the country, but the weather here today is extraordinary. One minute, beautiful sun, but with the threat of dark clouds, the next, heavy sleety stuff. We have seen a tornado/twister which must have been over the sea. Very exciting, glad we were no nearer to it! We have not had any snow which has settled here, that is very rare, but I know other places have received quite a cover.

Happy Easter!

I hope you have an enjoyable Bank Holiday weekend, with plenty of chocolate consumption and general fun!

We had a lovely break on the Lizard, what a gorgeous area. We expected poor weather, but were very lucky.

This bull is in a sculpture park near Coverack. We came upon it by chance, although we had been told of it. There are many creatures scattered across the grass, slightly surreal to come upon.

There are more picutres of the week on www.nessienoracraftexplorer.blogspot.com

The last post applies again! 07989 384 963 for any messages over the next few days.

Due to the previous success of our three nights for the price of two we are offering these agian this spring. From 20th March until 30th June, a three night stay for two people, meals included, will cost £225 for an en-suite room, or £205 for the standard room. This is a saving of £60 (£50 standard room).

We are fully booked over Easter, but have some availability in the week leading up to Easter and from the 24th March.

We look forward to seeing you soon. Do check out my other blog, http://www.nessienoracraftexplorer.blogspot.com/

Mobile phone

For the next few days we will be unable to take bookings on our main phone. Please call 07989 384 963 and leave a message, and your call will be responded to as soon as possible.

New member of the household, Barney

Hi.

I have arrived at Michael House permanently. I have visited many times in the past, so it is not such a shock to me or the others to be here. My other mum, Elizabeth, could not keep me after I had caused her to break her hip. I have posted more about me on the new blog www.nessienoracraftexplorer.blogspot.com

I hope to meet you soon, but I promise not to hassle you and will only see you if you want to meet me!

Message for Andy T.

Thanks for your message. I have emailed you, but the message has just bounced back to me as undeliverable. Yes, we do have availability on the days you are enquiring about. Do get in touch, perhaps by phone. best wishes,
Vanessa

Just to let you know that I have just started a new blog, Nessienora Craft Explorer, you can access it via the full profile of this blog, or http://nessienoracraftexplorer.blogspot.com It is a more personal blog, mainly focussing on my crafts and our animals and should be a bit of fun. Do add any comments to either blog!

Good news

We now have wireless broadband, so guests should be able to connect their laptops when staying here.

Menu last night

Last night I cooked the following:

French onion soup with freshly baked rolls

Individual goats cheese and tomato charlottes
roast potatoes
roast peppers
brocolli
spiced red cabbage with onions and apples

Flourless chocolate cake - basically cooked chocolate mousse

This all went down very well, if I say it myself!