Just Humans Being...

What's The Secret?

2026-05-15T14:35:09.166+01:00

After celebrating 40 years together, we thought we should write this blog post as we are often asked "What’s your secret?"
We usually joke it's our shared sense of humour and that's true - laughter is a big part of it, but the real answer runs much deeper...We are best friends.

We can easily talk for hours, mostly about crap and of course - we have also had our share of serious moments too. We have learned that love grows stronger not in perfection, but in patience, acceptance, and continuing to support each other.

It’s been pointed out to us that we regularly express gratitude to each other — and it’s funny that others have noticed. Saying “thank you,” whether to each other or to anyone we appreciate, is simply second nature. It’s just who we are. Kindness matters deeply to us, and showing gratitude is a natural part of that.

Science confirms what we’ve experienced:

Couples who see each other as best friends report higher relationship satisfaction.
Shared laughter strengthens bonds and creates a more fulfilling and joyful partnership.
Taking time to listen allows couples to connect on a profound emotional level.
Expressing gratitude makes partners feel valued, cared for and appreciated.

These small, daily acts - laughing, listening and thanking are like “probiotics” for your relationship, nurturing long-term health.

And let's not forgot Love...isn't it said to be the most powerful force in the universe?

Well, according to Andy Williams "Love is a many splendored thing" and we couldn't agree more. Love and being in love is just wonderful. A day never goes by without us saying how much we love each other.

If there’s a “secret,” it’s this:

Prioritise Friendship. Laugh Often. Listen. Show Gratitude. Love Each Other.

Because a happy, long-lasting relationship isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about enjoying each other, every single day.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime xx

Choosing Simplicity Over Minimalism

2026-02-27T18:11:00.000+00:00

We have realised that although we love the idea of being minimalists, we doubt it will ever happen. Living simply is not the same...even though we only ever buy stuff we absolutely need, have far fewer things than we did 10 years ago and have readily adapted to living with less.

Originally, this idea grew from a desire to reduce our "carbon footprint" - to live sustainably and ethically. We've been on an intentional and frugal path since the 90s. Now here we are - living in the smallest of homes; the tiny home dream from so many years ago has become reality.

It suits the way we are living right now as we only ever seem to be here for a couple of weeks at a time before heading off again on another pet sit.

Minimalism requires discipline which is one trait neither of us really possesses. Yes, we have a business - we are responsible and reliable, but we also embrace being idle. We can both have moments of wanting to have a neat and tidy space, but it doesn't really matter. We'd rather read, talk, go out for a walk or watch something on the laptop if we're feeling lazy.

So we'll leave the minimalism to others, those who in a way feel the need to conform to a life of style and design. We prefer to do our own thing and are very comfortable in the cosy warmth of our little home.

We're still in hibernation mode until the evenings get lighter, there's no pressure to be out and about lots...this time of year is about recharging our bodies ready for spring. Nettle tea, green juices, fresh garlic, ginger, turmeric and fermented foods all help to gently cleanse and strengthen our immune systems. It's these little things; simple eating, listening to our bodies and taking time to rest, be out in nature and look after our gut health - they all seem to help in keeping us well.

We live intentionally, choosing not to work in 9-5 jobs, but we live well - we eat good food, we spend time outside, we stop, we look, we listen (not just at zebra crossings!) and we rest. Life is simple and that's how we like it. There's no rush, we go with the flow and adapt along the way.

Hope you are all well.

Love Kay & Sime xx

Country Bumpkins

2026-01-22T16:37:00.000+00:00

We are feeling a little discombobulated at the moment - going from one pet sit to another.

We took a long assignment in Surrey over Christmas and it catapulted us into this whole new world of noise. The constant hum of traffic from the M25 and M3, the planes continually flying to and from Heathrow, the busyness everywhere...so many people and so many dogs. There are no quiet retreats, unless you get lucky in the Surrey Hills maybe on a wet day in January. It was a shock to the system and we both felt it. The energy of the place just doesn't feel good. Woodland car parks are dogging hangouts and each time we thought we'd found a place off the beaten track - it would soon dawn on us that the same guys are turning up.

The young pooch we were with also struggled when walks were busy, so we were constantly trying to find nice places to visit. On our last day we ventured into the Surrey Hills on a recommendation and discovered the Albury Estate and it was perfect for all of us. Trees, space, quiet.

The sit really highlighted the gulf between us and those living in built up areas. The speed and the grasping; the urgent desire for something bigger and better and to be the best. It's alien to us and feels false. Those folks seem to be living their lives to impress, it's not comfortable and what happens when they don't get it right? Does the constant noise create this way of life? A feeling of needing to be doing something all the time, striving, pushing. We cannot imagine that it's easy to switch off, especially in their "smart" houses with everything operating from their phones. This way of living is creeping into the lives of many and not just in Surrey. At some point with the weather causing so many power outages these days, folks will hopefully realise that it's not so great!

We returned home to Cornwall just as Storm Goretti hit and there were moments when we both wished we'd booked into a hotel, but as like many others - we didn't expect it to be so bad. We sat for over 4 hours with our coats on, our bag packed - everything of value ready to go. Flask and hot water bottles filled and torches charged and as we lost power and water early on, we were very glad we'd thought ahead. We had WhatsApp to keep in touch with the outside world until our phone died around 10pm. Our kidlets were urging us to leave the caravan, but the wind gusts were incredibly strong and flying debris hit us on several occasions which made us think it would be safer to stay...though a couple of times we did wonder whether we should bale; the caravan was rocking so much so that stuff was flying off the shelves, but then it would all die down again. We went to bed fully clothed just in case and barely slept, by the time morning dawned we were exhausted and quite shocked by the chunks of roof that had come off next door's outbuilding and hit the caravan - amazingly it hadn't caused any damage. Our power and water remained off for several days, but we were heading off to another pet sit in an area that had not really seen the full force of the storm. There is widespread devastation, so many trees have come down across Cornwall; particularly in the west. Roads have been blocked with fallen trees for days, thousands of houses lost power and water, the supermarkets were empty of fresh and frozen food, there wasn't any bottled water and it seemed to take a few days for the water company and council to kick into action. Strangely, we heard that barely any of this has been reported on national news and there have been no visiting bigwigs from the capital, but the people of Cornwall on the whole show great resilience and communities gathered and supported each other.

Lucky for us, we are pet sitting as our power is off again at home due to rain water getting into the electrics. We have spent 10 days on a new assignment with quite a menagerie and now we are a couple of days into another pet sit on the Roseland. We were here in May last year, so it's nice to return and we all slip into life together again - which is lovely. Tomorrow another storm is due and no doubt we'll all be holding our breath; hoping that we won't lose any more trees or roofs across the county.

We are doing exactly what we wanted - lots more pet sits, exploring new places and enjoying spending time with so many beauties. Though maybe doing 3 on the trot with only a couple of days in between is a tad silly. We feel we should space the sits out a bit more and take some time to catch our breath. Saying that - our regular sits are pretty easy, we know what we are doing and where we are now is with two easy doggies, so we have some time to recuperate in a quiet village and go on some lovely walks with the chums.

We like the peace and quiet of the Roseland which is wonderful in January.

Being in nature, away from the madding crowds is just perfect for us.

Just don't ask us to visit Surrey again...we truly are country bumpkins and will never change!😛😛

Hope this finds you well and 2026 is kind to everyone!

Love Kay and Sime xx

How Did We Get Here?

2025-10-13T11:14:00.000+01:00

Feeling much gratitude...This beautiful house has become our second home this year and it's funny that we dreamed of living in a thatched cottage many years ago and now here we are.

We never imagined that when we first visited six years ago on a pet sitting assignment, that the owners would fast become such good friends - they offered to take care of Mabel while we are pet sitting and our arrangement is working out perfectly. We have visited frequently throughout the year and get to take over the kitchen and cook up vegan feasts for us all using fresh veggies from the garden.

This time, we've been here for a couple of weeks - pet sitting their sweet chum as well as Mabel and today and we are heading back to Cornwall.

I've found myself enjoying morning rituals again (I go through phases of starting the day around 6am). I love early mornings and feel there’s magic in the quiet stillness, especially in this quintessential English country cottage garden, which is a joy to spend time in.

I make myself a herbal tea, then meditate, write, read and attempt to make progress with the courses I’m doing. It very much depends on whether we are working or pet sitting and what time we need to kick in, but I try to adapt my routine to fit in with what we are doing. If we’re looking after dogs, then we tend to have an early morning walk and that’s also a great way to start and I love that too!

To get up at 6am, I need to be in bed by 10pm. I usually sleep well and like to have 8 hours, so being disciplined helps. It’s worth it – I find I’m eager to get going and with intention and mindful positivity, I find the days roll out smoothly.

Here the doggies are not keen to get up early, so they sleep on with Sime and I get a couple of hours to do my thing. Our days have been pretty relaxed, although instead of being paid to do the pet sit - we wanted to return our friends' generosity, but they didn't want us to lose out and so together we agreed that they can pay us to carry out a deep clean of their 300 year old cottage...which we have loved doing and they are so thrilled with the result!

It's been wonderful having an abundance of garden produce to collect every day and we've enjoyed simple meals made from scratch each evening, it's a lovely gentle existence...along with lots of lovely woodland walks from the garden gate. A few days ago, we were excited to see a herd of Muntjacks and before we knew it - Rex had joined them and was trying to round them up! Luckily, there was no harm done and he soon gave up. He's a gentle boy and would never hurt them, just his Huntaway instinct.

We leave here rejuvenated, we always do and it's another bye bye to Mabel again for a while, as we have more pet sits coming up.

Our lives really are rich with an abundance of love, kindness and great food at the moment. We feel blessed to have such wonderful people around us, to have our cosy little caravan to go home to with such kind and generous neighbours. We have an unusual life, but it suits us and we are grateful to be so blessed.

Seeing the good, feeling gratitude goes a long way.

Love, Kay and Sime xx

Doing Less: Embracing Simplicity in a Busy World

2025-10-06T06:30:00.032+01:00

Most of us live in a culture that equates productivity with success and it's easy to feel like we're always falling behind. Our days are filled with tasks, meetings, and endless to-do lists, and we're led to believe that more is always better. But what if the key to a more fulfilling life lies not in doing more, but in doing less?

Doing less is not about laziness or inaction - it's about living intentionally. When we reduce our commitments, we create space for what truly matters: joy, peace, and purpose. This shift allows us to focus on relationships, creativity, and self-care - the things that nourish the soul.

Moreover, doing less can significantly reduce stress and burnout. By simplifying our lives, we give ourselves permission to rest, reflect, and reconnect with what truly matters. This practice aligns with the principles of simple living, slowing down, and intuitive healing - all of which support holistic well-being.

In a world that never stops moving, doing less can be an act of radical self-care. It's a way to reclaim your time, energy and peace, and to live more fully in the present moment.

Why Doing Less Matters

In our fast-paced, hyper-connected lives, we're constantly bombarded with messages that tell us we need to be more productive, more efficient, and more accomplished. But this relentless pursuit of productivity often comes at a cost - our mental health, our relationships, and our sense of self.

Research shows that chronic over-scheduling and lack of rest can lead to burnout, anxiety, and even physical illness. On the other hand, studies on mindfulness and minimalism suggest that simplifying our lives can lead to greater happiness, better focus, and more meaningful connections.

Doing less isn’t about cutting out the good things - it’s about making room for what really matters.

How to Start Doing Less

Here are a few practical steps to begin embracing a simpler, more intentional way of living:

1. Declutter Your Schedule

Start by identifying the tasks or commitments that don’t serve you and let them go. Remove one non-essential task from your week. Say “no” to things that drain your energy or don’t align with your values. A lighter schedule creates space for what truly matters.

2. Limit Screen Time

Constant connectivity can rob us of peace and presence. Try setting a daily limit on social media, news, or streaming. Consider a digital detox - even just one hour a day will help you to reconnect with the world around you and create some quiet moments for you to enjoy.

3. Simplify Your Space

Clutter can create mental noise. Start with one area of your home — a drawer, a shelf, or a corner — and organise it. Donate or let go of items that you not longer use. A simpler, more intentional space supports a calmer, more focused mind.

4. Practice Mindful Rest

Rest is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. Set aside time each day to truly rest — read a book, meditate, take a walk, or do nothing at all. Avoid checking your phone during this time. This is your space to recharge and reconnect with yourself.

5. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity

Choose depth over busyness. Instead of showing up to as many social events as possible (in the fear of missing out), spend time with someone you care about. Instead of rushing through tasks, give your full attention to one thing at a time. Quality time and focused effort lead to greater fulfillment.

6. Set Boundaries

Learning to say “no” is an act of self-respect. Set clear boundaries around your time, energy, and space. Protect your peace by limiting the number of people or activities that drain you. Boundaries allow you to show up more fully in the things that matter most.

7. Reflect Daily on What Brings You Joy

At the end of each day, ask yourself: “What brought me joy, peace, or connection today?” Write it down. This simple practice helps you stay grounded in what truly matters and reinforces the habits that nourish your soul.

The Ripple Effect of Doing Less

When we choose to do less, we’re not just simplifying our lives - we’re creating space for more meaningful experiences, deeper connections, and greater peace. We’re learning to listen to our inner voice, to trust our intuition, and to live in alignment with our values.

This shift doesn’t happen overnight - it’s a practice, a way of being that grows with time and intention. But as we begin to let go of the need to be constantly productive, we open the door to a life that’s more present, more peaceful, and more fulfilling.

Final Thoughts

In a world that never stops, doing less can be an act of radical self-care. It’s a way to reclaim your time, energy, and peace - and to live more fully in the present moment.

So, take a deep breath. Let go of the pressure to be more. And remember: sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is… do less.

Have you started doing less in your life?

Share your journey with us in the comments below!

Love Kay and Sime xx

The Lasting Power of Reading Together

2025-10-04T22:31:00.003+01:00

A Deeper Connection, One Page at a Time

In a time of endless scrolling and constant distractions, one of the most powerful ways to build a lasting relationship might be the simplest...reading together.

It’s more than just sharing a book - it’s about sharing a mindset, emotions, and a journey.

Couples who read together aren’t just passing time; they’re building a life of long-term intimacy, understanding, and joy.

A Shared Language of Love
Books open doors to conversations you might never have otherwise. Whether it’s a novel’s moral dilemma or a memoir’s raw honesty, discussing stories helps you see your partner’s values, fears, and dreams in a new light. It builds empathy, trust, and a deeper emotional connection.

Grow Smarter, Together
Reading stimulates the brain, reduces stress, and slows cognitive decline. When you do it with your partner, you create an intellectual partnership. You challenge each other, learn new things, and grow wiser - side by side. Over time, this shared curiosity translates into better problem-solving and communication in everyday life.

A Ritual That Binds
Turning off screens and reading aloud or silently, side by side - creates a calming, consistent ritual. That nightly chapter becomes a sanctuary. It signals "This time is just for us". This kind of intentional presence strengthens relationship satisfaction and helps couples stay emotionally aligned.

From Pages to Passion
Surprisingly, reading together can even boost physical intimacy. The act of hearing your partner’s voice, sharing vulnerable emotions, and being close in a quiet space sets the stage for deeper connection - emotionally and physically.

Start Small, Dream Big
You don’t need to tackle War and Peace. Start with a poem, a short story, or a few pages before bed. Choose something fun, moving, or thought-provoking. The goal isn’t speed - it’s connection.
Because in the end, the couples who read together don’t just share books.
They share lives, growth, and love that lasts. Let the chapter begin...

We've shared our love for books and reading aloud - now we'd love to hear from you!

What’s the book you enjoy reading with your partner, or what’s next on your list?

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

The Bliss of Ignorance

2025-09-03T15:45:00.006+01:00

We have always been astounded that we can go on many walks in Cornwall and barely see anyone else. Since having Mabel this has become very noticeable, as we are out daily - we do prefer to steer clear of touristy places, but it's still a surprise when we don't see anyone on most of our walks.

We often start considering the idea that perhaps WWIII has broken out and we didn't receive the message, though usually end up wondering if there's something on TV that keeps folks hooked to their screens instead of enjoying being out and about. It's quite bizarre, especially as there were supposedly over 3 million extra people visiting Cornwall during the summer school holidays. We see evidence on the roads and on the beaches, though we tend to stay away from all the popular destinations and instead we get to indulge in the peace and quiet of lesser visited spots.

Mabel is having great fun in Hampshire for a while - we went to visit her and our friends over there and have returned to quieter roads with a change in energy, a sigh of relief and a feeling of space once again. We are preparing for a new pet sit and one we've been looking forward to doing with a big gang of furries to fuss over. It's our first agency sit in Cornwall, which is nice and after a few recent cancellations...we are feeling secure again and looking forward to a busy time ahead with several lovely sits booked through until May.

It's hard to believe that we've reached September already and the change in weather tells us that autumn is beginning to creep in, though it seems that there are still some warm days left to come, maybe warm and wet, but we're ok with that. We are happy in this cosy little caravan in between sits and very grateful to be living here. September is also the month of our wedding anniversary, which happens to be today and we are celebrating our 38 years of marriage with hopefully an MOT pass for Earl (Grey TTE) our beloved 4 wheeled companion and a vegan Thali later on in Falmouth. A memory popped up in our photos of our 25th anniversary when we went skinny dipping on Bodmin Moor, a bit too windy for those shenanigans today...

We remember the lake being very cold, but luckily it was a hot day back in 2012!

As we patiently wait for Earl, eating, chatting, eating some more and reflecting upon our years together - the peaks and troughs and our resilience to get through it all and come out laughing. It's really the best way to be and let's face it - we'll all going to die in the end!

So live your lives the way you want to be, do what you want to do and don't get caught up in all the crap on TV and social media. Letting world news and politics burden your days does not help anyone and more people are discovering this. Holding the weight of the world on your shoulders causes stress, anxiety and when you're in that state for long enough it will go on to cause disease.

Do yourselves a favour - switch off and learn to laugh, laugh until you cry.

It's the best medicine there is.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

The Road Ahead

2025-07-06T15:55:00.005+01:00

It's nearly 15 years since we started this blog and it seems that we have been on quite a journey.

There has always been much change in the 39 years we have spent together and we do seem to shake things up now and again. It feels good.

Right now, we are choosing a life that has more variety, more adventures and less stuff. We have fallen in love with the caravan we are living in and have been pleasantly surprised at how well the 3 of us sleep in here. We have started to clear our stuff in storage - getting rid of pretty much everything and slimming down what we have with us.

We love living simply and have come to realise how we really don't need much at all. We want to travel more and travel lightly. Food is the thing that we tend to have lots of when going away and on some pet sits we even take kitchen equipment too, though we are getting better at letting go and making do. We're streamlining, ridding ourselves of junk and starting to replace the things we need with better quality.

We are out and about exploring every day, finding quiet spots and spending time soaking up the peace and tranquility. We always seem to head in the opposite direction from everyone else and this suits us all. Life with Mabel is just wonderful - she is an absolute joy to be with and her presence introduces us to many lovely people with their dogs. We are very grateful to have this cheeky girl as a companion on our journey.

What's next for us? Who knows? We are open to new ideas and something always comes along when needed...you just have to look in the right places and be receptive, but most importantly we never limit ourselves. Our life together is a journey and as Bob Proctor used to say "We're in an ocean of motion, where nothing stands still". We see ourselves on the move, occasionally laying down roots until the next thing presents itself. We learn and grow (yes it is possible to continue to do this at our ages), there's no room for stagnation. As we have got older, we have become more intuitive - we know what we do and don't want and when the right circumstances arise - we will grab them!

We don't worry about getting old and what the future holds - we live for today, everyday. We don't have savings like most people of our age, we don't earn a great deal of money and nor do we have debts or rely on benefits. But what we do have is optimism...maybe that's because we don't watch TV! We always believe that whatever happens, we will be fine and that's the way it is.

We have lots of pet sitting coming up, so back on the road and spending time away from Mabel - which is a little sad, but she'll have a great time with her friends in Hampshire and we'll be busy with all our furry friends too.

For now, all is good and we do hope all is well with you.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

Mabel

2025-05-01T22:08:00.000+01:00

Our beautiful chum came to live with us on the last day of March 2025.

Mabel was just a few weeks old when we first began taking care of her and we very soon became her legal guardians, agreeing to find her a lovely new home should anything happen to her Mum.

Over the last 7 years we have grown to love this cheeky buddy and when the time came for us to help out - we decided that we would have her...just like that...we had only discussed a few days before that we didn't see ourselves having more pets, so it was such a bizarre thing that as soon as we were asked; we both said without hesitation - YES!!!

She brings so much joy to our lives and to others who come into contact with her - she is our little angel and we absolutely adore her!

We have lots of fun and we look forward to having many years of adventures together.

Much love,

Kay, Sime and Mabel

xxx

Resilience

2025-02-12T09:35:00.000+00:00

We are pet sitting on Dartmoor again.

We love the bleak and wild countryside, the beauty and being surrounded by the quiet nature.

This stunning house we are in for the week is very comfortable with all mod cons, it is incredibly warm with ground source heating, solar panels and huge south facing windows in the sunroom.

Our home for over 4 years has been like living in one big sunroom and we can't imagine ever choosing to live anywhere gloomy. When the sky is clear the cabin fills with sunshine through the day and moonlight at night. We don't have curtains and only 3 low energy lightbulbs, so we rely on natural light. It's always a shock when we go to somewhere with bright artificial lights and find ourselves itching to get out. We like a quiet, simple life - nothing brash, bright and loud, just peace and harmony.

This year we have decided to leave the farm.

It's time for some adventures; to travel and possibly find another place to be. We would like a motorhome again and to just go with the flow. We want to get down to our French house and go on the Canadian road trip we have dreamed of doing for years. We are already getting booked up with more pet sits throughout the year and we also would very much like to spend more time with family and friends, as well our furry friends.

We know what we want, we know how we want to live and what is important to us. We love simplicity. We vowed some years ago that each move we make has to be better - not in the grand sense, but in filling us with joy, taking our breath away and moving us to tears...our French house and Les Cevennes presses all those buttons. We want to find that here again too. Will we continue to be based in Cornwall or will we move to somewhere like Dartmoor? The wilderness, the peace and extreme weather is definitely a draw. It does appeal to our desire to always be prepared; with a full pantry of food, plenty of wood and a supply of candles! To feel inspired, creative and eager to embrace each day. This place right now is spurring us on to make decisions. Is it the warmth? The beautiful views? The natural light? Or is it having time to connect with nature again? Whatever it is - we are full of excitement about what we have coming our way next...

So watch this space...

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

Bigger Is Not Necessarily Better

2024-07-27T15:47:00.025+01:00

Wisdom demands a new orientation of science and technology toward the organic, the gentle, the elegant and beautiful.

~ EF Schumacher ~

Schumacher wrote his book "Small is Beautiful" in 1973 and for us - it is still relevant today.
We haven't had internet at home for nearly a month and it's interesting how we first saw it as a big issue and ventured out daily to get a signal to keep on top of messages, but as time's gone on - we find ourselves not bothering and instead embrace a gentle and quieter life...apart from when digging out old CDs for a bit of music now and again!

We realise how wonderful it is to have time away from the world and the little impact the fear mongering propaganda really makes to our lives. We have no interest in news, but unfortunately many people on social media are fully immersed in it's misery and like to shout out about it. Having time away from all this is great.

While technology is moving faster and faster - with AI and the push to get us all in line; using various apps and self-checkouts in supermarkets. We are sold the lie that "Bigger is Better" and the speed in which everything is developing is all good, but it doesn't feel that way to us. We are not comfortable with this progress - it's intrusive with the need of ID for so much now. We see drones flying above us on a regular basis, mainly early in the mornings and probably from the military base nearby and there are cameras are all over the place...even in quiet areas of Cornwall. It does seem like the machines are taking over!

It sounds like we are just an old couple harking back to the "good old days", but it's not really that - we are not frightened of change, but it's the way things are progressing which just don't feel right. There are more restrictions, penalties and time being frittered away with detail. We doubt we will ever embrace the need for a smart device and imagine that we will continue to live obliviously in this modern world.

I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.

~ Patrick McGoohan ~

Is there anything good going on? Yes of course!

From the community run projects - the food co-operatives, the buying groups, the growing groups, the free food stalls, to the small businesses who encourage customers to use cash or have supported a local currency. It's fantastic that these have been around for a long time and for many years, were classed as fringe or leftie alternative groups, but now there are more and more cropping up and folks are discovering that there is a more harmonious, collaborative way of living.

We hope that in our lifetime we will see the demise of supermarkets and big corporations and more support for small businesses and ventures; to witness the growth of ethical and grassroot projects would be wonderful. It can happen - the more aware people become of the evil that is big business; the possibility grows for us to take control of our food and wellbeing - just as we should be doing. We don't need to be labelled consumers and told what we can or cannot have, we are free to buy exactly what we want and with some careful consideration - we can support each other in starting up those ventures, we can spend our money on much needed local products from people who are choosing the right path.

Anyway, we have the internet this weekend as we are pet sitting - an assignment which has come about through membership of our local buying group.
The connections we make are pretty special and it is amazing how things flow when you're on the right track, so we do hope you are not missing out!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

You Can Choose

2024-07-15T09:36:00.000+01:00

Are you living your best possible life?

"You grow old when you lose interest in life, when you cease to dream, to hunger after new truths, and to search for new worlds to conquer. When your mind is open to new ideas, new interests, and when you raise the curtain and let in the sunshine and inspiration of new truths of life and the universe, you will be young and vital."

~ Joseph Murphy ~

In our little world we see much beauty and try to take time to enjoy the simplicity in our lives.

We love the flexibility and variety of our business and feel good about doing what we do.

Working with people and animals is definitely our thing.

Earlier in the year we considered taking on extra cleaning work, though neither of us really wanted to venture down that road. We were looking at ways of increasing our income, but we have no desire to clean up after tourists anymore - we did it for many years and are happier now that our business has evolved to focus more on people and animals rather than housekeeping.

Instead, we decided to work on manifesting abundance and recently we joined in with an abundance challenge...which we ended up putting the brakes on as we were suddenly bombarded with so many offers of work, that we've had to turn some of them down as we can't fit it all in!!!

It never ceases to amaze us that we can alter our lives with thought, that we are powerful enough to make things happen and create exactly what we want. We all have this ability, but many of us are better at creating the opposite...manifesting exactly what we don't want because we have a tendency to dwell on the negative. For us, writing down or drawing a positive outcome and saying a daily mantra just helps to shift us back into a better frame of mind and once we're back in the flow - life becomes abundant and bright.

We both feel that we have journeyed through a murky wood during these last few years, but we are definitely out the other side and we continue to learn and grow. We have done so much work on ourselves internally and discovered how suppressed childhood trauma and grief can affect our physical health. It's taken some time to move through all this, but it has been a massive healing journey. We have both gained so much understanding and continue to do so. We are lucky to have wonderful people and animals around us and to feel the love and support.

Taking time to heal is the important thing and giving ourselves space to allow our bodies to get on with the job. Do you handover your health for others to work on or do you connect with the right people to guide you in the art of self-healing? Working on the gut is always the place where we begin when there is an imbalance. Nourishing foods, herbs and supplements can get the process started, while working on changes in thought patterns. It all takes time, but it doesn't matter...it's good to go with the flow.

Getting out in nature is restorative and we try to spend time in woodlands a few times a week. We have made many discoveries, beautiful and ancient places and it still blows our minds that even though it's getting busy with holidaymakers here in Cornwall - we can still find endless quiet spots for ourselves.

We can all choose how we live and when we become open and receptive to new opportunities and feel the gratitude for everything good in our lives - we find a shift happens.

We feel some changes are coming our way and are looking forward to what comes up...

Exciting times ahead!

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

Blog Tweaking

2024-04-15T22:03:00.000+01:00

It's nice having the time to update the blog, tweak some of the settings, learn and re-learn how to do a few things!

We often think it would be great to write more regular posts as we did some years ago, but book reading has become a much bigger part of our lives - especially as our internet signal is not always great at home...so as we are pet sitting, we really thought we'd be writing more!

Instead, we have been venturing out everyday, exploring old haunts and new places with our little chum and we also seem to have taken on a new client! It never ceases to amaze us - how the universe works and what we are all capable of manifesting. We had put the thoughts out there and along came the person we were looking for, so although we wished our work was closer to home - we wonder if deep down inside we are both still very much connected to the Roseland area and so "home" continues to be here. The intention to unravel ourselves from this part of Cornwall just hasn't happened and you only have to look our Facebook and Instagram accounts to see how enthusiastic we are when we are back here!

We always seem to meet lots of lovely and interesting people especially when out with our furry chum on Carne and Pendower Beaches. It feels almost magical some of the connections that happen and we all thoroughly enjoy our time there meeting others and leave feeling uplifted and happy.

We do love our little cabin and living amongst lovely folks on the farm is such a great place to be, but we have always known it will not be forever and there is more journeying to do. Will we end up with our dream cottage on a creek? Will we spend more time in France? Or continue living in a community? Who knows? We imagine we will continue pet sitting, while our base will be on land used as a retreat - where we will be involved in taking care of others and then when the opportunity arises - we'll take off to visit our little mountain bolthole in France for a few weeks. Maybe the retreat will be on a creek and we can actually have all that we desire! For now, we are happy to go with the flow and are sure that changes will happen when the time is right.

Anyway, we just have two nights left with our lovely buddy - it's been a wonderful stay with lots of beautiful walks and we are feeling incredibly grateful to be doing this for a job...we absolutely love this way of life and look forward to more of it soon.

Hope you like the new look of the blog!

Love Kay and Sime xx

Animal Attraction

2024-04-06T08:52:00.001+01:00

It has been over six months since our last proper pet sit and for no reason other than all our regular clients decided to stay at home over the winter. Financially it's been quite a blow, but we have come to realise that neither of us are drawn to doing holiday let cleaning nor happy to work as employees anymore - it's just not for us and instead, we have made it through the last few months being more frugal than ever and with a little help from our friends - who we are incredibly grateful to! Most of all though, we have missed spending time in the company of all our animal friends, which is the thing that really makes our hearts sing, so now we are here with one of our favourite chums...

We adore this beautiful buddy and we have settled into our lives together, even though her routine is no doubt quite different with us...she remembers everything.

We do see her regularly throughout the year and whenever possible we take her out, but life is much nicer when we are together for a few days or weeks.

She loves our early morning rambles...we leave Sime in bed and quietly venture out for a mooch around the village, her favourite time of day for sniffing everything! Yesterday, we returned and went straight out to one of the local beaches. We wanted to make the most of the dry morning and low tide. We were also treated to a bit of sunshine, which was lovely.

Getting to the beach so early in the day, meant that it was fairly quiet and as time moved on - it did get busier, which is nice as we always meet interesting people here and it was on this beach last year when a dog ran up to us for a fuss and we were told that she never does that...her companion went on to say that we were giving off a beautiful energy and they were compelled to interact with us! Well, this seems to happen a lot here - is it something to do with the beach, the area or us? Whatever it is - there is a warmth and fuzziness which leaves us feeling invigorated.

We both feel like we totally unwind on our pet sits, life becomes so simple - mainly walking, eating, reading and snuggling. We don't need to set the alarm or show up at certain times. We are very aware of how we slow down and enjoy being present. The wise people who talk about being in the moment, know how easy it is when you are experiencing bliss and gratitude...we totally agree! It's a mind set, the way we see things when in holiday mode and we are definitely more relaxed; so much so that we don't even care that it's raining every day at the moment, it really doesn't matter because if feels like we're on holiday and it's wonderful.

Are you doing the things that bring you joy?

It's taken a long time for us to really get it and we are very much still on our journey, but for now - we are where we want to be.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Love Kay and Sime xx

Nurturing Times

2023-11-20T10:00:00.002+00:00

It was over 10 years ago that we wrote a blog post about nurturing, simplicity and Slowing Down and we are happy to say we still feel the same way.

We enjoy helping others, being with animals and nature - somehow we have carved out this path. We can manage on a small income with enough money to do what we want...buying decent food is always our priority and maintaining our car. We do want to go on a road trip down to our house in France and that will happen at some point soon, but for now - we continue to creep and go. We live very frugally, but always feel our world is abundant and believe as a result, we often receive wonderful gifts - things we require often show up when needed...food, clothes, wood and books are always gratefully received. The kindness of others just blows us away.

A few weeks ago we met a couple while out doggy walking. It turned out that we had a connection with this couple - the chap's mother had been the housekeeper for one of the grand properties we eventually took on some years ago. We probably chatted for about an hour, which was filled with lots of humour and at the end of our conservation the woman thanked us. We had talked about how folks don't often stop and chat to strangers and they were very happy that we did. She also said that many people miss out on all the little things they may share with others and that we are all connected in some way.

We seem to have come across a few friendly folks whilst out walking lately and we seemed to have dished out lots of pet sitting business cards. It's an exciting time for us to be connecting with so many lovely people and their furry friends, with new opportunities to spend more time with beautiful creatures. We have also learnt how to take care of the animals at home on the farm and it's nice to know we can step in and help.

It's a while ago now that we also looked after our friends' kiddywinks. We realise our cabin isn't really geared up for entertaining the young folk, but we have accumulated a few things over the months. We decided that getting out was the best option, as at the time - we had one of our little doggy pals with us too. We will admit that we are totally out-of-practice when it comes to spending a whole day with youngsters and after a few little challenges, we ventured out to nearby Halliggye Fogou, an English Heritage ancient site.

The guys enjoyed exploring the incredibly dark underground chamber and tunnels. It's the kind of place our kidlets would have also loved at their ages and we're sure they would love it as adults too! We spent a couple of hours walking and exploring, so a lot of excess energy was burnt off. After an ice cream stop, we returned to the cabin to make and eat curry, watch Harry Potter on our laptop and then the chaps left for home. We were totally exhausted that night, but we both felt it was a great achievement - we re-learned how to be with kids again and actually we are pretty good at it.

We do enjoy our simple life - going off pet sitting is wonderful, but we also love being at home....so we have a great balance. We continue to feel such gratitude for our warm and snug cabin, for all the help and support we receive from others, as well as the folks who invite us into their lives and allow us to help and support them too. This is the stuff that really makes the world go round, not money. Water is far more important than money and we feel that there will be scarcity of mains water in the near future - we have seen so many leaks and issues on our travels and just the continuation of problems seems like a nudge to take responsibility. Can you imagine the chaos if mains water was no longer available? We do hope that others think of these things too and at least prepare mentally for what may be a huge challenge. Look into having your own borehole or research into local springs and learn to live with less. We are all capable of doing so much more for ourselves and learning to adapt to this fast changing world in the long term will make us stronger.

Do many people see the world as we do? Or does living without a TV and not engaging in what others believe our heads need filling with (news) make us different? The thing is, everything seems so confusing and nobody can really be sure if what they see on a screen is actually real. What we do know is what is here, where we are right now. We have written lots of blog posts about this subject over the years, here's a couple of them: Switching Off and Intuition. Learn about your own capabilities, get together with neighbours, friends and connect with others, say hello to a stranger...you never know where that will lead.

Move away from fear and follow the path to finding joy. It can be done.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime xx

Dartmoor

2023-11-12T22:25:00.000+00:00

We are spending a week on Dartmoor again at one of our regular pet sits - taking care of the usual menagerie...

Along with this lovely chap - who is staying with the gang temporarily and we have come to adore him.

Being professional pet sitters means we can only leave the animals for up to 3 hours per day, which suits us fine as we are content being here and pottering about. We have visited The Beehive Farm shop in Chagford and the Zero Waste shop in Moretonhampstead. Both shops are great for us and nice that they are close by.

As well as feeding all the animals, walking the dogs and generally keeping an eye on them all, we are enjoying cooking simple meals, reading, sitting by the fire and watching YouTube videos of folks building and renovating small houses in remote places!

It has mainly rained since we arrived with just yesterday being dry, which was nice! Amazingly, we've only got a thorough soaking once and seem to be quite intuitive regards venturing out and have mostly chosen the right times to dodge the torrential downpours. There's a storm coming in again tonight, so it will be noisy with the wind and rain battering the wooden lodge we are staying in, but we both love extreme weather and we have plenty of wood for the fire.

We've had time to watch on many occasions this week the fast moving clouds bringing rain. We've sat on the bench outside and listened to the wind building up and seen a huge amount of leaves fall from the tall Silver Birch trees.

We are up early each morning dealing with all the animals and have breakfast when all the chores are done. So our first meal of the day is around 10am and our last one is usually over by 6pm. We have 2 shots of our homemade mate tea and turmeric kombucha a day and at the moment we are going through an alcohol free period. It feels good and by the way...have we said how much we love this life? Well, we do!

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

The Rhythm of Life

2023-10-26T20:12:00.000+01:00

We are back in Devon on one of our regular pet sits and after arriving a couple of days ago to torrential rain and flooding...we woke this morning to blue sky, sunshine and a beautiful mist across the valley.

After our early walk we jumped into the hot tub to make the most of this glorious weather, soaking up the warm rays from the sun and marvelling at the clear blue sky - a rare occurrence these days!

We are here for 6 days and arrived with everything we need for our stay - our intention being to use this time to completely chill out and enjoy the peace and quiet. It's great that we both feel the same way and neither of us has a desire to race around sightseeing. Instead, it is a real joy to get into a rhythm with the animals, walking, cooking on the Aga, eating, reading and spending time in the snug by the fire in the evenings.

Every day is pretty much the same and that's just fine by us...we always bring lots of books with us and the dogs love to snuggle in the snug...

This was during our stay over Xmas last year...

And this morning's blue sky.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

Keeping Well

2023-10-03T16:06:00.000+01:00

I like to take responsibility for my own health and believe that our reaction to a virus depends on the condition of our immune system. If it isn't tip-top then we will be susceptible to any germs going, but if we look after ourselves then we can avoid getting ill or at least reduce the impact.

Of course, if you listen to today's medical experts you will see things differently, but bear in mind these guys have been trained by the big pharmaceutical industries who want to make mega bucks from their wares, so it's in their interests to fund and build medical schools to steer the minds of those who are drawn to the profession. I'm afraid I don't trust any of them, even if their intentions are well meaning. I love the books of the old doctors, those who used their intuition to assist people to heal, who learnt from their ancestors and understood the power we all have to heal ourselves.

It's been a while since I had a cold, but after a nasty mosquito (I presume) bite on Friday whilst out walking...my immune system obviously took a hit! The bite on my hand swelled gradually and was incredibly itchy. I took a dose of homoeopathic Apis and rubbed the area with fern leaves, within 24 hours the swelling started to subside. My body was concentrating on healing my hand and last night (3 days later) I started with cold symptoms.

Fortunately I'm not really ill, but have kicked in with my cold protocol - Echinacea, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Ferrum Phos Tissue Salts and Nettle Tea. I've upped my intake of vitamin C, D and Zinc.

Today, I've had to stay away from the day centre...so while Sime has been working, I have had the fire blazing and turned the cabin into a sauna to detox, played loud cheesy music and soaked my feet in hot water and bicarb. My blocked sinuses seem to have cleared and I believe I will be back on track by tomorrow.

We adore soaking our feet and don't really need an excuse to do so. We go through phases of having foot baths regularly. At one time we would only have them after getting chilled or when starting with a head cold. Our feet plunged into hot water with Epsom Salts and at the same time our faces would be over a steaming bowl of eucalyptus, our heads covered by a towel, so we'd be sweating profusely while inhaling the steam.

These days we use bicarb or dried herbs, our favourites for a relaxing foot soak are camomile, lemon balm and lavender. It's a lovely thing to do and according to Dr Vogel's 1952 book "The Nature Doctor" The feet are excretory organs and sweat rids the body of toxins, therefore it is more important to wash your feet every day than it is to wash your face and if you do try this on a daily basis, it is not just good hygiene, but will have beneficial effects on your general well-being. He suggests trying it for 30 days and see for yourself the improvement you will feel. We have done this in the past and can concur that we did indeed feel great when we were having a quick foot bath every evening for a month. Vogel goes on to say that this daily practice takes just a few minutes, but the therapeutic value not only saves on doctor/hospital visits and bills - it will vastly improve your health.

Organic stews and broths are a great way to keep topped up with good nutrition and easy to digest if you are ill, whereas poor food choices, like highly processed junk food will cause a build up of toxins in the gut, so it really is important to eat well. Dark green leaves are a must on your daily menu....organic Cavolo Nero is our favourite. We usually go for a macrobiotic dish when ill; organic veggies with lentils, brown rice and miso - the ultimate comfort food or miso mash is another good one. Keep food simple and drink lots of water and herbal teas.

It's all pretty easy stuff and certainly worth doing if you too want to stay well.

Lots of love,

Kay xx

Being Prepared

2023-09-20T13:13:00.000+01:00

We are coming to the end of our stay in Hampshire and the last 2 days have seen autumn arrive, so it sort of feels right to be thinking about leaving. A bit like Vianne and Anouk in Joanne Harris' book "Chocolat" - our work is done, though I think it's a south westerly here, rather than a north wind.

It is always a joy to be staying in this beautiful thatched cottage with our furry chum, to totally unwind and relax. The woodland walks are peaceful and we feel that we've reconnected with nature and got into a lovely rhythm.

The great thing about regular pet sits is that they feel like our very own holiday home, everything is familiar...especially the pets and with this particular sit, we have got to know the neighbours and their pets too over the years, so there is much merriment when we arrive and see everyone.

We have enjoyed our quiet morning walks, as well as the pack gatherings every afternoon with the crazy furry gang running around the big field, while us humans stroll and chat. Then it's back to potter about in the garden, choose some veggies and cook up a little feast. Such a simple life and just perfect for us.

There is definitely a different feel about this area, not only the landscape with it's wide open spaces and flatter terrain (it reminds us of France and we do like it a lot), but the people are different too. We don't find it as friendly as Cornwall or the north, of course not all people here are busy and quite self-obsessed, but lots of them are. Most folks don't walk anywhere, the public footpaths are rarely used and we never see others out on the woodland walks. Most dog walkers use secure dog fields or go to popular places like the various commons in the area. It seems that everyone around here employs mobile services from weekly car washing and valeting to wheelie bin washers, gardeners, cleaners, laundry collection and dog walkers...it's a different world! Yes, it's an affluent area and I'm sure we stick out like sore thumbs. There are no decent grocery shops, selling ethical foods, no great independent health shops or little farm shops selling organic veg. There are lots of supermarkets and a few expensive sparsely stocked corner shops and delis selling mainly brand named produce, then there are pubs and cafes with little or no veggie, let alone vegan options. It's really odd.

This is very much a commuter area, folks travelling into London to their office based jobs or more likely these days - working from home. There is nothing here to attract the creatives and artisans amongst us, no alternative people, pretty much everyone is the same, with the same cars, gravelled drives and large houses. They have the same supermarket deliveries and hang out at the same coffee shops...it's important to be seen in the right places! We stood in a queue in the local village store last week, it's very plush, with cafe and fancy cakes (nothing vegan) and no-one speaks to each other, customers mouths gaped open when we walked in and started chatting and then when we let a couple of guys go before us in the queue - they were genuinely shocked, it just isn't the done thing. On the way back to the house, we wondered how these folks will fare in an end of world scenario - will they survive if indeed it heads this way?

It must be said though that we did come across one good thing nearby and that is Kingsclere Community Library, an independent library run by friendly volunteers, who raise money to keep it going. We went along to their Giant Book Sale on Saturday and spent an hour rummaging through piles and piles of books and came away with £5 worth of books (4 for a £1) Hahaha!!!

Anyway, we are ready to head home now, to more pet sitting, to our kitty, our family and farm friends. It's time to stack all our wood indoors, dig out the candles and get the cabin cosy.

See you on the other side!

Love Kay and Sime xx

Going With The Flow

2023-09-12T12:38:00.000+01:00

It has been such a treat to have good weather again, especially as we are on another pet sitting assignment. We decided to take a longer route to our destination in Hampshire - taking a more scenic route out of Cornwall, along the Atlantic Highway and a wonderful stopover with our dear friends in Glastonbury. As always, we enjoyed feasting with great company and left with full bellies, feeling relaxed.

We had already travelled from Cornwall, through Devon and into Somerset and the next part of our journey took us slightly north through Wiltshire and West Berkshire before landing over the border in Hampshire. It was a gorgeous sunny journey with little traffic and we thoroughly enjoyed taking our time, soaking up the sights and loving the changing scenery. It seems such a long time since we travelled through this part of the country...Frome, Trowbridge, Avebury, and Marlborough. Seeing delights such as:

Westbury White Horse

Silbury Hill

West Kennet Long Barrow

Savernake Forest

We no longer have a camera, but have to rely on our old phone or ipad for photos, both of which can be temperamental and unreliable, so it is a shame that we can't always capture all the wonderful sights we have experienced.

Although this pet sit is one of our regulars, we managed to get lost in the network of little lanes nearby and our Sat Nav isn't great with properties which are off the beaten track, but eventually we figured out that we should just ignore it and use our very own inbuilt navigational tools instead. It worked, sometimes we just need faith in ourselves!

It is really great being here again, our furry friend is such a special chap and we adore him.

As usual, we are relishing time to relax, walking in beautiful countryside with our buddy and eating simple meals using fresh produce from the garden. It's a wonderful place to spend time in, with an abundance of wildlife to watch.

We are both content with our simple life, we have no urge to rush out, to traipse around places or to find things to buy. We have no desire for the constant stimulation that many people feel they need or to fill our days searching out new experiences. We have written a few posts about this, here is a link to one of them: Buying Less.

We will venture out into the world at some point during our stay, but for now - we are happy taking it easy. Doing less and being present, enjoying the simple pleasures that each day brings...like early this morning seeing a huge gaggle of Canada Geese flying fairly low above us in a V formation. Such a magnificent thing to see and we continue to be grateful for it all.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime xx

Lounge Lizards

2023-09-04T21:23:00.000+01:00

It was our wedding anniversary yesterday and after returning from our pet sit in Devon, then catching up with work for a couple of days - we fancied just being at home, pottering about, making food and preparing our car for it's MOT this morning.

We don't really need an official day to celebrate our relationship, we just find it quite funny that time is flying by and it's actually 36 years now since we made that commitment to each other.

Anyway, our car "Earl" passed it's MOT early this morning and on the spur of the moment; we decided that that was definitely worth celebrating, especially as it was another beautiful day and we just so happened to be a couple of miles from Coverack, somewhere we hadn't visited for some time.

While Earl was in Zoar garage, we treated ourselves to a vegan breakfast bap each from The Bus Stop takeaway, which is in the grounds of the garage. Sarah, the owner is really friendly and it's nice to be reacquainted with her and her reasonably priced comfort food.

From Zoar, we drove down to Coverack - we basked in the early morning sunshine, watching the waves and feeling the warm wind dance around us.

It was then time for a coffee and Loft cafe had several vegan cakes on display, so we knew we had to treat ourselves again and both chose their delicious carrot cakes. Coffee was great too and we sat outside overlooking the harbour.

We were very happy that everywhere we visited today accepted cash and feel it's really important to keep using it.

After Coverack, we headed to Grade through St Ruan - where we came across La Petite Boulangerie selling artisan bread on the roadside. It all looked lovely, but I'd already made a batch yesterday...maybe try some another time.

We love the little church in Grade and decided to walk through the fields and woodland paths on a circular route, which was lovely and although it's possible to join the coastal path, we chose to stick with the quiet footpaths.

St Grada Church dates back to the 13th century and is such a sweet and peaceful haven.

We spotted a tiny teddy bear in the organ pipes.

The inside of the bell tower is full of ferns, unfortunately this photo doesn't pick it up, but it's at the far end.

This stained glass window was looking quite beautiful in the bright sunlight.

Lots of the gravestones are covered in moss.

We are not experts on moss, but it definitely seems like it's coastal related as the church is very close to the sea.

St Grada Church in the background...

Hope you enjoyed our little tour!

Love Kay and Sime xx

Stop, Look and Listen

2023-08-28T12:43:00.000+01:00

We have been in the Exe Valley for a week, on one of our regular pet sits and apart from venturing out to the farmer's market in Dulverton, we are very content to be here on the farm.

Have to say, we met lots of lovely folks in Dulverton and spent a very pleasant afternoon chatting and purchasing a few bits and bobs...delicious home made preserves from The Selworthy Pantry, Pain du Campagne from Lucho Bakes and we couldn't resist sampling some vegan beers from the Cottage Beer Project. Sime was also told that he should visit the music shop...Oggies Music and although it had closed for the day when we arrived at the door, a family turned up and said we can actually ring the bell and they were right...the friendly owner greeted and welcomed us all in. A wonderful shop full of second hand instruments, books and records.

It is always a joy to be back here with all the animals, walking on the land, through fields and woods. In this truly peaceful place, we embrace the remote quietness - far from other humans. We know it wouldn't suit everyone, but we get totally immersed. Like having a good soak in a hot bath; it's both rejuvenating and calming.

We love hearing the river as we fall asleep at night and on waking each morning.

We take the dogs for early walks and we all enjoy it so much that the walks seem to get longer and longer...so many directions to explore. A few days ago, we saw a deer running across our path. It stopped for a few seconds when it saw us all before leaping into the woodland and away. Luckily the dogs were too busy snuffling in the undergrowth, but they did eventually pick up it's scent, though by that time it was thankfully long gone. Yesterday, swallows joined us in the top field - they teased the dogs by swooping down on them and seemed to enjoy being chased up and down the field. Such a wonderful display and interaction to watch, really magical.

There are a family of buzzards always around and we often sit and watch them circling around the tops of the trees on the other side of the river. One morning, we were eating our porridge on the patio and became suddenly aware of squawking above us, on looking up we realised there was one of the buzzards fighting with a heron over a creature - we think the buzzard won!

There is a healthy orchard on the farm giving us a plentiful supply of apples, plums and blackberries. We have an Aga in the large farmhouse kitchen and I am in my element...making bread, fruit crumbles, kombuchas and compotes. We are eating very simply (as usual), lots of fresh veggies, stir-fries and dhals.

We have brought several books with us and Sime purchased a couple of second hand books in the music shop on the history of the blues. I've just finished Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher, a bit of a cheesy and dated read, but when we lived at Meadowcroft - we had many guests from Germany who were visiting locations from Rosamunde Pilcher books and films, so when the book was offered to us...I thought "Why not?" It's an easy holiday read and now I'm reading Meadowland by John Lewis-Stempel, which is actually the perfect book for here...so thank you Kath!

We have a few more days of this lovely place and then it won't be long before we're off to another regular sit in Hampshire. For now, we will continue to enjoy our simple life - being in nature, the animals, the wildlife, the weather, the sunrises and sunsets, the night sky, the peace and each other.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

Spring Forward

2023-04-04T18:35:00.000+01:00

We are gradually coming out of our winter hibernation and two weeks of pet sitting on The Roseland in Cornwall has been a wonderful way to slowly "wake up" and enjoy being with one of our favourite furry chums.

We are all enjoying being outside more and after 5 years of caring for our little pal - we have finally made progress with her ability to listen, focus and follow commands! She has always been a delight to be with, but her excitable behaviour tends to get out of control...perhaps she is calming down as she gets older or maybe we are more relaxed around her. We have certainly felt our bond with her has strengthened over the last two weeks and in turn she is eager to please. She can now have time off her lead and is thoroughly enjoying beach play time, with excellent recall.

We had almost given up on the idea that Mabel could enjoy such freedom, so it is a joy to us all!

We do hope that she will continue with her Mum, but are confident that we will slip back into our new improved relationship each time we come to stay.

It has been a wonderful rejuvenating time and we'll be returning home this week feeling happy and relaxed...though sad to be leaving our beautiful companion.

We really do enjoy the simplicity of our pet sitting work - walking, cooking, reading and snuggling with furry buddies...a real dream come true for us.

Lots of love,

Kay and Sime

Winter Recharge

2023-02-12T13:08:00.000+00:00

This life is perfect for us - spending time with so many beautiful animals, walking, cooking, eating and being idle. We are on another pet sitting assignment...Dartmoor again and it feels like we are truly unwinding.

We are up early, out feeding all the buddies and walking with the furries. There's no rush, no clock watching. We get to start our days gently, enjoying the playfulness of the goats, chatting to the chickens, cuddling the kitties and then walking, talking, laughing. Taking in the beautiful scenery, the wildlife and collecting wood.

Life is simple, we have no desire to fill our days doing stuff and instead we return to base, light the fire, make up big bowls of porridge and take our time to sit and enjoy every spoonful.

It feels right to do less in the winter, to rest more and just be. At home we do have to work, but we are always dreaming up plans to make life simpler; for caring people to walk into our lives and take on some of our jobs, allowing us to do something closer to home between pet sits.

For now, we can enjoy being here, focus on each other and our time relaxing together, recharging and slowing down. Wonderful stuff.

Lots of love,

Kay & Sime

Clive's Pies

2022-11-12T14:46:00.001+00:00

It's not often that we big up a food company, but since sampling a few pies from Clive's range we felt that we should extoll the virtues of these delicious products. We've been vegan for a long time now and it's commonplace to find plant based foods in most outlets, of course this doesn't mean that they are all nutritious and of good quality - you have to sort the wheat from the chaff.

We took a chance on a couple of Clive's pies some time ago when we discovered our then local wholefood store, Archie Brown's in Truro stocked them. We each tried their creamy mushroom pies and loved them...really tasty, well filled and with a good crust. We are not huge fans of pastry, so were pleasantly surprised as to how good they were. We dipped our vegan toes into the Clive's portfolio and were rewarded with pies of consistently good quality. Other brands we've tried have been a bit hit and miss in terms of taste and consistency, but Clive's hit the mark every time. We thought it would be nice to write to the company and say how much we like their products. They replied with a lovely message and sent us a selection of their goodies - see photos. What a lovely thing to do.

We are gradually making our way through these delicious pastries...

Red Pepper Harissa Quiche

We enjoyed half a quiche each with our homemade potato salad, stir-fried greens and olives. It has a nice spicy kick.

We shared these pies - half each with our leftover stew and rice!

It's the first time we've had the Coronation Chickpea and we loved it.

Today for lunch we have shared the Broccoli and Pesto Quiche...

Along with the nut roast...

Served with miso and lemon stir-fried veggies.

If you do come across a Clive's Pie (the puff pies are our favourites), we would definitely recommend popping it in your basket and enjoy on its own or like us with some steamed or stir-fried organic veggies. Cruelty free foods made with love in Devon...Bliss. 💚💚

Enjoy and lots of love,

Kay and Sime