After all this work Vince and I are having a trip to London this weekend.  He is such a good boy on the train and our trip is arranged by my family for my Birthday, so Vince and I will see most of the family.  I’ve had to pack his favourite toy and fleece blanket and we are hoping all the cold weather has gone by then.

That is what the Tourist Board Inspectors like to see – but more importantly to me it is what our guests look forward to receiving at Tor Cottage.

Last year we improved our pool house cabin facilities with a Fridge, Freezer, Microwave and Tea & Coffee.  So guests can stay home all day and eat & drink at no extra cost.

This year guests in our garden rooms will find that their Hospitality areas have been enhanced to provide a Kitchenette area containing Fridge, Microwave (with grill) and more spacious worktop & cupboard areas.  So now if guests wish to stay home in the evening it will be so easy, and cost effective, to use ready meals, or jacket potatoes in the newly supplied equipment.  So there is no need to go out in the evenings and you can make the most of your beautiful rooms, log-fires or private gardens,  This is real”add on value”.

Vince has been quite intrigued by all the extra work going on but he doesn’t go in the rooms he is content to watch from outside.

We are soon to re-open for our Spring Breaks (3 nights for 2) and it is beginning to feel like spring.  Primroses are appearing and daffodil shoots are peeping through in the lovely sunny weather this week but there is sparkling frost across our valley in the mornings.  Vince loves the crispy frosted grass and doesn’t seem to be affected by cold feet!

We had some guests stay recently on our special “room only” break  and they took some lovely photos of Vince.  As usual he wondered if he could put 2 paws in the conservatory.  He decided if he lay down in the doorway he could get 2 paws & his nose in.  Our guest took these lovely photos:

In the meantime its spring cleaning and get ready time for our guests.

Vince had a lovely time at Christmas, he had a young puppy to play with, as well as his friend Honey.  Both Honey & puppy belong to my daughter.  Vince had too many extra treats, presents from our guests.  He has put on 2 kilos. - serious as Guide Dogs are not allowed to put weight on so he is now on a diet!!!  But he did love all his extra treats.

Here are some lovely photos of him in his Christmas hat – plus with puppy Max.  They have just gone home so he is alone again now. His highlights are the arrival of our guests. Now we look forward to spring in our valley, snowdrops, then daffodils, the bluebell, then our pool opening in May.

The Holly Berries are abundant in our woods at the moment and it looks very pretty and seasonal.  Vince, who loves to eat the Blackberries straight from the bushes decided to try the Holly Berries but soon spat them out!  I know they are not poisonous as when the frost arrives the birds will eat them!

Vince and II went on a long train journey to see elder daughter recently and he is allowed a seat (for the floor space!!) and is so good.  He lies down for 7 hours.  No food, water or toilet  – he refuses.  So on arrioval he gets a special dog treat.

We are now starting a very special December and January offer – which is room only and a real bargain.  Vince is missing the guests company so would be very pleased.

When he goes out with me he doesn’t do anything like that because he won’t leave me.  He knows he is my guide dog and he stays with me even with no harness or lead.  That is why I am so pleased when he goes for a walk with our guests because I like him to have a proper playtime!

Vince has just had  a lovely week with Mike & Gina, who usually visit him (and Tor Cottage!) twice a year.  Mike collects Vince at 7:30 each morning and takes Vince through our woods for as lovely walk.  Vince often meets deer in the woods – they look at each other and then he chases them.  He only wants to play but they are far too fast for him! .  He is often a bit muddy when he returns but he is very happy.

The autumn colours are beautiful at the moment and the evenings are chilly enough for our guests to light their log-fires.  It is very special to go to bed by firelight!

When Mike & Gina arrived they brought Vince a new toy – a gorilla of course!  He was so excited. Here is a picture of him “de-stuffing2 it – his favourite game.  Mike & Gina don’t mind as he just then carries the empty toy around!

Autumn is now here and after a wonderful final weekend of hot sunny weather we had to close down our swimming pool for the winter.

The trees are changing colour and our woodland walks offer new vistas, berries, fungi and deer seeking new hideaways.

Vince loves going for woodland walks and for some strange reason he decides to help himself to blackberries, eating them straight from the bushes.  Every autumn he does this, and as the blackberries do him no harm we let him steal them!  He looks so cute, even reaching up on his back legs to reach the highest berries!  We manage to pick a few for ourselves and sometimes on our picnic platters we can offer blackberry and apple crumble!

Our guests are now taking advantage of our autumn breaks (3 nights for 2) and some pick blackberries to take home.  If Vince hasn’t eaten them all…

Last week the Guide Dog Association had an 80th Birthday Party in Exeter.  Vince met all his relatives and the puppies in training, but he wasn’t allowed a piece of the enormous birthday cake!  However he had lots of fuss and attention at Tor Cottage before we left.  He loves being brushed and combed and some of our guests helped with that.  But no walk in the woods that morning as his coat gets covered in seed heads at the moment!

Our guests love our woodland walks and at this time of year the leaves are changing colour and Autumn is in the air.  Vince has had a lovely few days lying by the pool.  But this week he is bemused – wondering why he can’t see the blue water anymore now that the winter cover is on the pool.  He will have to enjoy watching the deer cross the field instead.

September has ended with a glorious heatwave and as our pool was still open & heated to 28C our guests had a wonderful time.  I couldn’t resist taking Pimms No.1 down to the pool – we all enjoyed that!  However now October has arrived its time to put the winter cover on the pool until next April/May time!  But this also signals the start of our Autumn Breaks when can keep warm by their own log-fire and guests enjoy a free night on our 3 for 2 offer.