Deep in the countryside of Cornwall and down some very narrow lanes sits a few plush renovated stables near Camelford. One of those residences was to be our first U.K. housesit in early 2016. What a start it was to be. To cut a long story short, one of the owners dislocated her hip. Sufficient to say that both parties weren’t sure what to do in these circumstances. Eventually, we sorted it, with us staying put until they could change their travel plans.
Our temporary abode for nearly 7 weeks
However, we did some part-time house-sitting until the owners went on holiday by taking their undisciplined golden retriever for walks or, more precisely, dragging us until we had a word and filled his life with some hard, fast training sessions. We all learnt.
Weekly trips for groceries were to Wadebridge, and we always took the scenic route sometimes without meaning, too.
Best of all, we organised a few outings by ourselves. Here are a few images of our time there and beyond Camelford.
Did I mention our first housesit and our first U.K. winter coincided? Some of you may have remembered.With this image of Seve the Golden Retriever, I’m sure we would’ve been crowned Housesitters of the Year.I will never forget these roads for the houses I enjoyed viewing, the hi-vis clothing I wore that was two sizes bigger than needed to walk Neve and the odd phone box. The Squire was born to wear gumboots, and Seve, who did not require gumboots, were on a mole expedition in Cornwall. We would encounter moles in another long-term housesit in France. Dreadful things, those moles.The attractive Cornish coastal village of Mousehole, near Penzance, where every building has individual character, hugging the contours of the landscape. One delicacy we didn’t attempt to eat was the ‘Star Gazey Pie’, a mixed fish, egg and potato pie with fish heads protruding through the pastry.
At the end of this housesit, we were now in the throes of spring, and it was time to head to France via the ferry; we took our U.K. rental car to France. After a few hair-raising moments while driving a right-hand car on a left-side roading system, we decided to change hire cars when changing countries. You are never too old to learn.
Jo, you’re right, we have many good memories of that time, some of our best years. I haven’t really properly blogged about our early housesitting adventures during 2016.
Winter in Cornwall can be quite grim. But spring usually makes up for it. Mousehole is a lovely village but sadly most of the houses are holiday lets now.
So, we found out. It was all new to us, not grim at all for us as we weren’t locals like you, cold though and we appreciated the central heating. We even had a few sunny days, and a few colourful sunsets.
Sussex is another area we housesat in and a beautiful countryside. We were there in summer so and a natural swimming pool to use and a good natured well loved dog to walk. You’re right, Pauline, it is good to look back to document those times. Wet day activity 🙂
Exactly the reason we turned around and headed back that way. You can see a glimpse of the red hire car. We did see quite a few villages all worth mentioning and too many to include in this post.
It certainly is, Malc. When we were housesitting, it was time to relax and rest, stay local, and take care of the animals and their home. Then, in between housesits, we did more sightseeing.
Sounds like a rather eventful start to your house-sitting adventures! Cornwall is lovely and being there at that time of year you will have missed the summer crowds 😀
Well, we did wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. You know what they say. What doesn’t break or kill you makes you stronger.
I love visiting areas without the crowds. It was bliss 😊
I’ve only been to Cornwall once but really liked it. I remember Mousehole. Even if I wasn’t a vegetarian I would not tackle Stargazy Pie. I remember in my non-veggie days being presented with whitebait and recoiling in horror.
The chef Rick Stein was on television recently. A series giving us a tour of his Cornwall; he took us to Mousehole (pronounced Muzzle) and showed us how to cook the old Cornish dish Stargazy pie. Not my cup of tea either. I enjoyed his series though.
I never made it into Cornwall but visited next door a few times where my late cousin lived in Devon.
Being the farthest point south in England, the weather is much warmer in Devon and Cornwall than up here in the north.
I loved this post, Suzanne and I’m looking forward to more of the same.
Thanks very much, Sue. Yes, I will do more Postcard posts and hopefully include more about our housesitting. I also enjoyed Rick Steins television series which was screened in NZ. The place names seem to be pronounced so differently to how they appear in written form. We loved both down south and your North Yorkshire. Had warm and very cold days in both places. Devon is a special place for us as people we care about live there including someone over 100 years old.
I’m so glad you enjoyed visiting. I think locals tend to change the names of places too. There is a village not far from me called Norwood, yet the locals call it NorEd!
Life at No. 22 
Those are beautiful daffodils, Suzanne! What a lovely memory. Better than the snow, for sure.
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Jo, you’re right, we have many good memories of that time, some of our best years. I haven’t really properly blogged about our early housesitting adventures during 2016.
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You were too busy with living. Now’s a good time.
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There was so much to learn at the start. I treasure my time blogging now and connecting with a small group of bloggers. You included 😊
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Thank you! It’s often my bit of personal space, first thing on a morning.
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What a fantastic adventure. I’d never thought of house-sitting.
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We were fulltime nomads for approx 4 years and did housesitting during that time. Even in Portugal which is one country we enjoyed.
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Winter in Cornwall can be quite grim. But spring usually makes up for it. Mousehole is a lovely village but sadly most of the houses are holiday lets now.
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So, we found out. It was all new to us, not grim at all for us as we weren’t locals like you, cold though and we appreciated the central heating. We even had a few sunny days, and a few colourful sunsets.
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TBH it’s been grim throughout the UK this winter, not just the south west. And we very much appreciate our underfloor heating!
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Toasty feet down in Cornwall, bliss 😉
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Ah the joys of house sitting. And those beautiful daffodils remind me of my time in Sussex. Good to look back on
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Sussex is another area we housesat in and a beautiful countryside. We were there in summer so and a natural swimming pool to use and a good natured well loved dog to walk. You’re right, Pauline, it is good to look back to document those times. Wet day activity 🙂
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I would have skipped the fish-head pie, too! Ick. But the area looks good for exploring, even if the cuisine could use improving.
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It wasn’t even considered when there was a tasty cornish pie to be eaten on a cold day.
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Mousehole looks distinctive. And its name is distinctive too.
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Exactly the reason we turned around and headed back that way. You can see a glimpse of the red hire car. We did see quite a few villages all worth mentioning and too many to include in this post.
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House sitting is an interesting way of getting to know an area I must say.
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It certainly is, Malc. When we were housesitting, it was time to relax and rest, stay local, and take care of the animals and their home. Then, in between housesits, we did more sightseeing.
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A great experience well conveyed
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Sounds like a rather eventful start to your house-sitting adventures! Cornwall is lovely and being there at that time of year you will have missed the summer crowds 😀
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Well, we did wonder what we had gotten ourselves into. You know what they say. What doesn’t break or kill you makes you stronger.
I love visiting areas without the crowds. It was bliss 😊
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I’ve only been to Cornwall once but really liked it. I remember Mousehole. Even if I wasn’t a vegetarian I would not tackle Stargazy Pie. I remember in my non-veggie days being presented with whitebait and recoiling in horror.
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How wonderful that you housesitted around Europe, the Word. Great adventures and memories.
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They were and a relaxed way to see the out of the way places. Not to mention a win-win situation for homeowner and housesitter.
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The chef Rick Stein was on television recently. A series giving us a tour of his Cornwall; he took us to Mousehole (pronounced Muzzle) and showed us how to cook the old Cornish dish Stargazy pie. Not my cup of tea either. I enjoyed his series though.
I never made it into Cornwall but visited next door a few times where my late cousin lived in Devon.
Being the farthest point south in England, the weather is much warmer in Devon and Cornwall than up here in the north.
I loved this post, Suzanne and I’m looking forward to more of the same.
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Thanks very much, Sue. Yes, I will do more Postcard posts and hopefully include more about our housesitting. I also enjoyed Rick Steins television series which was screened in NZ. The place names seem to be pronounced so differently to how they appear in written form. We loved both down south and your North Yorkshire. Had warm and very cold days in both places. Devon is a special place for us as people we care about live there including someone over 100 years old.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed visiting. I think locals tend to change the names of places too. There is a village not far from me called Norwood, yet the locals call it NorEd!
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