In November I did a 220 mile bike ride over five days in Rajasthan to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. This is me at the end, rather tired but elated at having completed it all through heavy rain, upset stomachs, hills and heat. Just a brilliant experience and I've signed up to bike again next year in the Far East

How really nice to not only receive 4 stars but also a silver award to show all our efforts are worthwhile. I'm thrilled and I hope you will be too if you decided to come and stay.

Flowers for everyone

Its been on my list of things to do for years and at last I've done it. That's doing a flower arranging course, and just look at the results! A friend and I discovered the Tallulah Rose Flower School in Bath and went on a one day course with Rachel. We learnt so much, and had a great time and I'm certainly trying to put into practice this new found knowledge at home. But it wasn't just arranging flowers its getting a better understanding of colour, finding out where to source vases and being more adventurous in how you use flowers that all went into making it a great day.

Some redecoration

After months of indicision I finally got round to redecorating the twin room and my goodness what an improvement. The previous wall paper had been hand stenciled by me and although I loved it, it had had its day and it was time to move on. Well the results are here and I'm thrilled with them.

Apart from that the garden and allotment continue to keep me busy and my training for a charity bike ride. In November I'm off to Rajasthan for nine days to cycle up to 50 miles a day all for a good cause though, I'm raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Almost Spring

I don't know whats stopped me from attending to my blog up to now, certainly not the weather which had us inside for so much of the early part of this year. However its now almost spring and I need to be getting on with the garden here at Castleton House as well as in my allotment. Apart from that I'll be busy training and fundraising for my bike ride in Rajasthan this November, all in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

With the clocks going back this coming weekend and the promise of warmer weather most of the local attractions will be open full time. We enjoyed a day at Montacute House which is only 30 minutes from here, not only is the Elizabeathen Architecture quite amazing, the gardens will be glorious during the summer and it also houses a number of paintings owned by the National Portrait Gallery the photos above give just a glimpse of all there is to enjoy.