Romantic cottages for two in the Peak District

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Update after a long silence!

Having just launched the new Blog & Gallery John and I promptly went away for ten days which was hardly efficient but was just the way it turned out.

All being well things will start ticking over again. Meanwhile, a short bringing-up-to-date…

We had a wonderful family get-together in the French Alps (Les Gets in the Haute Savoie) not far from Geneva and within sight on a good day of Mont Blanc. The excuse – if we needed one – was to introduce our grandson Tom to snow. He is five now, and living in Sydney NSW had never seen snow. He had longed to throw a snowball so got plenty of opportunity for that, and skiing too.

Much snow, much skiing, much fun, one leg in plaster (mine)! But we did not let that hinder things too much and in the chalet it hardly mattered apart from my having to hop around on crutches and be pushed by long-suffering son Nick or nephew Tim, down snowy roads into the village. Not so easy now we are at home with stairs and steps to negotiate at every turn but it is amazing how one learns to adapt and thanks to John, Sara, Derek and Tom there are many kind attendants. I have much more insight now into how it must be for the disabled and feel very blessed that my disability is only temporary.

The new Tom’s Barn Blog & Gallery

And just what is a blog, we’ve been asked? And why do you need something when you’ve already got a website?

Well, we probably don’t really but we are very excited all the same at the idea of having the two different species  running side by side, complementing each other.

As we see it our Tom’s Barn website provides the more conventional, factual  element,  with information provided by us, which we hope will give guests and others a real insight into our holiday cottages and what to expect.

On the other hand, the Blog & Gallery will be the more dynamic section of the same site. Here you will find latest news from us and input from guests and friends, constantly changing as the things evolve. There will also be  masses (eventually) of photos from John and others.

We hope that guests will also share tips and suggestions for the benefit of others guests – and us –  about  good walks, lovely restaurants and wonderful pubs; we have already had two guests keen to share successful  recipes for the slow cooker ‘crockpot’. Watch this page!

And how does one new to the blogging scene know what to do…? The next lecture in this series will appear after Christmas… Bloggers forget that it is all rather overwhelming to he uninitiated; we’re only a couple of steps ahead of that ourselves but years of enjoying the Parwich Blog has helped initiate us, slightly. It has certainly taught us what fun they are. 

Tom’s Barn Availability

There are two (midweek gaps) in January.

See here for the latest update on availability for Tom’s Barn.

Douglas’s Barn Availability

There are still several gaps in January for a post – Christmas, restorative break! See here for the current situation in Douglas’s Barn.

My summer swallow fetish

 I spent the summer trying to achieve the impossible. The results you can see in the photo gallery.

On the Home page top right click on Photo Gallery by the little green camera symbol.

On the Photo Page click on the first photo in the gallery you want to visit (in this case, Swallows). For a larger picture Click on Pic[Lens]

 

The first picture comes up; to move to the next click on the arrow to the right (or left if you want to go back).

Reader’s Tip in BBC Countryfile Magazine Dec 2009

We had hoped to be able to give you a link to the BBC Countryfile Magazine feature on the Peak District where this Reader’s Tip appears,  but have discovered that this is not possible. Although there is a website  one cannot access articles (nor readers’ tips!) because otherwise I imagine they’d never sell any magazines.

So the best we can do, with the blessing of Fergus Collins the Countryfile Magazine editor, is to reproduce the  tip below, and give you the link to the online magazine for a general browse.

“Tom’s Barn, Parwich
I would recommend Tom’s Barn, two gorgeous barns on the edge of a beautiful Peak District village with walks from the door. We went there for our honeymoon.”
Sam Temple-Scotton
BBC Countryfile Magazine, December 2009
http://www.bbccountryfilemagazine.com

To read the article on the Peak District you have to buy the current (December) edition, which we urge you to do and keep for reference if you are interested in our lovely part of the world – and who could not be?

And meanwhile, once again, thank you to Sam, although we gather there was  initial concern from some quarters  that she had revealed what should have remained a well-kept secret!

Douglas’s Barn

We’re always updating and replacing things. A big addition, for Douglas’s Barn only, is Sky TV. The latest major addition is a new iPad for your use, pre-loaded with weblinks to helpful local sites to ensure you can make the most of your time here.

Tom’s Barn

Lots of new things, as always, including a new Roberts DAB radio/CD/iPod dock and new electric hand-held mixer. The most exciting possibly is an iPad for your own use and convenience. Tom’s Barn Accommodation click here

What’s Happening in Parwich

For the latest local news, what’s on locally, weather updates, lots of John’s photos over the last couple of years and all the latest information about Parwich, visit the village blog

Tom’s Barn Blog and Gallery going live!

We’re poised, on tenterhooks, about to go live and by the time you read this we will be…

Our  ‘blog’ is now a grown up fully revamped Blog and we are trusting it will eventually be as much fun as we hope. Jeremy Brough, our wonderful webdesigner friend, and we, have worked hard on this one but we are quite sure there will be some funny blips this end to start with and do let us know, gently, if you discover any so we can sort them out as soon as possible.

We hope to keep you all up to date with what’s going on and we are hoping that it will be much easier for family, friends and guests to find their way round, and we trust, make the occasional comment and send us a  picture from time to time.

Seriously, we really hope that our guests will help us keep abreast of the latest news locally – where perhaps you’ve eaten or walked or shopped or whatever else you have enjoyed and want to share for the benefit of future guests (and us!).

It will also give John much more scope to store and share his ever-increasing collection of photos, more of which later. Many of these will be of Tom’s Barn and Douglas’s  Barns (our two lovely holiday cottages for two in the Peak District, for those coming upon this out of the blue)  even more will be of Orchard Farm, Parwich and the surrounding countryside; also will feature flowers in the garden, the local birds, butterflies, bees and Boots.

To ensure we retain a cosmopolitan edge we are hoping that our family members may send the occasional post from London, Hastings, Sydney, Cape Town and Durban, not to forget our far flung guests as well!

Please don’t feel awkward about commenting. You don’t have to put your full name – just your first name, or initials, or even a pen name if you feel particularly shy – and your email address will never be revealed. It might be helpful and make it more interesting for all if you gave an indication if you were guest, family or friend (maybe all three). All we ask and confidently assume is that the comments are fit to be read even by our young grandson Tom aged five (he can’t read yet anyway, but you get the gist…!); criticisms if there are any will be welcomed as long as they are are constructive!


LATEST NEWS

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    We are pleased to be able to offer an EV charging point on site for guests staying in the barns. Charges for its use will be based on the price per kwh that we will be paying to our supplies at the time of use.

  • Welcome 2024 and welcome Ollie

    Wishing all our past present and future guests a very Happy New Year. Following the sad passing of Barni in June we made a decision to have another dog to keep Izzy company. We were hoping to rehome a Vizsla but there were none suitable. Izzy’s sister was in pup and we were lucky enough […]

  • Open Gardens at Orchard Farm

    Its open gardens again tomorrow at Orchard Farm. The lovely hot sunny weather has been great for us but the gardens have really suffered. Lots of rain in the last few days have saved the day and everything is looking lovely for Parwich Open Gardens tomorrow. Rambling Rector is again in full bloom! Lots of […]

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