December 2017

Saint Sylvester's day was celebrated throughout the world with spectacular fireworks, but none quite as spectacular as the natural display that we were blessed with on an evening walk. As 'glucksbringers' go, this surely bodes well for the coming year because 'red sky at night ...', the sky could not have been redder, the shepherds could not have been more delighted.

November 2017

Simon messaged Justine - 'Just wanted to tell you we buried Mr Muddle tonight'. Then shortly after - 'He had died'. Justine was grateful for the clarification.

October 2017

Justine's friend Kate, who is lucky to be alive and knows how to make good use of the time she has left, celebrated her life with 'Instead of a Wake', for which Justine had the privilege of being part of the organisational team. In contrast to the usual events that Justine organises, in which there is always, usually necessarily, a little bit of hoping for the best, this was planned with military precision. A year before the event the idea was hatched. Months before, 8 cellists, a soprano and a small baroque orchestra were booked for a programme of Villa Lobos and Bach; flowers, furniture, venues and menus were agreed; the elusive music for David Bedford's beautiful 'The Grace of Love' was found and the choir met for their first rehearsal. Weeks before, Kate's gin was distilled; the font for the projected subtitles was decided upon; the programmes were printed; the tenors mastered the tricky bits in Purcell's Evening Hymn, and the playlist for the after concert party was drawn up. Days before, the marquee company sourced extra long stakes to keep the marquee from flying away in the anticipated gale force winds. One day before, a water main was punctured with aforementioned extra long stakes, and 4 hours before the event the last emergency port-a-loo was removed. There is no planning for the unexpected, we totally carpe'd the diem and it was the best party ever.

September 2017

Caspar started A'levels at Old Swinford Hospital this month. A chip off the old block, Caspar is taking exactly the same subjects as Simon. He is relieved to never have to do French and Latin again. Those subjects plagued him through his Austrian 'gymnasium' schooling where students are required to pass every subject in order to graduate to the next year. Too many summers were spent revising for retakes at the start of term, under the threat of being thrown out of the school. He'll be boarding, home in the holidays. Elizabeth wants to know if she can have his bedroom.

August 2017

Caspar's first Dartington and it was music to Justine and Simon's ears to hear that it really hit the right note, with bells on. He pulled out all the stops and went to 24 concerts in one week.

May 2017

To celebrate Justine's birthday, Mary and Justine did Goat Yoga at Pennywell Farm. Justine looks like she is grimacing here, but she is actually hysterical with mirth. It's yoga in a barn with goats and pigs who nibble your toes, jump on your back, eat your hair, wee on your yoga mat and lick your face whilst you focus on achieving inner peace.

March 2017

Meanwhile back in Devon the Buckfast monks are struggling to hold onto their charitable status. In order to 'advance the Roman Catholic faith' they produce Buckfast Tonic Wine/Buckie/'commotion lotion'/'wreck the hoose juice'/bottles of 'what the hell are you looking at?', with the unofficial slogan 'Buckfast: gets you fucked fast'. The 15% proof, caffeinated fortified wine has been linked in Scotland to 6500 reports of antisocial behaviour and violence in the last two years. With reported sales of £43.2 million last year, charitable status is worth a tidy sum, since it exempts them from paying any tax on this income.

February 2017

Elizabeth has offered Simon a handy guide to Peberdy family management.

January 2017

The Einsiedelei in Saalfelden is looking for a new hermit. Simon has turned his hand to a whole variety of jobs in our ten years here and this one really appeals. The views are stunning and the life is simple. The catch is that there is no salary and getting a piano up to the cliff-side hermitage could prove problematic. What's more, the advert states that the applicant 'should be at peace with themselves'. In the middle of winter season hectic, juggling all that goes with it, plus all Justine's jobs too???