Colin and Olive Hellier’s 3 daughters return together for the first time to their old redundant farm buildings and reminisce with childhood memories vividly recalling playing as youngsters (now Orchard Barn B&B) and together with some of their children quench their Easter Sunday thirst with a glass of Scrumpy Cider made from their Father’s apples. As you can see – laughter and empty glasses says it all and at 6% it has a magic effect on everybody………..!!

Orchard Barn plum tree in full early blossom and new Cider Apple trees being planted (and guarded so his sheep can still graze) in Colin Helier’s orchard next door

Orchard Barn’s mill leet (or often known as a mill race) together with several wonderful forsythia shrubs in full blossom too

Orchard Barn in the sunshine…………and it’s lovely to know we’ve six months of the summer to look forward too!!

Lesley and I on one of our many walks up through the Steps Bridge daffodils alongside the Teign River

Love is in the air – that’s for sure!!

Max Richards in the doorway of his magnificent barn adjoining his house at Mill Barn and overlooking the Famous Dunsford Stepping Stones awash with winter flood waters

My neighbours Max and Jacqui Richards and their 2 adorable children hosted a fine Christmas drinks party just before the cold weather and about 30 of us enjoyed a good seasonal ‘gossip’ standing in their barn christened as a party venue for the first time around their decorated tree, roaring chimenea throwing off loads of smoke and moral boosting heat occasionally, mince pies galore and more importantly terrific mulled wine and the best mulled cider I’d ever had, whilst children various ran about in the safe confines of their lovely garden.

It was a delightful way to spend 2 hours on a winters afternoon………thank you both.

French Exchange Pedal Bashers enjoy a luncheon at Orchard Barn

I was asked earlier in the year if I’d like to host the Teign Valley Pedal Bashers French Exchange Luncheon – it was a really fun event and particularly as the French guests left their bikes behind and walked instead………..I put that down to the fact that last time they called in for Scrumpy Cider a few years earlier half of them fell off their bikes or worse still couldn’t get on even shortly afterwards!!!

There were about 45 all up including Brit Hosts which was considered a good turn-out as it clashed with Hat Rack’s Coach trip Hash Weekend in France……….Blaster and Rough Jobs rendition of ‘Allouetta’ (sp!!) was brilliant and had everybody in stitches……….as usual. Their warm up at The Royal Oak was apparently terrific………..maybe the BBC should check out a winter edition of The Teign Valley’s Got Talent!!

Hot Pasties, Le Sandwich Anglais avec les oeuffs etc.!!!

The weather was kind despite the appalling forecast and the French Guests all had their fill of Devon Cider, Orchard Barn hospitality, the Pedal Bashers magic humour and terrific company to make this another special day for everybody.

Monsieur Wong from gay Paris avec le grande sourice n’est pas!!

Jo (aged 21) with parents Greg and Angela from Byron Bay Eastern Australia

Greg and Angela from Byron Bay Eastern Australia swapped houses with Shirley and Roger Hodge from Dunsford and because they had their entire family with them I had Shauna their eldest daughter and her boyfriend Shannon stay at Orchard Barn for 6 nights recently. I invited Mum and Dad (who I discovered had just celebrated their joint 50th birthdays in Paris en route to UK) to accompany my new guests when they arrived a few days later and to my surprise they all turned up for a ‘Looksee’………..well in true welcoming fashion we cracked a few bottles in the barn and got stuck in…………. and 2 hours later we were all the best of pals. So much so that I invited them all to a BBQ 3 days later (knowing the weather was good for the week!!)………..the deal was that they (the 7 of them) would produce the food and I’d produce the grog – just me!! Well I extended that to Colin and Olive Hellier my lovely farming neighbours and the Wright Brothers who were fishing the Teign that the last day of the season (and Chris caught a 12 lb salmon too!!) and a few other chums to muck in.

Jo (with my old flying jacket on) surrounded by 2 of his 3 gorgeous sisters!!

We had a fantastic time………….food was delicious and their son Jo and I aided by Shannon polished off the last few gallons of last years Cider………….needless to say the Oz v The Brit jokes cropped up a few times and I enjoyed a healthy ‘brother v sister’ sparing on the merits of art all fueled by wine and scrumpy!! They left at 11pm well sozzled and rather like Goldilocks and the 3 Bears………….(well nearly!!) Mum and 2 of her 3 daughters crashed out for an hours kip in the master bedroom upstairs all snuggled up together unable to keep up with Dad and the rest of the family………….boy could they tuck it away too……………..good job I’ve got lots of wine in the cellar!! It was a real pleasure to have them to stay……..great family and magic sense of humour!!

Angela, Greg and Kristin (note Gregs eyes!!)

Shannon, Shauna and brother Jo

Shannon enjoying Orchard Barn Scrumpy Cider and prefered it to a Fosters ‘Tinny’!!

Note that Greg’s eyes are closing up now!! Well so they should after best part of 3 bottles of red (and that was after the 3 ‘Tinnies’ he had whilst cooking the kebabs!!

Having the Oz family to stay was terrific and if they ever read this: Jo I’d like my flying jacket back and Angela, Kristin would like her ‘muscles bucket’ back too!! Clearly old ‘deportation’ habits are still in the blood line!!!