Love the place, but never thought we'd end up in Barnstaple!

People often say to me, 'Bet you never thought you'd end up in the Middle East?'  In fact it was no surprise to either of us we had years of planing, preparation and then 8 years of living through Arab springs in a variety of countries.  More the surprise that we ending up in Barnstaple North Devon. A area with a dramatic rugged coastline near to Exmoor of Lorna Doone fame.  The Atlantic sea is a bracing Sunday walk away from us with its  dramatic crashing waves  So many people have been for meals and to stay a night or two and I just love the continuing hospitality that flows out of our home; reflecting back the kindness given to us in other lands. But its just our home for a while with in all its quirky 18th century beauty.  Jane

Chamings Cottage

We have finished working at Gilead, Okehampton - we really enjoyed living in community with the 'students' who were recovering from their drug and alcohol addictions.  We learnt what it means to be honest with one another especially when sharing our feelings.

We have decided to move up north (north Devon), to Barnstaple where we hope to continue to work with those on the edge of society, and other things - Peter has applied to work at the local hospice and Citizen's Advice Bureau.

We feel really blessed with our new home which is a quirky fully furnished ex-holiday let; we got rid of all our furniture 8 years ago.  Our new home is an barn-conversion on Hume Farm or to be more accurate a dairy-conversion: 'Chamings Cottage' is named after Arthur & Gwen Chamings who ran the dairy and delivered milk by horse and cart.  We will reproduce a modern version of the photo in a later blog - I'm sure Jane has a similar dress!

Wild Creation calls!

We love living in the wild scene -scapes  of Dartmoor.  A few minutes drive and we are completely in barrenness and  beauty with only the sheep and wild ponies for company. Sherlock Holmes in the novel 'Hound of the Baskervilles' novel says 'It must be a wild place' and he is so right! On top of the Dartmoor Tors the snow from a few weeks past remains and looks like its staying a while longer yet. We have been living on a working farm that is also a christian community and rehab for the last 6 weeks; this brings much discovery joy and challenge. The Wilderness forays become a necessary escape to keep life in perspective, wild creation calls!