Luccombe Blog 01.05.2011

Online booking has come of age on our site.  At a year old,  it still gives us sleepless nights.  The new availability grid view chart will make things earier for you.  But please, you can always give us a ring if you have difficulties in making a booking. (01258 880558) or, email us luccombeh@gmail.com

Testimonials
We have previously avoided these as anyone can make up a line such as “ We had a lovely holiday and will definitely come again” Mr & Mrs Smith from London! 

So here is an idea, why not email us with your thoughts and we will post them up (heavily edited & censored of course) in this column, and why not include some pictures that you took while at Luccombe. (Even more heavily censored)
To start the ball rolling we now post a few of the many stunningly nice things that our guests have recently told us:

“We have been going on self catering holidays since 1993 and we can honestly say that the Luccombe experience has been the very best. Everything is provided. There is no need to leave the place.” The Wolfstons, Wembly.

“Thank you for another lovely holiday at Luccombe.” The Balls, Lincolnshire.

“Our children loved it….difficult to improve on……better than we expected……didn’t need to leave the farm……will definitely be back. The Makarewicz family, Surrey

So, if you are reading this as a previous guest, send us your comments and we will post them here.

Sat Navs
You are still relying on that nice sounding lady who wilfully directs you to the middle of nowhere and then deserts you half a mile from your destination. Sometimes she will try to entice you onto very unsuitable tracks and even across ploughed fields.
We are easy to find if you just use the old and proven techniques of navigation. 

Approach Luccombe from Winterborne Whitechurch which is on the A354, using the signed Milton Abbas road. Our well signed entrance cannot be missed, as it is the only one, and is exactly 1.5 miles along that road on the left hand side. The private lane is surfaced with tarmac. Just keep on going straight ahead for about ¾ mile over several sleeping policemen. You will pass the riding school and then the attractive
Business Centre on your right and a small pond on the left.  Straight on up  the hill, past the grain store and several houses and barns, finally  dropping down into our hidden hamlet of Luccombe and recognising your chosen cottage. It’s that easy. 

News and Views.
The views can be stunning. You can even glimpse the sea from the top of the farm on a good day, and the news always changes:

The hot news here at the moment is Saira Francis.  She is a hollistic healer and living in West Luccombe Cottage,  her  healing room is but a  stones throw from the holiday cottages.  She can't wait to work her magic on you.  There is a link to her website on the home page.  Why not book an appointment before you come and look forward to a little pampering.  Indeed, why not?

The gardens
The orchard is bursting full of apple,  pear and plum blossom. More plum and peach trees, together with a vine have been planted this season. I do try to keep the location of our fig trees a well guarded secret, but our more intrepid guests soon find them. 

Pets Corner
Most of our Dartmoors have finnished lambing.  One is being bottle fed and another was eaten by a fox or, a badger during the night.                 Picnic our Oxford Sandy and Black is the proud mother, once again, of nine naughty baby piglets.
The Dartmoor ewes need two wool cuts a year.  It is unfortunate that they produce so much wool as this has become a profitless, but most
necessary exercise. Without shearing they run the increased risk of fly strike, leading to an agonising and slow death from maggots. They can also get stuck on their backs.  Getting cast, as we call it. They are then at the mercy of rooks and other birds who delight in trying to peck out the eyes. Baby lambs make a special target.

Sending animals to slaughter is always the sad side of animal husbandry. Still, their sausages and chops are already very much appreciated on the barbeque at this time of the year.  The trout in the small lake are rather insipid in all this hot weather.   Meanwhile the Alpacas just look on in their aristocratic way, but rather smaller now that they have been shorn at last.
“About time “ they squealed as the shearer set about his noisy work. It is no wonder that Alpacas are considered ‘life style pets’.

The hens are laying some lovely brown eggs, and  they have been joined by  four guinea fowl, which tend to drop their  eggs all over the place. Well it was four but one insisted in leaping out of their ‘secure’ compound and the fox was waiting…….. We were toying with the idea of letting them hatch some chicks.  Guinea fowl make very good eating. The ducks are very chatty when let out each morning and will come over to greet you in the full expectation of food. So, have those slices of bread ready the moment you arrive!

Events
We hosted a couple of 60th birthday parties in the early Spring as well as a couple of hen
parties. Since then, several extended families have come together here at Luccombe.  The many things that we have to offer must be part of the attraction as well as the peace and quiet of the place. We have just installed Wifi, for the committed workaholics, which will mean that there is no escape for you. Bad luck!

And so onto the credit crunch,………a continuing saga in the UK.   As a nation we love to feel miserable.   It is part of our genetic makeup.

Perhaps now is the time to buck the trend and join us for a holiday here at Luccombe.

With our best regards  and hoping to see you here one day,

Murray and Amanda Kayll.