Okay, well I've had a few calls and yes I should explain. It involves a Second World War "Spitfire", having a pilots licence and this beautiful poem; Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth, And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings; Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth Of sun-split clouds, --and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of --Wheeled and soared and swung High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung My eager craft through footless halls of air... Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace Where never lark or even eagle flew -- And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod The high untrespassed sanctity of space, Put out my hand, and touched the face of God. The problem now is; what is "exciting" exactly, when you've spilt it all, all over the garden of England and feel like you met the man? mmmm..... Yep ok, Monday is going to be fun too. Even a close second. But opening night? well... thats going to be a real challange for first place 😉

Work is progressing well on the back. Should be fully restored and ready for exposing the structural Oak on the top half once more, in its original "Tudor" form, in a few weeks time. We are off to a reclaimed Oak yard 90 miles away. They have weathered, 400 year old Oak, waiting for us to buy, clean and use for repairs. I don't do "excited", (I forgot what that feeling was like when I was about 25🤔. Well.... except for one incredible hour at Duxford that I carry with me and will never forget for the rest of my life, but that's another story)....However,.... I have to say,.... I am feeling a slight twinge of something whilst working on this part and, its growing daily!. I can't wait for Monday morning. Who'd have thought that would ever happen? We love this building and.... it is loving us back!

Okay then. So what’s happening this week? We are making love to the only face part of this enormous building that we have never touched. The most special part, that deserves the very best effort; The upper part of the c1650 “half flint and Oak timber” cottage itself! We are starting with this! today. Watch this space. This picture is what we will start with.

WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG? is a fair question we can only imagine, (because we are seldom asked directly). So, we offer here, a fair response to that most welcome interest; Because we are not creating a "pop up shop". We are saving and preserving a part of Margates history and a local icon. The following is one small example of one small componant item and, one huge team effort to get it right! It took a restful night at Heaver Castle to realise what must be done next for this tired c1650 cottages' windows, long since pummelled to death by our local, wanting, cherubs. At reception the following morning I was met with the most polite and gracious question; " is there anything else we can do for you?" They didn't expect the oddest follow up; "Yes there is actually, I spent the night studying your windows and I must say I am very impressed. They are beautiful. Can you give me the phone number of whoever restores them for you please?" Three puzzled staff and two coffees later, there it was! a number on a with compliments slip. Who'd have thought it? So, that evening, we went for it.... The old timer, restorer and maintainer of Hever Castles' windows answers the other end and happily shared his secrets and told us how we should do it and, make them so he doesn't have to fix them in another 400 years! "don't use wrought Iron or steel. That would be your mistake, use solid brass only, then.... rub the ageing lotion on (acid). They will go from gold to a Wrought Iron look instantly and never corrode. So... The Order of events were; 1) Build the reclaimed Oak window frames. Done 2) Measure window openings to the millimeter. Done 3) Purchase ONE very rare Tudor window opener on ebay. Done 4) Contact one of the nicest guys on earth; "Clive" at "Blaze Signs" and see if his Laser can cut 4mm brass sheet for the fancy linnen latticework like handles, 10 times. Done. 5) Contact another of the nicest men on earth; "Paul" TVs' famous "Rag and Bone Man" of Margate, who can make anything! out of anything! and, with a quality that makes my OCD for perfectionism weep! with amateur inability. Can he put the bits together and make the hinges? The metal keeps breaking heat bending the rings? we changed the chemical composition of the brass rod until it can take the radius bend necessary. Pure professional genius!.... Job done. 6) Now we have guaranteed sizes for finished brass frames; So....Yep! another nicest man on earth steps in; "Kevin" from "Ramsgate Glass". Can he make original, lead light window panes for each and every window in the Old Cottage but, only using antique glass with all its imperfections?.... Done The pictures above represents the result of the hard work and mental trauma of 8 proffesionals with big souls, all playing their part, by trying to keep to our specifications, dreams and objectives. They all shared the frustrations and irritations in just just this one item, but my God, take a look. They can't be thanked enough. So who's fixing the glass and installing them then? Hello?..... That'll be back to me then. "Time" is nothing, when you only need do it once, properly. A bit like life really, when your an old git like me anyway. I've had crap before, in many forms, up to my armpits. I don't suffer it any more. Thanks to like minded people that understand the line, below which, thow must not go! Thank you guys so very much for this extraordinary effort.

OMG!

Views do not get any better than this - Taken from our top floor luxury apartment - available to book from 2019! #margate #friday #theoldcottagepub #seasidegetaway

Dendrochronology! There, I said it. So how old is the Old cottage? How old was the tree when it was felled and used here as a main structural beam? What was the weather like that year? The answers are in that word. "Dendrochronology". A doctor of it has just left us today, having taken loads of core samples at our request. He has drilled into our Oak bits, until he had enough core samples to compare the ring formations with other samples, that I can only describe as like "DNA records for wood" That go back some 2,000 years! So why should we guess? OMG! In 6 to 8 weeks time, the annalists he says will be complete and we will have that Scientists report. And what does this privilege cost? Who cares. The answer from this investigation is bound to trump all other discoveries here I'm sure. Its' going to be worth every penny. Standby for this amazing buildings latest reveal. Its' Birthday!!!.