Apple grafting in February/March a great success! With 185-190 out of 200 having taken very well! Now most are about 3-5ft high ready to be planted in their permanant position later in the autumn

Hedge lay also has done exceptionally well!

Hedge laying approximately 200M producing a good quantity of fire wood!

Hedge laying or pleaching

Traditional practice to promote a thicker and higher hedge which is then footed up (soil from the base of the hedge bank placed on top of the lay)

Winter and settling into the new place, hedge laying and apple tree grafting my priorities this year!

I will post results of grafting success in May.

The Cuckoo’s arrival is a real portent of spring, pictured below Cuckoo Rock (allegedly the first place you’ll hear a cuckoo) I tried this year to visit Cuckoo Rock at least once a week from the beginning of April but no luck!

Cuckoo Rocky

Cuckoo Rock

My first encounter this year was on the 28th of April but I believe they arrived around the 22nd (I was away in France that week)

My first sighting of Swallows on the 11 th  April, about 5 days earlier than last year! pictured below the first pair arriving in my workshop,on the 13 th  they are entertaining to have around with their constant chatter.

Tired and hungry after a long journey!

31st March the last night of my first year!!! Amazing where has it gone? Parked in the wonderful village of Meavy for the next few nights, reflecting on this year it’s flown past even with one of the wettest winters. I’m looking forward to this coming summer with signs of spring already evident, fantastic dawn chorus for the last week and the blackthorn joining other hedgerow flowers.

31st March 2014

M.O. T. Time.. having been given the information by VOSA that the truck would be tested as a class 4 vehicle if presented as a motorcaravan I duly phoned a garage near Launceston called taylors moor view garage, having been advised by a friend they were helpful etc. I asked if they could accommodate a 12ft high vehicle they replied yes.

I arrived at the garage 45mins early and it all went downhill from there!  They looked at the truck and looked at their door and said it might fit? Along came mot time and it wouldn’t fit…… Then a suggestion that I could let tires down it might fit, this took me 25 minutes (without any assistance from helpful garage staff) it still wouldn’t fit, out came their tape measure the doorway was 11ft 9inches. No apologies were offered and with no assistance from helpful staff I re-inflated the tires from the trucks own compressor this took a further 25 minutes.

So back to the drawing board……

Plymouth City bus. Was suggested by another source,  so I phoned and booked an mot  for the following week.

What a helpful company and a pleasant experience, offered a coffee when I arrived and friendly staff who knew their job, an hour later a year’s class 4 mot was issued and I drove back a happy man.

Probably the worst wet winter in the south west for many years so I’ve been uninspired for blogging but now with the middle of February I’ve suddenly realised in six weeks time I’ll have completed my first year of this new life! And I am staying warm and dry.

The truck is going for a class 4 m.o.t. on Monday as I’ve just been told by vosa that a vehicle is tested as it is presented at the test station so if presented as a motor caravan that is how it will be tested (this is after a battle with dvla who won’t classify the truck as a motor caravan on the basis that it doesn’t look different to originally manufactured? So will categorise it as body type”special purpose”)

_assuming it passes then that will make life and insurance easier and cheaper.

Happy Christmas and New year to all.

Now nearly 9 months of living in the lorry and life’s good! it’s proving very easy to stay warm and dry even in this inclement weather. Ruby pictured below sporting a new winter coat (Nuno felted wool felt) courtesy of The Wet Felting company www.thewetfeltingcompany.co.uk

Rudy’s new coat