The Kent Adventure has begun! Yes, on Saturday 4th August I moved down here to just outside the town of Tenterden. I have moved here for my placement (told you I got one!!) which is working as an Education Assistant for the charity I am working at. They provide residential trips for children from the borough of Hackney, as part of their primary school (mainly) teaching.
It's a fabulous place, a 250 year old Georgian Mansion, set in 3 acres. I live in the old Coach House, which is on the site and a considerable part of the land is taken up by 2 huge raised beds, a poly tunnel and a giant fruit cage, which means that in terms of fruit and veg, the site is totally self-sufficient. We also have 11 hens and a cockerel that live at the back of my house, which provide a steady supply of eggs. As I am now responsible for the chickens on a day to day basis, I am allowed to help myself to said eggs, which is rather brilliant. I am also able to take produce from the garden, although a lot of my meals are included as technically I am a volunteer.
The House: Well, where can I start apart from it's gorgeous!!! Massive kitchen/ diner, living room and a cloackroom downstairs. I have a woodburner in the living room that is brand new, and my bedroom happens to be above this which is excellent. There are 2 double rooms, 2 single rooms and a bathroom upstairs. The house is older than the main house, possibly dating right back to Tudor times, as before the current main house, there was a Tudor mansion on the same site. It is full of beams, the kitchen is a proper country kitchen and I just love it. It's got all the old windows and all the doors are wooden with old latches on them rather than handles. It's also a traditional style Kentish house with the tile hanging over most of it.
My job is very varied and as well as helping with the teaching/ leading of various activities, I get to help in the garden and have been handed responsibility of the Tuck shop (sweets each day after lunch, although limited to one pack a day) and Gift Shop (set up on the last day selling various souvenirs) this includes running the books for the two ventures which helps to pay for it's stock and other sideline things such as the wild bird seed (oh, the feeders are my responsibility too) and chicken feed.
I've really enjoyed my first week and everyone is so friendly, over the summer the majority of groups are self-catered using the place to do their own thing rather than the taught groups, but this week we have a small group from Young Hackney, so it's a good opportunity for me to ease into the taught routine.
Today we greeted them all as they arrived, showed them to their rooms and then after lunch went on a 3 hour country walk. The weather was absolutely fantastic (although that made it thirsty work) and we all had a great time. Straight afterwards I went off to do something fabby (although I'm going to ache like billio in the morning...).
Guys, I have a horse!!!!! Well, the lady that lives in the nearest house to us (just down the track) has a horse and I'm riding her for her. Next Door actually have 3 horses, the big mare Venus who is 17.2hh (HUGE for those of you that don't work in 'hands high') and two small ponies for their children. Talking of their children I'm also going to be starting to teach ND's Eldest Child as in her words 'Mummy is a boring teacher', on one of the ponies.
I've ridden Venus twice so far and she's a delight, she's had all the basics taught to her but she definitely needs work on bringing those on and Next Door are glad to have someone who can do that regularly! They have a bit of a hectic life with 3 children under 8, one of which has disabilities which require a lot of time, therefore Venus' work wasn't that regular before. I'm very, very excited to have this opportunity practically on my doorstep and I can't wait to look back at the end of this year and see how she's come on. I'm also very lucky to have one of my old instructors from back at home currently living just over half an hour away in Kent, who has said that the opportunity for riding at her yard, or her coming down to teach me on Venus would be something to consider, which I definitely will.
Fantastic next few days planned, tomorrow the Rochester Gang (a mother and daughter whom I know from the Battle Re-enactment) are coming round in the evening for dinner (which we are picking from the garden) and a good catch up. Looking forward to the various antics that will inevitably happen with the two of them this coming year. Have said I will show them the chickens (not the mother, major phobia)/horses/bats etc to them too. Then, on Friday the Boyf is coming for the weekend and will be coming to see me ride Venus on Friday afternoon as well as helping me as I teach ND's Eldest Child on her pony before having an evening in. We're then spending Saturday day tripping up to London and probably be stereotypical tourists although this is the Boyf's treat to me and he supposedly 'has a plan', we shall see. Sunday is going to be spent relaxing and recovering from a busy week and weekend.
I feel that after the walking/riding combo (new Olympic sport, anyone?) it is time to go to bed.
Take care, one and all!
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