Joe's domain

This is where Joe is going to live for a year!

The First Minister of Wales

Today we had a visit from the 1st Minister of Wales. He's a top chap and made everyone feel very at ease.

Up the wheel!

For 2 reason that is beyond me. We've decided to in on the big wheel at Weston. The concept is great, the only problem is the view. You can see weston.

Breakfast like it should be.

Claridges serve a fab breakfast!

Duckenham Palace

This weekend i made a new ducks house. I wasn't allowed to buy anything so this was made out of things I had around the place.

The latest fleet of ducks.

Taken from a right old council slum of a place, these foul are now living in duxury in their new home.

Hello you Salty Old Seamen.

The calm before the storm. The Vista and Retail Assist crew pose before a memorable trip across the oceans. For some, it was more memorable than others.

Outdoor Toilet in Cephalonia

Jane decides that waiting until she returns to civilisation for a pooh isn't going to happen.

Holiday with Lights

These are the beautiful Cottrell Girls whilst on tour this month

It holiday time

We're at the airport and F is sitting in the special needs area.

The perfect set up.

One day before our summer trip and the UK turns on the holiday spirit. Sun, fresh cut grass and a guitar. Perfect. As we're away from tomorrow I hope it pours down on you 'staycationers'

You don't need toe know why this picture is here.

What a beautiful lamb

Feast your eyes on this beautiful Jacobs Lamb. On Tuesday it will be in the freezer. Yummy!

The Pond

The Pond is looking very good at the moment. Soon it will be time to get more ducks.

The Summer House Finally Gets Painted.

At last I've painted the Summer House. i'm not sure i like it but we'll see how it mellows

Birthday Cake Time

The girls made louise a birthday cake and its very pink!

Evening visitors

I've just snapped this hedgepig wandering across the lawn. I haven't seen a hedgepig since I met his flatmate a few years ago.

Lunch?

The Cottrell's in their natural environment.

A view from the new bridge.

The back of Cottrell Towers as seen from the new bridge.

Early morning departure

It's time for us to start our international travel plans. Who knows what the future may hold. New horizons, different cultures, danger and even tropical fever lie ahead as we embark on the world famous Red Funnel Ferry to the Isle of Wight..

F gives herself an icecream headache

During a brief lull in shopping F samples a Razzman Smoothie. Its V cold.

New Ducks

Following a recent Ducktastrophe when we found Crispy floating upside down in the pond. We have added two more ducks to the fleet. This is one of them.

All that effort was worth it.

The summer house is now full of guitars and music. In the sunshine, once you've added Champagne, its a paradise

Looking at the Estate

This is the view from inside the new summer house. The Estate looks content with itself.

The team on tour

All the Cottrell's on the snow. It's a tough old life when you have to slide off to the mountains while your mates are at school!

More little lambs

All the lambs have now been born. Little Stripy has stopped being bottle fed and is happy drinking Mums milk. They're all very friendly and are happy being picked up and hugged. That will make them very easy to catch when its time to kill and eat them.

Call this education.

We went to see the university that Joe wants to go to. This is the view we had at lunchtime. I fear that little educating will occur during his 4 years in Portsmouth

Another lamb at PTC

Joe claims that we're the worst shepherds in the world but it didn't stop us assisting with the delivery of our latest lamb. When I say we helped, we're actually went out to feed them and there it was. Eat your heart out Mr Herriott

Very Little House on the Prairie.

Now we've added a front porch I'm thinking of getting a rocking chair and a banjo and a gimp mask. Get off my land.

It just gets better and better.

We're heading for the final stages. Just the front step and the skirt and then its time to sit and drink beer in it!

Say hello to Spotty.

I know its a rubbish name but Louise was having a bit of a panic following her James Herriott moment.

The first pure Pear Tree Farm Jacob Lamb.

The newly qualified vet and midwife, Mrs C. Successfully delivered the 1st lamb that we've bred at home. I would have help but was 800 miles away at the top of a mountain.

Lost in Translation.

A cheeky little local wine?

The hills make you mad.

This is a 7 year old who's family don't like him. Rather than encourage him to do well at school or learn a trade. They throw him off of a mountain to teach him a lesson.

Life is tough on the mountain.

Madz finds the excitement way too much and spends sometime having a bit of a sleep on top of a hill.

He's old but he's bold.

The kids can fly and slide but Cottrell's still the only one who attempts and lands a 180!

Madz flys even higher.

The girl is getting high and flying far.

Big air F hits the deck.

Despite constant effort it doesn't always happen.

Big snow Joe lands a method.

The snow park tempted the boy to go for some trick air.

F takes off.

The other princess of the mountains also learns to fly.

Madz gets air.

The princess of the snow lands a big air jump.

Sean White.

What follows is a series of videos from our snow tour. Whilst not quite ready for a sponsorship deal, we thought we did well.

Steak Tartar for a very sofistercated F

Kill and cook it. As Courcheval is so expensive, F could only take one of those options. She chose to take the kill option. This is her Steak Tartar, she was a very grown up and eveyone else thought that she was a modern independant lady. We thought she was mad!!

Cottrell looking fab on his hols

Nuff Said.

Poppy B is waiting to spill chocolate on her coat

Pops does have previous for failing to get her food and drink in to her mouth. This years she's been better but did have both porridge and chocolate on her face today.

Stereo Type?

Our 70's night is looking like it's going to be a good one. More pictures later but Joe seems to have pushed the boat out. Anyone seen my pimp?

The three amigos

Day one and the boarding gods have smiled on us. It's jolly sunny shiney and we're all up for a great day out.

Some people have to much time on their hands

This is an advert that has been carved out of the snow by some inventive French people. It must have taken them ages. The edges are very straight.

Paris in the Fall (well winter actuall)

This is us driving around Paris. It snowed all the way through France. This bodes well for our tour

Madz Start Her Tour

Maddy does like a small red wine. She'll find herself testing a variety of tastes and temperatures over the next few days.

Its coming along.

This is the latest pic of the summer house. Its not actually rushing to completion but its heading that way. Worryingly its starting to look like a sauna I once visited.

Wow what a ceiling

I've done a fab job on this ceiling. It a hex cut wooden masterpiece. I just need the centre piece finished. I'm hoping that a bloke I heard of in Italy will give me a hand. He was a painter and decorator who specialsed in ceilings he was called Michael something or other.

Snow Duck

The very talented Mrs Cottrell crafted this stunning Snow Duck from the very snow from which it took its named.

Somerset in the Snow.

This is picturesque Somerset. Covered in a soft white blanket of snow. All is quiet and peaceful. Unlike the usual flooded muddy puddle that surrounds Cottrell towers.

Its Snowing!

As the mature adults that everyone claims to be in this house. At the 1st sign of snow we all revert to children!

Madz Birthday Cake.

Despite being 17, Madz still wanted to have a pirate ship as a Birthday Cake. As usual my skilled wife produced a fab replica of the Black Pig.

Garvey punches above his weight.

The shockingly gorgeous future Mrs Garvey. Certainly not the hippocrocapig I assumed would accompany him everywhere! He's a very lucky boy.

Mini Cooper

The latest addition to the Cottrell fleet. Maddy Rosie's car. She is a very spoilt girl!

Bloging the Blogers

Jon and Nad's are studying the now famous Cottrell blog.