Hi,
Due to a cancellation we have two weeks in July available @ Rosia Cottage!
Saturday 7th July and Saturday 14th July are once again available.....so get in quick if you would like to book the two weeks (or just one week if you prefer).
There are still two weeks free in August too, Saturday 11th August and Saturday 18th August.
Why not treat yourself to a couple of weeks holiday in Sunny Cornwall? It's the only dates left in the school holidays, so be quick!
Kathryn
xxx
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
New website up and running!
Since 2007 I have had a "home made" website for Rosia Cottage Holidays, which was a freebie from Microsoft Office Small Business - even the hosting was free!
Well, Microsoft have decided they will be doing away with their free service - which I have very much appreciated over the years, so thank you Microsoft!
The question was, do I find another freebie or pay for a nicer website. Tidyware UK Ltd seemed the better option as they have been the designers and hosts for our other website,
Trewhellows Gift Shop using their TidyV4 e-commerce design with shopping cart facility.
David Wyatt is the owner and I can honestly say he is just fantastic. I am always coming up with the "senior moment" type questions - which he takes all in his stride and answers with his usual humour and smiles. Thank you David!
So, I am proud to announce the launch of our new website: Rosia Cottage Holidays and I have even put new photos on! (OK, David Bailey I am not, but I tried! :D )
Hope you like the new website!
Kathryn
Well, Microsoft have decided they will be doing away with their free service - which I have very much appreciated over the years, so thank you Microsoft!
The question was, do I find another freebie or pay for a nicer website. Tidyware UK Ltd seemed the better option as they have been the designers and hosts for our other website,
Trewhellows Gift Shop using their TidyV4 e-commerce design with shopping cart facility.
David Wyatt is the owner and I can honestly say he is just fantastic. I am always coming up with the "senior moment" type questions - which he takes all in his stride and answers with his usual humour and smiles. Thank you David!
So, I am proud to announce the launch of our new website: Rosia Cottage Holidays and I have even put new photos on! (OK, David Bailey I am not, but I tried! :D )
Hope you like the new website!
Kathryn
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Special Offer @ Trewhellows Gift Shop
Today until 31st January, we are offering 10% discount on any orders £20.00 and over
@ Trewhellows Gift Shop
Enter the discount code: Twitter2601 at checkout.
Happy shopping!
@ Trewhellows Gift Shop
Enter the discount code: Twitter2601 at checkout.
Happy shopping!
Thursday, 12 January 2012
and three years on......
Goodness me, it's three years since I last blogged.
So, what has changed in my life in the last 3 years? Well, the thing that is top of the list for me is the fact that my Mum died 9 months ago.
Poor Mum, we did have a giggle at times though. :D and I miss her.
My 'children' - I notice in my profile I refer to as 'teenagers' .....well, update! My eldest is now 22, my middle one is 21 and my 'baby' will be 18 in just over three weeks time!
The eldest has left college (he said it was boring) and now attends a local day centre for people with disabilities. He loves it there and I should shout out loud, the centre is called Choice! When they have a website up and running, I will put a link on here - they are fantastic and their priority is their clients and NOT profit.
My middle 'child' is now in his third and final year taking a BSc in Chemistry. He is probably going to go on to take a Phd after this year.......but watch this space.
My 'baby' is now attending Truro College and taking her A level's (sitting an exam as I type).
Clive and I gave up the Travel Broker business (known as Richardson's Travel Deals) last year. I really enjoyed finding good deal holidays for my clients, but the firm we were brokers for Dove Travel Brokerage ceased trading. They passed on the booking centre to a new place, but they decided to call it a day, so we didn't have a lot of choice. In a way, although I enjoyed it, it didn't bring in enough money to feed the family and my time is much better spent dealing with the two other businesses i.e. Trewhellows Gift Shop - www.trewhellowsgiftshop.co.uk (our on-line gift shop) and also our holiday cottage let, www.rosiacottageholidays.co.uk
Last year was a good year for the holiday let and I am hoping that this year will be equally as good - the bookings are starting to roll in, so fingers crossed ;-)
Well, I'm expecting the Gas Man to come and check over the boiler, radiators, fire and hob in Rosia Cottage, so I will leave this as a short blog for now. Hopefully I won't leave it another three years before I come back and blog again.
Bye for now,
Kathryn
So, what has changed in my life in the last 3 years? Well, the thing that is top of the list for me is the fact that my Mum died 9 months ago.
Poor Mum, we did have a giggle at times though. :D and I miss her.
My 'children' - I notice in my profile I refer to as 'teenagers' .....well, update! My eldest is now 22, my middle one is 21 and my 'baby' will be 18 in just over three weeks time!
The eldest has left college (he said it was boring) and now attends a local day centre for people with disabilities. He loves it there and I should shout out loud, the centre is called Choice! When they have a website up and running, I will put a link on here - they are fantastic and their priority is their clients and NOT profit.
My middle 'child' is now in his third and final year taking a BSc in Chemistry. He is probably going to go on to take a Phd after this year.......but watch this space.
My 'baby' is now attending Truro College and taking her A level's (sitting an exam as I type).
Clive and I gave up the Travel Broker business (known as Richardson's Travel Deals) last year. I really enjoyed finding good deal holidays for my clients, but the firm we were brokers for Dove Travel Brokerage ceased trading. They passed on the booking centre to a new place, but they decided to call it a day, so we didn't have a lot of choice. In a way, although I enjoyed it, it didn't bring in enough money to feed the family and my time is much better spent dealing with the two other businesses i.e. Trewhellows Gift Shop - www.trewhellowsgiftshop.co.uk (our on-line gift shop) and also our holiday cottage let, www.rosiacottageholidays.co.uk
Last year was a good year for the holiday let and I am hoping that this year will be equally as good - the bookings are starting to roll in, so fingers crossed ;-)
Well, I'm expecting the Gas Man to come and check over the boiler, radiators, fire and hob in Rosia Cottage, so I will leave this as a short blog for now. Hopefully I won't leave it another three years before I come back and blog again.
Bye for now,
Kathryn
Friday, 19 June 2009
Social Services in Cornwall
Trials and tribulations of dealing with Social Services!
Hi everyone,
Yet another long time since my last blog, but hope my readers are all well.
I have been busy trying to sort out care for my 20 year old son, who has Down's syndrome.
If you have, or know somebody who has a child (or adult) with a learning disability and leaving school/college/day centre soon - start your battle now!
Everybody is saying that disabled people have a right to live in the community and enjoy everything else that we all take for granted. Day centres are closing down and people are being given Direct Payments and Independent Living Fund to "buy" their own care, to enable them to do such things.
In principle that is fine - but my god, what a battle to get the funds! To get the Social Worker in the first place was one hell of a battle in our case. According to the Care Manager in our area, my son was not entitled to a Social Worker as he did not need one. Oh yeah? I don't think so "Matey" as you can't get the funding without a Social Worker!
To cut a very very long story short, 18 months before my son left the local Special School, following his annual review the school wrote to Social Services to get "things" put in place before he was to leave. Since then, my son left school and has just completed his SECOND year at College and we are only now getting things in place for him - that's just to give you an idea of the time scale I have been fighting this battle!!!
In January 2008 I had to take the steps of advising Social Services I was going to go to the Local Government Ombudsman, due to the fact we had to fight to get a Social Worker ............ that was followed by a week of Social Services bending over backwards to try and help me. How sad is that, why not just help in the first place!
On the 22nd January 2008, we had a meeting with the person in charge at Social Services and wo and behold, at the meeting we were introduced to our Social Worker. We decided not to take the case to the Ombudsman as we felt we were now getting somewhere.
Here I am today, 19th June 2009 and had a phone call today to advise me that the Direct Payments funding would be in the account next week - AT LAST!
All this time, with lies and excuses from admin staff in various departments who take us all for fools!
I would just like to mention here that the Social Worker assigned to my Son has been absolutely fantastic! So too have the people coming face to face with my son and getting together the care plans etc. I won't give their full names to protect their privacy, but Jo, Chris, Sue and Kate you are worth your weight in gold - too many bloody chiefs and not enough indians at Social Services is the problem.
My son will now be able to enjoy going out into the community (without his boring parents taking him) and enjoy a social life!
If you do know of a person who will be affected by the closure of Day Centres or leaving school soon, please tell their parent/guardian/carer NOT to be fobbed off at the first hurdle - fight, fight and keeping fighting for their childs rights. If not, there will be nothing in the community for them and they will just vegetate at home in front of the t.v.!
Sorry to bore you with the problems I have had (believe me, that is just a short abbreviation - if you only knew the rest!) but I feel people need to know.
Take care until my next blog!
Kathryn
x
Hi everyone,
Yet another long time since my last blog, but hope my readers are all well.
I have been busy trying to sort out care for my 20 year old son, who has Down's syndrome.
If you have, or know somebody who has a child (or adult) with a learning disability and leaving school/college/day centre soon - start your battle now!
Everybody is saying that disabled people have a right to live in the community and enjoy everything else that we all take for granted. Day centres are closing down and people are being given Direct Payments and Independent Living Fund to "buy" their own care, to enable them to do such things.
In principle that is fine - but my god, what a battle to get the funds! To get the Social Worker in the first place was one hell of a battle in our case. According to the Care Manager in our area, my son was not entitled to a Social Worker as he did not need one. Oh yeah? I don't think so "Matey" as you can't get the funding without a Social Worker!
To cut a very very long story short, 18 months before my son left the local Special School, following his annual review the school wrote to Social Services to get "things" put in place before he was to leave. Since then, my son left school and has just completed his SECOND year at College and we are only now getting things in place for him - that's just to give you an idea of the time scale I have been fighting this battle!!!
In January 2008 I had to take the steps of advising Social Services I was going to go to the Local Government Ombudsman, due to the fact we had to fight to get a Social Worker ............ that was followed by a week of Social Services bending over backwards to try and help me. How sad is that, why not just help in the first place!
On the 22nd January 2008, we had a meeting with the person in charge at Social Services and wo and behold, at the meeting we were introduced to our Social Worker. We decided not to take the case to the Ombudsman as we felt we were now getting somewhere.
Here I am today, 19th June 2009 and had a phone call today to advise me that the Direct Payments funding would be in the account next week - AT LAST!
All this time, with lies and excuses from admin staff in various departments who take us all for fools!
I would just like to mention here that the Social Worker assigned to my Son has been absolutely fantastic! So too have the people coming face to face with my son and getting together the care plans etc. I won't give their full names to protect their privacy, but Jo, Chris, Sue and Kate you are worth your weight in gold - too many bloody chiefs and not enough indians at Social Services is the problem.
My son will now be able to enjoy going out into the community (without his boring parents taking him) and enjoy a social life!
If you do know of a person who will be affected by the closure of Day Centres or leaving school soon, please tell their parent/guardian/carer NOT to be fobbed off at the first hurdle - fight, fight and keeping fighting for their childs rights. If not, there will be nothing in the community for them and they will just vegetate at home in front of the t.v.!
Sorry to bore you with the problems I have had (believe me, that is just a short abbreviation - if you only knew the rest!) but I feel people need to know.
Take care until my next blog!
Kathryn
x
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
It's been so long....
Hi Everyone,
Gosh, it has been quite a while since I updated my blog!
Well, since I last wrote I have made a major purchase (for me anyway). I got fed up pressing all of the linen for our holiday let at Rosia Cottage as it took about two to three days to get it all washed, dried and pressed. So, I have invested in a steam roller press and it is worth it's weight in gold! Yesterday I cleaned the cottage, washed all of the linen and had it dried and pressed by 5 p.m. - Time is money as they say, so instead of finishing the laundry today/tomorrow, I can now list new items on our website Trewhellows Gift Shop (provided they are delivered today!).
So much time on my hands, so why have I not been blogging more?
Chickens! Eggs and even more eggs, that's why!!
The last time I twittered, I said that the hen house had arrived - flat packed and ready to build.
Well, I had the hen house as a birthday present (my request!) It was bought on e-bay - good place to buy.
Clive and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary in the usual romantic style - we bought 12 young chickens on the 31st March - ok, not romantic but far more practical than 12 red roses and they will last much longer (provided Mr Foxy does not decide to eat them). They were 17 weeks old when we got them and they started to lay exactly two weeks after.
We had our first egg on 14th April. Since then, we averaged about 10 eggs a day - until this week that is! Now they are laying around 12 eggs per day.
What to do with so many eggs! Because the hens are running around the field eating worms and fed corn, the eggs are well and truly FREE RANGE! Delicious, almost orange yolks - so we have no problem selling them! But I don't sell them all - believe it or not, I have been baking!
I am getting quite domesticated in my old age - all this pressing laundry and baking my own bread, cakes and desserts. What ever next? Dusting and vacuuming maybe??? (No, don't think so ;-0 ).
Poor Clive in all this excitement has been rushed off his feet - repairing the chicken shed every 5 minutes. Just don't mention the word GOATS to him.
Last night was a bit like a scene from Fawlty Towers - Basil would have been proud of Clive!
Probably best I start at the beginning. The chickens are kept in the same field as the goats (mistake number one!). As they seem to be rather partial to chewing a bit of wood, the first thing we did when the chicken shed was assembled, was to give it a good coating of creosote.
Once this was finished we thought it safe enough to eat our tea. How wrong could we have been!
Next thing to do - cover the outside of the shed with wire fencing - that will keep their little gnashers away from the wood (what was left of it!). Ha! That bit worked!
Once the chickens had settled, we wanted them to roam the field - but how do we keep the door open and keep the goats out? - Erect yet another little bit of fencing with a hole in, of course.
Initially we tied it up with string - hmm, who ever thought that a goat would leave that alone?
No sooner we had put it up and left them alone - Twix, Twirl and Polo ate the string and got in the hen run.
Wire was the next solution. Well, that lasted a bit longer, but it didn't take the goats too long to work out how to break that down too.
Last week they managed to get in and tried to walk up the ramp - sorry goats, it was designed to take the weight of chickens not goats, so it broke into pieces. Clive was not too impressed at having to repair it - especially when they got in for the 2nd time that day and broke it again.
For obvious reasons, I can't write down the words that he used - but I will leave it to your imaginations the *blue* words used!
Well, to get to the point - Clive *Basil Fawlty* Richardson was not a happy man yesterday! He had spent quite a lot of the day repairing little bits - like the door to the house etc. After tea he decided to go up and clean then house out, but he was not gone long before he came marching back............."advertise those *******goats! They have got to *****go!"
I don't think I need to tell you really - but they had broken down the fence again - according to Clive, they had totally wrecked the hen house this time. *arms flapping, pacing up and down*.
Unfortunately for Clive - the word *sympathy* is not part of my vocabulary and it was all I could do to contain myself - until that is, Clive said in a stroppy voice "DON'T LAUGH AT ME" - well, that did it! I had to walk away as I could only giggle and make the matter far worse!
Well, I think I have probably bored you long enough, so will say goodbye for now...........
Kathryn
x
Gosh, it has been quite a while since I updated my blog!
Well, since I last wrote I have made a major purchase (for me anyway). I got fed up pressing all of the linen for our holiday let at Rosia Cottage as it took about two to three days to get it all washed, dried and pressed. So, I have invested in a steam roller press and it is worth it's weight in gold! Yesterday I cleaned the cottage, washed all of the linen and had it dried and pressed by 5 p.m. - Time is money as they say, so instead of finishing the laundry today/tomorrow, I can now list new items on our website Trewhellows Gift Shop (provided they are delivered today!).
So much time on my hands, so why have I not been blogging more?
Chickens! Eggs and even more eggs, that's why!!
The last time I twittered, I said that the hen house had arrived - flat packed and ready to build.
Well, I had the hen house as a birthday present (my request!) It was bought on e-bay - good place to buy.
Clive and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary in the usual romantic style - we bought 12 young chickens on the 31st March - ok, not romantic but far more practical than 12 red roses and they will last much longer (provided Mr Foxy does not decide to eat them). They were 17 weeks old when we got them and they started to lay exactly two weeks after.
We had our first egg on 14th April. Since then, we averaged about 10 eggs a day - until this week that is! Now they are laying around 12 eggs per day.
What to do with so many eggs! Because the hens are running around the field eating worms and fed corn, the eggs are well and truly FREE RANGE! Delicious, almost orange yolks - so we have no problem selling them! But I don't sell them all - believe it or not, I have been baking!
I am getting quite domesticated in my old age - all this pressing laundry and baking my own bread, cakes and desserts. What ever next? Dusting and vacuuming maybe??? (No, don't think so ;-0 ).
Poor Clive in all this excitement has been rushed off his feet - repairing the chicken shed every 5 minutes. Just don't mention the word GOATS to him.
Last night was a bit like a scene from Fawlty Towers - Basil would have been proud of Clive!
Probably best I start at the beginning. The chickens are kept in the same field as the goats (mistake number one!). As they seem to be rather partial to chewing a bit of wood, the first thing we did when the chicken shed was assembled, was to give it a good coating of creosote.
Once this was finished we thought it safe enough to eat our tea. How wrong could we have been!
Next thing to do - cover the outside of the shed with wire fencing - that will keep their little gnashers away from the wood (what was left of it!). Ha! That bit worked!
Once the chickens had settled, we wanted them to roam the field - but how do we keep the door open and keep the goats out? - Erect yet another little bit of fencing with a hole in, of course.
Initially we tied it up with string - hmm, who ever thought that a goat would leave that alone?
No sooner we had put it up and left them alone - Twix, Twirl and Polo ate the string and got in the hen run.
Wire was the next solution. Well, that lasted a bit longer, but it didn't take the goats too long to work out how to break that down too.
Last week they managed to get in and tried to walk up the ramp - sorry goats, it was designed to take the weight of chickens not goats, so it broke into pieces. Clive was not too impressed at having to repair it - especially when they got in for the 2nd time that day and broke it again.
For obvious reasons, I can't write down the words that he used - but I will leave it to your imaginations the *blue* words used!
Well, to get to the point - Clive *Basil Fawlty* Richardson was not a happy man yesterday! He had spent quite a lot of the day repairing little bits - like the door to the house etc. After tea he decided to go up and clean then house out, but he was not gone long before he came marching back............."advertise those *******goats! They have got to *****go!"
I don't think I need to tell you really - but they had broken down the fence again - according to Clive, they had totally wrecked the hen house this time. *arms flapping, pacing up and down*.
Unfortunately for Clive - the word *sympathy* is not part of my vocabulary and it was all I could do to contain myself - until that is, Clive said in a stroppy voice "DON'T LAUGH AT ME" - well, that did it! I had to walk away as I could only giggle and make the matter far worse!
Well, I think I have probably bored you long enough, so will say goodbye for now...........
Kathryn
x
Friday, 6 March 2009
Internet Access now available at Rosia Cottage...at last!
At last we have internet access at Rosia Cottage Holidays!
We have strived to make sure Rosia Cottage has absolutley everything you will need for a luxury self catering holiday in Cornwall.
The furniture, decor, surroundings even down to a fully equipped kitchen (I mean fully, there is even a rolling pin and pastry cutters in case you fancy baking while on holiday) have all been given considerate thought.
As the cottage was gutted and totally refurbished in 2007, we had a clean slate to start with. Everything had to be bought, so we imagined we were going to live there and went from there. That way we could make sure it would be the best place to go on holiday.
Have you ever been on a self catering holiday and the accommodation was basic? Uncomfortable beds, cheap bedding and towels.........hard three piece suite.........everything fitted out as cheaply as possible as it was "just a holiday let".
We have! We also didn't want our guests to feel the same, after all you have paid good hard earned money to buy your holiday, so why should it not be like a "home from home"?
To start with the beds - they all have memory foam mattress to ensure a good nights sleep. The bedding is also good quality Egyptian Cotton.
To the bathroom - a whirlpool bath! But if you prefer showers, there is a separate shower room.
Both have a w.c. and hand basin. The towels? Good quality, heavy, thick sumptuous cotton!
Talking of towels, the majority of holiday lets that do provide the linen always state NOT beach towels. When you have a family of 5 or 6, the beach towels take up the majority of a suit case.
so we DO provide beach towels - even the buckets, spades and windbreak!
I could go on and on about the cottage, after all I do love it there myself. But, the only thing I felt was missing was Internet Access, so we have resolved that by buying a Vodafone USB Dongle. We do charge a fee of £30, but it is refundable upon return of the Dongle before you leave. The Dongle is a Pay As You Go, so you would have to top it up before use and Vodafone charge £15 for 1GB use. Oh, you would also have to bring your own Laptop/Netbook.
The only thing we could not change about the Cottage was it's location - I'm afraid we are not on the beach, but just outside the town of Camborne. This however has got it's big advantages as if you stayed in one of the seaside towns, the traffice in and out during the summer months can be a nightmare - being in Camborne you are conveniently situated to visit any part of Cornwall. We are also situated in a quite area as there are just four properities in the immediate area, so if you want to relax in the garden you will not be overlooked by a person - only our three Pygmy Goats!
We still have plenty of availability, so why not book your holiday now? It has been said that we are in for a very hot summer this year, so why not take your vacation in Cornwall!
Check our website www.rosiacottageholidays.co.uk for up to date availability or phone Kathryn on 01209 711012.
Thanks for reading folks!
Kathryn
We have strived to make sure Rosia Cottage has absolutley everything you will need for a luxury self catering holiday in Cornwall.
The furniture, decor, surroundings even down to a fully equipped kitchen (I mean fully, there is even a rolling pin and pastry cutters in case you fancy baking while on holiday) have all been given considerate thought.
As the cottage was gutted and totally refurbished in 2007, we had a clean slate to start with. Everything had to be bought, so we imagined we were going to live there and went from there. That way we could make sure it would be the best place to go on holiday.
Have you ever been on a self catering holiday and the accommodation was basic? Uncomfortable beds, cheap bedding and towels.........hard three piece suite.........everything fitted out as cheaply as possible as it was "just a holiday let".
We have! We also didn't want our guests to feel the same, after all you have paid good hard earned money to buy your holiday, so why should it not be like a "home from home"?
To start with the beds - they all have memory foam mattress to ensure a good nights sleep. The bedding is also good quality Egyptian Cotton.
To the bathroom - a whirlpool bath! But if you prefer showers, there is a separate shower room.
Both have a w.c. and hand basin. The towels? Good quality, heavy, thick sumptuous cotton!
Talking of towels, the majority of holiday lets that do provide the linen always state NOT beach towels. When you have a family of 5 or 6, the beach towels take up the majority of a suit case.
so we DO provide beach towels - even the buckets, spades and windbreak!
I could go on and on about the cottage, after all I do love it there myself. But, the only thing I felt was missing was Internet Access, so we have resolved that by buying a Vodafone USB Dongle. We do charge a fee of £30, but it is refundable upon return of the Dongle before you leave. The Dongle is a Pay As You Go, so you would have to top it up before use and Vodafone charge £15 for 1GB use. Oh, you would also have to bring your own Laptop/Netbook.
The only thing we could not change about the Cottage was it's location - I'm afraid we are not on the beach, but just outside the town of Camborne. This however has got it's big advantages as if you stayed in one of the seaside towns, the traffice in and out during the summer months can be a nightmare - being in Camborne you are conveniently situated to visit any part of Cornwall. We are also situated in a quite area as there are just four properities in the immediate area, so if you want to relax in the garden you will not be overlooked by a person - only our three Pygmy Goats!
We still have plenty of availability, so why not book your holiday now? It has been said that we are in for a very hot summer this year, so why not take your vacation in Cornwall!
Check our website www.rosiacottageholidays.co.uk for up to date availability or phone Kathryn on 01209 711012.
Thanks for reading folks!
Kathryn
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