Stoves...

We went to Staplehurst and met a very helpful chap in our quest for a stove we like the look of; we seem to be veering back towards a Dovre - he said they are much more efficient that the Franco-Belge, and the 5kW one was bigger, which we want.  If we have a large hearth, as we are inclined to, it will look more balanced, we think.

Then we headed off to Sandgate to see a Newman Stoven - the shop didn't have one, but had a similar model, and the chap there was very keen about the Charnwood range.  Not so sure about a steel body?  We know from experience that the cast iron ones heat up beautifully, and retain the heat overnight (whereas we have steel radiators and that start to cool down the moment the heating is turned off).  But his suggestion to look on YouTube to see demonstrations of the Stoven's cooking drawer appeals greatly; who knows, that could be "the one"?

Hm, more pondering...

The we had half an afternoon at the house: David was strimming behind the row of conifers nearest the gate, as we are hoping Adam/his assistant will take down a couple of those first, and then do all the shredding into the woods behind where the conifers currently are.  We're hoping to create an area of "hard"-standing that would add another place to turn cars/park vans, and if there were chippings left over I would like to make pathways between the trees.

I was back on my hands and knees chopping into brambles.

Every time we spend an hour or two hacking at the undergrowth, the garden starts to look more like a garden and appears larger, so even half an afternoon where the light is failing is a help!