February started with more snow but sadly it did not live up to last months offerings and we were able to go about our normal business.  Everything is very wet and if it starts to get warmer our grass is going to start growing like mad.  All our plants are very behind compared to the last three years and the snow drops are only just coming through.  We have got very used to mild winters and leaving geraniums out all year.  We lost some last winter but suspect that they have all been destroyed this time.

Again the weather has put us behind with our outdoor changes and so many companies use the January snows as a reason for low stocks.  Six weeks on and we are still waiting for the outdoor lights for the new hot-tub by the cottages. Until they come it can only be used whilst it is light.  The hot-tub is proving hugely successful and people who have used it are very pleased with it. In the cold weather our peacocks who do not like snow have taken to sitting on top of it.  To date they have not disturbed anyone whilst in the hot-tub.

We are finishing the last of the pre-season decorating and this month have had parts of the Georgian House redecorated.  The old and questionable decor in the hall has now gone and looks so much better.  The small single room has been redone and the very last of the new curtains have been made.  This room is now very sweet and looks charming.  We are having sixty new pictures and prints framed and will be ringing the changes where necessary through-out all the houses and cottages.  Most of them are eighteenth and nineteenth century, hand coloured prints and once put up finish the rooms off well.  On a practical note we are replacing some ovens, fridges and washing machines where necessary and hopefully will have a spare of most things on site.  Our inventories of the kitchens show that guests continue to break very little and we only need to make run of the mill replacements. We have been asked to provide plastic plates etc for children and this we have done.  Another request has been black-out blinds in the lighter bedrooms where children might sleep;  these will be put up this week.   All the new sofas we had made last year are still in excellent shape.  All the covers have been dry cleaned and still look quite new.

Half term is soon and from then we will start to get busy.  Coulscott is very quiet and rather strange without guests.  Usually when visitors arrive after the winter it feels as though spring is starting.  The days are getting very much longer now and even when it is cold all the extra light is very welcome.  The wild birds are getting very much more active and a very loud pair of jays has set up house in one of our large holly trees.  They are apparently meant to warn if foxes are around though it is doubtful if they could make any more noise.