Play.Eat.Laugh.Sleep..Pickwell: London

Sunday 22 May 2011

London

We saw the lovely Gemma and spent way too much money on some amazing things! My best buy was a book which was only launched a couple of months ago called 'Supper Club' by Kerstin Rodgers. Before moving to Devon, we had a similar thing once a month at home. we had 12 friends come over once a month for some good food and good discussion. The topics to discuss were pre-agreed and the friends were always the same. Between us we had 16 kids sleeping all over the upstairs, while much wine and lively conversation flowed downstairs.

I have spent all evening reading my new purchase and it has inspired us about hosting more of a commercial enterprise at Pickwell...hmmmm...food for thought! One for the next house meeting.

Camden market...aaahhhhh i just love it! Whenever i come to london now i find it hard to talk to people because my senses are so bombarded by wonderful sights and sounds and smells. I just soak it all in. Its only when i go back to the quiet of Devon that i realise how tired i am. Is this why i permanently felt tired in my 10 years in London?

We went to this great cafe where you smell all the different teas and choose which one you like. There were some amazing varieties that we'd never heard of.

The wierdest thing happened in the market. We bumped into my Mum and Dad! They live in Sussex and are staying with my aunt and Uncle in Highgate. We knew they were in London but had no idea they were coming to the market. We had decided not to try to meet up as the market is SO big we'd never find each other. So there you go. Small world.

Zac has just recently become obssessed by skating and scooting on his JD Bug so we took him to the skate park here in Camden. Oh my goodness he loved it and got to see some amazing skaters and bmx riders.

Back to Devon today via a visit to Regents Park to see Mum, Dad, and my auntie and uncle. I haven't heard from Tracey how the wedding went at home but we are thinking of them!

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Our Story

Many people have asked what the story is, how did the Bakers and Elliotts come to be at Pickwell?

Are you sitting comfortably?

Tracey and Susannah became friends at 6th form college. Steve and Tracey lived in the same village in Sussex. Steve's dad was the vicar and Tracey's dad was Steve's scout leader. Even more wierd, Susannah's dad (also a church minister) and Steve's dad were friends, but Steve and Sus never met.

One summer Tracey took Susannah along to a youth summer camp. Steve was one of the leaders (read : heightened attraction) and a little later Steve and Sus got together. During their 6 on/off years they met Richard, a blue eyed boy from Guildford.

At a club night run by Steve, somehow through the dark and crowded room, Tracey and Richard bumped into eachother (if you have seen the shapes they pull on the dancefloor you would know how easily this happened)..

In the year 2000 they all got married. Tracey and Susannah were eachother's bridesmaids. They have remained firm friends ever since.

When Steve and Susannah came across Pickwell Manor, they knew they couldn't manage such a project on their own. They asked the Elliotts if they would give up their house, their jobs and their community to come and live and work with them and own the project together. They knew there weren't many people they could ask to do such a thing knowing they would still love each other by the end. So they all left everything in Sussex and came to Devon.

They moved on the same day in August 2008. It has been a crazy, wonderful, scary, emotional and beautiful experience so far. All of them would say they feel very ALIVE!

Since they moved they have run 51 successful and wonderful weddings (with more to come), many, many holidays, built or totally refurbished 6 apartments from scratch, updated carpets, painted white throughout, put in quite a few kitchens and bathrooms (including 2 baths on concrete plinths), changed much of the furniture, converted a laundry and have started to convert the chapel. Every year they also have a bonfire gathering in October, an Easter Eggstravaganza fundraising event, and anything else that is not-for-profit that they can fit in. Tracey has completed a dissertation and gone back to nursing for 2 days a week, Steve has started up a new company in London, Richard has mastered a lot of the running of the house as well as training as a coach, specialising in stress management, Sus has taken on the interiors and Tracey and Susannah have learnt weddings in at the deep end! All with 4 young Pickwellians by their sides.

"Our passion is for making life count. Our values lie in
friendship, celebration, valuing others, and social justice. We see Pickwell as a reflection of these things but also a place for rest, recouperation, laughter and conversation. We want to support charities and social enterprises to fufil their dreams and make a difference."

"We love Devon, we love the community here, we love seeing our children grow with nature and discovering the great outdoors. We have to pinch ourselves sometimes when we think about our life here, it is amazing".