Play.Eat.Laugh.Sleep..Pickwell: Tracey's first post and a visit to the zoo

Wednesday 1 June 2011

Tracey's first post and a visit to the zoo

I am so nervous and at the same time quite excited about making my first post. Not known for my technical abilities I have found the world of blogging (and if I'm honest facebook too) a bit tricky, well here goes.....

Well we have just had a brilliant family day out at Exmoor Zoo thanks to Molly. We set the Elliott girls the challenge at Christmas of filling a jam jar each with marbles. Each marble is a reward for spontaneous acts of kindness (especially towards sisters), doing helpful jobs, trying new food and all host of brilliant things. Molly has filled her jar at a grand total of 60 marbles and in return got to choose a family treat. Molly is a true animal lover in stark comparison to Rich, who in Millie-grace's words is a 'scardy cat' especially where snakes are concerned.

Although not the most exotic animals 2 of our favourites were 'ickle' the penguin and 'Nigel' the duck savaging pelican.

It did leave us wondering whether Pickwell needs a Peacock???

True to form the Pickwell Girls have been creating and our entire house is covered in blue paint, glitter and PVA. Creating is usually closely followed by a show containing the said created items (penguins are a popular theme). I think they are all having a wonderful half term!

2 comments:

Deborah Taylor2 June 2011 at 03:33
Nigel the duck saving Pelican! the name Nigel & ducks seem to be a theme!
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ben2 June 2011 at 03:55
i wish you were my mum
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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".