After 14 years of living it large in London, I have finally figured out
that the key to continually loving this city is leaving often, as often
as possible in fact. That may be why so many of you have country homes.
You escape to blissful silence and regain some sense of normal in the
world and then return to the hustle and bustle of the city with renewed
spirit and wonderment. Last month, I met a cottage that confirmed that
this was the way forward. Mr. FFG and I found a fabulous place via
Sugar and Loaf,
a website that specialises in hiring out private cottages in Wales. I
say a "fabulous place", but really I should call it a "famous place" as I
knew all about the property before I read a single word on the site.
If you're a fan of the show
Grand Designs,
you are in for a real treat here. Years ago an episode aired that
showcased the most optimistic new homeowners rebuilding an old stone
cottage atop a mountain in the Black Mountains in Wales. Against
impossible odds, they created the most beautiful family home and went on
to expand on the property in years to come. And recently they've opened
up said cottage, now named
Points Cottage,
for folks wishing to experience the beauty of the site. Nothing
prepares you, in fact, for the magnificence that awaits you on the
mountain. You'll need a 4x4 to reach the top of this rather intense
climb (a mile towards the sky), but not to worry as the lovely owners
can loan you a proper vehicle for the weekend or you can simply bring
your own. If you've been jonesing to test out your new Range Rover on
rough terrain, you'll be in heaven. But, more on that later. The climb
up the mountain seems laborious at first, but it all becomes worth it
the moment you step out of the vehicle to discover a vista that
stretches seven counties, on a clear day. And that's just starting with
the view, which, admittedly, is a draw in itself to spending a long
weekend here.
The cottage itself is truly a throw back in time. Imagine exposed stone,
large oak beams and an enormous family room fire place. You can clearly
see how such a space, which has been in the owner's families for
generations, has changed over the years, but has also been lovingly
restored to honour its history. The kitchen, not surprisingly, is truly
the heart of this home. Our first night in the cottage, I sat in the
corner of the kitchen, in a most comfortable oversized chair with a view
of the night sky, and watched as Mr. FFG prepared a beautiful meal. I
was cuddled up, tea in hand and cashmere socks on feet as this beautiful
man prepared a meal Gordon Ramsey would rate highly. The cottage comes
fully equipped with everything you would need to prepare any sort of
cuisine. While you do need to bring your own food for your stay, the
hosts provide a rather decadent array of treats for your arrival. There
are gin and tonics waiting in the fridge, alongside a jug of milk and
some butter. There's a freshly baked Victoria Sponge cake calling to you
from the counter, sitting next to a basket of eggs, which have been
collected from the hens that roost just 100 feet from the cottage's
front door. There's even a cupboard full of miscellaneous things you may
have forgotten on your trip up, including hot chocolate!
The two bedrooms upstairs offer complete comfort for sleeping and the
bathroom is large enough to accommodate two couples in the house without
feeling cramped. You will be sung to sleep as you listen to the Welsh
mountain winds sweep over and around the house and you'll awake in the
morning to a beautiful and delicate fog clearing from your bedroom
window, set to reveal the view that brought you here in the first place.
Over the course of our three days in residence, we spent only one
indoors with bad weather. Our days were mostly spent exploring in and
around the cottage. There are several famous foodie establishments just a
short drive from the cottage's entrance and there are lovely villages,
surrounding the landscape, the are begging for exploration. However,
there is just as much to do without ever leaving the property by car.
The walks to be had up into the mountains will leave you feeling fit as
a fiddle and full of love for the beautiful countryside that surrounds
you. But, should you be met with bad weather during your stay, you will
find that the cottage provides the backdrop for the perfect duvet day.
On our one rainy day we lit the fire, cozied up with blankets, poured
some wine and played Scrabble until our brains were fried. It only
seemed appropriate to then put on the
Grand Designs DVD, which they keep in Points Cottage, to truly appreciate the space that we were calling home.
With
one in five wishing their proposal was, well, better, if you’re thinking
of popping the question this Valentine’s Day, you better make it count.
Ever
looked in the mirror and desperately wanted ears that didn’t stick out
so much? Or spotted a bald patch you wished wasn’t there? While we’re
not ones 
