Quick! Anchor Everything Down!

The wind is back, howling screaming by non-stop.  It's bad atm, but listening to the local radio, it is supposed to get worse (up to 85mph) here on the east coast in the next few hours.  Yesterday wasn't so bad, but Monday was horrible and the oddest things were 'moved' by the gusts.  Plants that have some height and that you would think would go over easily were left standing, but the small door on our water feature which is a sliding door and tight to the feature was blown totally off and one of those plastic sheds, the shorter kind with the lift up lid was moved over about 4 inches . . . . on one side.  Strange.  Now they've just said that the winds may not increase any later, but there could be hail.  So, as always, if you want to know what the weather is - stick your head out the door.

I still have not found the perfect holiday cottage, but at least I'm now working on the short list.  We are a bit picky which makes it harder to find all the things we deem necessary in one place.  Like a washing machine - if you're going away for a week it's not so 'necessary', but when you go for two weeks and don't want to pack 10 suitcases a washing machine is needed.  We want a nice enclosed (of sorts) garden - somewhere you can go out to in nice weather and enjoy a coffee/tea, read etc without the neighbouring properties overlooking your every move.  It would be nice to be on the edge of a lovely village so that you have your peace, but can go out walking (not jumping in the car) for a paper or pint of milk.  One year we did rural, which was really nice except for the fact that when you did want to have a day out, you had to drive 15 miles to get anywhere to start with.  If it were only for the one week I would think more about the 'tent' type holidays on a farm.  Not really tents as such, more like canvas buidlings - going out to collect your own eggs for breakfast with a wood stove for cooking/hot water/heat.  Hmmmm.......

So I suppose the requirements are:  2 bedroom (although there is just the 2 of us, we always use the spare bedroom to store 'stuff' that we acquire during the holiday and any electrical/gadgety sorts of things we take with us)  -  pleasant, private back garden w/table & chairs  -  washing machine - away from the town/village (would NEVER let one near a 'city') enough for peace and quiet yet close enough to walk into said town/village.

Things that would be definite pluses, and sway the vote - open log fire in lounge, freeview for those inevitable inclement days in, quiet woodsy walks near by, any number of bathroom luxuries such as power showers and/or jacuzzi  jets in an oversized bath etc....  :-D

A bit picky, yes . . . .