First six months of the treehouse

Well, the first half year of operation has passed with our guests being wowed by the treehouse and the Yurt. The Yurt has long been put away for the winter but we were still having guests in November. We added a hot water bottle and then an electric blanket to ensure everyone stayed snug and warm. The only problem during the year was with squirrels! One day whilst we were away they ate our rubber gas connectors emptying the spare gas cylinders so the gas ran out. We had the gas back on within 12 hours but it was a worry. The gas pipes now have armour plating so unless the squirrels use weapons we should be alright. I cannot quite believe how booked up we are getting for 2012 now - the first half of the year is almost full in the treehouse.

The papers

We seem to have attracted quite a bit of attention in the papers over the last month or so. Starting with The Guardian Then the yurt was in The Telegraph.


Then the treehouse was in the cool camping guide one Saturday in the Times, but to see that you have to be a Times subscriber I believe.


We have also had major articles about the treehouse in the Western Daily Press and the Bristol Evening Post. Not to mention a radio slot on BBC Somerset.
Just recently the treehouse experience has had a proper review in The Guardian

All the comment seems to be positive, with the exception of a chess player who noticed that the photographer had set the pieces incorrectly on the board!

All this has had an impact so book early!

Linda's luscious lemon cake

Everybody has been asking for the 'secret' recipe to Linda's lovely lemon cake that she gives to our guests on arrival. She even puts one in the Treehouse and Yurt for guests to enjoy during their stay. Yum Yum. So here we go:

Into a bowl put 6oz sieved self raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 6oz caster sugar flavoured with vanilla, 4oz butter, 4 tbsp milk, 2 large free- range eggs (there is nothing nicer).

Whisk for 2 mins, tip into a lined 8" baking tin and cook for 40 mins on 180oC in a fan oven.

Take out of the oven, allow to cool in the tin and when just warm tip over the juice of 2 lemons mixed with 3oz of vanilla flavoured caster sugar.

Enjoy!

If anyone has any other cake recipes they think we should try, post it under this !

Harptree Court wins an Award

Linda and Charles are very excited to have won the Bed and Breakfast/Guest Accommodation of the Year Award at The Bristol Tourism and Hospitality Awards last night. Just as well that there were no acceptance speeches though - our list of people to thank might have gone on for hours.

Racing to the finish

It has been about 3 weeks since my last post, not so much because there is so little progress but because there has been so much!
Once the base was completed the sides went on.



The roof was put on



The cladding went on the outside and the roof was tiled.

To match the exterior work the plumbing first fix is in, the electrical work nears completion and today the insulation was blown into the cavities in the walls, floors and the roof!

Decking is now complete

The stairs now have treads so that it is somewhat easier to get up

The decking outside the treehouse is completed and you can see the base of the structure itself

the view of the walkway from the treehouse platform.

In a weeks time we hope to have the sides of the treehouse up and in position.

The Treehouse floor goes in

Seeing the oversize timbers go in just makes everyone who sees it go Wow!
The platform seemed to start slowly, but this accelerated and once the sections of the floor arrived they went down almost straight away.

The walkway is made so that it can move with the oak tree. The ballistrade supports are delightfully wiggly

The way in goes up these stairs and over a platform in the oak tree

The base of the treehouse itself is now in position