V&A's Home Build: Bits 'n' Bobs / a non-build chapter

As a break from the seemingly never-ending photographs of dusty, part-built walls... a look at some of the things that were going on outside the house.

A wintry view of the new house (next to the shabby, old bungalow) taken from the east field. The site is surrounded on all sides by fields with no neighbouring properties.

(Click the pictures to enlarge - 'Esc' to come back)

Looking back across the east field from inside the old bungalow. The site inspector spotted an unruly mob of trespassers who like to congregate there some evenings...

Oh, deer.

Wildlife isn't the only thing that likes to gather around this area. When we first viewed the site back in 2012, there weren't any visible wind turbines; now there are dozens. This one (viewed from the track alongside our house) went up over the winter and is the closest one to our property.

Zoomed in for an even closer look... to the right of the one being built, you can see its sister turbine that went up several months before.

Nosy neighbour time... walking over the old dismantled railway cutting to get a closer look at the turbine being assembled. This is the view of the fields to the south-west of our house. (Click to enlarge)

And looking back from the same spot - you can just about see the house nestled towards the right of the photo and the new turbine over to the left. The wooded area in between is a protected SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), a conservation area that should prevent any unwelcome developments ever getting too close...

Once the rotors are on, these turbines are over 70m high. You get some idea of the scale from the bloke perched up at the top...

Luckily, despite their size, back at the house we're far enough away from the turbines that we don't hear any noise from them. It's quite hard to see them too, thanks to the line of trees that run alongside the track.

Looking north-west from bedroom 3, you can just about make out a turbine on the horizon.

Zoomed in for an 'arty' shot.

The old steam railway line (North Cornwall Railway) ran right through the fields that border our house. Remnants of its existence, like this red brick bridge and former station buildings, are dotted about nearby.

The track that gives access to the house is also a public footpath. This is the view looking back at the house from the north. The (barely-visible) grey slate roof of our new house looks like its being swallowed up by trees from this perspective.

The site being so hidden from view, especially from the nearest road, certainly helped us to get planning permission for the new house.

Approaching the house along the same track. The field on the right contains our septic tank...

... along with some other visitors from time to time.

Once the spring arrives, a tunnel of trees starts to form along the track. Note the site inspector doing his regular security patrol along the perimeter.

We spend pretty much all our time building the house, so it's always nice to have an excuse to get out and see something of the local area.

In March, we explored a bit of nearby Bodmin Moor with Vicky's folks - most of the time was spent laughing at whoever slipped headfirst into the mud...