It started before all the wood and straw

The housewarming last weekend was incredibly special and we're only sorry that we could not invite everyone. The following poem (assisted by the wonderful Dave!) is our tribute to all who have been involved.

Despite the things we didn’t know, we foolishly said “let’s give it a go.”

Way back before all the wood and the straw

With family and friends with us right from the start

We plotted and planned, and followed our hearts

Then came Pentiddy, the place of adventures

We had no idea then of where it would take us

Not grade A chestnut, but rather poor land

Even back then nothing went as we planned

From that point to here’s been a zig zaggy path

With up hills and down hills and one or two laughs

Elowen and Adeon both joined the team

And trees in their thousands took root like our dreams

And now we stand here thanks to help we’ve received

Without you our hopes for a house would be sunk

So thank you, and join us, be merry, get drunk

But before you get pissed,

here’s a list of the heroes who’ve helped on the way

From way back before the foundations were laid

Right through to today where we’ll sing dance and play

There were:

Researchers, designers, planners and bloggers

Diggers and drillers, millers and loggers

Jointers and slaters raisers and roofers

An endless succession of marvellous wwoofers

Spanish, Italians, French and the Germans

Scottish, American, Dutch and the Belgians

Mexican, Irish Australian, Canadians

All taking tales home of Pentiddy crazy ones

Plasterers and strippers some puddling clay

From the look on their face you’d know it’s not play

Short stayers, long timers, first timers too

Some of them even knew what they should do

The injured and pregnant, lathers and laughers

People who didn’t mind climbing on rafters

Or scaling great heights on the scaffolding poles

While ignoring the fact that the planks were quite old

The limers and rhymers and limers and limers

And limers and limers and limers and limers and...

Dave wrote this bit, poor chap’s still in care

On mention of lime gets a thousand yard stare

Neighbours and friends, our nearest and dearest

Crossword champions, conspiracy theorists

Chess players, jugglers, tea brewers and drinkers

Singers and dancers, doers and thinkers

Through times of great stress there were shoulders to cry on

When plans were a mess there were friends to rely on

Storm kettle lighters, cookers and chefs

And some with a tea towel to clear up the mess

Now time to get soppy, the bit we all hate

Thank you’s inadequate, for folks who’re so great

A party’s a start but not really enough

For all you good folk who’ve given so much

Your friendship, your love, support and much more

Means that today is the day we can open the doors

Of what we’ve created together right here

So it’s almost the time to raise up a beer

Through slipping time scales, and storm soggied bales

The good times and bad all flavour the tales

Of all of you friends who’ve been part of it all

The stories we’ve shared will live on in these walls